Nightwing #82 Review

 

The Swinging Grayson

Writer: Tom Taylor

Artist: Bruno Redondo

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 20, 2021

After the last issue's cliffhanger, I didn't know what to think. Undoubtedly, the idea that Melinda Zucco is Dick Grayson's sister couldn't be real, right?  However, it did get me fired up to read this issue, and now that it's here, what's going on?  Let's find out...

I will try not to spoil too much here, but it doesn't look like Melinda was lying.  I mean, we aren't going to get Melinda and Dick on Maury to prove it 100% here, but from what we see, the story checks out.  However, checking out doesn't mean good.

I know people have loved this run of Tom Taylor's so far, but for me, this takes things a bit too far.  The issue starts great, showing at least half of the DCU swooping into Bludhaven to save Dick because his mask has been removed.  It's both clever and awesome and shows that Tom Taylor gets the biggest superpower at Dick's disposal...everyone loves him!  As we get into the story, though, things are not so great.

Again without spoiling things, this issue kind of turns the Flying Graysons into the Swinging Graysons, and no matter how quick Taylor tries to shove it in and run, it tarnishes their legacy.  Maybe some people won't care, and I know this sort of thing has been done before, but it felt unnecessary and just rubbed me the wrong way.

The rubbing continues when Taylor sets up that all of this is a major reason why Tony Zucco ever got involved with the Grayson's and eventually killed them. As a reference, this felt a bit like Brian Michael Bendis' take that Jor-El was a big part in the destruction of Krypton. I didn't like that, and I don't like this. It's just a bit too much.  Through all of this, Dick barely reacts.  Sure, he might be in a bit of shock and needs more time to investigate/think things over, but all he thinks about is what Melinda's mom would do if she knew her daughter was a criminal.  No thoughts on his parents and what ultimately lead to their murder.

The issue continues and ends with Blockbuster coming to pay a visit, but, oddly, this shouldn't be something terrible for Melinda since she seemed to be on Roland's side.  I guess we will have to wait and see on that.

I don' like the retcon with Dick's parents and Tony Zucco here at all.  Maybe we will find out more later, and perhaps I will get used to it, but just having thrown in Dick's face with little to no reaction felt off. The art in the book was fantastic, but the story left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Bits and Pieces:

Tom Taylor throws some changes to Dick Grayson and his history, and while I usually love everything he does, he lost me on this one.  Maybe we're not getting the whole truth here, but first impressions and all just left me shaking my head reading this.

6.0/10