371
“Fallen Grayson” – Part Four
Author: Tom Taylor
Artists: Bruno Redondo and Caio Filipe
Color artist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Review by James Attias
Nightwing #117 takes us to the top of the mountain. Can Deadman and Dick find the courage and inner strength to take the leap?
A note to our loyal and devoted readers: As most of you may already know, our beloved Editor-in-Chief Steve J Ray passed away earlier this month, in honor of the great man, my mentor. I will be taking over the ongoing reviews of this title. Steve knew we both shared a passion for Nightwing, and I even took over a few issues when he was unable to. I hope, wherever Steve is now, he is reading this review and chuckling to himself at one of his favorite superhero jokes. “Nightwing’s Buddy Batman”. Steve, we miss you old buddy. I’ll make you proud.
Where were we now?
Fear is the reason for your failure
This storyline is one of the best, if not the best, of Nightwing in his 80 years of existence. I get excited every time I read an issue. This issue doesn’t have a lot of life-changing fights. No thrilling, city-saving moments. This issue shows us Dick Grayson, Boston Brand, a little Oracle, and a little Nightwing-Two. Everyone does their own thing to move the plot forward. But every word on the page, every panel is liquid gold!
I can’t stress enough how easy these issues are to read and how entertaining they are. Taylor is the best thing that has happened to Nightwing since they got rid of his disco cutout! Redondo’s art is also something to admire. It makes you want to frame it and hang it on your wall! And don’t forget the great pieces Filipe drew. Honestly, this group is cementing their status as the best team in modern comics. I can only imagine that Tom King and Daniel Sampere are the only duo that even comes close to this level of active comics writers!
Time to fly
Since this issue is 4 of 6, we don’t have much time to wrap up this story and hand it off to the next creative team with a nice bow, so we felt like we rushed some elements in this issue. But it was so well written that my only complaint is that I want more, so I can’t blame them for that. As the Heartless story nears its end, what surprises are we left with for Nightwing, Bitewing, and the gang? What would you like to see? Is it too much to ask for a quick, two-page forced wedding for Dick and Babs? That way, what’s done in this story can’t be undone almost immediately when Tom Taylor leaves the book? I live and hope.
Diploma
Nightwing #117 is a beautiful book with beautiful writing and beautiful art. Enjoy these perfect editions folks, they don’t come around as often as we’d like.
Review written in honor of Steve J Ray – May he rest in peace.
Images courtesy of DC Entertainment
