NIGHTWING #9

[ COURT OF OWL SALE ] 

Can Nightwing really fight City Hall? Or does he think that he's having a ball? The Talon won't say. Implying that he's gay. When he suddenly decides to pity the fool. Or then again that could be Writer: Kyle Higgins; Artist: Eddy Barrows and Andres Guinaldo; plus Publisher: DC Comics in April 2012. Though he's not riding on no airplane sucka!

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

This instalment of the 'Court of the Owls' saga, entitled 'Grey Son', is like a deranged monkey with Alzheimer's. It's vision of the past is more melancholy than the future.

• Well, William Cobb can't help but recollects how he was guided to join the 'Owl gang' quite some time ago, due to the fact that his pregnant beaux's father, Burton Crowne, would not allow him to marry her. The git.
• Whereas, in the present, William beats the living ka-ka out of his Great Grandson, Dick (Nightwing) Grayson, because he is draped in another man's insignia.
• Still, you know what they say about youth, don't you? Ice-cold and straight to the point.

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I liked the scene where Granddad William tries to disrespect Dick's path in life by saying to him...

'Do you understand the significance of what you could have become, Richard? The significance of what you betrayed? It's not just that you were chosen by the court to help save Gotham... it's that you were bread for it. But what do you do now? None of it matters. None of it works. You are just one more person who thinks they belong to, but will never rise higher than second best'

Very grating words for Dick to hear, huh? Particularly since some of these doubts have plagued his mind in the past.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Overall this was a really great issue. I did like the notion that William (Talon) Cobb was a protector of Gotham City many years ago. As well as how the Grayson family got their name in the first place. Very obvious in a not so obvious way.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

The fight between William and Dick was a bit to conventional for my liking. Aesthetically it was just a series of grunts and punches that ended up with a bit of a fizzle in the train station. Not a massive gripe. Sure. But still a mite too pedestrian in the execution.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: Just like last issue, I did enjoy following a dual strand storyline that asked questions and gave answers. I also liked the way that the other parts of this 'story arc' were referred to, without feeling inserted in that exposition like manner.

ART: Truthfully, I am not a big fan of more than one artist on a book. The experience just comes across as if 'artist A' did not have enough time to finish his work, making 'artist B' quickly jump on board to fill in.  And though I do feel this way about this particular issue, I have to admit, that the style of Eddy Barrows and Andres Guinaldo did complement each others pencil-work very well, and was not at all that distracting.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

BURTON CROWNE: For this role you need an older man who has a commandeering presence and well-groomed facial hair. So what about 'Inside the Actors Studio' interviewer, James Lipton? He can take charge of any actor he confronts no problem.

AMELIA: In many ways Amelia looks like the archetypical 'red-head' that Dick normally goes for. So in my opinion who better to play this part that the token archetypical 'red-head', Christina Hendricks? I'd shag her. Wouldn't you?

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

If You Think That Your Parents Are Hard On You, Just Thank God That Your Grandfather Isn't A Secret Assassin Who Harbours A Grudge And A Knife. 

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

As much as it did not really float my boat in the 'Jackass' series of films, in many ways this issue reminded me of the 'Bad Grandpa' skits inserted into this show (i.e. A Grandpa trying to coerce his Grandson).

FINAL thoughts...

With my hand on my heart this series of 'Nightwing' is really proving itself to be a great-great book. Each story has direction, a personable narrative, and it just very enjoyable to read. Good on you DC. Please don't screw it up.

MARKS out of 10? 9