REVIEW: ‘Nightwing,’ Issue #94

Nightwing #94 from DC Comics begins the war that will rock Bludhaven. Yes, this is clearly part three of a multi-part storyline, but within these pages is where the fire of the battles to come is set. Before this, we were offered setup and posturing, threats, and foreshadowing. The previous issue lit a spark while giving us some action. Now, cue the bloodshed, the sacrifices. People will pay so that Blockbuster can hold onto his power.

So this issue begins with an interrogation. Bludhaven’s attorney general, versus one of the city’s cops who vandalized a statue in Grayson’s Haven. A name is given up: Bludhaven Commissioner MacLean. Now, there’s a lot of dealing and machinations behind the scenes, but this scene is eye-opening. Bludhaven, arguably the most crooked metropolis in DC’s America, does actually have a functional legal system. It’s there, and with proper coaxing, it will truly work to do its duty. Another reason I found this appealing is that, while this is a superhero book, this issue shows it takes a village, even the legal end of one, to fend off society’s ills. We so often get heroes in bad neighborhoods or cities, but the focus remains on them, rarely the citizens. Comics don’t like to expand the focus to how many people it really takes to enact justice. This should be a concurrent theme right alongside crimefighting masks.

Taylor opened up this particular can of worms and, in doing so, acknowledged that even Bludhaven’s grime can sing a new tune. Forces switch sides with quickness, and as MacLean tries to flee, he encounters Nightwing, who rightly should be in the role of chase and combat. But the before and afters of this wonderful issue spotlight the attorney general, Mayor Zucco, and Oracle, along with how Blockbuster and company respond. That response is better read by you than having me spoil it. 

Nightwing #94 begins great and ends with a bang. In between is a fast-paced cat-and-mouse chase well plotted and artistically choreographed by Borges. Now, there’s a touch more grit, an intensity in the use of shorter lines from Borges than one finds from Redondo. Still, with the fun pop coloring from Lucas and clarity of lettering from Abbott, we’ve come to rely on you almost didn’t notice Redondo was missing from this issue. Almost. Those extra lines point the way, and they’re nice to see. Borges adds just enough of a crease into his rendition of Bludhaven and the title character to let us know he’s in control, and hopefully, they’ll come back to enlighten us some more in future issues.

Nightwing #94 does no wrong, pulls no punches, and knows how to escalate a plot. Nothing fancy happens here. The storytelling is simply laid out straightforward with no fuss, nothing confusing. One event leads to another, as it should. The art team had a lot of moods and styles to toy with, and certain comparisons between Blockbuster and others, the chase scene, plus that ending and how it played out…beautiful. I will hold out to see how this fallout will differ from the first one in the old 90s Nightwing series, but so far, so awesome. Nothing is broken. Everything is sharp, so don’t attempt a fix. Anxious for next month’s issue and waiting for how Heartless will capitalize on this conflict.

Nightwing #94 is available now wherever comic books are sold.