Review: Nightwing #74
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Ryan Benjamin and Richard Friend
Colors: Rain Beredo
Letters: Andworld Designs
Reviewer: Tony Farina
Summary
The Joker has poisoned Ric Grayson’s mind with false memories and pitted him against Batgirl, the Robins, and Batman. As Batgirl realizes the key to ending this nightmare is through the crystal around The Joker’s neck, it’s up to Grayson to use it on himself and fight for who he really is: Nightwing! And if he doesn’t get stuck in his own memories, will he be able to rescue the Bat-Family from The Joker’s plans and end this cruel joke once and for all?
Positives
Nightwing #74 has some beautiful art. The last few pages, yes, there are spoilers, but I am not giving those away, when the big, not very surprising, but totally welcome trip down memory lane happens is stunning. Ryan Benjamin and Richard Friend really do a wonderful job with the fight scenes too. There are LOT of fight scenes and they really go to show off. I said it last month too, but I think Rain Bredo’s colors are heroic, eye catching, and deserving of note.
It is always good to see most of the family back together. Babs is a star once again. It just keeps leading this writer to believe that she is going to be a series regular here after her title ends. Bludhaven could use a little extra watching. Either way, seeing the family in action with Babs being the best of them was special.
Negatives
Nightwing #74 has some of the worst dialogue I have read in a while. I know that it was supposed to be Dickyboy not Ric nor Dick or even Richard, but man, was it bad. The Joker dialogue didn’t work either and I am pretty sick of Punchline. I will be glad to see her leave the pages of Nightwing behind. Honestly, even Bea’s narration felt stilted where she normally is not. I am not sure if this was just because it had to fit into the Joker War and Jurgens didn’t have full control or not, but it all felt wrong.
Tim is back as Robin! Hooray! He is drawn a bit to small for my liking in this book. It is a little nit to pick.
Verdict
Nightwing #74 ends with a literal bang. There are tears. There is joy. There is hope. Have we turned the corner? Maybe? Will we see a new team up comic coming in the pages of this book? Considering everything else is cancelled, I think so. Only time will tell.
