Creative Team:
http://www.dcindexes.com/features/comic.php?comicid=127366
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Writer: Kyle Higgins
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Penciller: Eddy Barrows & Geraldo Borges
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Inkers: Eber Ferriera & Ruy Jose
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Colorist: Rod Reis
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Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
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Editor: Bobbie Chase
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Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert
Detailed Impression:
The cover to Nightwing issue
# 6 is a little misleading. Nightwing does indeed get into a big
fight against a crowd of thugs inside. The difference is that the
fight mostly takes place off panel before the start of the first
page. The cover illustration itself is well done, but there are two
fights against super criminals inside that could have been
highlighted instead. The effect of the cover is boring by comparison.
Higgins gives the reader some meta
commentary in Dick's opening internal monologue. “Different month.
Different city. Still the same story.” He also has Dick quipping
again, reminding us that still gets a kick out of experiencing the
ride even while mired in a highly dangerous mystery.
We learn that Dick's investigation
has been hindered by his own false assumption. (Saiko is a contract
killer. Saiko is out to kill Dick Grayson whom he now also knows is
Nightwing. Therefore, Saiko was hired to kill Grayson.) Dick instead
finds out that Saiko has some kind of personal grudge against him and
concludes that Saiko's recent inactivity has just been another
tactic. Saiko is biding his time so that he can really stick it to
Dick personally at a Haly's Circus tribute performance memorializing
the anniversary of the Flying Graysons' death.
The chapter title “Good Girl Gone
Bad”, refers to Dick's current love interest, Raya Vestri. As we
discovered in the previous issue, she has a secret romantic
relationship with Saiko who happens to also be her and Dick's
childhood friend Raymond. Raymond and Raya have been plotting revenge
against Dick for some time, although we don't know what the two are
avenging. Raya seems hesitant to follow through with the plot, but
falls for some pretty obvious manipulation by Raymond. The scene
could definitely have been handled more subtly. Maybe Higgins was
struggling to keep the scene to just one page. Mr. Haly's son Brian
also makes another appearance in this issue to stir up resentment
against Dick among the circus members. First he attacks Dick while
drunk. Then he seems indecisive and sorry about his involvement in
the plot during a drunken conversation with Saiko. Now he's back to
hassling Dick again. The younger Haly's overall characterization has
just been inconsistent through the arc.
Speaking of inconsistency, this
issue again has two pencillers. Even Barrows' own work shows some
inconsistency. Some of the early pages in the issue just look rushed.
Geraldo Borges' pencils are serviceable. His storytelling is pretty
solid, but if Barrows needed help finishing the issue, then why not
go back to Fernando Pansica like in issue # 3? Borges does get to
illustrate the main battle between Nightwing and Saiko and the
results are pretty decent. His character work was less compelling
during the brief cameo by Alfred.
Saiko's attack at the circus is to
be expected. Its severity is anything but. There will be a lot of
fallout for Dick Grayson to deal with in both of his identities as we
wrap up the first arc with the next issue.
Overall Impression:
In
the penultimate issue of this first arc of Nightwing,
Higgins and company
really throw a ton of stuff at the reader. Most of it works. Some of
it doesn't work as well. Higgins throws some clues in that sow seeds
for his next major arc and anyone with enough familiarity with their
relationship will appreciate the scene with Alfred. The final result
though, is just pretty good when we are now used to, and expect,
great.