Nightwing (2016-) #119

Nightwing (2016) (Single Issues)

by Dan Watters, Dexter Soy (artist)

Blüdhaven has erupted in violence as rival gangs vie to fill the power vacuum left by Nightwing’s cleanup of corrupt officials. But is an outside force turning the gangs against each other, escalating the violence in Blüdhaven toward even more sinister ends? To find out, Nightwing must do the unthinkable—no matter the cost. Don’t miss the start of this groundbreaking new arc that will redefine what it means to be a hero.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2024

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun exciting start with Nightwing trying to protect the mobsters around his city simply because the police are about to be a bigger problem with their new weapons. It's fun, snarky Nightwing, good art and fight scenes. Pretty much what I was hoping for with the relaunch.

[Haris Kozo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool set up but not as fresh as I'd hoped

[Mohammad Anas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

ON WITH THE SHOW 1. CURTAIN UP

Dan Watters takes over the writing from Tom Taylor...and it's an interesting and literally explosive opening part.

[Nightwing’s Thiccness · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice relaunch. Doesn’t feel like usual relaunches with new writers introducing characters we were already familiar with. Reptilian gang is probably my favorite of the issue.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Instantly better than Tom Taylor run. The art is great too. This is going to be a fun series for sure. I can't wait!

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. I like the set up.
Not sure if it's the art style or the colouring that I wasn't a fan of.
I'll buy in trade

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
fine start. not my favorite but seeing as tom taylor’s run set my standards ridiculously high i’ll give it another few issues to pick up.

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's going to be a tough adjustment after Williamson's epic run, but this is promising. The art is mostly done really well except for a few weird faces. It's still Nightwing. Still quippy. Maybe a bit edgier. Slightly darker. Could be fun.

I knocked off a star because militarizing the "most corrupt police force" feels like a huge slide backward toward Future & Fear State and I hated both of them. But, I'm super curious about our Harlequin show runner.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, I’m using this as the jumping on point for Nightwing with DC all in. If I’m not mistaken this is a new creative team, and so far it has peaked my interest. It’s already done better world building than the new teen titans team, as I didn’t even realize the new titans tower was in bludhaven now. But that is not where our main focus lies, as this issue first introduces us to nightwings new threat. The first page gives us a glimpse at a mysterious puppet master figure. He is dressed like a porcelain marionette and he seems to know everything about Dick Grayson. His life in the circus, to being Batman’s Robin, to growing up and becoming Nightwing and being a leader for the titans. But it seems this is not satisfactory to him $3 doesn’t like Nightwing like this, he seemed to prefer his when he was a “dancing imp of a child,” as Robin.

But that just sets up the backdrop for this story, the overarching threat. The story really gets moving when we see a meeting of all the heads of organized crime in the city. This wacky lot have all come together and chopped up the scores, so they can all work together and make a ton of money. They’ve really moved up in the world, and as quickly as we met them we also saw their downfall, as Nightwing busted in to rain on their parade. But that didn’t last long, as while Nightwing was fighting he noticed a stack of plastic explosives placed under the meeting desk. From the sneer of the puppet master it seems he was responsible, and Dick was only able to make it out at the last second. None of the other crime bosses did.

In one fail swoop all of the organized crime in bludhaven was dismantled, and now chaos from the under bosses and gangbangers will just spread to the streets with no one to keep them in check. Dick’s sister, the mayor of bludhaven, is fully aware of this and is trying to find a way to stop it before election season. Even if it means excepting gifts from Olivia Pearce, which Dick barged into a meeting about. CEO of Spheric Solutions, and on the front line of weapons made to combat super heroes. With the looming watch tower and locations such as titans tower, why should a company offer peace of mind? After Olivia leaves Melinda shows Dick the plans, and they are insane, it would be militarizing the police force.

So that night Dick decides to take matters into his own hands. Gang violence is on the surge so he goes to each gang, lays out a few of their members then offers them a deal. None of the other gangs were behind the hit, it was someone external. Don’t mess with any of the other gang’s territory and let him find out who did it. If they do move in on their turf they can call him at the special device he gives them. Honestly this was such an insane and cool power move. All of the gangs are basically looking to him now for the peace to continue while he gives them a head to fry. That night Dick also pays a visit to the office and of Spheric solutions to check out what they have. Technically Dick was invited earlier by the CEO, so it isn’t breaking in. What he finds is disproportionately powerful to what this city deals with on the streets. Nano-drone swarms. Black noise sonic cannons. Way overkill, and he gets a person test run of the robot security system with laser guns. But he isn’t just talking to oracle on his comm. He is also being watched by Olivia and the creepy puppet master we saw at the start of the issue. And of course they have a plastic explosive planted just for him!

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tras una etapa tan emblemática para el personaje como la de Tom Taylor con Bruno Redondo de dibujante titular, hay que aplaudir que Dan Watters busque ser bastante consecuente con el hecho de mantener a Dick totalmente inmerso en la protección de las calles de Blüdhaven tras tantos eventos causados por Blockbuster y Heartless. Lo cual ha derivado en un potencial concilio de bandas criminales que son sentenciadas por un nuevo jugador misterioso en este peligroso juego. Azuzando con más fuerza la violencia en las calles entre estos criminales. Por lo cual, a la alcaldesa (y recordemos que hermanastra de Dick) se le acerca un potencial socio armamentístico ofreciéndole equipo para no verse superado por esta situación. ¿Quién está tras esta nueva debacle para la ciudad protegida por Nightwing?

Más allá de lo divertido que es ver como Dick trata de "calmar las aguas" entre criminales erigiéndose también como su protector (buenas alusiones a Batman). Me gusta como Dan Watters vuelve a hacer gala de su interés como autor de dar más rienda suelta a tramas y personajes ligados a un suspense e incluso terror que suele ser relacionable a todo el microverso de Batman, pero en años recientes vemos de forma más contada. Y el hecho de ligar esto a la idiosincrasia circense de Dick puede ofrecer mucho para este nuevo panorama de la cabecera.

[Nicolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new writer on Nightwing, is more of a "tell guy", than a "show guy." Normally, you'd like a writer work with artist to show more rather than tell. Comic books are a visual medium after all.

I miss Taylot and Redondo on this book already. Taylor trusted Redondo to tell their story with his art. That came after a career of working together in other books.

Someday, I hope this new creative team can find a way to work to their strengths. Dexter Soy is more than capable and the reason I tried their first issue. I hope to have my copy signed by him someday.

[Veronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starker Einstieg! Dexter Soys kantigeres, more gritty artwork passt perfekt zu Watters düsterer Stimmung.
Eine 180° Grad Wendung zu dem heiteren, fluffigen Tom Taylor run, aber persönlich finde ich das genau richtig. Der Tom Taylor run ist mir nämlich ein wenig zu... zuckrig.
Ich liebe Melinda Zucco und hoffe sie bleibt noch lange ein reccurring character in Blüdhaven. :)

[Nasya · Rating 4 out of 5]

woah, this felt fresh

[_Liebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun stuff, could go in all the right ways or not

[Vijay Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guess marriage arc is on hold in favor of Nightwing crime lord arc lol

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the art, I’m sat for this run <3

[Django · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might like this art even more than Bruno Redondo’s and that’s saying a lot

[Puffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent start from Watters, though I'll have to read more of his Nightwing before I can decide if I like his style over Taylors

[mire · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5) I really like the conflict they’re setting up here

[rafaela (taylor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[tee (rin's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

dexter soy draws like he did it with one hand and im not complaining

[Gabriel Dickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing start to the run. The new antagonist looks REALLY interesting.

[brano · Rating 4 out of 5]

70% - it was a decent start

[Shazne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new creative team has taken over Nightwing, and this is everything I've been waiting for to jump on board with the Boy Wonder. The writing and art are gritty, dynamic and exciting!