Nightwing #4

In terms of quality, the first three issues of Nightwing are on par with nearly any title in the "New 52." Much of its quality was based on the often stunning (although sometimes inconsistent) art of Eddy Barrows. But for whatever reason, Eddy Barrows is having trouble meeting deadlines, with issue #3 being finished by Eduardo Pansica, and issue #4 being entirely drawn by Batman: Gates of Gotham artist Trevor McCarthy.

While by no means is Trevor McCarthy a bad artist, he's a terrible fit for this series. While some have championed that he has a fluid, motion-like style, his pencils look to cartoonish and Scott McDanielesque (that's never a good sign if you're a Nightwing fan) for the tone this series has had thusfar. In particular, the faces I find very flawed and off-putting.

Luckily, if there is one issue that Barrows had to miss, this was the one. This story is largely self-contained, as Dick runs into Babs down in Miami, and decide to go out and fight crime together. Just like the old days! Only this time Barbara isn't going to be a total ..errrmm..difficult....when she runs into Dick (this is a family-friendly blog, so I shall refrain).

The villain "Spinebender" is a shapeshifter, who has stolen tech that is similar to what the Bat-family uses in their suits, obviously gear that the Bat-family doesn't want him selling to the highest bidder, so the team-up is on! What is enjoyable is that this time, unlike in Batgirl #3, we're inside Dick's head instead of Barbara's. Not that there's anything wrong with being in Barbara's head, but all of that time I wondered what Dick was thinking, and how I wanted both perspectives.

Dick's perspective on his and Bab's friendship/romantic tension is drastically different from Ms. Gordon's. While Barbara spent all her issue reminiscing about their romance and how in sync they were, and still are, Dick laments about how awkward and complicated Barbara made things by showing up when he and new love-interest Raya are going at it hot-and-heavy.

"Two girls, a guy, and a circus tent." - Sounds kinky!

I enjoy this choice author Kyle Higgins makes -- if he mirrored Barbara's thoughts (as written by the great Gail Simone), it would be both boring and unrealistic. These two characters are in very different places in their lives, both adjusting to change, but Dick is leaping headfirst into his return to Nightwing while Barbara is hesitantly tip-toeing back to being Batgirl. Dick is coming off the most successful arc of his life, and Bab's condition is so very ambiguous and mysterious that she is in a  much more careful and cautious state. These differences inform why they feel both the same and different about each other. Obviously these two love each other, but they are hardly ready to reconcile as lovers until Bab's can be confident and secure in herself as internally as she is externally and Dick finally is ready to settle down (which was what he was doing at the beginning of Scott Snyder's run on Detective Comics until editorial mandate with the "New 52" changed everything).

What I liked: Higgins writes well, and accurately captures Barbara Gordon in her guest appearance. Hopefully this will lead to further crossovers in the future as other writers see his ability to accurately portray characters other than his own. Also, despite the self-contained nature of the story, it did touch enough upon the ongoing storylines to not waste this issue completely in that sense.

What I didn't: Dear Editor Bobbie Chase, please never put Trevor McCarthy on this book again, try him on Green Arrow, I think that's a good fit.

Conclusion: Worst issue of Nightwing Vol. 2 so far, but considering that Eddy Barrows couldn't draw this one, I'm not too upset -- it is clearly set aside from the other three in terms of storyline, hopefully our story gets back on track next month. 7.5/10 (C).