Nightwing #111 is written by Tom Taylor and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Sami Basri with inks and finishes by Vincente Cifuentes (p6-7, 9-22). Colours by Adriano Lucas and letters are by Wes Abbott. Main cover art (left) is by Bruno Redondo. The book features a backup written by Michael W. Conrad with artwork by Francesco Francavilla and letters by Abbott.
Nightwing #111 is available now, in print and on digital where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Something’s very wrong with Nightwing and it’s starting to catch up to him. Can the world’s greatest detective help him figure out what’s going on before it’s too late? Plus: The Plague has left 14th Century Europe in chaos, as a young man known only as the Son of Gray hunts the man who killed his father. A story of revenge, told in two parts.
Review
This week’s Nightwing arrives following the bittersweet news that Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo will be moving on later this year. We’ve got two arcs to go before we reach the end though. So this week Taylor, alongside artist Sami Basri, kicks off his penultimate story arc with a deeply personal tale with ties to the past, present and future of the character.
Following the Beast World event Taylor is closing ranks, drawing in the scale of the story and putting the focus back on Nightwing. As we saw in the issues leading up to Beast World, Dick has lost his ability to jump. Something which has gone, so far, unexplained but appears to be key to the final arc of the booked, already known to be dubbed “Fallen Grayson”. But there’s also the problem of Heartless which still needs to be dealt with. That’s the problem we come right back to as a killing takes place in Gotham seemingly tied to Blüdhaven serial killer.
Here’s where Taylor, already one of the hottest writers in comics today, really strikes deep in to our hearts. The murderer left behind a child at the scene. When Bruce stumbles across the crime scene it immediately parallels his own experience as a child. But it simultaneously draws similarity to his experience of seeing the Graysons murdered in front of their son. These parallels underpin the rest of Nightwing #111 as both Dick and Bruce call on their previous experiences to manage the situation.
Whilst Heartless removes the hearts of his victims, Dick uses his to great effect even through his crime fighting. His empathy for victims and his understanding of loss are what sets him apart from Bruce. Whilst Bruce reacts clinically, Dick reacts with a warmth and human connection which shines through incredibly in Taylor’s story.
By comparison is recent issues Nightwing #111 is low on action. There’s no adventure on the high seas. No Titans back up to save the world against a mortal enemy. Instead it’s a very deeply affecting portrait of a character who has become one of DC’s finest.
Basri does a scintillating job of living up to the dynamic style of the book. Aided by the familiar colours of Wes Abbott, Basri keeps the clean look of Nightwing alive. Though there’s less action, the sense of fluidity and movement still exists within the panels. Crucially, Basri’s ability to communicate emotion through facial expressions is effortless. There’s never any doubt about exactly what Dick, Bruce or any of the characters in this book are feeling. Sublime.
The backup story from Michael W. Conrad appears to focus on a distant relative of Dick’s. Set in 14th century Normandy, the story follows the titular Son of Gray as he searches for his father’s killer. Going to be difficult to talk about this one without spoiling. So let’s just say that Conrad certainly knows how to hook an audience right out of the gate. It certainly seems that vigilantism is in the blood when it comes to the Graysons and this story is seeking to explore that. Francavilla’s art style is a million miles away from the main story. It’s dark and edgy. It’s everything Basri’s art isn’t and I love that in two contrasting stories like this.
Verdict
A rich and heartfelt first chapter in Taylor’s penultimate arc of Nightwing. A heartfelt story which speaks to the core Dick Grayson as a character. Striking words, rendered with beautiful artwork.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
