As someone who is a fan of Nightwing, despite having read none of his solo comics, the current run by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo is the perfect gateway for anyone wanting to read Dick Grayson’s adventures in Bludhaven. Taking influence from Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye series – not least with the appearance of a three-legged pit bull puppy named Haley – Grayson uses his newfound wealth to establish a philanthropic foundation to revitalize Bludhaven, while continuing to fight corruption and crime as the eponymous vigilante.
After the previous volume, in which Taylor had to adjust to the COGS going on during the crossover event “Fear State” that went across the other Bat-titles, this volume reunites Taylor with Redondo and immediately starts with a pitch-perfect issue that is #87.
Presented as one continuously connected 22-page image, Grayson is being targeted due to his wealth, setting in motion a daring chase to his apartment – where Haley gets dognapped – and from it through the city streets. This issue is a masterclass, not only visually through its collage work and detailed streets, but also thematically in seeing how diverse the people of Bludhaven are and how some are impacted by having Nightwing fighting for them. Also, Grayson and Barbara Gordon teaming up as Nightwing and Batgirl to rescue their dog is the personal touch that makes the issue an extra bit more special.
Most of this volume, subtitled “Get Grayson”, is about the numerous forces that are going after our unmasked hero, who is not going to back down and will do public events to help revitalise the city. From a couple of snipers to a group of masked gunners, all of which going after Grayson, he is not alone with the many allies that will protect him at any cost. Along with Babs and Haley to support him, issue #88 also includes the Teen Titans (who are technically not teens anymore) and you can see Taylor and Redondo are having an absolute blast, the banter between the fellow Titans to the variety of powers being displayed throughout. We do get a brief reappearance of Heartless, of which Taylor is still playing the long game regarding the mystery behind this villain.
Taking a break somewhat from the main narrative, we arrive at the two-issue crossover between this series and Superman: Son of Kal-El, which Taylor is also writing. If you have read the second volume of Son of Kal-El, you will feel a sense of Déjà-vu as that trade features the crossover. That said, it is still worth rereading with Grayson teaming up with Jon Kent to help out what struggles he’s going through, whilst Redondo’s art providing plenty of kinetic action set-pieces.
The last two issues continue the “Get Grayson” arc as after surviving a drone attack that destroys his apartment building, Grayson teams up with his best friend Wally West/The Flash to find out who is the next hitman going after the former. There is a change in artists with Geraldo Borges drawing these issues and whilst his style isn’t as clean as Redondo’s, there is still that kinetic feel that drives the drama and action, not least from the involvement of colourist Adriano Lucas, who makes the whole book visually consistent. Plus, the Flash continually asking Nightwing if he wants to carry him via piggyback or cradle when they travel to a new location is one of the funniest things in recent comics.
Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo continue to be one of the best collaborations in comics with the latest volume of Nightwing being prove of this, which is not quite as perfect as the initial volume, but still wonderful.