Nightwing #112 - DC Comics

NIGHTWING No. 112, May 2024

Gently reminding the audience just why Bruce Wayne first took up the mantle of the bat, as well as highlighting the motivation behind an adolescent Dick Grayson following in his footsteps, Tom Taylor is arguably at the top of his game for Issue One Hundred and Twelve of “Nightwing” as he cleverly pens a tale which dives deep into the differences behind the original Caped Crusaders. In fact, thanks to Batman’s narration throughout, this twenty-two page periodical’s plot intriguingly shows a seldom seen soft side to the Dark Knight, as he paternally attempts to guide his protégé through his sudden inability to leap from great heights.

Furthermore, this comic provides the titular character with a much more serious edge than is ordinarily shown, once the Teen Titan discovers just how cold-blooded and murderous poor tiny Iko’s uncle really is. This 'change' genuinely appears to make an impact upon the usually quick-quipping crime-fighter, and adds a bit more depth to the former sidekick’s often one-dimensional personality by showing just how calm-headed he can still be when an incredibly volatile situation warrants it; “He took the shot on purpose. Drew the fire. Drew the gun away from the boy.”

Sami Basri should also receive a lot of credit for making this particular publication a veritable feast for the eyes. Of particular note has to be the Indonesian illustrator doing far more than his fair share of heavy lifting to help sell the internal, highly emotional conflict raging within Grayson’s alter-ego. Indeed, not only does he manage to pencil Nightwing with plenty of visible humanity, he also somehow surprisingly imbues Batman with similar virtues too; most notably when the Dark Knight is approached by a clearly intimidated Beast Boy and asked how he handles people hating him.

Somewhat disappointingly though, this book’s secondary tale “The Son Of Grey” probably didn’t land anywhere near as well with readers. Penned by Michael W. Conrad and pencilled by the legendary Francesco Francavilla, this “period saga” doesn’t debatably really end, and instead just raises a question as to what the entire point of the two-part tale ever was. Sure, Grayson successfully tracks down the Joker-like holy man whose minions killed his family. But the young farmer then just mystifyingly lets them all go, even after being traitorously stabbed in the torso by the clownish priest.

Writer: Tom Taylor, Artist: Sami Basri, and Inks: Vicente Cifuemtes