Nightwing #111

Writer: Devin Grayson
Pencils: Cliff Chiang
Inks: Ande Parks
Colorist: Gregory Wright
Letterer: Nick J. Napolitano

Rating: 3/5

Plot:

Nightwing has gone undercover to infiltrate the underworld. While he’s out trying to get in touch with Deathstroke, The Terminator, the crime family that he’s been getting close to are raided by the police.

Comments:

The first half of this issue features no dialogue, instead narrated by a little girl named Sophie who is writing a letter. While Nightwing takes on criminals hanging from helicopters the letter itself, which is addressed to Dick “Crutches” Grayson, tells the story of the night the police raided Sophie’s house.

Sophie’s family is involved in organized crime. When the police bust the door down right in the middle of dinner, one of the men at the table pulls a gun. In the chaos Sophie’s mother is killed. Sophie’s father is arrested and Sophie herself is taken to a state home for children.

Meanwhile Nightwing has broken into the offices of Rand Westbrook, a former associate of Blockbuster, one of Nightwing’s deadliest foes. Nightwing roughs Westbrook up and demands a meeting with Westbrook’s current employer, the villainous Deathstroke. Then, in typical high-flying style, Nightwing jumps from the office window, an armful of papers from Westbrook’s office under his arm.

At home Dick (Nightwing) receives a visit from one of his criminal friends, the man who pulled a gun prompting police to open fire at Sophie’s house. The man fills Dick in on the situation and begs him to get Sophie out of protective custody. Once he leaves Dick receives a surprise visit from the man he’s been trying to track down, Deathstroke.

I haven’t read an issue of Nightwing in ages, but I was somewhat familiar with the current storyline as Dick Grayson has managed to infiltrate a notorious crime family. Still I was surprised to find that it was relatively easy to understand what was happening. I think that’s probably in part due to this being a transition which serves mostly to set up and deliver us into the impending confrontation between Nightwing and Deathstroke.

I’m usually a fan of Cliff Chiang’s artwork, but it seems to me that the art on this issue was rushed. Still, it’s solid storytelling and Chiang does a passable job filling in for Phil Hester, the series regular artist. And there are some great moments here and there, especially the moment when Nightwing has to face off against an attack dog and shows just how much he learned from Batman when he was the first Robin.

I’m curious to see where this storyline is going, especially given the hints of something big happening in this big on the horizon, so I think I may give this book another go.
 

Special thanks go out to Jeremy Shorr, owner of Titan Comics for allowing us to use his advance preview books for review purposes.

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