Archive for the ‘Nightwing’ Category
The end of yet another era
This month sees the end of three Batman family titles, with Nightwing being the first to go dark. It seems fitting that of the three (Nightwing, Robin, Oracle), that Dick Grayson takes the bow, as he was the first side-kick. With Batman “dead” (snicker-snicker, foolish citizens of the DCU), it appears the Dick is up for the task of protecting the city, but is the city ready for Dick?
Riddle me this: When is Batman and the Outsiders not Batman and the Outsiders?
The answer of course Dear Reader, is when the issue features neither Batman nor the Outsiders. But there in lies the juicy bits of the issue. With the “death” of Batman, there has been chaos throughout Gotham City. And while there are those that are scrambling to fill in the void, there are few who are willing to step up with a new plan. Someone like Batman’s daughter.
Wha?
Apparently Batman is dead, but you’d never know it if you’ve been reading Detective Comics for the last year or so. The plausible exit created by Paul Dini at the end of last issue, leads naturally to the events Denny O’Neil uses in Detective Comics #851. Batman dead? Unlikely, so why mourn the loss here? Instead, O’Neil uses the time to tell a good Detective story.
Well this can’t be good if it is true. Newsarama is reporting Robin, Nightwing, and Birds of Prey will all be ending their series in February 2009. Is this because of the Morrison RIP Batman title, or something else? It can’t be sales, because Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, and many other titles sell a lot fewer issues than these big supporting Batman tie-ins titles.
If the rumors of Robin being somehow behind R.I.P., that could explain why Chuck Dixon left the series in a very bizarre fashion, and why the Robin series may be coming to an end. Nightwing ended up on the operating table in Batman #680, awaiting a lobotomy, so that could point to an end there. Joker makes a return appearance in Birds of Prey, but I doubt DC would be foolish enough to carry the current storyline out for another three months just to see the torture of Barbara Gordon. Of course if Batman #666 is any clue, Barbara does eventually become commissioner of Gotham City, so that could be an out for this series as well.
The three series – coincidentally all originally written by Chuck Dixon, fleshed out the world of Batman in the comics, showcasing the original Robin, Dick Grayson, as Nightwing, Tim Drake as Robin and Barbra Gordon in Birds of Prey.
Sounds like DC may be lashing out at Dixon on this one…
Is everything Morrison’s doing? Will fans react in favor or opposition to these changes if DC has really drunk the Morrison Kool-aid?
Is this the end of all good things Batman, or will we see these series relaunch with new number ones in a few months?
It’s so bizarre…
Robin #183, Nightwing #153, and Birds of Prey #127 will end the Batman-related titles era, leaving only Batman and Detective Comics carrying on DC (and Warner Bros.) top selling property.
Sigh, it’s times like these that make me glad I’m reading more and more indie titles, and why I like what Frank Miller is doing in All-Star Batman and Robin. Don’t let this ruin your day completely, as we all now reboots are just around the corner following the Battle for the Cowl storyline.
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With the fate of the next season of Smallville still up in the air, Warner Bros. is getting ready for a replacement, or a “sidekick” of a show in the just approved pilot “Graysons”. But don’t think this new series will follow the adventures of Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne as Batman and Robin, expect the Graysons to follow a very Smallville like premise that features the young Dick “DJ” Grayson before his parents met their untimely demise, before being taken under the wing of Batman, and a long, long time before becoming Nightwing.
In the one-hour “Graysons,” which will be set in modern times, young DJ will face challenges involving first loves, young rivals and his family as he grows up. Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson have come up with an original take on the character.
I have some mixed feelings about this. Yes, it is cool that Warners is looking for a way to exploit one of its more popular characters. But to adopt the “never wears a cape and tights” attitude as it has with Smallville, just doesn’t sit well with me.
Look for the pilot to makes its bow next year.
The first installment of Batman R.I.P. hit stores last week and promptly sold out at the distributor level, prompting DC to go back to press for a second printing that includes a variant cover.
Batman #676 (second printing) is scheduled to be in stores on June 11, with the cover you see below.
And because we know you will want to collect every issue in the series, Major Spoilers has provided you with a handy checklist with release date.
A real joy in my life at the moment is each month getting a new Nightwing comic. For too long Dick Grayson has been underused, abused and misused within the DCU. But finally, Peter J. Tomasi is bringing back one of the original DC heroes to a place where he shines.
As mentioned in the last Wizard World Chicago summary, Ra’s al Ghul will be returning to the DC Universe. Yet another one of those incidents where a character that was killed in 2004 makes his return.
But unlike Jason Todd, Donna Troy, and the rest of the lot, Ra’s actually has a practical method of resurrecting each time he dies – the Lazuras Pit. After Death and the Maidens, it looked like he wouldn’t be returning at all. So what’s the dealio?
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Or – “Is That Really Going To Be His Hero Designation?”
Ever since Owen Mercer joined the Outsiders during the One-Year-Later gap, I’ve been jokingly referring to him as Captain Boomerang, Junior. The reasons for this are twofold: first, there’s a proud tradition of calling a younger version of a hero by the Junior name (Captain Marvel, Jr. is the obvious one, but back in the day there was also Captain Battle, Jr. as well as Batman Junior and Superman Junior, the Super-Sons) and secondly, it’s a terrible, horrible, awful, really bad super-hero name. Worse than Bobo… Worse than Hard Drive… Worse even than Cable (which, whether you love him or hate him, you have to agree is a useless codename.) And now, DC has not only made that his name, they actually paid some poor shmendrik to create a LOGO that says “Captain Boomerang, Jr.” I am literally stunned… but, other than that, how was the issue in question?
Even with the San Diego Comic Con going on, DC has made available a sneak peek of Outsiders: Five of a Kind: Week 1: Nightwing/Boomerang for those of you us who aren’t able to attend.
Death of a New God
Last week readers got a few clues into the mystery of Jimmy Olsen, Mary Batson stumbled upon a repowered Black Adam, Stinky made the other Monitors angry, and Karate Kid continued to hang out in a JLA cell. So what becomes of our key characters this week?
Or – “What Actually Happened When The Question Was Popped…”
DC Comics is evil. There’s no other explanation for it… Before Infinite Crisis, Dick Grayson the former Boy Wonder proposed marriage to Barbara Gordon, the former Dominoed Daredoll, and she said “Yes.” Then, the One Year Later gap arrived, and afterwards, Dick was in New York butting heads with Jason Todd, and Babs was running the Birds of Prey, and never the twain shall meet. Then, they really twisted the knife by giving Dick a quickie affair with some bimbo named “Cheyenne,” because apparently “Faberg” and “Fmal Pajama” (pronounced “fehMAHlay PAjahmah”) were taken by the new girls at Penguin’s strip club. Now, finally, the story can be told… what happened to the Bat-Weddin’?
DC has released to sneak peeks for titles shipping this week. First up is Nightwing Annual #2, which promises to fill in some of the missing holes prior to Infinite Crisis. Following that it is another team up in Superman/Batman #34 as the world’s finest take on the Metal Men. Both issues hit stores April 18.
This week DC has provided us with a look at titles shipping over the next couple of months. For fans of Nightwing, Annual #1 attempts to answer the question of what happened during the missing year and the Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson romance. Also sneaking its way in this week is Hellblazer #230 and Young Magician Vol. 7 from CMX.
Or – “They Talk Of Days For Which They Sit And Wait And All Will Be Revealed…”
“When there’s trouble, you know who to call… OUTSIDERS! From their floating ship, they see it all… OUTSIDERS!
With Judd Winick writing the script! From the headlines adventures are ripped! And if you’re lucky there’ll be girl-on-giiiirl! OUTSIDERS!
With their superpowers they unite… OUTSIDERS! One Year Later, nothing is quite right… OUTSIDERS!
Doc Sivana made them all think! But our heroes just told him he stinks! And Katana’s costume is the woooorrst! OUTSIDERS!
O! U! T-S-I! D-E-R! S! OUTSIDERS, GOOOOO!”
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