NIGHTWING #68
"Time & Motion"
Neutral (3/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Chuck Dixon
Pencils: Trevor McCarthy
Inks: Rob Stull & Robert Campanella
Colors: Gregory Wright & Digital Chameleon
Letters: Willie Schubert
Editor: Michael Wright
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
One of the greatest strengths of the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" and "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive" crossover storylines has been that weren't too intrusive. Reading all of the chapters wasn't paramount. Here, Dixon breaks that trend. I've read most of the crossover tie-ins, and even I was at something of a loss here. Those reading only Nightwing and not the other Bat-titles will really be in trouble. Along with some distracting art, it makes for one of the weakest issues of this series in a while.
Nightwing and Alfred stumble onto some clues that would indicate that someone else not only had access to Wayne Manor in order to frame Bruce Wayne, but accessed the Batcave as well. A thorough sweep of the Batcave's computer and corners yields more clues, but more questions as well. Meanwhile, Tad, AKA Nite-Wing, realizes that Soames is not the justice-driven guy he thought he was, while another unusual figure intent on revenge returns to Bludhaven.
McCarthy's work just hasn't clicked for me. He's obviously influenced by previous Nightwing penciller Scott McDaniel (who now works on Batman), or at least is trying to emulate his angular, energetic style. He hasn't succeeded, though. His figures are stiff and inconsistent. His exaggerated approach doesn't make for believable characters.
In past issues, Dixon did a good job of juggling the title's ongoing subplots and the crossover elements, but that's not the case here. Those following just the crossover will be lost when it comes to the Tad/Soames scenes, and those following just the series will be out of the loop as to the exchanges between the title character and Alfred Pennyworth. Hell, I've been following both, and even I found some of the crossover plot elements to be unfamiliar.
Even more befuddling is the return of a character who was introduced -- if memory serves -- in a Nightwing Annual. Her appearance comes from out of the blue, and Dixon fails to remind even his regular readers of who she is. And if that wasn't problem enough, McCarthy's art doesn't grant her the most menacing of tones.
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