Nightwing #88
Recap
The blue stripes are back! Nightwing gets an updated suit starting this issue! Meanwhile, after the distressing events of rescuing Haley from getting dognapped by bad guys, Nightwing discovers there are way more hits on Dick Grayson than he realized, thanks to going public about his fortune, and he needs to find a clever way to be Dick Grayson and Nightwing at the same time. Meanwhile, Heartless tries to buy power away from Blockbuster in order to take control of Blüdhaven, and both of these big bads have Nightwing in their crosshairs.
Review
A home isn’t simply where you hang your jacket at night. It’s a place where you can be with family and friends. That is what Nightwing #88 is all about. Family and a place to call home.
Dick Grayson is someone who has found himself a part of many families. Bruce Wayne and his fellow Bat-Siblings, Haly’s Circus, and The (Teen) Titans just to name a few. So one could say he knows a thing or two about finding a home with a found family.
Dick’s goal since early in Tom Taylor’s run has been to help the less fortunate of Bludhaven, and that’s what he sets out to do in this issue with the breaking ground ceremony for a new affordable housing building for the homeless youth of Bludhaven.
Of course, no good deed goes unpunished for a member of the Batfamily. With a price still out on Dick’s head, Blockbuster has a couple of goons ready to turn Nightwing into The Headless High-Flier.
But, as I said before, this issue is about family. So who better to save Dick than his own family? The Titans!
Nightwing and a Titans team-up is always a fun moment. It feels special, especially given the current state of some of those characters. Tom Taylor does a fantastic job with their banter, making for an extremely enjoyable fight scene. Bruno Redondo of course fills every page with dynamic art and masterful paneling. Adriano Lucas’ colors continue to give the book a very modern, yet nostalgic feel. Like a warm sunset caressing the hood of a Countach.
This run continues to be one of my favorite on the stands. It’s got a wholesome vibe, with a feel of something familiar. Despite a rather slow pace when it comes to story progression, the contents of each issue certainly makes up for the current slow burn. Though it doesn’t help that Fear State set us significantly back. But I trust in Taylor, Redondo and Lucas to get us back on track!
Side-Note before I leave you all until next month: I myself am usually a Dick & Starfire fan, but Tom Taylor is making one hell of an argument for the Dick & Barbara pairing.
Final Thoughts
Nightwing continues to stand apart from the crowd with its vibrant art and vibrant characters. It's proof that not all superhero stories need to be dark or gritty to succeed. It shows that family is all around you.
Nightwing #88: Home Is Where Family Resides
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 6/106/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10