NIGHTWING #15

[ A SAVING TO REMEMBER ] 

Say hello to my old mate, Joker. He's fun, he's wild, and he's crap at poker. Just ask my old mate, Nightwing. He knows how to do the right thing. Especially when dancing with a heavy chain-smoker. No. Not anybody associated with Writer: Kyle Higgins; Artist: Eddy Barrows; or Publisher: DC Comics in January 2013.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Can you guess why Dick (Nightwing) Grayson disbands his Amusement Mile project, searches for a madman, and kisses Sonia Branch, in this adventure entitled 'Cleaning House'? Is it because:

A.    There's nothing good on television.

B.    He feel's like it.

C.    The Joker has broken his ex, Raya, out of prison, as well as killed his chief clown, Jimmy.

D.    Someone told him to.

What's that? You don't know what the answer is? Shame. Raya would have told you what it was. If the Joker hadn't also turned her into a laughing loon, and set him on Dickie boy to slice and dice. Let's hope nothing bad -- ARGHHHHHHH! -- happens?

To be continued...

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I did enjoy reading Nightwings sombre tones whilst he was watching his circus 'closing shop', saying to himself...

'I watch the circus members clear the train and everyone heads out of the city. Not one of them looks me in the eye. By the time sun comes up, the police have removed Jimmy's body. And they've secured the rest of the park. Which lets me slip off to Blackgate. But after an hour of canvassing Raya's block, I've got nothing. Nothing but a need for caffeine [Nightwing Yawns]'.

It's a pretty nice read, isn't it? Because it tells a story, progresses the plot, and splashes a bit of character into the mix.  

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

I did enjoy the way Dick didn't seem to know what he was doing with himself amidst this adventure, as if he were running around from pillar to post, not really sure what's what. In my mind its 'devices' like these that help a story become more memorable than at first glace.

It's personable by default.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

No! Please don't tell me Jimmy is dead! I liked him I did. I wanted him to be Dick's new Alfred. Why did you kill him off Kyle? He could have been something special. But now -- sob! -- he's a sad visual-reference in a cross-over event.

Also -- Nooooo! -- not Raya too! I need some tissues!

What was the most INNOVATIVE thing about this issue?

I did enjoy the scene where Dick and Sonia had their first kiss together. Not only because it was emotionally driven. But because I liked the innovative way Eddy Barrows drew Dick's 'state of mind' behind their embrace.

I've never seen that done in a comic book before.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

JIMMY: Yes. We're still in my plant-themed casting-call month, dear reader. And yes, for obvious reasons, I'm going to cast this fallen cast-member as a dead flower. Say no more.

RAYA: Mainly because of the way they wilt their head, whilst appearing slightly misguided, I feel that a 'Fuchsia' would be a pretty decent match for this wilting yet misguided stooge.

What QUOTE could you use to sum-up this story?

'Run Away' -- The Knights of King Arthur from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

In essence this story is about a man running scared, until he's eventually forced to face his fears, and then... ping... to be continued. So how about comparing it to the Roy Orbison song, 'Running Scared'?

Works for me.

FINAL thoughts...

OK. Who's done it? Who has pissed off Kyle Higgins so much, that he's decided to kill off two supporting characters on this comic book?

Was it you DC? Go on. Own up. It was you, wasn't it? You forced Kyle to kill off two players in their prime, without letting him expand upon their mythos. Why did you do that for, huh? Because this was 'a cross-over event'? And you wanted it to feel more relevant if some of the cast members snuffed it?

Tut-tut-tut. I am disappointed with you DC -- not Kyle -- you should have known better with your track record. Or have you forgotten one of the main reasons why you developed the DCnU in the first place! Yeah. That's right. Because you kept on killing characters and bringing them back to life for the shear hell of it.

Now don't do that again. Go to your room and no porn for a month. Scram.  

MARKS out of 10? 9