It’s a new day in Bludhaven! When Tom Taylor left Nightwing, he left him ready for his next challenge, and Dan Watters made the most of it! And it ends up being good for everyone, as this is a great jumping off point for new readers as well as older ones who can enjoy a fresh interpretation. Here, a gang could take over and Nightwing could… be blown up?! There’s a huge power vacuum in Bludhaven, and the plans of the various gangs are bound to cause some trouble for Nightwing. Something that makes the character do something unexpected.
So, welcome to Heaven, Dan Watters, Dexter Soy, and Veronica Gandini! In this all-new, all-different era – wait for it, the wrong company – readers can fully participate in a new era of Nightwing! In Nightwing #119, readers will be introduced to new villains, new storylines, and more! And we are introduced to a new way of looking at the character. But is it really just a bag of potato chips? yes!
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The story gets into things right away, setting the stage for the tone of the new team’s first arc. This work serves to introduce readers to a new villain while also laying the foundation for the era that lies before us. Keeping a steady pace, the story eventually throws a lot at the reader, but ends in a way that maintains the reader’s interest. Additionally, Watters thoroughly interweaves the new challenges that Dick Grayson will face with the new challenges that Nightwing will face. Obviously, this is going to be more than Nightwing vs. the Mob. It’s going to be Nightwing and Dick Grayson vs. the Unknown. It’s not the typical unknown that comes with a new villain, but it becomes an unknown as Dick steps into unknown territory at the end of the book when he makes a big decision.
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Watters makes one thing clear. It means he’s going to push Nightwing away and make him question his way of solving things. Moreover, there is an ominous aura around this issue, which acts like how it depicts the roads and ground levels. While the threat of rival gangs is obviously smaller, Nightwing’s new enemies are notable for creating a terrifying environment. This story contains a lot of intrigue and wonder, and is effective in ushering the characters into a new era by introducing new challenges. Overall, the pacing of the story is balanced between its eerie nature and grounded approach.
Watters writes Nightwing in a much different way than he has written before. After all, when things go wrong for Dick Grayson, things tend to go wrong for Nightwing as well, which ends up making for an interesting story. Dick is portrayed as a bit jaded and cynical, but not because of his ability to plan ahead. His humor isn’t obnoxiously brazen, but it’s well-placed. That’s interesting! Every once in a while, the comics medium can tell a joke or two that’s a little heavy-handed or a little tongue-in-cheek. But here it works. Dick is seen joking with Barbara and Melinda, but we also see his flippant and sarcastic attitude towards criminals and people who annoy him. Additionally, Watters does a good job of balancing Nightwing’s humor with strategic thinking on and off the field to keep the story interesting.
This issue features Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini, who knock the place out. Soy has an incredibly sharp art style that adds punch to the story. A great example of this is the first page, where the epic nature of the page almost comes to life. The story’s new antagonist puppeteers Dick Grayson’s life, but Soy’s cuts make the moments seem to jump off the page. It feels really scary and shaking. Moments like this show how creative Soy can be with panel layout, being able to manipulate page space to make certain moments stand out over others.
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Not only does the battle look more vivid and raw, but it also carries more weight. Gandini does a great job of adding color to the story in a way that increases the sense of urgency. Some pages are almost foggy, adding an element of mystery, while others have a poppy feel, like a punk rock song turned into a cartoon. One of the best examples of this is near the end of the issue, when Nightwing performs incredible acrobatics to dodge lasers. This moment takes advantage of Soy’s sharp, detailed linework, and the intensity of the scene is further emphasized by the colors that blaze the page. This issue is beautifully illustrated from cover to cover.
Nightwing #119 Everything I wanted and more. Watters takes a completely different tonal direction this time around, as he builds on the foundation he laid in his previous work, but still manages to captivate his audience in the right way. Additionally, this story presents a new challenge for Nightwing: deciding which ones will come back to haunt him in the future. This is a can’t-miss issue that’s the perfect jumping-off point for readers.
“Nightwing” #119 Review: The Show Must Go On
Nightwing #119
Nightwing joins the all-in initiative with a slam dunk in the first issue, as the series’ new creative team shifts the tone of the books toward more grounded mysteries.
This story is incredibly engaging, taking a simple concept and turning it on its head to create a compelling concept.
The characters are charming and well-written, and Watters is able to give each one a unique voice that fits them perfectly.
This problem is beautiful. Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini deliver a wonderful story full of contrasting shades that balance each other out
