City Ablaze concludes this issue, a pleasant adventure story without too much being made of the fact that Ric Grayson is no longer the Nightwing. It’s enough that it reminds readers that the Nightwing they’ve come to know the past several decades is gone, but doesn’t dwell on the fact. Instead, it focuses on the problem at hand: Backburn, a living fire menace that Ric and the Nightwings must subdue.

As for the creature’s true origins, it’s a bit of a deus ex machina, but in the world of comic books, you forgive a lot. It’s enough to say that it’s an entertaining story handled by professionals. Dan Jurgens has long been associated with Superman, but that may change, as he continues to build upon the mythologies of both Nightwing and Batman Beyond.

One aspect of the current program of a team of Nightwings is it allows for them to be injured from time to time. It seems one is constantly nearly killed fighting the good fight on the streets of Bludhaven. With four in costume, I have to wonder how long it will be before one of them does become a victim of the crime they constantly battle.

Given the title is Nightwing, I can’t help but wonder if it might be time for Ric Grayson to step off-stage for a while, and leave the crime fighting in the hands of those who now wear the costume. Perhaps a story that reinforces them as a team, or maybe something with a bit more individual character development.

One key is that we have cared about Dick Grayson, but we haven’t had much opportunity to become familiar with the newbies, and grow to care about them. Why not soon? Granted, they may be placeholders until Grayson is back in his usual costume, but when that happens, it may make they’re eventual departure all the more dramatic. Just sayin’

Rating: 7/10