A new high-tech corporation setting up shop in Bludhaven claims to be the cure for what ails the crumbling city. But Nightwing learns it’s a very hostile take-over when he runs afoul of their metahuman operative, a digital phantom impervious to physical attack. Luckily, Nightwing has his very own I.T. backup: Batgirl!
Author: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Chris Mooneyham
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Cover Artist: Mike Perkins
Publisher: DC Comics
What you need to know: Dick was invaded by a cyber trojan that was gathering information on him without his knowledge. Meanwhile, he has grown close to one of his clients, William Cloke, a handicapped man with robotic implants. Once he returns home he is attacked by the digital phantasm known as Wyrm, while the trojan works its way out of him.
What you’ll find out: The issue opens with the trojan crawling out of Dicks bloody mouth while he tries to find a way to stop Wyrm. He tries to go for the phantasm projection system, but Wyrm creates multiple arms for itself, tangling Dick in them and forcing him to think of another way out. Failing to destroy the box he jumps out of the window where he is caught by Batgirl! When they reach the street, an army of phantasms appear and say that they have invaded every house and infrastructure in Bludhaven. Thinking there is no signal in sewers they jump in.
In order to prove that Batgirl isn’t another simulation like last issue he asks her if she’s real to which she says that he should be asking which Gotham rooftop they haven’t kissed on. She then says that she found out that Mirage, the company giving out the phantasm devices were funded by one investor on the dark web, and they now have control over the entire city of Bludhaven. The two enter Dick’s own little ‘Batcave’ where they decide to analyze the trojan which dick had been carrying around only to discover it was no longer there. Barbara then notices a lump on Dick’s face and punches him with her electric glove.
Meanwhile, the Mayor, Judge Matterhorn has had compromising videos released of himself and forcing his wife to leave. The Mayor kills himself while Wyrm enters the room through the TV.
Dick wakes, fully dressed in his Nightwing costume while Batgirl says that its nothing she hasn’t seen before. She also fitted him with goggles that enable him to see either the Virtual world or the real one, taking advantage of the trojan lodged into his brain stem. Batgirl says that the trojan steals information as a spy and can also act as an assassin. She cross-references all the dead people and finds that they were all in the same ninth grade class. Dick notices a familiar face on the class photo- Willem Cloke. He is revealed to be the head of Mirage. During his conference, he creates a series of 3-D printed buildings.
As Nightwing enters the Mirage Headquarters with Batgirl in amongst the crowd he comes across a giant server room and is attacked by white drones called the terminals. Meanwhile, Willem Cloke is attacked by a Bludhaven Gang known as the Russian Sisterhood.
What just happened: This issue builds upon Percy’s tech-based story, and he appears to have a passion for violating Nightwings privacy. He has a bug planted literally inside him and his memories and knowledge are being mined. Ben Percy has been continuing this grey and dull story and there is very little emotion in this story arc. This issue doesn’t build on Dicks relationships and pretty much hinges on Willem Clokes reveal as the head of Mirage, which was already fairly obvious. The only character interaction that occurs is between Dick and Barbara, where they only discuss the investigation at hand with some light banter in between which doesn’t feel natural and more like the issue is following a formula.
The positives of this issue are that Willem Clokes reveal was built up as a surprise and the issue did well to throw it at the readers at that moment. He also doesn’t appear as the usual villain as he is quickly taken captive by the Russian Sisterhood. Their inclusion is=n the story really built Bludhaven as a living city. To have the gangs of Bludhaven fight back against the redevelopment scheme was a nice touch and felt very natural and exciting. It is the saving grace of the issue that makes me want to read the next issue. As well as the grounded gangs keeping me interested, the villainous Wyrm adds another layer to the comic. It is a shame that Nightwings story is the one I’m least interested in, but at least something is keeping me going.
Mooneyham and Filardi’s art brings all the layers of crime and superpowers together into one mediocre issue. Without the two of them the issue would feel like a mess.
Rating: 6.3/10
Final Thoughts: Percy’s work has brought all the different stories together which is ultimately satisfying, but there is very little to keep me interested in the current arc, though the next issue should pick up with the greater inclusion of the Bludhaven gangs.