Nightwing #74: FINALLY

I feel like you can literally feel Dan Jurgens and company letting out a deep sigh of relief digging into this story. Granted, it does feel a bit rushed but I highly doubt too many will mind. Our beloved Nightwing, now on round four of false identities, is forced to nearly kill Batgirl, Tim Drake and Jason Todd before snapping to with a last minute save from Babs. Read it for yourself even with knowing what’s going to happen because I promise it’s still as satisfying as you imagined to hear him say the words “Not Ric, Dick,” as you think it will be.

The story itself is kinda mashed potatoes, not because of bad writing – but bottom line, we’ve been waiting for this for so long that there was probably no way Ric was gonna go away forever that could be any more satisfying than getting to the point. That being the case, this was easily the most predictable issue in the run to date but still the most fantastic just for that sweet, sweet ending. The art is a tad rushed in parts but even still Ryan Benjamin draws a stellar Joker, Punchline and Bat family not to mention the art team of Benjamin, Beredo and Friend do a killer job making the action pop and fitting the pacing that makes the overall book better for it but feel less rushed and more high speed. I would also recommend reading the Red Hood tie-in issue if you haven’t already to give this slice of “Joker War” some more meat on its bones.