Follow

    Nightwing #17

    Nightwing » Nightwing #17 - The Long Week released by DC Comics on April 2013.

    wessaari's Nightwing #17 - The Long Week review

    Avatar image for wessaari

    Nightwing #17

    PREFACE:

    Higgins dominated his two issues in DOTF, and now Dick Grayson is on the edge and is left in a terrible position. The name of this issue "The Long Week" earns its merit as we see what Dick is going through the week after Joker's attack. Chances are, Nightwing is going to have to find a new hobby, but how is Dick Grayson handling all of this destruction in his life? He must come to terms with what he has lost and how he will move forward, but on to the review.

    PLOT:

    WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS!!!

    SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.
    The issue starts on a Wednesday, with Alfie patching up a battered Nightwing. Dick feels responsible for everyone that was hurt or died because of Joker's attack, and nothing seems to console him. Dick later goes back to Kline Industries to find Raya's body, and he brings it out to Commissioner Gordon, who asks him if he needs to talk. Dick says he will be fine. Thursday rolls around and Dick comes to visit the members of the Circus who survived a less powerful version of the Joker Venom than what Raya and Jimmy had. Marc tells Dick that he never should have stayed after CC Haly's funeral, and that the rest of the circus is done. Christina comes to console Dick, but he still remembers her smashing Nightwing with a spiked sledgehammer. She asks if he is ok, to which he says he's fine. The fires at Amusement Mile were reengaged due to the chemicals Joker used, and it will burn until there is nothing left. Dick is left financially destroyed, with the Circus the only thing he has left. Sonia's bank has agreed to pay for the funerals of those who died, and she along with Dick, Babs, and the Circus go to the funerals on Sunday. Sonia asks Dick to call her if he needs anything to which Babs says that it is just like him to not dwell on the past. Dick is in turmoil that he finds the Circus alive just so they could leave him, to which Babs tries to console him by saying he will be ok. On Tuesday, a team of illegal "extractors" go into the wreckage of Amusement Mile to find something, when Nightwing comes to stop them. Needless to say he beats them half to hell, and it is only when Damian grabs his fist that he finally stops. Damian admits that he has been following Dick and tells him that Dick isn't fine like he has been telling everyone. He is the first one to get through to Dick and makes him realize that he can't stop being who he is because of the Joker's "opinions". Wednesday comes rolling around when the team from earlier stop by "The Dealer" who is seen to collect weapons and objects from the Court of Owls, Lady Shiva, Catwoman, Penguin, and now has the the uniform of one of the Flying Graysons.

    THE GOOD:

    I found that the format of this issue was noticeably different from any other from this series, but it fits the issue almost perfectly. To see that Dick is pretty wrecked is expected, but to see his feet keep getting knocked out from under him just makes me wanna give the guy a hug. Also, for Dick to go back for Raya's body is just so freaking sad, she had so much potential but solicits indicate that someone has come back from the dead and by the looks of the cover my best guess would be Raya. It is nice to see that the Circus actually survived, but to know that they really are going to leave is such bittersweet news to someone like me; yes they are alive, but now that they are gone Nightwing can finally get out of Gotham. Initially I didn't like Sonia, but these past two issues that she was in made me like her more, and it will be interesting to see what happens to her when Dick will eventually leave Gotham. I didn't really get the excavators in Amusement Mile, but to see Dick just own the crap out of some guys is long over due, and what is even better is that it is Damian that has to stop him. To have him in the background of where Dick has been all week just goes to show the extent of their relationship, and it made me really like Damian, which doesn't happen often.

    The art wasn't my favorite but there were several scenes that I particularly like. Barrows literally had his two best issues these past couple of months and to see that he can't finish these next two issues is sad, but Brett Boothe will be taking over with issue 19 and that is something to look forward to. This just isn't my taste, as you can see from my Talon issue 2 review where Ryp did that issue as well.

    BEST STORY MOMENT: The entire talk with Damian was excellent, along with the fact that the Circus is officially over.

    BEST ART MOMENT: Nightwing going beast mode on the guys raiding the wreckage of Amusement Mile, as well as the opening page was the definition of awesome.

    THE BAD:

    I felt that this issue definitely set itself apart from others, but there were a bunch of things I didn't care for. I don't like how Alfred is seen patching up Dick which is presumably the night that they were all cured from being Jokerized. To me it doesn't make much sense. Another thing I noticed is that Babs was acting like a bit of a jerk, at a freaking funeral. I loved when Higgins took in Babs in the issues that he has had her, but this just comes to a huge surprise. I guess she can be bitter, but with Dick burying an ex, having a crush fuss at him for kissing a girl that he likes whose dad murdered his parents, while having another ex in town that he is too scared of confronting (RHTO 17), it really comes off as b^*% move. As I mentioned, I don't really grasp the premise of some crazy Dealer/Collector but it is definitely an interesting premise, but I don't know how it is going to go in issue 18.

    Art-wise, I know I don't care for Ryp's art but some of these panels just looked bad. I mean the opening page was gorgeous and then Alfred is stitching Dick up and it just looks like a huge 180. This is my second issue with him as an artist so I may not have adjusted to his style, it isn't necessarily bad but it really isn't for me.

    WORST STORY MOMENT: The whole premise of the Dealer is just not resonating with me, hopefully next issue we will get a better look at them and what they want.

    WORST ART MOMENT: The second page stands out as one of the worst pages in the book, as well as a disturbing panel of Dick while he is visiting the hospital.

    OVERALL:

    Decent issue of NW, but it is sad to see it can't keep up the momentum it had in DOTF. I have faith in Higgins and with the New 52 news saying that Nightwing has been spotted in Chicago, I am getting more and more excited. Do you guys remember a guy from Dick's past with a certain scar on his face being a huge contractor in Chicago that Dick faced in issue 3, well if you don't than check that out because I have a feeling that certain someone is going to be Dick's new reason at fighting crime. Brett Booth is going to be taking on the art duties, while Barrows takes Booth's spot on Teen Titans, and lets hope that this little switcharoo will be good for our Golden Boy, til next month, happy readings.

    STORY: 4/5

    ART: 3.5/5

    SCORE: 4/5

    (I feel like I am being really nice with this score, so in the future I will try and go back to being much harder on the issues but due to my personal preference of artists, I gave this issue some slack)

    Load Comments

    Other reviews for Nightwing #17 - The Long Week

      Shadows 0

      Nightwing #17 - The Long Week by johnkmccubbin91 on February 24, 2013

      This has been a very fun series, and although it's not been perfect it has been very good, and deserves to be one of the Bat titles out the now. I've been really happy since Dick Grayson returned as Nightwing, and I'm happy with the work that Kyle Higgins has been doing on the series.PlotIn the aftermath of Death of the Family Dick Grayson is dealing with all the terrible things Joker did to him, and the people round him trying to fix as much as he can. But Dick has a follower in current Robin, ...

      10 out of 10 found this review helpful.

      Nightwing #17 0

      Nightwing #17 - The Long Week by batwatch on February 20, 2013

      Nightwing #17Death of the Family is finally over, and we can finally see the fallout left over from Joker's rampage. A lot of people are complaining that Death of the Family has not made a lasting impact on the universe. Personally, I don't feel that every plot line has to be a game changer to justify its existence. On the other hand, almost all the authors of the various tie ins claimed that this crossover was going to affect the characters for years to come, and this is nowhere more evidenced ...

      3 out of 3 found this review helpful.
    ×

    Pick a List

    Close

    This edit will also create new pages on Comic Vine for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Comic Vine users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.