Nightwing #107 Review

      

      

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Stephen Byrne
Colors by: Adriano Lucas
Letters by: Wes Abbott
Cover art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: October 17, 2023

Nightwing #107 takes to the high Seas when Dick learns the secret origin behind the name Blüdhaven and Bea's price for getting the secret safety deposit box.
Is Nightwing #107 Good?

Remember when Nightwing used to be a cool counterpoint to Batman? Remember when Nightwing had all Batman's training, access to resources, and know-how but a more balanced personality? Remember when you could enjoy a Nightwing comic as good enough to stand on its own without coming off like a less-good Batman spinoff? I remember, and after reading Nightwing #107, I'm still waiting for those days to return.

When last we left Dick Grayson, Zucco's attempts to rob Gringotts with the help of Heartless turned sour. Captain Blüd died in the robbery attempt, and the Zucco/Hearltess team got away, despite the least amount of effort from Nightwing to catch them.

Now, we learn Bea is the captain's adopted daughter, so she's the new Captain Blüd. Nightwing figures out Blüdhaven is a protracted version of Blüd's Haven, which means the Captain Blüd mantle has been operating in town for a long time. Bea's price for giving Nightwing the safety deposit bank box with his name on it is the capture of her adoptive brother, who may try to claim the Captain Blüd mantle for himself.

       

Watch our Nightwing #107 Review

The startling development in this issue is just how much Tom Taylor is beginning to paint Nightwing like a cheerful buffoon. The years of extensive detecting training are nowhere to be found as Nightwing fails to notice obvious clues (He never noticed a connection between Captain Blüd and Blüdhaven???), fails to prevent his capture by a group of low-tier pirates, and fails to even dress himself properly because he didn't bother to check the cupboard supplied to him.

Where is the Batman level of capabilities without all the dark angst? Where is the future leader of the Justice League? Oy!

What's great about Nightwing #107? 

Despite the eye-rolling plot development, more information about Blüdhaven is positive. We often hear that Blüdhaven is effectively Gotham City lite, but giving the city some history and texture is a boon for fans of DC lore.

What's not so great about Nightwing #107?

 Tom Taylor seems determined to make Nightwing into a clownish shell of a hero. Truly, Dick Grayson was more formidable in his younger Robin years than he is here, and it's a shame.

How's the art?

 It's fine, albeit bland. Byrne does an adequate job with the anatomy work and the very brief bits of action, but Lucas's color palette selection is washed out and flat.


About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces:

Nightwing #107 fills in interesting tidbits about Blüdhaven's history, and the mediocre plot makes sense, but Tom Taylor's character work makes Nightwing look incompetent, and the art is just serviceable.

5.5/10