Nightwing #123 - DC Comics

NIGHTWING No. 123, April 2025

Despite Issue One Hundred and Twenty Three of “Nightwing” not containing many of the fanciful, acrobatic assaults fans of Dick Grayson’s alter-ego are most likely used to, Dan Watters’ script for “Dropping Like Flies” should still have kept the majority of its readers absolutely hooked upon the titular character’s “plan to save Blüdhaven’s streets from a bloody war.” Indeed, the Teen Titan’s claustrophobic encroachment of the Flyboiz new underground lair provides plenty of pulse-pounding moments, even when the former Boy Wonder is simply rifling through some long-forgotten, heavily eradiated caskets; “I think the city secretly put them here. Under ten feet of concrete so they wouldn’t soak into the earth.”

Naturally, this sequence does ultimately lead to the original Robin facing off against a heavily mutated monster which is both physically unimpressed by the super-hero’s feisty kick to its neck area, as well as subsequently joined by a disconcerting horde of equally formidable-looking creatures. But the actual build-up to this terrifying confrontation is incredibly well-penned by the English author, and would arguably be no less enthralling if the central protagonist didn’t encounter anything more deadly than the surprisingly cute Bugdog – “One of Dr. Probozzcizz’z early experimentzz.”

Similarly as scintillating as these subterranean spectacles though is the palpable energy generated by Spheric Solutions overt squeezing of Mayor Grayson-Lin in view of the politician’s decreasing popularity with her municipal’s voters. Obviously the company’s insanely advanced technology appears to be the simple answer to the mayor's problems. However, considering that Dick’s sister somewhat suspects that Olivia Pearce is as untrustworthy as they come, it’s still entirely plausible that Melinda will take some disagreeable steps in order to “protect those in my care”; especially with an election just around the corner.

Lastly, artist Dexter Soy’s contribution to this twenty-two page periodical’s success cannot be overstated either. Along with Colorist Veronica Gandini, the illustrator provides a suitably dank and dire bunker for Nightwing to explore. In addition, the almost comatose, vegetating Flyboiz which litter the hideout are very well envisaged, and add a great deal to the almost profound stench of death which haunts all of the unholy facility’s nightmarish scenes.

The regular cover art of "NIGHTWING" #123 by Dexter Soy with Veronica Gandini