Nightwing #52
Joe Bainbridge
Recap
Defending himself from a mugging, Ric Grayson has hospitalised a man and is now even more confused about who he is and what he can do. As he escapes the crime scene he realises he can escape over rooftops- with style! But he goes too far and ends up falling onto a car roof.
Meanwhile Detective Svoboda is examining a corpse that appears to have drowned. In his apartment. With no water around. When she leaves to take a call the corpse explodes releasing a gas that made the guards and doctors in the room attack each other! Svoboda defends herself against their attack’s and wonders what came out.
Detective Alphonse Sapienza invites three of the best people he knows to help him with a problem. Malcolm Hutch, Zak Edwards and Colleen Edwards enter the Langley Point shooting range to discover that Alphonse has found one of Nightwings old bunkers filled with his suits and tech.
That evening, Ric gets a troubling call from fellow driver Burl but when Ric arrives at the scene, he is stopped by Nightwing!
Review
The issue has a strong story to it and builds upon Ric’s uncertainty. The mystery is building up as to what the mysterious gas is but given its fear ties I have a strong feeling as to who it might be. Thigh Ric Grayson is new and original, I am finding it difficult to like the character. Though the series follows the same character, his completely different personality makes it difficult to enjoy to the same extent. If this weren’t a Nightwing comic however I’d enjoy it, but my annoyance is more powerful than my interest. On the other hand the new character is much darker and the workings of his mind are fascinating. He isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s the fine line between Nightwing and Red Hood.
The art of the comic is it’s weakest point with it seeming a bit too grey and with not a great deal of heart to it.
Final Thoughts
The issue is enjoyable and Ric Grayson is a good character, just not as Nightwing. I’m intrigued as to where they take this new arc and would like to see Ric put on the Nightwing suit.
Nightwing #52: One Nightwing Too Few
- Writing - 7.7/107.7/10
- Storyline - 7.9/107.9/10
- Art - 6.1/106.1/10
- Color - 6.2/106.2/10
- Cover Art - 6.8/106.8/10
