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Review: Nightwing #26

By Philip Schweier
August 2, 2017 - 04:14

After last issue, I had high hopes, but they haven’t lasted long. After a journey to Europe and the Middle East with Damian Wayne, I was looking forward to seeing Nightwing beating up street-level criminals on his own turf. But instead, he and Huntress are galavanting off to Europe (again) on Spyral business.

Meanwhile, the run-offs are mourning the loss of one of their own. While Dick Grayson was dating Shawn Tsang, I recognized their role in Dick’s life. But broken up, it seems the Run Offs still have a role to play, possibly returning to their careers on the other side of the law. Given that Shawn was vandal known as the Defacer, I hardly consider her a significant threat.

One thing I enjoy about the comic book world is that right and wrong is often a pretty clear distinction. Certainly, there are shades of gray, leading to complex characterizations. But what I quickly tire of – especially in the past year or so – is the preaching of political virtues.

In this case, Shawn Tsang’s former criminal partner Pigeon has returned, proposing a new “job” involving relocating a statue from Bludhaven’s boardwalk and giving it what she calls a “slight modification. Shawn calls it what it is: stealing and vandalism. But Pigeon defends her proposal: “I want to reveal the truth…that funds meant to help the poor are being diverted to give tax breaks to the rich, corrupt owners of boardwalk businesses.”

Ya mean the casinos? OF COURSE THEY’RE CORRUPT!!

Pigeon goes on to say, “This is an era of civil disobedience! Of hitting the oppressors before they hit us!”

I find it tiresome to see this kind of content in comic books. I see it on the news, and in my local paper, and the Internet, and I hear of it from friends and acquaintances. I read comic books to escape from this stuff. Can’t they just feature some good old-fashioned good guys vs. bad guys? If I wanted a sermon on corporate evil, I’d read Green Arrow.

Rating: 3/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12