NIGHTWING #0

[ NIGHTWING THIS COUPON ] 

Is it easy for an orphan to become a hero? Especially when he looks like the singer, Helen Shapiro! Bruce is unsure. Dick's Jersey Shore. But only when he scores higher than a zero. As Written by Kyle Higgins; Drawn by Eddy Barrows; and Published by DC Comics in October 2012. Or maybe Dicks mistaken in this matter, huh?

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Have you ever committed a jovial crime in a train yarn before, seen your parents murdered in front of your very eyes, and then got room and board with the masked vigilantly known as Batman? No? Same here. But young circus acrobat, Dick Grayson, did, in this issue of 'Perpetual motion'!

• You see, a couple of years ago, when Lindsay Lohan was still cute, Dick's life drastically turned around when the swindler, Tony Zucco, frayed the trapeze cord his parents were using in their high-flying act.
• Well, Tony thought that this action would coax circus boss, Mister Haly, to give him some cash.
• But instead, it thrust Dick into the home of the millionaire Bruce Wayne -- AKA the Batman -- and a life which would one day turn him into the man he is today.

To be continued just as soon as Lady Shiva rears her pretty masked face.

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

If I may say so myself, Alfred had the most defining sentence in this issue. It was the scene where he said to Dick '... dare I say it. It's better to celebrate the way someone lived, than be driven by the way they died'.

Well, it does sum up the main driving force separating Batman and Nightwing as characters, right?

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Although I was very nervous reading this issue, because I didn't want DC to mess about with Dick's origin too much. Overall, they did not do that bad a job on it. The conceptual origin is still intact. And I suppose on a certain level an innovative take has been introduced to give Dick a more 'retroactive' edge.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

I only have three small gripe with this issue all in all. Firstly, I wasn't that keen on how Dick recognised Bruce was Batman -- seems like a throw away from 'Dark Knight Rises' to me. Secondly, why tamper around with the classic Robin costume?  OK, I know he was wearing short pants. But that was part of the charm. And thirdly, it felt blatantly obvious that Lady Shiva was included into this tale so she could be used next issue.

Personally speaking, I've always liked how Shiva was first introduced in the 'Richard Dragon' series -- segwaying into the Question / Green Arrow / and Detective titles thereafter.

Still, live and learn, huh?

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I thought that one of the most creative additions to this origin story was how Dick saved Tony from a Train. You see, not only was it more surprising when you realized that Tony was Tony, but it also gave Dick a more harder-edged tone to his parental loss. Moreover, I didn't mind Dick being a bit more analytical in his demeanor, and I hope to see this 'talent' blossom in future issues.

ART: Now I've read some internet critiques state that they don't like Kyle Higgins's art. Well, to them, all I can say is 'get stuffed'. Kyle really adds a dynamic and cinematic style to his line-work -- which is both crisp and clear in execution. Plus, as much as I didn't like his new Robin costume, it looks a lot better than that piece of tat Damien is currently wearing, right?

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

DICK: When Stephen Daldry was a much younger lad, he starred in a 'coming of age' ballet dancing bi-pic called 'Billy Elliot'. So if I could turn back time, I think he'd make a pretty good young Dick Grayson, myself.   

BRUCE: So far I've cast Zac Efron to play a young Bruce Wayne. Therefore, who looks like an older version of young Zac Efron? Yeah. That's what I was thinking too! A Young-ish Brad Pitt.

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

Never Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth. Unless Said Horse Has Bad Breath. Cough!

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

Aesthetically, this tale reminds me of the Beatles song, 'Let it be', because it's a coming of age yarn about a young boy who finds his way into this world by evolving and alternate means. Plus I like them both as well -- so na-nahhh-nah-na-nahhhh.

FINAL thoughts...

Overall, all of these zero issues are a bit of a mixed bag in retrospect. Some of them try to do something new for new sake (like the Robin costume for example). Some of them are used for an excuse to enhance a future tale (like the Lady Shiva inclusion). And some of them are very well constructed, having a bold yet light stance on a tried and tested formula (like this issue).

Let's hope that this new history does not foreshadow the old history too much though, because people have to know the path less traveled, before they can think about getting to there destination.

Think about it.

MARKS out of 10? 9