Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Trevor McCarthy
Colors: Guy Major
Letters: Wes Abbott
Cover: Eddie Barrows & Rod Reis
Editors: Katie Kubert & Bobbie Chase
Nightwing created by Marv Wolfman & George Perez
If one thing is true about the the Bat-titles, it’s that sex is one of its prime side dishes. While Dick Gayson may never experience the love making that Batman did four months ago at the home of Catwoman, he still has a charm that keeps bringing the ladies back. His “woo” factor seems to be JUST THAT GOOD! Of course, even though this is a reboot, Higgins seems to realize that it’s time for Grayson to start committing to one girl! What better way for DC to test Grayson’s love for Raya than by bringing in his old fling, Barbara Gordon.
I shouldn’t say “fling” though should I? They both had a real thing for each other back in the day. If things had gone better, they might still be together today. This is the ultimate test for Grayson though. It’s obvious he still has feelings for Babs, and Babs for him. Now, with Batgirl back on her feet, they can enjoy swinging from building to building amongst the city lights again. This is a pretty tempting thing for Grayson, make no mistake!
By the issue’s end, however, we see Grayson ready to make a fresh start. DC has made it clear that the Bat-titles are not forgetting what has happened prior to the reboot. Dick has still worn the cape and cowl and that experience will remain apart of the DC cannon. Because this is a reboot however, It seems DC wants to give each Bat-character a new life, one filled with awesome continuity and understanding. (We’ll see how long this lasts.) Both Dick and Babs have fresh starts to make, more so Babs than Dick, but this issue was a clear indicator that they are moving on with their lives while still remaining friends. To be honest, since Lois and Clark’s relationship has rebooted as well, it’s possible that Dick and Bab’s might have the healthiest relationship in the DCU! Way to go!!
Trevor McCarthy does a nice job as the fill-in artist. His art gives every character a youthfulness that’s needed for this type of story. Remember, Dick Grayson has been around since the early 1940′s…he’s technically 70 years old right now…Unless you believe that events like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Zero Hour de-aged everyone somehow, giving everyone another 40 years of youthful beauty. For a reboot focusing on new readers, McCarthy’s artistic approach is appropriate.
McCarthy has an interesting way of visually defining characters. This is definitely a style unique to him and very well done. The splash page with Dick and Babs swinging through Gotham was a gorgeous rendition of two old friends reliving their most exciting moments together.
Overall this was a good issue, a great way to catapult into the next arc as well as giving new meaning to both Dick and Barbara’s life. But, as much as I appreciated Higgins bringing in a new love life for Dick, with this much sexual tension building up with all the Bat-titles, I suspect Dick and Babs aren’t entirely done with each other.
8 out of 10 stars
