Art by: Stephen Byrne
Colors by: Adriano Lucas
Letters by: Wes Abbott
Cover art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: December 19, 2023
Nightwing #109 brings Nightwing's swashbuckling adventure to a close when "Ric" and Bea gather loyal allies to stop Dirk from taking over The Hold, a secret bank filled with deadly secrets.
Is Nightwing #109 Good?
Nightwing #109 is fine. Tom Taylor brings Nightwing's pirating adventures to a close with a mild adventure that sets everything right with Bea Blud. For an arc finale, Nightwing #109 is as perfunctory and boilerplate as it gets.
When last we left Nightwing, Bea was run through with a sword by Dirk and pushed into lagoon waters below. Now, Nightwing overcomes the fear recently gripping him, dives in to save Bea, and helps the Pirate Queen launch a counter-offensive with loyal supporters to depose Dirk. When the dust settles, Bea is reinstalled as leader of the pirates, and Nightwing is given the mysterious safety deposit box we saw over a year ago. You won't guess what's inside.
"Well, Mr. Revier Guy, what's in the box?" you'd rightly wonder. If you must know...
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Nightwing opens the box to find a sealed envelope containing a CD-ROM. The disc contains video footage proving that Tony Zucco murdered the Graysons by sabotaging their trapeze.
[END SPOILERS]
"Wait a minute! Tom Taylor planted a mysterious seed over a year ago, and that's all it is?" you may rightfully protest. Yep, that's all it is. Tom Taylor took an entire year to tell you something you already knew.
What's great about Nightwing #109? The highlight of the issue is a flashback to Robin's formative years when Alfred gives the boy a lesson in healing. As small as the flashback is, it's a neat bit of character development that reminds Robin and the readers that heroes can be hurt, and you have to know how to handle it to survive. I miss Alfred.
What's not so great about Nightwing #109? There isn't anything technically wrong with the issue. The problem lies in the qualities above and beyond simple scriptwriting. As noted in the previous reviews for this series, Taylor's storytelling for Nightwing is almost completely devoid of drama, emotional punch, or excitement. In short, this issue, much like Taylor's entire run, is just bland.
How's the art? Stephen Byrne's art style is clean and proficient, but unfortunately, the art only amplifies Taylor's blandness. A few action choreography bits are poorly done (e.g. a right hook doesn't force a person's head to the left), but the character's standing and sitting poses are fine. That said, Byrne's art lacks life and excitement. The visuals are about as rousing as an airplane safety pamphlet.
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 #109 ends the pirate adventure on a complete but bland note. Taylor wraps up the pirate civil war between Bea and Dirk with a relatively complete conclusion, and Byrne's art style is super clean, but the story, much like the art, is completely devoid of drama or life.
6/10
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