Nightwing #122 – Dan Watters, Writer; Dexter Soy, Artist; Veronica Gandini, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Dan Watters has set up a new threat for Nightwing in this run, with the cure for a massive gang war sweeping Bludhaven being worse than the cure. Spheric Technologies, a shady new military tech firm, has been given control of the Bludhaven PD and outfitted the heavily corrupt force with high-tech hardware that has been used to kill gangsters – including teenagers on the low rung of the gang. Nightwing got into fight with the PD last issue and is now public enemy #1, so he tries to take his case to his few allies in the city – his sister, currently serving as Mayor, and Commissioner Maggie Sawyer. Both are sympathetic, but see Spheric as an overall force for good. They demand proof of the CEO’s shady dealings – which Dick has, but not in a way that he can effectively prove. Because it turns out that he’s encountered her before – back when he was Robin.
While Dexter Soy does all the art this issue, he nicely shifts his art style just a bit for the extended flashback segment that shows Batman and Robin going up against a murderous circus. There have been hints of a supernatural element to the threat as far back as the first issue, but we get our first glimpse of it here as well – and it’s the best visual of the issue by a mile. Robin’s encounter with a mysterious knife-throwing blonde who eventually turns into the CEO of Spheric is an interesting twist, although it’s hard to see the connection between the two – unless she’s just so crazy that she’s willing to grab onto whatever opportunity there is to cause carnage. And after Nightwing’s attempt to shut down Spheric fails, things take an ugly turn when one of the gangs is framed for a terror attack – and Spheric is all too ready to escalate into total war with Nightwing caught in the middle.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
