Author: Chris Clow
Saturday, January 13, 2007

From DC COMICS: "The story of Raptor comes to an end, but the story behind him is just beginning. One villain is dead, but his body has been removed from the grave. A second villain has seemingly vanished, and a new force has emerged. But is Nightwing already too late to stop their crimes?"

EDITOR'S NOTE: This review contains some SPOILERS.

Part 4 and the conclusion of "TARGETS."

Wolfman and Jurgens conclude their first story on the monthly NIGHTWING book. How does it fare with the conclusion finally in place?

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed with the length, but it had great action and depth to it. The issue opens with a little bit more leeway into the relationship of Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson. And I mean little. We find out that it's because of Barbara that Dick came to New York in the first place. I think we're close to getting an answer here, because Dick left Bruce and Tim early and is back in Gotham in 52. It has to happen in that book.

Anyways, we open with the developers of the Raptor suit talking about their latest version. We then see Nightwing in the cemetery staring at the grave he was put in last issue. He spots a church on the hillside and wonders if it can bring him any peace. He said that his parents rarely spoke of God, and that Bruce never did, so he's wondering if faith can help him. But before Dick can find out, he gets a call from his operative J.J. who says that Raptor is on the loose again.

In the middle of the streets, the latest occupant of the Raptor suit has a cop by the neck and is blasting people with his napalm dischargers. Nightwing jumps into the fray and manages to get a hold of Raptor's arm, and turn it towards the suit. We then see a black burnt body with the suit melted off. I almost got mad here.

Did Wolfman turn Nightwing into a killer? Well, I guess not with the explanation he gave, and I quote, "I thought I may have killed him, but the Coroner's report said he didn't die because of the napalm explosion. It said he had absorbed massive quantities of radiation." Yeah, so Wolfman wins by technicality, but that was kind of a sketchy way to give Nightwing the win like that.

We then cut to the creators of the suit talking to their buyer, who is shrouded in shadow. I still don't know why I was so surprised when it was revealed to be THE bad guy of the DCU: Lex Luthor. Luthor claimed that the developers stole from him, so what does he do? Be blows up the floor of the building that they work on.

We then see Nightwing standing in the city, talking of how you should NEVER give up. Although the end was a bit cliché, I liked it. I was happy with this run and I can't wait to see what else good ol' Marv's got for us in the coming months. Next month's cover has Nightwing hanging off the back of a car, drenched in blood, with a bride and a groom kissing. That caught my eye, can't wait to read it!