The Revolution gave a big thumb up to the first issue of the “One Year Later: storyline in Nightwing. I’ve got some Café Bustelo brewing and I’m ready for an early morning review.
Creative Team
Writer: Bruce Jones
Penciller: Joes Dodd
Inker: Bit
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Total Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: The issue starts with Jason Todd catching Dick Grayson from going splat while the Pierce Brothers realize that there are two Nightwings. Jason and Dick get to the top of the building where they get into a little verbal and physical confrontation. Dick says Jason is a psycho. Jason says he is simply doing what Dick did with Blockbuster. Killing criminals is the only true way to stop them. Jason says he doesn’t want to take Dick’s place; instead, he wants them to be a team. Jason ends up slicing Dick’s hand and then takes off.
We then cut to Dick back at his loft soaking his wounded hand. Dick wishes that Jason had died that night with Batman and Joker. Dick now has to deal with Nightwing being Public Enemy No. 1 because of Jason’s actions. Dick keeps seeing news clips of Jason Todd killing criminals and getting increasingly negative press.
We then cut to one of the Pierce Brothers, Buddy, out on the night with Cheyenne Freemont.
We then shift back to Dick’s loft where he is talking to Corky, the superintendent. Corky mentions that Cheyenne Freemont (The chick that Dick banged last issue) commented in the paper that Nightwing could use a few fashion tips. Dick decides to pay Cheyenne a visit. Dick goes over to her office asks Cheyenne’s assistant if he could see Cheyenne. The assistant mistakes Dick for a model coming to try out for the jungle photoshoot. The assistant exclaims that Dick is the perfect model for the shoot. She mistakes Dick’s protests as him negotiating for higher pay. She writes him a fat check and has him taken off to the jungle set to get prepped.
We then shift to Cheyenne getting out of Buddy Pierce’s limo after blowing off his advances. Cheyenne walks into the photoshoot and busts out laughing when she sees that Dick is the model for the photoshoot.
We then cut to Cheyenne watching some videotape footage of Jason Todd opening up a huge can on some criminals. They freeze frame a close up of Jason. Cheyenne tells Dick that she is going to design an outfit for him. Cheyenne tells Dick that she neither disapproves nor approves of Nightwing’s actions. She just wants to design an outfit for him. Cheyenne and Dick then go to her private studio in her building where they get a drink. Cheyenne tells Dick that Buddy Pierce is just a shareholder and not a lover. And it is time for SEX!
We then cut to Dick as Nightwing stopping Jason Todd from killing a criminal. Jason takes off and the angry mob mistakes Dick as being the murderous Nightwing. Dick throws a smoke bomb and escapes the scene.
We then shift to Cheyenne at a bar with Buddy Pierce who is drunk and all over Cheyenne. Jason Todd appears in a snappy suit and asks Cheyenne if the drunk is bothering her. Buddy’s brother takes Buddy away while Jason Todd introduces himself to Cheyenne. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Overall, this was a very solid issue. Bruce Jones’ writing has been consistent and entertaining. Jones has a good feel for Dick Grayson. To me, Dick has always had that “every-man” personality similar to Peter Parker. Jones does a nice job playing up this side of Dick’s personality. Jones also delivers some nice dialogue. Jones has done a good job developing the individual personalities to the various characters.
I love the Jason Todd v. Dick Grayson storyline. The scene where Dick is wishing that Jason Todd had died that night with Batman and Joker was harsh but great. And I like that the issue ended with Jason Todd moving into Dick Grayson’s personal life. Dick is now under attack from Jason both as Nightwing and as himself. This should make for an interesting storyline. I think the Jason Todd/Dick Grayson rivalry has some legs and I hope Jones lets this story run for a while.
Not as much happened in Nightwing #119 as compared to #118. But that is ok. Not every issue can be earth-shattering. Nightwing #119 did a good job advancing the current plotlines at a nice pace.
The art is solid. Dodd draws a cool Nightwing.
The Bad: The only problem I have with the writing is that I do think that Jones may be painting Todd as too much of a simple shallow psychopath and not the complex tormented character that Judd Winik gave us in Batman.
I only have two complaints with the art. First, is that it is inconsistent panel to panel. Some look really good and others not so good. Second, is that Dick Grayson and Jason Todd look like twins. I know there is supposed to be some similarities, but when they are fighting you cannot tell who is who.