NIGHTWING #19

[ A SALE YOU CAN'T LAUGH AT ] 

Who'd dare poke fun out of our Dick? Would it be a sailor or even some chick? I hope that it isn't an actor. Or somebody in X-Factor. Who just wants to become a quick-lick-flick. Nah! I don't know what that means either. We best ask the Writer: Kyle Higgins; and the Artist: Brett Booth, about this, huh? Just before they then have a chat with the Publisher: DC Comics, in March, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this STORY entitled 'Second City'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Once Dick Grayson sets up shop in Chicago, his alter-ago, Nightwing, tries to discreetly search for the reemerged murderer of his parents --  Tony Zucco.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: No. Not really. The police take pot shots at Dick as soon as they spot him. Plus the Prankster makes her presence known as well. 
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: We catch a glimpse of Nightwings new ally, Johnny Spade, as well as Tony's new Mayoral vocation too.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With a prank being played.

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I was very surprised and happy to see that this issue was christened 'Second City'. I presume that it was called by this name in the first place, because of Chicago's 'Second City': which is a comedy store that gave birth to such comedy greats as Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and many other 'Saturday Night Live' players.

Lovely.

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Please DC, keep the artist, Brett Booth, on this title for as long as you can. Not only was his penciling very dynamic and bold, but the only thing I could find wrong with his stuff, was in that scene where the Prankster threw some water in Dicks face, because it didn't flow properly from that specific scene to the next one. Personally speaking, I just found it too fractured in execution. Broken even. As if something was missing.

(+) Even though the idea behind a hero-less City has been done to death by now, at the same time, I have to say that I do love seeing this idea brought back to life upon the printed page. Let's just hope that Dick is here to stay though, huh?

(+) At the moment I'm sitting on the fence where Chicago and this new Prankster character is concerned. Conceptually they both seem like very good concepts for Dick to interact with. Yet, whilst saying that, in their current raw form, I'm not entirely sure how this will play out in the future. Part of me feels that they are disposable commodities. Whereas another part of me prey's for something good.

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) I thought the scene where Johnny Spade was doing his 'Sherlock Homles' shtick on that goon was a might too forced in execution. It was as if the main reason behind this scene was to relay what Johnny's tactics are more than who he is as a person. Furthermore, I suppose you can say exactly the same thing about the Pranksters so-called lunacy also. 

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to two WELL KNOWN MOVIE STARS.

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT AS NIGHTWING: Do I have to honestly write anything here, people? If Joe is good enough for Christopher Nolan, then he's good enough for me too.

KATE NAUTA AS THE PRANKSTER: As soon as I saw this blond-banana in this book, straight away I said to myself 'One minute! She reminds me of that gun-totting chick in Transporter 2'.

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'In most places in the country, voting is looked upon as a right and a duty. But in Chicago it's a sport' -- Dick Gregory

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'HIT THE ROAD JACK' BY RAY CHARLES: I feel compelled to compare this story to this song, mainly because they both share a somewhat melodious yet rustic well-travelled vibe. Cool, baby. Cool.

ANYTHING Else?

As soon as I finished reading this particular instalment of 'Nightwing', I sat back, scratched my ass, and then thought to myself 'Hmm? Now that was kind of interesting'.

Not a great revelation. I know. But by in large that's all I could seem to muster.

I loved the art. I didn't mind this new direction. And although some of the characters and plotlines weren't that great within the scheme of things, overall, I did enjoy this tale.

In many ways it was reminiscent of a sabbatical of sorts. Where people pack their bags and venture out into hotter climes, and inadvertently get into some mischief not so long thereafter. Granted, where this 'specific sabbatical' is concerned, there was a nutty broad and a lot of shooting involved. But then again that might happen if I go on holiday to certain parts of the Mediterranean.

Oh! Say no more. Great comic.

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Book Were a Subway Train, It Would Be a Mode of Transportation That'll Give You One Hell of a Ride.