Nightwing #72 Review

Can Someone Erase My Memory?

Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Ronan Cliquet
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 14, 2020

Well, I can only hope that the Joker War puts this ridiculous Ric Grayson thing to bed once and for all.  If it does, can we all promise never to mention it again?  If it doesn't, on the other hand, I will lose my mind (or what little is left) and leave my favorite hero behind, which is something I never thought I would do.  This bullshit has gone on for almost two years.  TWO YEARS!!!  Two months was too long, but TWO YEARS?!?!?!?  Whoever came up with it should be fired immediately, and if it was somebody who DC already fired (Dan Didio), rehire him so they can fire him again!  Alright, that made me feel a little better.  On with the review...


Besides all this Ric Grayson stuff, one of the biggest problems with this book has been the constant recap in every issue.  It's as if DC Comics thinks the only reason this book doesn't sell is that nobody knows what's going on.  Here is a tip for Dan Jurgens and DC... the reason it isn't selling is that fans know what's going on!  Dick's the lucky one who lost his memories, not me!

However, I do understand that with this book tying into the Joker War, new readers may be confused, but I have read all the other tie-in Journey to the Joker War issues, and none have been so recapped heavy.  If you aren't planning on reading the Joker War, there is no reason to read this, and that's a failure in my book.  

Besides recapping everything in a talk-out-loud, so it sounds odd sort of way, the story involves Bea making a huge burning Bat-Signal in the park that attracts nobody but Barbara Gordon so they can talk about Ric.  The two gals go back and forth, establish Ric is acting funny (even though he says he sent the Joker packing), and Babs goes back to Gotham to find him.  

The issue gets a bit more interesting when Batgirl finds Ric, who is in cahoots with the Joker and Punchline, which is no surprise after the last issue.  The issue then ends, and we are left wondering what will happen to Barbara and how it could make sense against what we say at the end of her last solo issue.  

This book has been going for 72 issues, and it's only good enough to be a setup for the Joker War tie-in now.  After slogging through the Year of the Villain story to repeat it with the Joker (it's pretty much the same story) is ridiculous, and this book is 100% insult to anyone who is a Dick Grayson/Nightwing fan.

Bits and Pieces:

This book continues to be a slap in the face to Nightwing fans, and if you aren't planning on reading the Joker War, don't bother with this issue.  Even if you are, this is just a recap-heavy issue that feels like it's on auto-pilot.  There doesn't seem to be any heart left in this book, and fans deserve more than going through the motions each month.  It's sad how many DC books I can say that exact statement about right now!!!

3.5/10