Let’s take a moment to look back.
NIGHTWING #149 was awesome until it crashed and burned in the last few pages. How embarrassing. The ending to that issue was redeemed with #150, which grounded “The Great Leap” without it falling flat on its face. But then #151 just ran out of gas -- before it even had the chance to gather any speed (and I’m not talkin’ break-neck speed either, folks). At the end of my review of
NIGHTWING #151, I predicted that the following issue would rock and the final issue in February would end on a dull if not painful note. Well, so far I’m half right.
Writer Peter J. Tomasi is a flickering light. He’s one of those clap-on lamps -- and characteristically moody Pennsylvania weather. Simply, he’s been giving us on and off again writing lately with NIGHTWING. Oh, my brain. It hurts.
Okay, on with the review, right? Right. Now, while the last issue was an utter waste of three dollars -- no really, they ate popcorn, that’s about it -- this one totally rocked and actually accomplishes some character development, in an unsuspecting way. As you can see from that Green Lantern Green colored cover, NIGHTWING #152 is a part of the “Faces of Evil” mini-series that’s going on right now in the DCU. And again, the pretty cover lets you know that a cameo by Ra’s Al Ghul awaits you in your reading experience.
“Eminence Front” starts with some striking visuals of Nightwing and the showcased Batsuits, along with an introduction about black holes by R’as Al Ghul. It’s actually much more relevant than it sounds, and those beginning words sound back at the end to tie the issue together. Dick Grayson is still struggling to cope with the recent but questionable loss of the Dark Knight from the city of Gotham -- much like many other recognizable characters are. Interestingly, this issue reminded me of the strong character insight Dennis O’Neil provided in the second part of his “Last Days of Gotham” story (BATMAN #684), where the theme of mourning and Dick’s feelings of impotency without his mentor’s presence vividly haunted the pages.
Digressing for just a moment…I found something kind of funny when Dick was musing around the Batcave. Finding a spot of hard wax, he incredulously recalls the oath he took with Batman that fateful night we could first call him Robin, the Boy Wonder. I absolutely love that Tomasi put that little moment in there, but honestly---you don’t think Alfred would have noticed a very conspicuous spot of yellowish wax on the floor? Okay, okay, it can be argued that Alfred decided to leave it there along with the robotic dinosaur (I mean, what’s worse than that when it comes to interior decorating?), and that very well might be true…but wouldn’t Dick have noticed it, at least? Uh, yeah, anyway.
Dick receives a rather suspicious message from Alfred Pennyworth -- the poor guy looks like he just got tussled with, by the way -- saying that he has to take care of some “final business for Master Bruce.” Nightwing might be out of the loop, but it’s possible that Alfred is referring to Batman’s secret plan, which was revealed near the end of BATMAN #683. Dick ends the communication, and a distressed bat keys our protagonist in on the arrival of some unwanted house guests (although cool lookin’ ninjas are always welcome in my house).
Nightwing takes out the gang of sword-wielding ninjas with some quality punching, kicking … and bowling with the Batmobile. (Nice touch, Tomasi. “Bowling for Ninjas” would be pretty fun.) Turns out---and here comes the big surprise you never saw coming because it definitely wasn’t on the cover or anything -- R’as Al Ghul sent his trusty team of brawl-happy acolytes to cordially invite Nightwing to his hideout for a little parley. Ninjas don’t do too well on the communication front, sadly.
Under the agreement of a truce, Nightwing meets Ra’s in the middle of the Thar Desert, and it’s down to the Lazarus Pit for some reminiscing about Tim Drake and cheating death. Well, Nightwing isn’t too thrilled about having travelled halfway across the globe for this crap -- after all, gas is pricey---but of course, Ra’s has never been a guy lacking in the world affairs department…unfortunately. He knows about Batman’s reported demise and wants confirmation. Grieving, Nightwing’s fear about Batman being dead leads to anger, his anger leads to hate, and his hate leads to…a swordfight with Ra’s. (Pfft, what did you think I was going to say?) Nightwing gets to work out his pent up feelings, and Ra’s Al Ghul gets to be…well, Ra’s Al Ghul. Rest assured, because it’s an engrossing conversation that is cleverly complimented by Don Kramer’s pencils -- the colors are fantastic, too -- and the panel set-up.
Nightwing ends the battle with realization of his own, so in a way R’as actually does Dick some good. He’s beginning to recover his faith in Batman. He’s not denying that Bruce is dead -- even though no one has proof about him either way. (It’s kind of like when Bruce Wayne disappeared for years the film BATMAN BEGINS. Just declare him dead so you can move on, because he won’t be found until he wants to be.) Instead, he’s realizing that moping about isn’t helping anyone, and it’s certainly not what Bruce would want. Batman stands for something, and Dick is remembering just why Bruce took up the cape and cowl in the first place: he believed in something, and he had a dream, a mission. And that mission ought to live on, with or without Batman.
Good work, Tomasi. As for next month’s issue…here’s hoping that I pull a Two-Face and I’m half wrong about my little prediction. ;)
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