NIGHTWING #20

[ WHERE'S THAT COUPON? ] 

When a villain returns from the grave. Do you pretend to be stoic and brave? Or would you rather sh*t your pants. Or eat microscopic ants. Before having a once-all-over body-shave. Yeah. You know. Go bald. Like the Writer: Kyle Higgins; the Artist: Brett Booth; and maybe the Publisher: DC Comics, in April, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Flying Blind'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Once Dick gets better acquainted with his two new roommates,  Joey and Michael, his alter-ego, Nightwing, goes in search for Tony Zucco, all thanks to his new 'information man', Johnny Spade.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: No. Nightwing is stopped in his tracks by the villainous, Prankster.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Yes. Two things actually. The Alderman of Chicago is left arm-less, whilst the Mayor of Chicago gives Tony a helping hand.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With our hero up sh*t street, without a visor.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

As much as I didn't mind reading most of the dialogue on show throughout this issue, the stand out for me has to be when Dick said to Joey...

'I'm just happy there is no bat'

... because of has a double meaning. 

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) To be completely honest with you, folks, I did get a right kick how the first half of this tale tried to set-up Dick's living arrangements in Chicago. In many ways these aspects gave some validity to last issues offerings, and inadvertently, gave us readers some hope that the status on this series will be more stable in the future.  

(+) Brett Booth's splash pages on this book are just blinking amazing. And every single one of them are poster-worthy to say the least.

(+) Now I'm sitting on the fence at the moment where the Prankster and Tony Zucco are concerned. Parts of me are intrigued by their presence. Whilst other parts of me are unsure if they are a much needed addition to this title.

(+) Another thing that I got a right kick out of was how this issue ended. I mean, what the hell is Dick going to do now? Unmask himself? Or what about... errr... no. I think it best if I leave that for my conclusion.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) As I mentioned previously, I really-really do love Brett Booth's artwork. It's bold. It's dynamic. And it really does put on a show, so to speak. Yet, whilst saying that, my one gripe with it; is that sometimes his characters faces do all look very similar on the page. Making me confused who's who and what's what on occasion. Sorry, Brett. You're still a star, mate.

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to two MUSICIANS.

MIKE NESMITH AS JOHNNY SPADE: Come on. Just take a good hard look at this very young 'Monkee', and you can clearly see that he and Johnny wear the very same hat!

KEITH RICHARDS AS DICK GRAYSON: A long, long, long, long, long, time ago, before Keith got stoned with the 'Rolling Stones', he looked fairly dashing and debonair. Hmm. Say no more.

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision' -- Helen Keller

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'BLINDED BY THE LIGHT' BY MANFRED MAN: One of the main reasons why I've selected this song to compare to this story; is because they're both bold, lively, and are somehow connected with people having a difficulty seeing. Ha!

ANYTHING Else?

As I've alluded to up above, I was very captivated with how this issue of 'Nightwing' ended. So how will Dick escape, huh? Would he...

• Tell the Prankster who he is and just carry on as normal.
• Try to prank the prankster by revealing a mask underneath his mask.
• Show him the burn marks Kori gave him (as seen in a flashback sequence in this months 'Red Hood and the Outlaws'), hoping he'll show some pity on him in turn.
• Swear at the Prankster profusely, with the intention of shaming him into submission.
• Apologize to him for thinking he was a she, and then try to shag him.
• Inform him that the 'Nightwing' comic book is doing really well at the moment; and that if he dies, so to, will his career as a villain.

Anyway, enough stuff and nonsense for this month, folks. Please come back here next month, same bat-blog, same bat-channel, and spread the word that this Dick has really shown his wings!

No. Whatever that means either, Ha!

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Was an Episode Of Columbo, It Would Be One Where Columbo Uses An IPad Like A Frisbee. Think About It.