Phil Filippopoulos
Apr 17, 2008, 12:22 am
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0408/NTW_Cv143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0408/NTW_Cv143t.jpg" hspace=10 align=left alt="Nightwing #"></a>Reviewer: Phil Filippopoulos, astral_revolution@yahoo.com
Story Title: Freefall, Chapter Four
“How about Captain Spongebob Squarepants, that ring a bell?”
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Don Kramer
Inkers: Christian Alamy & Mark Mckenna
Colorist: Nathan Eyring
Cover: Rags Morales & Michael Bair
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Axel Alonso
Executive Editor: Dan Didio
President & Publisher: Paul Levitz
Published By: DC Comics
Nightwing and Robin have a very unique relationship within the DCU. As the first and third of Batman's sidekicks, respectively, they have a complex history that makes it really fun to watch them work together. I'll start right off and say that their interaction was brilliant, and comprised the majority of my enjoyment of this issue. Seeing them work together, having a dynamic that Batman and Robin could never approach, is really interesting and really fun. Less father and son and more like brothers, it was a joy watching them work together.
The story at large isn't quite as gripping; a villain splicing together corpses to create mutants isn't exactly the newest concept. The mutants themselves are also a little bland; how much of this is the writer and how much is the artist is up for debate, but it makes the story a little less engaging because what's being made isn't all that horrible. However, given that we've got three issues left there's plenty of time for twists and turns.
For the issue itself, there's just something so old-school and fun about busting into an island fortress. It's not epic, it's not status-quo-changing, it's just two guys beating up a bunch of other guys. Nightwing and Robin employ several subtle and not-so-subtle techniques to get the job done, keeping things interesting with a nice pace. I had only two gripes; the first is the duo's use of stun guns. It just seemed odd watching them traipse around with firearms when the Bat-family has such an aversion to them. They aren't lethal, but the look just made things strange. The second was a seemingly rushed conclusion in which enemies become friends, then enemies, then friends again in about two pages.
However, if that's what needed to happen for that last page, it's worth it. That was priceless.
The art was perfect for this kind of story. Nightwing himself looked a tad old, and for whatever reason I like him with longer hair, but that's not something I can hold against anyone, just a personal preference. There's a lot of detail in the environments and there's a whole lot of baddies so Kramer and the rest of the art team have their work cut out for them, and they deliver.
Overall, this issue was really enjoyable. You don't need to navigate a labyrinth of meaning; Nightwing and Robin invade a secret island fortress and beat up everyone in sight. Sometimes, that's just what you need. Doesn't look like Robin will be in the rest of the arc, which is a shame. Here's hoping we get more of them together in the future.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwnone.jpg
Buy Nightwing online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=26548)
Story Title: Freefall, Chapter Four
“How about Captain Spongebob Squarepants, that ring a bell?”
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Don Kramer
Inkers: Christian Alamy & Mark Mckenna
Colorist: Nathan Eyring
Cover: Rags Morales & Michael Bair
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Axel Alonso
Executive Editor: Dan Didio
President & Publisher: Paul Levitz
Published By: DC Comics
Nightwing and Robin have a very unique relationship within the DCU. As the first and third of Batman's sidekicks, respectively, they have a complex history that makes it really fun to watch them work together. I'll start right off and say that their interaction was brilliant, and comprised the majority of my enjoyment of this issue. Seeing them work together, having a dynamic that Batman and Robin could never approach, is really interesting and really fun. Less father and son and more like brothers, it was a joy watching them work together.
The story at large isn't quite as gripping; a villain splicing together corpses to create mutants isn't exactly the newest concept. The mutants themselves are also a little bland; how much of this is the writer and how much is the artist is up for debate, but it makes the story a little less engaging because what's being made isn't all that horrible. However, given that we've got three issues left there's plenty of time for twists and turns.
For the issue itself, there's just something so old-school and fun about busting into an island fortress. It's not epic, it's not status-quo-changing, it's just two guys beating up a bunch of other guys. Nightwing and Robin employ several subtle and not-so-subtle techniques to get the job done, keeping things interesting with a nice pace. I had only two gripes; the first is the duo's use of stun guns. It just seemed odd watching them traipse around with firearms when the Bat-family has such an aversion to them. They aren't lethal, but the look just made things strange. The second was a seemingly rushed conclusion in which enemies become friends, then enemies, then friends again in about two pages.
However, if that's what needed to happen for that last page, it's worth it. That was priceless.
The art was perfect for this kind of story. Nightwing himself looked a tad old, and for whatever reason I like him with longer hair, but that's not something I can hold against anyone, just a personal preference. There's a lot of detail in the environments and there's a whole lot of baddies so Kramer and the rest of the art team have their work cut out for them, and they deliver.
Overall, this issue was really enjoyable. You don't need to navigate a labyrinth of meaning; Nightwing and Robin invade a secret island fortress and beat up everyone in sight. Sometimes, that's just what you need. Doesn't look like Robin will be in the rest of the arc, which is a shame. Here's hoping we get more of them together in the future.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/nwnone.jpg
Buy Nightwing online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=26548)