DCU Comic Book Reviews

NIGHTWING #121

Sorry I Brought That Up

August 2006

Written by Bruce Jones

Pencils by Paco Diaz

Inks by Bit & Nathan Massengill

Cover by Jock

Synopsis

Jakob returns to the Pierce Brothers and literally coughs up Jason Todd, who is now wrapped in a cocoon and will lose oxygen in 24 hours.  Elsewhere, Cheyenne uses her powers to make Dick feel good by messaging his knees.  Dick asks why Cheyenne doesn’t use her powers for good.  She doesn’t want to and fights Dick as she explains.  After she leaves, Dick notices a picture of Jason Todd on a carton of milk indicating he is missing.  Later, Nightwing visits Clancy for a psychology session.  Afterwards, Nightwing is on the trail of the Pierce Brothers when he runs into Cheyenne, who is dressed in her own Nightwing costume.  They find Jason, but are attacked by the Jakob creature, who promptly eats Cheyenne.  She is able to break free, but the Pierce Brothers are waiting.

Review

I think, to coin a phrase, this series has officially screwed the pooch, for a variety of reasons.  The first is the conversation between Cheyenne and Dick in his apartment.  You know, where they blow apart the building for no particular reason.  And that point of that was.... Why do writers think we need a battle rather than a true conversation, the characters fight.  I cannot think of any reason why Cheyenne would lash out at Dick like that.  Maybe verbally, but not physically or at least not to such a degree and then have her change her mind a few pages later.  Which reminds me:  a female Nightwing?  And I thought this series could not sink any lower.  Wait, it did with the milk carton.  Didn’t Jakob swallow him just the previous night?  Man, that is impressive.  And I was being sarcastic. How did they get a picture of him a milk carton (and a billboard) that quickly?  It was a groan-inducing moment.  We need a new writer, now.  The entire first page with Jason and Dick completely and totally went against Jason’s former characterization.  Jason as a whining bitch?  Sorry, don’t see it.  At least the Jason/Dick situation will end next issue.  Or so they promise.

This doesn’t have much to do with the story in this issue, but where the hell is Batman?  The news of the “killing” Nightwing has been all over the front page, which suggests some news must have reached Gotham City.  So, Batman doesn’t call, doesn’t come up to see Dick.  After all that happened between Bruce and Jason, don’t you think Batman would want to help out one of the people closest to him?-- MRB