Nightwing Vol. 2: Back to Blüdhaven (Rebirth)

Nightwing Rebirth v2 trade.I really enjoyed this collection - Dick Grayson back in the tights - and going back to Bludhaven (I thought the town didn't exist anymore but I'm obviously out of date!)This is a well written, well drawn series with a distinct difference to any other Robin/ex-Robin hero out there and not afraid to blaze a new trail with new supporting cast and even a new love interest for Dick.Intelligent and engaging. Recommended

Absolutely great. Good conditions, arrived quickly.

Received today! :)

The second volume of the Rebirthed Nightwing title -  Nightwing TP Vol 2 Bludhaven (Rebirth)  – collects issues #9-15. This is another character-driven volume that continues Dick Grayson’s ‘rebirth’, following his death at the hands of Lex Luthor, the loss of his secret identity, his career as an undercover super-spy, and finally his recovery of his lost anonymity at the end of the New 52 debacle.There is a five-part story set in the All-New Bludhaven in the middle of this book, with a sort of framing episode each side. These stories are all character-driven, in that events flow from the characters of the participants and not because the plot requires it. The plot obviously does require it, but things are expertly arranged by the writer to make it character-driven.The opening story, a team-up with the ‘new’ Superman, serves to remind us of Dick Grayson’s past and character, and why he is who and what he is, and as Superman (“you can call me Clark”) reminisces about ‘his’ Dick Grayson, tells him about Bludhaven, where he has never been in this timeline, and which gives him the idea to idea to move there.The main story involves a group of ‘recovering’ costumed villains who currently live in Bludaven, and who are, one by one, being framed for murders. I don’t know how many of them are ‘real’, and how many were created for this story – the gorilla, at least, has appeared before – but they are a bunch of fourth-rate villains, the sort who would have appeared just the once in short or backup stories back in the days before creator rights stopped writers from creating throwaway characters. However, they are just the right sort of people for this story, and for this series, as they were all run out of Gotham by Batman & Robin, and have fetched up in Bludhaven to start a new life, and are not at all happy to see Nightwing, even if he is trying to help them.Despite being fourth-rate characters, they belong here because they are fourth-rate characters, and the story is about new starts, and about characters, not costumes, though there are a lot of costumes involved – and a squirrel.Lest we forget, Dick Grayson is one of DC’s longest running characters, coming only after Superman and Batman in the batting order, and, with them, being published continuously since their first appearances in 1938, 1939, and 1940 respectively. Wonder Woman came along in 1941, and although Flash, Green Lantern and the others were originally created in 1940, their modern-day versions were revamps from the 1950s and 60s.The New 52 Nightwing series was one of the better ones of the period, and I was really annoyed when it was cancelled. The Grayson series that followed it, however, was superb, and this current series has maintained the quality.This Nightwing is staying well within the limits of the character – despite the occasional team-up with Superman and the Titans – but that character is currently one of the best written, with deep continuity, which is well-used, and which also doesn’t get in the way of change and progress. The artwork is also excellent, and there is a squirrel. The squirrel doesn’t appear to do anything, per se, but at least it is treated with respect, even getting its own chair in meetings.The final story/issue, is a sort of mirror image of the opening one, looking at Dick Grayson the character, though with guest appearances by Batgirl, Starfire and Wally West, and sets him up for the next volume.This is how comic books should be done.

This has to be one of my favourite arcs yet. Nightwing moves to Bludhaven, takes another day job, meets a girl and we have hints to what's coming next. Its the perfect continuation of new 52 Dick but with a huge nod to the Dixon books of the past.Just a good fun read throughout, Rebirth Babs was even good in her cameo moment.I kinda hoping for the best in dicks new relationship as I loved the dynamic it brought the previous time he moved to Bludhaven and a day job and romance. This time it's even more fitting for him because they have no secrets as far as we can tell, she knows he is Nightwing.I will miss the Babs/dick romance but until they fix her to feel more like herself and not some tween, I'm happy with how it's going.