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Review: Nightwing #53

By Philip Schweier
December 4, 2018 - 14:38

Just because Dick Grayson isn’t Nightwing any more doesn’t mean he’s not a hero. Some level of morality still exists, and it continue to drives him to serve and protect. Speaking of which, as Det. Alphonse Sapienza continues his masquerade as Nightwing, he may discover he’s in over his head.

Honestly, I like Sapienza. He’s a dedicated cop with all the right intentions, but vigilante justice flies in the face of law and order. How long until this replacement Nightwing is forced to reconcile the two? It’s a very narrow ledge he is walking, and the longer he tries to balance the two, the more complex a character he becomes. Perhaps he’ll have his own super-hero identity in the future.

As for Ric Grayson, he makes it clear the Dick Grayson we once knew is gone, but Ric isn’t too far removed. He still has the old instincts – not just for fighting crime but also for being a partner and team leader. That’s what makes non-powered super-heroes so super. Rather than a super-human ability, they have the wisdom and skill toelevate themselves and others above the tide.

This issue features the artwork of Travis Moore and Patch Zircher. Zircher’s work is consistent with what I’ve seen previously in Action Comics. Perhaps too consistent. In more than one scene, Sapienza looks more like Superman in a Nightwing mask than another person. I think Nightwing is a different book, and calls for a different artistic approach. But there is time for Zircher to work on that.

Rating: 8/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12