Nightwing #88 Preview

[Aahz]

The sense of danger decreases when you realize Dick Has friends that can open portals and travel at ridiculous speeds.

That was already a problem with this issue imo, it never really felt like anyone was in danger.

[Godlike13]

Only way I see Taylor plotting around it is if he does it the Batman way and goes with the cliché "My city my responsibility".

Doesn’t have to. They aren’t protecting the city, they are protecting Dick Grayson.

[Godlike13]

That was already a problem with this issue imo, it never really felt like anyone was in danger.

The dude missing his heart agrees

[Micael]

That'd be the only way that makes any sense. And even then, it'd be kind of a dumb stance for a hero to take when lives are on the line. Because, yeah, all of Dick's problems could be easily solved by the Titans taking a few weeks off from the school to clean up the biggest messes in Bludhaven. At least for a little while anyway lol

But hey, suspension of disbelief and all that.

I think bringing in the Titans for assistance in such "mundane" tasks will always make it weird when the series reaches its big battle climax and for whatever reason they won't be allowed to intervene.

Doesn’t have to. They aren’t protecting the city, they are protecting Dick Grayson.

Just semantics. Dick Grayson is protecting the city which will obviously put a target on his back so therefore when the Titans help protect Nightwing they're indirectly helping Bludhaven.

[Godlike13]

Just semantics. Dick Grayson is protecting the city which will obviously put a target on his back so therefore when the Titans help protect Nightwing they're indirectly helping Bludhaven.

It’s not though. They are not there to protect Nightwing or Bludhaven, they are there to protect Dick Grayson the civilian. There is a distinct difference here. The entire problem Dick is in here is that he is handcuffed by his secret identity. So the Titans can’t just follow Nightwing around Bludhaven all the time either now, and act as both Dick Grayson’s and Nightwing’s bodyguards, or that could raise suspicion.

[Rac7d*]

On one hand it makes sense that he's friends would help him and protect him but when does it become too much of an issue from a story telling perspective. The sense of danger decreases when you realize Dick Has friends that can open portals and travel at ridiculous speeds. How is Blockbuster or Heartless supposed to face that?

Hired heavy weights possibly, but blockbusters loves his little assassins

Dick has friends who could have healed his injuries but they didn’t

[Rac7d*]

[attach=config]117547[/attach

[Badou]

So Dick and Wally interact on panel for the first time since Heroes in Crisis and Ric Grayson happened. Their scenes were fun and I'm looking forward to the two getting a full issue together. I liked that Mr Terrific built the new suit even if I find going back to the old design a bit dull. I'd have preferred a proper revamp, but at least the promise of the suit having some more features is interesting. I've found Taylor's overall run frustrating but I did like what he did with the escrima sticks in turning them into multitools. So if he does the same with the suit that will be entertaining. I've always wanted Dick to use more tech and weapons over just doing the same flips and kicks over and over. Also I haven't cared for Donna since the New 52 version took over and I'm fine with presenting Wally as Dick's best friend going forward. I don't really feel much attachment to this version of Donna.

As for the story in the issue it was kind of weird. I don't understand why Babs didn't tell Dick that she asked the Titans to help protect him. There is no reason not to, or I don't understand why Dick didn't come up with a plan himself. Not like he hasn't been a hero for the majority of his life at this point. I get that the story in this run is very light, so there isn't a lot to go around, but one of my big problems with this run is how passive Dick has been. He kind of just reacts to things while everyone else does all the detective, planning, or hero work. I get Taylor needs Babs to do things in the story but I wish Dick was more proactive.

Also something I've said for years is that I don't care about Dick's civilian life. My preference is for him to be a full time hero, so I don't really feel invested in this whole foundation he is setting up as it feels like wasted time. I get what Taylor is trying to do, but I don't think it works. Things like Dick having to go undercover and work in Blockbuster's casino to find something out is what I find WAY more interesting than him setting up some grand foundation to help kids I have no attachment to, him working as a counselor, a taxi driver, or any other kind of random jobs that is separate from him being a hero.

The issue also showed how shallow I think Bludhaven is as a setting. Since there is basically just one villain in the whole city it feels like with Blockbuster and he is a D-tier villain at best. He is just a knockoff Kingpin and I don't find him intimidating at all. So all of the Titans showing up felt like overkill. It was nice seeing Redondo draw them all as he makes them all look really good, but just one showing up would have been enough for this issue probably given how overpowered a Donna, Wally, or Cyborg are compared to Blockbuster. If instead they were showing up to stop a Lex Luthor tier villain then it would feel more balanced, since Lex has the status to challenge them where them showing up would be needed, or if you took this story and moved it to Gotham where Dick becomes the target of all the Gotham villains then all the Titans showing up to send a message to them that Dick is under the Titans protection would be better too I think. This overall story is weakened because of Blockbuster and Bludhaven, but I also get that the bigger villains, like a Lex or Deathstroke, are off the table probably.

Finally I really don't care about Heartless. I think his whole story is a complete dud. We are 10 issues in now so you can't really say give it time anymore. Taylor even sacrificed a Z-tier villain in Gunhawk to try and prom him up and make him seem more intimidating, but my eyes just glaze over when he is on panel, haha. I get what Taylor is trying to do with him as it is pretty on the nose. He is taking the hearts of the Bludhaven citizens and Dick is going to be the "heart" of the city, but I can't seem to feel invested.

[Godlike13]

Babs didn’t tell Dick for the same reason Dick didn’t call the Titans in himself. He is insecure about asking for help and putting other in danger on his behalf. Taylor just made a plot point of a general series fact that Nightwing doesn’t call the Titans in to help him there.

[thwhtGuardian]

Yeah, I don't care for Hearless either, but I did love the Titans showing up. That Dick is actually well liked by other heroes and doesn't mind when they help just makes me smile.

[Aahz]

Think of Blockbuster what you want but he is still kind of the closed thing Dick has to an arch nemesis, and the biggest villain he currently has in his series.

So unless Tyalor has something in mind to get Blockbuster to the level where can challenge the Titans, or brings in a way more powerful villain (Heartless doesn't really look more dangerous than Blockbuster sofar), there are not much stakes left in this book.

Btw. I also don't think the Foundation makes for good stories if it just about some programs Dick funds. I think they had better way to handle it back in the Bronze Age when Bruce was investigating as Batman cases from people that came for help to the Wayne Foundation.