Review: Nightwing #85
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Robbi Rodriguez
Colors:Â Â Adriano Lucas
Letters: Wes Abbott
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
Finally
Nightwing #85 – Babs takes the Anti-Oracle attack on her Oracle Network personally, and she suits up as Batgirl, accompanying Nightwing and Tim Drake to track down who is responsible.
But with fear consuming the streets of Gotham, Batgirl and Nightwing accidentally get hit with something that reveals their deepest fears…and it involves each other.
Unfortunately, the Bat-Family may have paid another price as well.
Positives
Tom Taylor’s done a LOT for the Nightwing series. it is almost like when Joelle Jones gave the reigns of Catwoman to Ram V. It was not that Jones was doing a bad job, but Ram V catapulted the series to an entirely new level.
Taylor’s scripts and Bruno Redondo’s pens complimented each other so well. They were the dynamic duo that got this comic on pace. However, in Issue #84 and now #85, Taylor’s writing is perfect. However, the art…
Robbi Rodriguez is an awesome artist. However, he is not Bruno Redondo. the styles are different, even though Rodriquez borrows a few techniques that made the Nightwing book very refreshing.  I got accustomed to Redondo’s style when I read his work in Hawkeye where he would make opening a paring knife a four-panel work of art.
He was also the right artist to give off that optimism that now accompanies Taylor’s writing. However, maybe Rodriguez is taking us to another level in Bludhaven as we see in the cliffhanger ending. This is a tough issue!
Taylor has taken us on an optimistic ride and I cannot get enough of Bitewing, however, this issue is more Babs than anyone. I love that Tom Taylor has thrust both of them together…been rooting for this since the 1966 Batman series. However, their relationship will be dealt a blow if what happens in the last few panels is true.
Negatives Â
Again – I hate to even split hairs as the script is strong and all the main ingredients are there in this comic. However, it is like when you try a new recipe that a friend has given you. You had the meal with them…it was awesome. However, when you cook it, it doesn’t taste the same.
Same ingredients…different taste. Art matters.
Again, Robbi Rodriguez is an awesome artist. But there was something about the combo of Taylor and Bruno that gave this book an extra kick!
Verdict
Given all my focus on the differences in artists, this story is a perfect complement to the Fear State storyline. Was the steak a bit well done? Yes…but it satisfied my hunger! So did this issue of Nightwing. However, I do want Bruno to come back to the kitchen and provide more than just cover art. He needs to cook the full course meal!
