Nightwing #25 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins
Art by: Will Conrad and Cliff Richards
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 13, 2013

Teamwork Helps You Win, Not Arguments

Young Dick is a real...jerk.  His ego has caused a rift between his friends and also to disobey his parents.  He just thinks he can do everything better by himself.  This Zero Year issue shows the reader and young Dick Grayson that a hero needs to depend on others to truly be great.  At the end he knows, and knowing is half the battle.

Kyle Higgins uses this Zero Year tie-in to show how a young Dick Grayson made the steps to becoming a hero.  What I like about it is this is before his Parent's murder.  It shows that while their murder was the final straw, the boy who would become the first Robin already was developing into a future do gooder.

The action features Amygdala and is pretty intense.  Higgins has given Dick an enemy that he can't hope to beat, especially head on.  To a bunch of young kids, what could be more frightening than a uncontrollable brute bent on ripping them apart.   Of course, Dick rises to the occasion using his smarts, bravery and acrobatic skills.

What I didn't like about the issue was how heavy handed it was.  It came off like a GI Joe PSA (hence the intro).  Everything just seemed like a setup.  Dick doesn't rely on others, goes and sees a movie with a Superhero TEAM, is saved by a TEAM of kids when Gotham goes dark, and TEAMWORK saves the day.  Of course, throw in the kid who acts like Dick used to (all but two hours earlier) and he quickly sees the err of his ways.  Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this issue, but it is far from subtle.

Bits and Pieces:

Kyle Higgins uses Zero Year to tell the story of a young Dick Grayson learning to be a man and a hero.  It is nice to see him pre Robin in the New 52.  However, it's a shame the story had to be so heavy handed.  Higgins has given us so many great Nightwing moments in the past couple of years, but unfortunately this one seems like a missed opportunity.  This issue is by no means necessary as a Zero Year tie-in, but Nightwing fans will probably like the early look at their favorite crimefighter.

5.5/10