The notes for that 1996 first issue mention mention that Nightwing was "the most popular character in the DC Universe who's never had his own book," introducing the series after what it says was 12 years since the character's introduction into the universe. Original writer Chuck Dixon writes in that essay some things that I felt about the character, too, that Robin was never cool and nobody wanted to be Robin when they could choose Batman, but Nightwing was cool because at the end of the day, we liked Dick Grayson. I loved that he had Batman's skills but was less dark. I loved that his athletic abilities were born from a childhood spent in the circus. And I loved the outfit: a shock of bright blue around the collarbone, chest and arms of a tight black suit. I was probably in the general vicinity of Grayson age-wise when this comic came out, and it was a favorite.
So there was no question that I'd be following the relaunch of "Nightwing" with the New 52. I already knew that the blue in Nightwing's outfit had been changed from blue to red (I still think the blue looks a lot better and makes a lot more sense), and that Batman's sidekick story lines had grown a lot more complicated with what now stands as a lineage of four Robins, Grayson having been the first. And the cool logo for the title, with the center "T" stretching over the other letters like a new-aged bat symbol, has been replaced by something more lame and less creative. So, too, had I given up on following the Teen Titans, perhaps out of embarrassment that, as a grown man and father of two, if I was to continue to follow comic books, I should probably give up on the titles that feature "boy," "girl," or teen heroes. (You'll find out if you continue to follow my blog that I still gave a few of these titles a try.)
I read the new Batman first, and Dick Grayson plays a very dramatic role in the early issues of that relaunch as a sample of his DNA allows him to be targeted by Bruce as someone trying to kill him. By the end of the first handful of issues of that series, which if you've read a previous post, I've stated is one of the best (if not the best) of the New 52, we learn that Grayson was meant to be a high-ranking assassin in the Court of Owls and has a family connection to this terrifying organization.
Armed with that, I went into "Nightwing," which finds Grayson back in Gotham. The central emotional journey of the new title has Dick revisiting his past as Haly's circus - the one he grew up in - is in town. This is the very circus in which a young Dick watched his parents die before being adopted by Bruce. Dick reconnects with Raya, a circus performer from his past, and is soon up on the trapeze reliving old times until he's called into battle against an unknown masked foe who is every bit Nightwing's equal in acrobatic ability.
Dick loses track of his yet-unknown new foe and, in issue #2, is coaxed by Raya into a visit to the dying Mr. Haly, who hands over the deed to the circus to Dick. On the way home from the visit, Dick receives a phone call from the stranger, who identifies himself as Saiko. Saiko knows that Dick is Nightwing because he forced it out of Haly just before essentially killing him. At Haly's funeral, animosity grows over Dick's new role as owner of the circus because his presence has put a target on all of their backs. Dick is blamed by many for Haly's death. Raya tells Dick that Saiko was likely sent by Zane, a former circus associate who deflected after the circus fell apart. As Nightwing, Dick finds Zane in Chicago, where Zane gets in his head and forces Dick to relive the death of his parents and question his worth.
At the start of issue #4, Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) is in the streets fighting a shapeshifter and shows up at Dick's place, surprised to find him there with Raya, who seems very uncomfortable with the implied history between Dick and Barbara. Batgirl enlists Nightwing's help to take care of Spinebender (the shifter). Soon thereafter, while going through some of Haley's possessions, Dick uncovers a mysterious book that includes a bunch of names, the last one being his own. A surprise twist by the end of issue #5 further clarifies who Saiko is and who he's working with.
Raya invites Dick to participate in an anniversary tribute performance in memory of Dick's parents. Dick deduces that this will be where Saiko will attack, that he'll be looking for a public stage to do so. Still reluctant to be involved in the show at all, a visit from Alfred convinces him to go ahead with it. As expected, Saiko shows up, and mid-battle, Nightwing learns his true identity. The two have a history. Saiko sets a chemically-based fire off in the circus tent and reveals to Nightwing that he was "chosen by them" only after they couldn't get Dick, their first choice.
In a crossover with "Batman," with the key scene duplicated in "Nightwing," Dick goes to the Batcave, where Bruce is analyzing the body of The Talon and reveals to Dick that this high-ranking member of the Court of Owls is related to him. The man's name, William Cobb, was a name that appeared in the book Haley left to him. Issues #8-9 are part of the "Night of the Owls" story that carries over various Batman titles. Issue #8 ends with a cliffhanger, as Dick's chest and shoulders are filled with the same throwing knives that pierced Bruce at the hands of The Talon. The Talon/Cobb tells Dick that he was sent to murder him because he did not submit to the Court as he was destined to do. I don't want to spoil the details, but these later issues really deepen the history between Cobb and Grayson, as well as the story of the whole Grayson family and how the Court of Owls fits into it. If nothing else, "Nightwing" is required reading for those reading "Batman" just to understand these details more fully.
Issue #10 nicely sets up what should be a compelling new chapter in the Nightwing story, as Sonia Zucco, the daughter of the man who murdered Dick's parents, approaches Dick with an offer to revitalize Gotham's dilapidated amusement park as a new tourist destination to improve the city; she wants Haly's circus to remain at the site as its central attraction. The issue ends with Nightwing in jeopardy of being killed again, this time at the hands of a group of fighters led by someone who calls himself Paragon and tells Dick that he is "Gotham's true son" and that "the future of this city hinges on your death."
Writer Kyle Higgins is choosing to keep this rebooted "Nightwing" more closely tied to the Batman story, at least for now. What this does, to some extent, is it makes the reading of "Nightwing" fairly critical to "Batman" readers, no doubt a sales strategy with the reboot. Personally, I like that Dick Grayson is back in Gotham where his history lies, as opposed to having him fighting crime in his own version of Gotham City like had in the past. The glimpses of crossover work with Batman have an added layer of complexity because Nightwing is now, in a few ways, Batman's equal. The artwork in "Nightwing" is also consistent with the work in "Batman" (though "Batman" trumps it).
While Dick Grayson/Nightwing is no longer my absolute favorite character in the DCU (Green Lantern took over that honor for me right around the time that the 1996 "Nightwing" title was launched, ironically), he remains high on my list, and I can't see myself discontinuing my reading of "Nightwing" if I'm still going to read "Batman." I am impressed by the depth Higgins and his team are bringing to a character I thought I knew so well, and invigorated by his ability to use slow reveals and cliffhangers to keep me coming back for more.
"Nightwing" gets a "yes" for me as a title to keep reading in the New 52.
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