“You Are Nightwing”
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Bruno Redondo
Color Artist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Review by James Attias
How would it feel to be Nightwing? Swinging through the sky, fighting bad guys? Nightwing #105 gives us a first person POV of a day in the life of a superhero.
What do you see?
Firstly, let me start off by saying today the part of the legendary Steve J. Ray will be played by a short dark and sinister man… me. I will be filling in for everyone’s favorite DKN Reviewer as he is currently in Metropolis helping Superman on a case.
Back to business in Blüdhaven, Taylor and Redondo have done it again. This is an issue that you’ll just want to grab and frame on your wall. Last year they spoiled us with a story that was told as one continuous image, and now we’ve been gifted this beauty. This entire issue is seen and told from Dick Grayson’s perspective.
So, from when he opens his eyes in the morning, seeing Haley (his puppy) and Barbara (his ride or die), we jump straight into a day in the life. How many of us comic book fans have dreamt of what it would be like to be a superhero for a day? This issue shows us a brief stint of normality at the start of the book, then immediately jumps into a mission for my favorite superhero couple.
The issue’s brilliantly written by Tom Taylor, as we need someone that Dick can talk to, and bounce off of. If this was a solo case it would be Nightwing’s inner monologue and a bunch of bad guys. It’s lovely to see how a crime fighter would respond with his crime fighting girlfriend, when they’re working a case with someone (everyone at this point in the multiverse) that Dick has had a past fling with.
As soon as I read this issue I messaged Steve, like a frenzied nerd of two worlds who saw possibly the greatest crossover event since The Flash #123!
Minor spoilers ahead…
The characters from TV’s The Office (US) are seen in this issue. That’s right, fans… this is huge! Does this mean that we could see Nightwing face off against the Scranton Strangler? Will we ever get a Knights of the Night and Nightwing team up? My heart is just so full of love and ideas right now.
Showcase
I have said it many times recently, Tom Taylor is the finest writer working for DC today. So, as fans, we’re currently reading the finest Nightwing run, there has ever been in my humble opinion. As well as being a fun and heartfelt read this issue provides a spectacle of art. Bruno Redondo take a bow. You and Tom have been breathing new life into comic books and we the fans; thank you!
Then we get Adriano Lucas’ colors brightening Blüdhaven’s skies and Wes Abbott creating truly great lettering to compliment the script and art. The end result we get is utter comics perfection.
The story is a fun ride that shows us action, humor, mystery and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The perfect mix. I can’t wait to see what wonders this creative team has in store for us next. I know I can’t wait, and I can’t get enough of this character, written and drawn by these two amazingly talented people.
Conclusion
Nightwing #105 is, both from Nightwing’s and my own personal point of view, a wonderful book! I recommend you read it if you love Dick Grayson, comic books, creative new ways of telling stories, and if you’re someone who just has good sense.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
