Nightwing #131 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 #131 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
Blüdhaven is changing. A new hero rises under Nightwing’s watchful eye while the mayor vows to wipe out crime and restore order. The streets of Bludhaven are quieter, even cleaner, but a new darkness is creeping in beneath it all. An old enemy is pulling the mayor’s strings…and is about to make themselves known.
Review
Dick Grayson’s journey to becoming a father figure and mentor continue with the release of Nightwing #131 this week. Dan Watters continues to push DC’s hottest star as his “Cirque du Sin” arc begins to show signs of reaching a dramatic conclusion. Is Nightwing-Prime going to be the weapon Dick needs to save Blüdhaven from this existential meta-threat?
Yet again Watters is taking Nightwing to new places with another issue that neatly balances overarching story with character development. Issue #131 splits itself well between Nightwing and Nightwing-Prime enabling both stories to gently nudge forwards. Using Oracle as connective tissue between all the different plot threads ties everything together in a way which is genuinely satisfying to read. Watters approach to Nightwing continues to echo some of my favourite eras of Batman and Detective Comics with a world of supporting characters who are honestly compelling.
There’s something equally compelling about how Nightwing is telling an episodic story wrapped within the sprawling “Cirque du Sin” arc. Serialised elements are able to sit authentically alongside each monthly chapter without discord. As a child of heavily serialised storytelling like The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer this fits perfectly in my sweet spot. Here Watters uses that approach to fold Killer Moth into the story for some brilliant action sequences. These moments also find Watters toying with the tone of the book, his use of language giving nods to Batman ‘66 and campier incarnations of the character.
Nightwing-Prime has quickly become a central character to the series. I do get the sense he will be important to the “Cirque du Sin” endgame. But for now Watters is focussing on his vigilante training. The opportunity to reflect back to Dick his own behaviours from when he was a child is brilliant. It adds a new layer of complexity to the storytelling which reflects a different side of Dick’s character. I said something similar in my review of last month’s issue but this approach just furthers Dick’s journey to become a successor to Batman as one of the biggest names in comics.
After successfully navigating aspects of Killer Moth and Nightwing-Prime, the issue circles back to “Cirque du Sin” to setup a strong cliffhanger ending. Nightwing #131 breaks out of its own confines to grasp at threads in the wider DCU. We saw the book making those tentative connections last month with the arrival of the Justice League. Now Watters is taking it one step further by capitalising on events taking place elsewhere. That culminates in a striking final image which seems to herald a rather important confrontation on the horizon.
The synergy between Watters and artist Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini is the crowning jewel for Nightwing. It’s yet another atmospheric and dynamic issue which feels just so full of life. I don’t know how he does it but Soy somehow manages to simultaneously remind me of my favourite 00’s era comics whilst at the same time looking so contemporary. The action sequence featuring the Mothmarine and the Nightwing Boat is a joy to behold on the page. Whilst that striking final page sums up everything this creative team has been working towards beautifully.
Verdict
Watters continues elevating Nightwing with smart serialised storytelling that balances character development and superhero action perfectly. Soy and Gandini’s artwork remains the book’s crowning jewel, delivering a visually stunning issue with a killer final page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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