Nightwing Issue 87 Review: “Get Grayson”

Nightwing issue 87 has been highly anticipated by fans of Dick Grayson, not only because Dick is finally back in Blüdhaven, but also because this issue is a story told in a single continuous image. Creative team Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott have really outdone themselves and have created a comic work of art that will be talked about for years to come!

I want to start out by saying that you are going to want to pick up this comic regardless of whether you have ever read Nightwing, need to catch up with Nightwing, or even if you do not like Nightwing at all. The visuals in Nightwing issue 87 are so good that you will want it to be part of your collection. Some fans are even buying 3 copies of this comic to make a poster out of two and still have one to keep. Yes, it is in fact that good. And it’s not just the art that makes this issue so great, the story is solid too.

This is also not a comic that you are going to want to read quickly. You will want to take your time and look at every part of each page. There is so much going on with tons of references and Easter eggs. It’s also fun seeing the people of Blüdhaven living their every day lives while Nightwing flips and flies through the air, using one of his escrima sticks as a trapeze. No, this isn’t a comic to be read fast and put away. It’s a comic to be reread and enjoyed for years to come.

Nightwing issue 87 starts with Dick Grayson finally back in Blüdhaven after his 3-issue stint in Gotham during the Fear State storyline. For those needing a refresher, Dick had announced to the city that he was going to use his inheritance to change Blüdhaven for the better. Right after his announcement, he had to hightail it over to Gotham to help out Barbara.

Now he’s back and some people are not so happy about it. Someone has even put a price on his head. That is to say, Dick Grayson’s head, not Nightwing’s. Barbara warns him about the hit and tells him to get off the street and to not go home. Dick says he has to though because someone has already broken in and his dog, Haley is in his apartment. Who would kidnap and threaten a little dog? Apparently, people wanted by the FBI. But thankfully Nightwing and Batgirl are to the rescue!

Tom Taylor definitely knows how to write a feel-good story that is honestly so much needed right now, and it was a complete joy to read. While the story may be  a one and done kidnap and rescue, it does also progress the overall storyline. This issue lets us know that not everyone is so welcoming to the positive changes that Dick wants to make in Blüdhaven. Considering the ten million dollar hit on Dick’s head, it looks like they’re willing to stop it by any means necessary. Life is definitely going to get much more difficult for Dick Grayson and Nightwing from here on out!

Of course, what makes Nightwing issue 87 a huge step above the rest is the exemplary art and overall issue design done by Bruno Redondo. There’s a lot of skill involved deciding how each panel in a comic will look not to mention a comic being one continuous flowing work. There isn’t a single panel in this issue, or rather we can consider it a single panel comic, or a never-ending splash page if you will.

It is my understanding that this is not the first time that something like this has been done, but that doesn’t make it any less of an amazing accomplishment. Redondo shows an extreme attention to detail in each connecting page. Dick Grayson is in constant movement. Each page portrays a busy city that is so full of life. I think this comic perhaps more than any other Nightwing comic gives us the best feel for what Blüdhaven life is like. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the areas of the page where there is not any movement. There are references and Easter eggs throughout that are so much fun. (Did you spot the Mystery Machine on pages 6-7?)

We don’t need panels to direct our eyes because the movement of Nightwing himself takes care of that. I also give credit to letterer Wes Abbott, who further directs the reader’s eye with the placing of each speech bubble. One wrong placement could easily take the reader out of the story and Abbott does not let us down!

And of course, Adriano Lucas once again brings his A-game with the colors in this issue. Something about the pallet he uses is somehow beautiful and yet so appropriate for Blüdhaven. His colors with Redondo’s art really are the perfect combination.

Nightwing issue 87 is truly something special that will be for sure talked about in comic history books. It’s a shining example of what can happen when an exceptional creative team is brought together to create a story that you can easily tell that they all sincerely love. This issue is a love letter not only to Nightwing fans, but to all readers of the comic medium. I can only hope to continue to see more innovation and risks taken in this Nightwing run down the line. This is the reason why Nightwing is consistently one of the best comic series out there.

Author: Jessica Rae

Jessica has a BA in music with an emphasis in voice and spends her day typesetting, editing, writing, and moderating webinars. Jessica primarily reviews anime and comic book series. She also offers insights on various movies, books, games, and other geeky topics.

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