A young Dick Grayson tries to survive the blackout of Gotham City during the Zero Year, in an enjoyable, but not essential issue of “Nightwing”.
Written by Kyle Higgins
Illustrated by Will ConradA BATMAN: ZERO YEAR tie-in! Dick Grayson frantically tries to find Haly’s Circus—and his parents—as Gotham City is plunged into total darkness!
When dealing with the Big Two comic publishing companies, tie-ins are an inevitable aspect of any big story event. Long time readers will often long for the days when ‘Year One’ was told across four issues of “Batman” and nothing more. Publishing as changed vastly in the past 25 years, and the latest take on the Dark Knight’s origins, ‘Zero Year’, features no less then 10 (!) tie-in issues. After Gotham is plunged into a city-wide blackout, famous faces from across the DC universe, super powered and otherwise, arrive in the Bat’s territory. As it turns out, the circus was also in town, and the blackout gives the opportunity for a younger Dick Grayson to take his first step into the shadows of Gotham, in “Nightwing” #25 from Kyle Higgins and Will Conrad.
The issue opens with a teenaged, pre-Robin, Dick Grayson as one of the stars of Haley’s Circus. It’s a family act, featuring his parents, but it’s clear that Dick is the star of the show. Dick, like most teenagers, is completely full of himself and manages to alienate almost everyone around him. As a result, Dick ends up going by himself to see a movie, and is in the theatre when the Riddler’s blackout hit the city. Panic immediately grips the crowd and they stampede to the door, trampling people in the process. Dick has to team up with some fellow teenaged movie goers, and fight their way back to the safety of the circus, as anarchy and violence sweeps the streets.
Regular “Nightwing” scribe Kyle Higgins has featured many flashbacks to Dick’s past during his run on the series, especially during the ‘Court of Owls’, but this is the first time he has been able to devout an entire issue to the character’s teenage years. While previously the flashbacks were used to highlight Dick’s ties to Gotham history, this issue is very much a straight forward adventure story. The plot moves along briskly and the action scenes are well paced, and Higgins keeps the backstory exposition to the bare minimum. This issue is missing Nightwing’s trademark witty and snappy banter, which Higgins regularly excels at, but the change in demeanor actually suits the story.
The Dick Grayson in this story has not yet learned how to function as part of a team, or how to use his talent for the good of others instead of himself. Higgins includes plenty of moments that highlight the characters natural abilities and leadership qualities. Teenaged Nightwing may be a bit abrasive, but when it matters he does not hesitate to help others, even when they are strangers. It actually foreshadows both his training under Batman, and his future tense relationship with his mentor. Dick is a well of raw talent, in need of refinement, but already has a desire to strike out on his own. Yes, parts of the story are a little on-the-nose, but Nightwing as always worn his heart on his sleeve, so it’s nothing regular readers won’t expect.
Will Conrad is the new regular illustrator on “Nightwing”, and this is his first chance to draw the teenage Dick Grayson. Conrad already has good grasp on the character, and teenage Nightwing bears a good resemblance to his older self. Conrad obviously put in the effort, and didn’t just draw some kid and throw Dick’s middle-part hair cut on him. Haley’s Circus and the older Grayson’s has already been featured in previous “Nightwing” issues, and Conrad sticks closely to their established rendering. While it may be not something new, it’s always fun to see the Grayson’s in the classic high-collared Nightwing costume.
Once the action kicks in, Conrad has some fun with the panicked expressions on everyone’s face, but as people start getting trampled the art effectively portrays the seriousness of the situation. After the explosive ending to Nightwing’s time in Chicago, it should come as no surprise that Conrad knows how to draw action. The panels become energetic, and convey the energy of the scene. Although the main fight occurs in the dark, in a shadowy alleyway and unlit rooftops, the characters stand out so much against the drab backgrounds that it’s still visually interesting.
Like “Action Comics” last week, this ‘Zero Year’ tie-in doesn’t seek to add anything to the main story itself, but fleshes out the wider world of Gotham during the blackout. It is really just a fun installment in the adventures of young Dick Grayson, so readers looking for additional insight into the Riddler’s plot against the city will be disappointed. The story itself is well done, and gives some good insight into the journey the character has to go on to become Nightwing. Higgins knows the character well enough that he is able to include plenty of moments that foreshadow the future. Will Conrad is proving himself very qualified to handle the regular art duties on “Nightwing”. He has proven himself capable of rendering the big explosive action scenes and, while this issue features its share of fighting, the past setting gives Conrad the opportunity to visually explore a different side of the character, and he pulls it off very well.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Buy if you’re a fan, but not if you’re looking for more essential ‘Zero Year’ story.
