Nightwing #134 is written by Dan Watters and published by DC. Artwork is by V Ken Marion, colours by Veronica Gandini and letters by Wes Abbott. Main cover art (left) is also by Dexter 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
In the heart of the Cirque du Sin, a carnival game is played for the souls of Blüdhaven’s children. But whether Nightwing wins or loses, the outcome of this game will have repercussions for his city forever.
Review
We’re back in Blüdhaven today for the latest chapter in Dan Watters’ “Cirque du Sin” arc of DC’s Nightwing. With the former Boy Wonder trapped in the nightmarish realm of the circus, it’s up to Batgirl and Martian Manhunter to protect the city’s streets as events from the Cirque bleed into our world. As the series tees up the endgame for this arc, it’s not holding back, and the results are cataclysmic.
Picking up right where we left off, Nightwing is now deep inside the Cirque du Sin—wherever that is. His presence has certainly left our plane of existence, and that leaves a big hole in Blüdhaven. The issue flip-flops between unexpected events in the city and Nightwing’s very personal journey into the heart of the circus. In doing so, Watters continues to capitalise on one of his biggest assets: Nightwing’s supporting cast, keeping the tension high. Over the course of his run—building on the work of Tom Taylor—the book has really shifted from a solo focus to an ensemble cast, perfectly teeing up a story like this.
It’s fun to look back at Watters’ early issues and see how “Cirque du Sin” has built an enthralling sense of pace. It started slowly, giving the audience more information than our hero, with Zanni literally pulling the strings behind every page. That was issue #119, over a year ago. Watters has utilised over twelve months of storytelling to ramp the story—and the audience—up to this point, and it really feels like the payoff is now within our grasp.
What’s also rewarding within that potential payoff is how Watters is sticking to his guns with Nightwing’s ensemble. Whilst Dick is rightly the cover star and carries the weight of the main narrative on his shoulders, the time and effort put into building up Barbara, Maggie, Olivia, and Nightwing-Prime isn’t squandered in order to refocus solely on Nightwing himself as the story begins to wrap up. Whilst there is still one chapter to go, it’s very clear that Watters is steering toward a collective conclusion these characters deserve.
Ongoing artist Dexter Soy returns next month for his Nightwing swan song, but this month we have V Ken Marion aboard as artist. Marion’s style feels in a similar wheelhouse to Soy, making him a natural fit to step in for a couple of issues. Nightwing retains some of its more angular, Eastern influence, and with Veronica Gandini still providing colours, the consistency between issues is flawless. The faded quality of the colouring for scenes inside the Cirque is a neat touch to delineate between worlds, aided by some clever framing. Panels inside the Cirque are more tightly framed, focusing heavily on facial reactions and close-up action, whilst scenes in Blüdhaven pull back to reveal the unfolding chaos. It’s blockbuster storytelling at its best.
Verdict
Watters drives “Cirque du Sin” toward its finale with a bold, ensemble-driven chapter that balances Nightwing’s personal descent into the circus with chaos spilling across Blüdhaven. V Ken Marion and Veronica Gandini elevate the spectacle, making this feel like a blockbuster issue rather than a simple stepping stone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
