Nightwing #7 Review – Family Ties
Now that whatever that Night of Monsters arc was is over (apologies for not buying multiple random issues of comics I don’t care about to follow along), we can return to our regularly scheduled program of Nightwing and the Parliament of Owls. Well, technically that’s over since Raptor killed all of them. And he’s not happy that Raptor went full on vigilante instead of bringing them to justice. Although really, what did he expect from a known criminal? Silly boy; just because you guys become besties during one mission doesn’t mean you’ve changed the man. Then again, I suppose that’s why he’s constantly disappointed with Bruce/Batman. He thinks that their relationship will trump all.
Raptor didn’t kill all of the Owls himself, of course. Why get your hands that dirty when you can just sell the complete list of names to Kobra Cult and have them do it? Grayson may not have even found out about Raptor’s black transaction if he hadn’t begged Spyral to let him tag along on a mission. He needed to get out of Gotham after the Monsters arc. I sympathize with that. I got out of the Nightwing comic series during that arc.
But instead of working it out with Spyral, who isn’t happy with Nightwing swearing they could trust Raptor, he does what he always does–rushes off to handle things alone. Not sure why he hasn’t connected the dots yet that this is exactly why he will die alone as well, like Batman. You know, the guy he swears he’ll never be like? Funny how that works out, even if he isn’t Grayson’s biological father.
And shocker, since he does rush off to talk to Raptor alone, he puts more people he loves in danger. Seriously Dick, why so thick headed? Why no learn your lessons? When he does confront Raptor, he finds a rather creepy shrine commemorating Dick’s entire life, even when he was one of the Flying Graysons at Hayley’s Circus. Raptor takes this moment to knock out Nightwing so he can remove what is keeping Dick from understanding Raptor’s point of view. Which brings us to these rather hilarious panels, courtesy of the new Robin:
Even Damian gets it, Dick. Not sure if he’s asking Damian to stay at home because he wants to handle this by himself once again (you’re gonna fail, dude) or if he’s genuinely concerned for Damian’s safety. The kid has died once before and with Red Robin “dead,” he probably doesn’t want to lose yet another Robin. However, I’m certain it’s the former not as much of the latter, because Dick learned that Raptor has a more personal connection to him than he realized.
Please dear Lord, for all that is holy with DC Comics, do not let this connection be that Raptor is really his father. The hints are all over the place, but please make that be the “too obvious” answer. I’m looking forward for that weird twist no one expected next week. You hear me, Mr. Seeley? Don’t force me to sit in a corner sobbing over ice cream.
Authors: Tim Seeley
Artists: Javier Fermandez and Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: 10/19/16
Acquired via Purchase
