This week from DC Comics we get Nightwing 79. Dick must continue to put his life back together post Joker War. As he does so he notices some things missing and begins to question the difference he made in Bludhaven. It is one thing to go through an event like the Joker War, but for Dick to have lost his memory, his identity, live as another person for some time, and then be thrust back into his old life once more can really take a toll on a person. Thankfully Dick relies on one of his closest and oldest friends for support. Barbara Gordon, Fellow superhero and trauma survivor, does her best to support Dick. They make a good team, but then this issue goes a a little wonky. We go from light hearted to no hearted in the flip of a page.
A Friend to Rely On
Light Hearted to No Hearted – Then the Coin Flips
This issue spends most of its time with light hearted banter between Babs and Dick, with some soul searching and revelation mixed in. It’s all a pretty good direction, or at least it was until we get to the next villain Nightwing must track down. The homeless dad felt pretty good. He and his son now feel nice and full and they are about to spend a month in a top grade hotel. What did they say about the other shoe falling again? They pass an alley and a stranger holds them at gunpoint. The dad tells his son to run back to the pizza place. The father says he lacks anything of value, which you’d think would be obvious, but we assume the wrong thing.
The first thing I noticed was the gun. The gun being pointed at the dad did not look like any gun I know of, so who uses weird guns? My first thought went to Mr Fries, but this does not fit his modus operandi. Firefly doesn’t fit either. Who uses a gun like that where this makes any sense?! Turns out no one we know, and it also sheds light on why the kids in the homeless park called Nightwing Mr Heartless. This also becomes the point where the nature of this issue gets stood on its head!
We go from a nice playful issue, enjoying the banter of two close friends, to a gun that shoots out a tube, sucks out a person’s heart and leaves a gaping hole in their chest! This type of killing goes WAY beyond anything Nightwing dealt with in the past, and he’s not even aware of it yet. Let’s hope Nightwing and Oracle solve this case quickly!
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