NIGHTWING #136 (DC Comics)

It’s a new start for Dick Grayson in the wake of tragedy.

In the aftermath of The Cirque du Sin, Bludhaven has been decimated. Buildings were knocked down. Damage was everywhere. Grayson’s young protege sacrificed himself to fight the Zanni in a never-ending battle.

This has left a city rebuilding itself much like its’ champion. The mayor has pushed through a super highway to grow commerce in the city. Finances are not the only thing that has been unlocked. Grayson intends to find out what that secret is.

NIGHTWING #136 by Dan Watters, Denys Cowan, Norm Rapmund, Francesco Segala & Wes Abbott takes Dick Grayson on a supernatural mystery.

Let’s take a deeper dive into this new era.

NIGHTWING #135 by Dan Watters, Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini& Wes Abbott (DC COMICS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Watters puts Grayson in an uncomfortable scenario. With buildings damaged, he can no longer walk amongst rooftops. He is confined to his car. This becomes a unique assets as the case slowly comes together. The writing shows the Mayor’s plans to rebuild. It is not without loss. A series of deaths have impacted the highway. There is one common clue. This leads into an uncomfortable confrontation.

Readers watch as Grayson hits the highway in search of a mysterious woman wondering the pavement. Their conversation becomes uneasy as the questions pry a response from the stranger. This unlocks a disturbing look into the past of the city. This spins into an escalation of events. Watters pushes pace to a thrilling conclusion. It leaves events in a peculiar place. There are no easy answers yet to an ever-changing city and hero.

READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!

Cowan steps for art duties and makes a gritty statement early. Grayson walking to his apartment carries an ominous feel. This is complimented by Lucas’s dark overtones with the coloring. The overhead view of Bludhaven’s highway gives readers a sense of the facade behind. Once Grayson finds the stranger, the events take a more drastic turn.

Their back and forth starts quietly enough. Grayson’s calm reactions help guide the talk. This changes when the stranger makes a grave motion. Her possessive nature ushers in the dire tale of yesteryear. The close-up of her bleeding eye is chilling as the words go across the page. This leads to a panic move which changes course for all parties. Readers see the quick action and its questionable fallout. A two page spread displays the ramifications of the move. It leaves Nightwing in a very bad state. The final page teases the sobering realization of what has transpired and what this all means. There’s much to process here.

FINAL GRADE: 8.6

A highway and its’ horrors get Dick Grayson’s undivided attention as a new threat looms. Watters teases the secrets behind a stranger's tale with strong writing. Cowan and the art team present the hard-boiled images fitting for Bludhaven’s finest. A brave new tale is just starting. Jump on board now!

Let me know your thoughts on Nightwing #136 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!