Creative Team:
http://www.dcindexes.com/features/comic.php?comicid=140769
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Writer: Tom DeFalco
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Penciller: Andres Guinaldo
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Inker: Mark Irwin
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Colorist: Rod Reis & Pete Pantazis
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Letterer: Dave Sharpe
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Editor: Brian Cunningham
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Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert
Detailed Impression:
The cover to Nightwing # 14 is by
the usual duo of Eddy Barrows and Rod Reis, but includes inks by
series regular Eber Ferreira. It shows Nightwing and Lady Shiva in a
nasty looking fight. While successful overall, the image could have
benefited from the softer look that Reis' colors give to Barrows'
inkless pencils as the fight takes place at night in the rain.
Conversely, this cover's sharpness makes me wonder if the cover to
issue 13 would have been better served by Ferreira's touch.
DeFalco and Guinaldo wrap up their
two issue mini-arc in this one. Guinaldo impresses again with his
work on the issue. Just like the last issue, he mixes up the layouts
enough to pace out the story well and keep the pages from looking too
static.
Speaking of the story, DeFalco
keeps us firmly entrenched in Nightwing's recent history. He
addresses the ribs Dick broke in his fight with the Republic of
Tomorrow, his conflicted feelings about the daughter of his parents'
killer, and the recent goings-on with Haly's Circus. DeFalco also
shows him doing real detective work, narrowing down Shiva's potential
targets and deducing her next intended victim. He also reminds us
that Shiva is no slouch when it comes to her powers of observation.
She realizes Nightwing is not fighting at 100% due to his injuries
and tells him that it would not do her any good to kill him in his
condition. She wants him to die at his best.
This brings me to my one real
problem with this issue. Shiva's attitude and speech patterns make
her appear much older than Nightwing. I pulled out her first
appearance from Nightwing # 0 just to be sure, but again the speech
would indicate an older individual. The whole thing makes Penguin's
comments that Nightwing and Lady Shiva might be around the same age
ring patently false. However, the revelation that Penguin was the one
pulling Shiva's strings just to give him time to do some money
laundry was actually pretty interesting.
Overall Impression:
Another solid outing from these
pinch hitters. Guinaldo and Irwin do a great job illustrating a
pretty good story from DeFalco. I especially dug seeing a daylight
fight between Nightwing and Lady Shiva even though it totally
contradicts the setting depicted on the cover. DeFalco nails the
characters in this one. He also sets up the next story arc nicely by
having Scott Snyder's super creepy version of Joker pop in on the
last page.
