Before Dick Grayson celebrates his 100th issue, he needs to face someone from his past whom he would rather never see again. Written by Tom Taylor, with art by Bruno Redondo, Geraldo Borges, and Caio Filipe, colored by Adriano Lucas, and lettered by Wes Abbott, Nightwing #99 examines the power balance of Blüdhaven. Unfortunately, crime just doesn’t take a day off.
Blockbuster is gone, but Blüdhaven is far from being free of its criminal element. Much like Gotham, this city is full of crime families who want to ascend to the top of the food chain. Stepping out of jail and into the limelight is Tony Zucco. His arrival on the scene shakes up Nightwing and his “daughter,” Melinda, who haven’t forgotten everything he has put them through. With the two working together, it should be easy to stop Zucco before he gets started, but this crime lord has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Throughout this run, Zucco has remained in the shadows, as his crimes and misdeeds have impacted Melinda and Dick. Taylor understands that Zucco is the man who changed Dick’s life forever. He’s careful to explore Zucco’s impact without being too redundant or predictable. Nightwing might love to use his escrima sticks to pound Zucco’s face in for what he did to the Flying Graysons, but he doesn’t. He knows justice needs to prevail in the end, and he’s a better superhero for it.
Nightwing #99 doesn’t drag out this story for too long. This issue introduces ideas for Taylor to explore as the series progresses, but the key elements are all brought to light in this issue. Taylor’s efficiency feels somewhat foreign in the contemporary comics landscape. Nightwing #99 relates to the rest of the series, but it also functions as a great, refreshing stand-alone story.
As usual, Redondo, Borges, Filipe, Lucas, and Abbott don’t miss a beat in crafting the visual side of this story. Whether it’s the quieter moments or the action-packed scenes, the art of Nightwing #99 captivates the audience. Much has been written about the linework of the series and how it isn’t afraid to combine contemporary aesthetics with old-school comic art, but the true calling card here is Lucas’ color palette. The shades of blue, pink, and yellow will forever be associated with Nightwing, as they create a unique and bright aesthetic that makes the former Boy Wonder stand out on his own and away from the darker palette associated with the rest of the Bat-Family.
Many fans may have expected Nightwing #99 to be a simple fill-in issue before the fireworks of Issue #100. But this series continues to remind readers why it earned seven Eisner nominations. Instead, it’s a reminder of how a power shift will bring the rats out of the woodwork, but it’s up to Nightwing to uphold his values and to continue to fight for the change he wants to see in Blüdhaven.
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