COMIC REVIEW: NIGHTWING #126
Author: Chris Clow
Sunday, October 6, 2006

From DC COMICS: The new adventures of Nightwing by Marv Wolfman, Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund continue! Nightwing finds himself in the uncomfortable position of trying to save the Raptor from the Police and the mysterious people who are trying to kill him. Plus, Dick Grayson is still having trouble finding a job!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This review contains some SPOILERS.

The former Boy Wonder returns this month with Marv Wolfman on writing, and Dan Jurgens on art. The plot thickens, my friends.

The first thing that I feel needs a mention is how different (in a good way) this title is now that Bruce Jones’ run is over. Don’t get me wrong, Jones was onto something. Me being a fan of the resurrected Jason Todd (Please don’t send me hate mail!), I really looked forward to issue #118 when “One Year Later” came about. But now that Wolfman is writing, there is much more clarity of storytelling. Just so you know.

We meet Nightwing at the beginning of this issue on a stake out. It’s pouring rain. He seems to be talking to himself. He then says he doesn’t want to be out in this “$#!^%G Storm.” “Ahem.” Someone on the other side of the line says.

Of course, it’s our favorite butler from Gotham, Alfred Pennyworth. This is a great way to start this issue off. The exchange between Alfred and Nightwing is very enjoyable. That in itself is almost worth picking the issue up. During the conversation, Dick says that he might want to, “get my own little Robin…” Hmm…a protégé of Nightwing? Could be interesting…

We then catch up with Raptor, still on the run. A Hummer Limo chases him, so Raptor tries to blast it and then he takes off into the air. Inside the limo, we see a man in a suit (his face is far too shadowed to see who it might be) listening to an iPod talking about payments being made to him. Someone wants to hire him to kill Nightwing.

Later, we get to see more from the hot fitness girl, Ryan. An apparent love interest. But honestly, since I’m such a fanboy, and since I don’t read BIRDS OF PREY, I’d like a little more explanation on Dick’s side of why his marriage to Barbara was called off. It’s cool having a new love interest, but a little bit of dialogue or a flashback before he, Bruce, and Tim left the yea prior couldn’t hurt, could it?

Dick’s going to go for a massage from Ryan, when we see a young teenage boy trying his hand at the trapeze. Dick sees exactly why he can’t make certain jumps, so gives him a hand. The kid takes the lessons very quickly and easily. Could be interesting…

Meanwhile, the next man on the list of LexCorp people that Raptor was seemingly after is murdered. Before he was killed, he managed to get the name of the man responsible for the Raptor armor.

As for Raptor himself, he won’t be in the next issue. Pick it up to see for yourself.

Still strong with the new creative team, Wolfman knows exactly what Grayson’s character strengths and weaknesses are. He’s supposed to be on the book for a while, I think a recent DC Nation said at least a year, so it appears we have a lot to look forward to from Batman’s first protégé.

The next cover has Nightwing being buried alive. The next issue can’t come soon enough.