Nightwing #130 is written by Dan Watters and published by DC. Artwork is by Dexter Soy, colours by Veronica Gandini and letters by Wes Abbott. Main cover art (left) is also by Soy.
Nightwing #130 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Nightwing finds himself thrust into the unlikely role of mentor to an aspiring hero with incredible power. But is the city of Blüdhaven big enough for the both of them?
Review
It’s time to kick off a brand new arc in the pages of Dan Watters’ Nightwing #130 today. As Watters celebrates completing a full year on the book he shows no signs of slowing down. But just how high can the original Boy Wonder climb as the Cirque Du Sin storyline enters its next phase?
With an entire year under his belt there’s no arguing that Watters has made a strong impression on the character. His star may have already been on the rise before Watters came on board. But now Nightwing is a fully-fledged leader in the DC universe and that confidence exudes from the page. The opening of this latest arc is relatively low-key, especially in comparison to recent issues. But Nightwing literally makes his mark by delivering a warning to Bernard Bisogni in a cool visual moment. This is no simple Teen Titan. This is a hero with drive and purpose.
Achieving that has seen Watters develop so much of the world around Nightwing. At this stage Blüdhaven is as much a character in DC as Gotham or Metropolis. Pulling on those various threads gets things moving as we learn that Spheric Solutions and its shady CEO Olivia Pearce have been cracking down even more on local gangs. Gangs who have returned the favour by experimenting on themselves with rather monstrous consequences. Ever wondered what happens when you combine Bane’s venom with Man-Bat serum? Well wonder no more…
This ability to shift tones between crime procedural and superhero action is just part of Watters’ levelling up of the book. Through issue #130 the story weaves in and out of its more outlandish action, showing a hero protecting his city regardless of the obstacle. Adding to the complexity is the continued presence of Nightwing-Prime. This isn’t quite the direction I expected this story to go. But that unpredictability is only improving the reading experience more. Nightwing has very much become the Batman of a new generation. The only thing he has been missing is a sidekick of his own. The introduction of Bryce has presented the opportunity to tell that story but in a unique and distinctly Nightwing way.
This moment of relative calm also offers up the opportunity to touch base with the rest of the DCU. Though Nightwing is front and centre in both this series and Teen Titans, this book in particular has existed more in isolation over the past few months. Aside from seeing Dexter Soy drawing the Justice League it’s great to see Nightwing interacting with his peers. What’s also great is seeing them treating him as an equal. It just drives home how far the character has come in the past few years.
Speaking of Soy, Watters really challenges him to show Nightwing and Blüdhaven at their best this month. Veronica Gandini bathes the issue in that luscious red hue which has become a signature colour for the series. But it’s Soy doing the heavy lifting as Watters veers from acrobatics, to action to huge cameos and beyond. Nightwing #130 throws everything at the page. But it does it with such rewarding and joyous results.
Verdict
Dan Watters continues to elevate Nightwing with strong character development and world-building, further establishing the hero as a central focus for the DCU. Issue #130 balances crime procedural elements with superhero action, supported by Dexter Soy’s dynamic artwork and Veronica Gandini’s signature bold colours.
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