Nightwing #21 Review – Old School Boys’ Night Out
I was really, really, REALLY worried that the latest issue of Nightwing was going to focus on Dick and Shawn repairing their relationship. Or attempting to repair their relationship. Or breaking up. However they are going to go, I needed a break from that drama. Dick apparently did as well, along with the writer and artist team and Wally West. Wally is tired of hiding out in Titans Tower in Manhattan, waiting for something to or not happen with Linda Park, and waiting for a new mission to unite the team. He needs a boys’ night out with his bestest friend, Dick Grayson.
Dick promises to take Wally to the highlights of Blüdhaven that aren’t touristy. But of course, being tight-wearing superheroes and all, they can’t spend one night out of trouble. Then again, this is Blüdhaven. There is a reason why Nightwing has found a home here.
Before a new villain shows up, Dick and Wally have the most boring night on the town imaginable. They go to a bar and drink sodas. They see a terrible pirate movie. It’s almost a relief that they’re robbed by a time-stopping villain. At least we were able to giggle over girls making fun of their names.
And guess what, ladies? They’re going out like they’re still IN the 1950s. All that’s missing is a visit to a local pharmacy or soda shoppe.
Like I said, thank God a wannabe villain decides he’s some badass at stealing wallets and valuables in a nanosecond. He’s not another speedster (thank God again). He’s a random guy who found some alien tech that stops time, and he figures the best way to use it is to rob people. He also decides that the best villain name he can come up with is Time Bomb. He set himself up completely for bad jokes like this.
Was this some stellar writing? Absolutely not. Was it enjoyable? Absolutely. As for the writing, what I really mean is the plot. No, the plot wasn’t stellar, but damn if it wasn’t entertaining. I love it when comics poke fun at themselves, and this issue did it brilliantly. It made fun of their names, Dick’s lame ideas for having fun, Dick’s one-liners, and pretty much every new villain who tries to make a stab at, um, villainy.
This was a welcome break, especially during the Lazarus Contract cross-over. Always refreshing to see superheroes take a break and be themselves. In the case of Dick Grayson and Wally West, it’s to be goofy.
Our Rating: Yep
Author: Michael McMillian
Artists: Christian Duce and Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: 05/20/2017
Acquired via Purchase
