Wonder Man: Nightwing: Year One
Nightwing: Year One, written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty with art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens, just wrapped its biweekly run in Nightwing #s 101-06. It attempted to spackle cracks in Dick Grayson's story which appeared when his successor's origin was rewritten. While the arc is a nice, nostalgic look at the events which gave Dick his distinct heroic identity, it feels more like a series of vignettes than a natural progression of character.
Nightwing: Year One is a revised account of a decades-old tale. The Batman books of 1983 had originally introduced Jason Todd, the orphaned son of circus acrobats with whom Dick had become friends. When the elder Todds were killed by Croc, a gangster extorting money from their circus, Bruce Wayne adopted Jason, and Jason eventually became the second Robin.
Jason's story deliberately paralleled Dick's own, which fit the retro tone the books had adopted -- but not the more "realistic" approach which followed 1985-86's The Dark Knight and 1986-87's Batman: Year One. In 1987, Jason's origin was changed accordingly. He became instead a child of the streets (famously stealing the Batmobile's tires in his first encounter with Batman), and so events had to change on Dick's end as well. (Why it took 18 years to get this far, I'm not sure.)
While Jason's revised origin affected those 1983 Batman and Detective stories, it apparently didn't do much to Dick's adventures in Teen Titans. Significantly, because those issues have been reprinted in The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, the writers of Nightwing: Year One may have thought they were familiar enough to the average fan. However, considering NWY1 on its own, the absence of Dick's Titans teammates leaves a hole in the overall story.
NWY1 begins with Dick's last sanctioned Robin adventure, a fight with Clayface. Dick is late to arrive because he's been with the Titans, and Batman fires him for it, saying he has to be able to rely on Robin. (The revised Jason Todd story hinted that Batman fired Dick after Dick was wounded by the Joker. This story alludes to that one by saying Dick has been fired a few times previously.) Dick then goes to Metropolis, where he learns from Superman about a Kryptonian hero named Nightwing. From there Dick returns to his childhood home of Haly's Circus, where he designs a new costume based closely on the one worn by Deadman, a fellow acrobat. After solving a murder at the circus, Dick decides to continue adventuring, coming back to Gotham City for a night on the town (and a trip to Arkham Asylum) with Batgirl (Barbara Gordon). Meanwhile, Batman has found his new Robin, and decides to put Jason through his paces -- but things turn sour and Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl have to save Alfred from Croc. Batman wants Dick to come back to the Batcave and remain a part of his team, but Dick declines, sending Bruce a tape which explains his place is with the Titans.
Therefore, the Titans are in the background of the story the whole time, but their presence is hardly felt. While I would rather have a new story than a retelling of an old one, NWY1 could have been stronger if the Titans were contrasted more directly with Batman. Dick basically has three adventures with the Titans during this period -- taking out a Brother Blood outpost in Alaska (New Teen Titans #39), after which he gives up his Robin costume; another Blood two-parter (NTT/Tales of the Teen Titans #s 40-41); and "The Judas Contract" (Tales #s 42-44 and Annual #3). Part 1 of NWY1 takes place during NTT #39 (Dick returns from Alaska to take on Clayface) and the rest apparently occurs just before "The Judas Contract," between Tales #41 and #42. Again, those Titans stories could have provided some counterpoints with Dick's dilemma. Not only did the second Blood storyline feature a costume-deprived Dick, but in NTT #39, Wally West effectively retired from superheroics at the same time Dick gave up being Robin. Why wouldn't Dick have talked to one of his best friends and closest colleagues about their similar circumstances?
Instead, NWY1 Part 2 has Dick going to Superman -- someone with whom post-Crisis continuity has him much less familiar -- for help. Naturally, this is the ultimate retro reference for the original story, since it re-establishes the Kryptonian hero named Nightwing -- but it ends up being forced. Not only is the Kryptonian Nightwing's familial situation eerily close to Dick's own, apparently Dick and Superman know each other's secret identities at this point. Unless I've missed some story to the contrary (which is entirely possible in DC's fluid approach to its history), Batman and Superman first learned each other's secrets well after Dick became Nightwing. It might have made for a better story if the protege of the World's Greatest Detective had surpassed his mentor by deducing Superman's secret identity. That way, we could have seen Dick's progress beyond that of mere sidekick and still have gotten all the exposition about the Kryptonian Nightwing.
Part 3, the return to Haly's Circus, is probably the most clever single installment of the story. It links Dick with the acrobatic Brand brothers in a very natural and appropriate way, and it also shows the reader that -- of course! -- Dick's original Nightwing costume was inspired by Deadman's. McDaniel appears to enjoy drawing acrobatics, and he and Owens also draw very creepy Deadman-inhabited people. However, originally I was struggling to figure out how this story fit into the overall arc otherwise. It almost feels like a "Secret Files"-type bit of business.
Part 4 references the Titans, specifically Dick's relationship with Starfire -- but it does so almost as an afterthought. Because NWY1 is written from today's perspective, in which Dick's on-again, off-again relationship with Barbara Gordon is more prominent, the story concentrates on Dick and Babs to such a degree that when Starfire finally comes into it, this longtime Titans fan had to be reminded Dick was romancing her.
Parts 5 and 6 return the story to its core theme, as Dick recognizes Jason's "final exam" from when he took it himself. By guiding Jason through Batman's last test, Dick both realizes Robin's role in Batman's crusade and recognizes that he has moved past that phase. However, the problem with NWY1 is that Dick's voice in Part 6 isn't much different than his voice today. He talks to Jason like he will talk to Tim Drake -- the "good cop" to Batman's "bad cop." Nightwing is, in a nutshell, the well-adjusted Batman: self-aware, self-deprecating, and quick with a witty insight into how his mentor's scary schtick works.
Nightwing also occupies a unique position among the Bat-sidekicks in that he was raised by Batman. Not quite Bruce's son nor his brother, Dick's and Bruce's relationship has elements of both. Dick's struggles with identity aren't just about how he can both honor his mentor and make a clean break. Dick must also navigate the choppy emotional waters faced by any young adult looking to establish his independence.
Still, Nightwing: Year One is more concerned with explaining Dick's new name and costume. To be sure, the original Batman and Titans books took most of 1983 to put Jason into the Robin costume; and it was about another year (Tales of the Teen Titans #50) before Dick and Bruce resolved all of their issues. That's a lot more time than the six issues alloted to this storyline, so the writers might be forgiven for their choice of focus. Nevertheless, giving the Titans and Batman bigger parts might not have taken too much, and would have strengthened NWY1's relational underpinnings.
As it is, while the arc is satisfying from a nostalgic viewpoint, it feels disjointed. The core of this story is a young man's choice between his mentor and his friends, and since it's a prequel, we know the outcome is never in doubt. Not only will Dick have a successful solo career, he'll reconcile with Bruce and even replace him for a short while (1995's "Prodigal" arc). Nightwing: Year One does a good job with the kind of informational adventure one expects from an origin story, but it seems content to do only that. Accordingly, it's less successful, and even less suspenseful, than either Robin: Year One or Batgirl: Year One. Nightwing: Year One does complete the puzzle of Dick Grayson's midterm period, but it could have been a more complete picture.
Nightwing: Year One is a revised account of a decades-old tale. The Batman books of 1983 had originally introduced Jason Todd, the orphaned son of circus acrobats with whom Dick had become friends. When the elder Todds were killed by Croc, a gangster extorting money from their circus, Bruce Wayne adopted Jason, and Jason eventually became the second Robin.
Jason's story deliberately paralleled Dick's own, which fit the retro tone the books had adopted -- but not the more "realistic" approach which followed 1985-86's The Dark Knight and 1986-87's Batman: Year One. In 1987, Jason's origin was changed accordingly. He became instead a child of the streets (famously stealing the Batmobile's tires in his first encounter with Batman), and so events had to change on Dick's end as well. (Why it took 18 years to get this far, I'm not sure.)
While Jason's revised origin affected those 1983 Batman and Detective stories, it apparently didn't do much to Dick's adventures in Teen Titans. Significantly, because those issues have been reprinted in The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, the writers of Nightwing: Year One may have thought they were familiar enough to the average fan. However, considering NWY1 on its own, the absence of Dick's Titans teammates leaves a hole in the overall story.
NWY1 begins with Dick's last sanctioned Robin adventure, a fight with Clayface. Dick is late to arrive because he's been with the Titans, and Batman fires him for it, saying he has to be able to rely on Robin. (The revised Jason Todd story hinted that Batman fired Dick after Dick was wounded by the Joker. This story alludes to that one by saying Dick has been fired a few times previously.) Dick then goes to Metropolis, where he learns from Superman about a Kryptonian hero named Nightwing. From there Dick returns to his childhood home of Haly's Circus, where he designs a new costume based closely on the one worn by Deadman, a fellow acrobat. After solving a murder at the circus, Dick decides to continue adventuring, coming back to Gotham City for a night on the town (and a trip to Arkham Asylum) with Batgirl (Barbara Gordon). Meanwhile, Batman has found his new Robin, and decides to put Jason through his paces -- but things turn sour and Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl have to save Alfred from Croc. Batman wants Dick to come back to the Batcave and remain a part of his team, but Dick declines, sending Bruce a tape which explains his place is with the Titans.
Therefore, the Titans are in the background of the story the whole time, but their presence is hardly felt. While I would rather have a new story than a retelling of an old one, NWY1 could have been stronger if the Titans were contrasted more directly with Batman. Dick basically has three adventures with the Titans during this period -- taking out a Brother Blood outpost in Alaska (New Teen Titans #39), after which he gives up his Robin costume; another Blood two-parter (NTT/Tales of the Teen Titans #s 40-41); and "The Judas Contract" (Tales #s 42-44 and Annual #3). Part 1 of NWY1 takes place during NTT #39 (Dick returns from Alaska to take on Clayface) and the rest apparently occurs just before "The Judas Contract," between Tales #41 and #42. Again, those Titans stories could have provided some counterpoints with Dick's dilemma. Not only did the second Blood storyline feature a costume-deprived Dick, but in NTT #39, Wally West effectively retired from superheroics at the same time Dick gave up being Robin. Why wouldn't Dick have talked to one of his best friends and closest colleagues about their similar circumstances?
Instead, NWY1 Part 2 has Dick going to Superman -- someone with whom post-Crisis continuity has him much less familiar -- for help. Naturally, this is the ultimate retro reference for the original story, since it re-establishes the Kryptonian hero named Nightwing -- but it ends up being forced. Not only is the Kryptonian Nightwing's familial situation eerily close to Dick's own, apparently Dick and Superman know each other's secret identities at this point. Unless I've missed some story to the contrary (which is entirely possible in DC's fluid approach to its history), Batman and Superman first learned each other's secrets well after Dick became Nightwing. It might have made for a better story if the protege of the World's Greatest Detective had surpassed his mentor by deducing Superman's secret identity. That way, we could have seen Dick's progress beyond that of mere sidekick and still have gotten all the exposition about the Kryptonian Nightwing.
Part 3, the return to Haly's Circus, is probably the most clever single installment of the story. It links Dick with the acrobatic Brand brothers in a very natural and appropriate way, and it also shows the reader that -- of course! -- Dick's original Nightwing costume was inspired by Deadman's. McDaniel appears to enjoy drawing acrobatics, and he and Owens also draw very creepy Deadman-inhabited people. However, originally I was struggling to figure out how this story fit into the overall arc otherwise. It almost feels like a "Secret Files"-type bit of business.
Part 4 references the Titans, specifically Dick's relationship with Starfire -- but it does so almost as an afterthought. Because NWY1 is written from today's perspective, in which Dick's on-again, off-again relationship with Barbara Gordon is more prominent, the story concentrates on Dick and Babs to such a degree that when Starfire finally comes into it, this longtime Titans fan had to be reminded Dick was romancing her.
Parts 5 and 6 return the story to its core theme, as Dick recognizes Jason's "final exam" from when he took it himself. By guiding Jason through Batman's last test, Dick both realizes Robin's role in Batman's crusade and recognizes that he has moved past that phase. However, the problem with NWY1 is that Dick's voice in Part 6 isn't much different than his voice today. He talks to Jason like he will talk to Tim Drake -- the "good cop" to Batman's "bad cop." Nightwing is, in a nutshell, the well-adjusted Batman: self-aware, self-deprecating, and quick with a witty insight into how his mentor's scary schtick works.
Nightwing also occupies a unique position among the Bat-sidekicks in that he was raised by Batman. Not quite Bruce's son nor his brother, Dick's and Bruce's relationship has elements of both. Dick's struggles with identity aren't just about how he can both honor his mentor and make a clean break. Dick must also navigate the choppy emotional waters faced by any young adult looking to establish his independence.
Still, Nightwing: Year One is more concerned with explaining Dick's new name and costume. To be sure, the original Batman and Titans books took most of 1983 to put Jason into the Robin costume; and it was about another year (Tales of the Teen Titans #50) before Dick and Bruce resolved all of their issues. That's a lot more time than the six issues alloted to this storyline, so the writers might be forgiven for their choice of focus. Nevertheless, giving the Titans and Batman bigger parts might not have taken too much, and would have strengthened NWY1's relational underpinnings.
As it is, while the arc is satisfying from a nostalgic viewpoint, it feels disjointed. The core of this story is a young man's choice between his mentor and his friends, and since it's a prequel, we know the outcome is never in doubt. Not only will Dick have a successful solo career, he'll reconcile with Bruce and even replace him for a short while (1995's "Prodigal" arc). Nightwing: Year One does a good job with the kind of informational adventure one expects from an origin story, but it seems content to do only that. Accordingly, it's less successful, and even less suspenseful, than either Robin: Year One or Batgirl: Year One. Nightwing: Year One does complete the puzzle of Dick Grayson's midterm period, but it could have been a more complete picture.
posted by Tom Bondurant @ 10:41 AM
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