Comic Vine Review

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Nightwing #30 - Setting Son

3

It's the end of NIGHTWING. Feels more like a prologue for the next series rather than a conclusion to this volume.

The Good

Good news and bad news for Dick Grayson fans. As we all wondered what Dick's fate would be once once he was captured by the Crime Syndicate and his secret identity was revealed, word has gotten out what his next phase would be. NIGHTWING may be ending but we'll soon see Dick starring in a new role in GRAYSON, also written by Tim Seeley.

Seeley introduces us to a different section of the New 52 Universe. We see Leslie Thompkins come across a group who's name translates into "The Fist of Cain." (I may be totally reading into it too much but I can't help but think about that name more than maybe I should). We are also introduced to another "new" character (or a new version of a character). Changes in the New 52 are not new so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. I have to admit my curiosity has been aroused a bit. As Dick prepares for the next phase of his career, there's going to be some big repercussions in the long run.

Speaking of the new character's design, of course I'm torn. Not for the reason some will have. I dug the character before. This is clearly a different take on her, which is fine. We've come to accept that now in the New 52. Or at least some of us have. Of course there is the question as to why change a character instead of create a new one. With the minor appearances she makes, you can feel her presence and attitude. Her presence in GRAYSON is something I will be looking forward to. Mikel Janin's pencils are really nice in the final part, which also gives something else to look forward to.

The Bad

This should not have been the final issue of NIGHTWING. Last issue felt like a more fitting end. This should have been GRAYSON #0. There is a deep contrasting change in the tone in the opening pages set in the Congo. Part of this issue feel all over the place. There is a lot to juggle with ending one direction and setting up the next while including the aftermath of FOREVER EVIL. The members of the Fist of Cain felt a little over the top. That's not necessarily a bad thing but you have to wonder if this is the sort of villains Dick will face and the tone of GRAYSON.

During Bruce and Dick's conversation, things got a little out of hand. They basically thrashed the place. Bruce manages to kick a motorcycle in half. All this while having a conversation. The reason for Dick's change is interesting. There definitely is potential here. The execution in how it has to happen leaves a slightly sour taste. Hopefully we'll see the rest of the Bat-Family's reaction to this and their eventual discovery of the truth. From the way FOREVER EVIL #7 played out, Catwoman, Lex, Cyborg, and members of the Justice League and Justice League of America should know Dick's still alive. But the rest of the Bat-Family won't? Perhaps something more happened off panel? (That isn't a direct critique for this issue).

The change in art was a little distracting. The 'conversation' scene between Bruce and Dick felt a little muddy at times. Shifting artists is always a distraction for me.

The Verdict

Change is in the air. It's not a secret that I'm not super-crazy about the changes coming for Dick Grayson. The idea of Dick joining Spyral is definitely intriguing. Tim Seeley introduces us to aspects of the new direction we can expect when the new series, GRAYSON, debuts. There is definitely potential in what's coming up along with the new interpretation of a character that appears here. Unfortunately this issue was a little all over the place in closing out the previous volume and setting up the new one. It didn't feel like a NIGHTWING issue and that might not have been the intention. This isn't the final issue of NIGHTWING I wanted but I will be checking out what's next for sure.

26 Comments

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deactivated-5edd330f57b65

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Eh. I'd rather have more Nightwing than seeing him in spyral. Dick Grayson is not a freaking spy. Why not just make superman a detective and wonder woman an assassin while you're at it.

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daredevil21134

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@jayc1324 said:

Eh. I'd rather have more Nightwing than seeing him in spyral. Dick Grayson is not a freaking spy. Why not just make superman a detective and wonder woman an assassin while you're at it.

lol

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2cool4fun

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@jayc1324: I agree. Well I'm still interested to see what they will do, but this was my all time favorite Nightwing run, and it ended just when it got to it's best point.

He had his own villains, his own supporting cast, his own city, but noooooooooo, Johns wanted to reveal his identity >__>

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inferiorego

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inferiorego  Staff

Next month, Wonder Woman becomes a carnival barker in WONDER WOMAN: PARADISE CARNIVAL.

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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

Guess it really gets hot in the Congo.

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TheCheeseStabber

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inferiorego

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Edited By inferiorego  Staff

@g_man said:

Guess it really gets hot in the Congo.

Too hot, that's why you have to wear half-shirts and weird facemasks.

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kennybaese

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Huh, it's interesting that they gave this issue to the creative team on the new Grayson book. I wonder if the delay from Forever Evil gave them time to throw out James Tynion's script in the interest of basically making it Grayson #0.

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Cade_Calrayn

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@inferiorego: The point of that outfit was to blend in with the crazy people. Her real outfit is on the final page.

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inferiorego

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@inferiorego: The point of that outfit was to blend in with the crazy people. Her real outfit is on the final page.

Oh, I know. I still want to poke fun at it though.

Her real outfit is pretty awesome.

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Krypton-115

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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

@kennyshat: I think they threw out more than just the script. Think art might've been started on it but who knows.

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Knightfall225

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Not the best issue, but it got me excited for Grayson!

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knightofthechronicle

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Yeah all and all I felt that the last issue should have been THE last issue. Higgins left it on a very high note and it felt generally like a goodbye issue for Nightwing. Either way though I'm really excited to pick this up, looking forward to Grayson especially.

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KnightofSteel

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I was really looking forward to reading this but after I did all I could mutter was... "ugh". The violence was ridiculous, and the dialogue made me cringe. The last few pages however do have me a little intrigued as to the forthcoming Grayson series, but not enough to get too excited about it. Again...ugh, I paid $4 for this?

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Alak

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I agree that this issue should've have more closure to Higgins' Nightwing run. The ending, however, makes me pretty excited to see how the new Grayson series will turn out. We know (at the moment) that he's still employing non-lethal tactics and that he'll be going up against pretty deadly mercenaries. My wish is that his new profession will have him cross paths with Deathstroke because if there's one thing Dick's missing, it's having an archnemesis.

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tximinoman

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That cover looks more like a Bat-Woman cover than a Nightwing cover.

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deactivated-5d45fd7ce1a16

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@jayc1324 said:

Eh. I'd rather have more Nightwing than seeing him in spyral. Dick Grayson is not a freaking spy. Why not just make superman a detective and wonder woman an assassin while you're at it.

lol

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Brione

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Edited By Brione

The fight was wayyyyyy over the top and some of what Batman said just didn't seem like him at all. Why didn't they have the fight in the training room? It almost ruined the issue for me but other than that I really enjoyed this comic and I'm excited for Grayson.

They should have made this issue Grayson #0 and ended Nightwing after #29 which was a great comic.

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DEGRAAF

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@jayc1324: I agree. Well I'm still interested to see what they will do, but this was my all time favorite Nightwing run, and it ended just when it got to it's best point.

He had his own villains, his own supporting cast, his own city, but noooooooooo, Johns wanted to reveal his identity >__>

this seems to be how it ends every time for Dick Grayson...

@cade_calrayn said:

@inferiorego: The point of that outfit was to blend in with the crazy people. Her real outfit is on the final page.

Oh, I know. I still want to poke fun at it though.

Her real outfit is pretty awesome.

could you post a scan of her real outfit?

@alak said:

I agree that this issue should've have more closure to Higgins' Nightwing run. The ending, however, makes me pretty excited to see how the new Grayson series will turn out. We know (at the moment) that he's still employing non-lethal tactics and that he'll be going up against pretty deadly mercenaries. My wish is that his new profession will have him cross paths with Deathstroke because if there's one thing Dick's missing, it's having an archnemesis.

this would be awesome

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SilverPool

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Edited By SilverPool

That cover looks more like a Bat-Woman cover than a Nightwing cover.

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detective38

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The fight was a little over the top and the issue left me a littke confused but ill still get rhe new series

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kennybaese

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@g_man: Wouldn't surprise me. It would explain the multiple artists on the issue.

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DEGRAAF

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i would really like to know why and see scans of Bruce and Dick fighting

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deactivated-097092725

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It was the dialogue during the fight I had a hard time accepting.

As for the new take on an old character, I am just confused. Flat out confused. Do writers really have that much leeway when it comes to changing them? Because I can point out something from after the new52 which negates what they did in this issue. Enough to have me doubting it is her. Or the new her.

See? Confused.