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Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
Nightwing is back! And it’s bringing that signature heart, heat, and hands. The creative team came through with downright lighter fluid to remind us why this is the best mainstream book out right now. I’m shaking with excitement, bro.
The story in Nightwing #87 is simple. Off the heels of Dick Grayson announcing his intent to use his money to bring Blüdhaven out of its corruption, someone puts a ten million dollar hit on his head, and they go to his house to dog nap his dog Haley, aka Bitewing. Dick must then dodge the goons trying to take his head off and save his dog from the clutches of money-hungry criminals. Simple enough, right?
Well, the story was illustrated in one of the most unique ways that I’ve ever seen. The entire issue is one continuous image. You know that signature Nightwing thing where the artist uses the space of the page to move Nightwing through the action, using multiple drawings of the character to convey movement? Well, this entire issue is that. I don’t know if there’s a word for it, so it’s a bit hard to explain. But basically, the entire issue is moving forward from left to right, with Nightwing moving through the action in a way that feels like real-time. It’s absolutely brilliant.
He swings from building to building, fights through an apartment, and zooms through the city on a motorcycle, just to name a few things.
Seeing the art conveyed in this way, for as long as it is, makes Blüdhaven, and the action that Nightwing fights through, feel like a three-dimensional space that we can enter. It’s pushing the boundaries of the medium. Comics usually rely on gutters to convey the passage of time between each panel, but there are no gutters in this issue, at least not visible ones. Yet, our minds are still able to decipher what’s going on. And that’s a testament to Redondo’s intentional illustrations. You’re never confused. Give this man his flowers now! An Eisner, too.
I could talk about Nightwing #87 forever, but I have a word count to attend to, so I’ll just leave it at this: Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo are both denoted as storytellers in this issue, not writer & artist. Because something as ambitious as this blurs the line between those defined roles, and I think that’s both beautiful and inspiring. Damn, now I’m crying.
Go buy this book! Even if you don’t read this series. This is a masterclass of storytelling.
10 Dognappings out of 10
Enjoying Nightwing? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post Nightwing #87 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
Nightwing is back! And it’s bringing that signature heart, heat, and hands. The creative team came through with downright lighter fluid to remind us why this is the best mainstream book out right now. I’m shaking with excitement, bro.
The story in Nightwing #87 is simple. Off the heels of Dick Grayson announcing his intent to use his money to bring Blüdhaven out of its corruption, someone puts a ten million dollar hit on his head, and they go to his house to dog nap his dog Haley, aka Bitewing. Dick must then dodge the goons trying to take his head off and save his dog from the clutches of money-hungry criminals. Simple enough, right?
Well, the story was illustrated in one of the most unique ways that I’ve ever seen. The entire issue is one continuous image. You know that signature Nightwing thing where the artist uses the space of the page to move Nightwing through the action, using multiple drawings of the character to convey movement? Well, this entire issue is that. I don’t know if there’s a word for it, so it’s a bit hard to explain. But basically, the entire issue is moving forward from left to right, with Nightwing moving through the action in a way that feels like real-time. It’s absolutely brilliant.
He swings from building to building, fights through an apartment, and zooms through the city on a motorcycle, just to name a few things.
Seeing the art conveyed in this way, for as long as it is, makes Blüdhaven, and the action that Nightwing fights through, feel like a three-dimensional space that we can enter. It’s pushing the boundaries of the medium. Comics usually rely on gutters to convey the passage of time between each panel, but there are no gutters in this issue, at least not visible ones. Yet, our minds are still able to decipher what’s going on. And that’s a testament to Redondo’s intentional illustrations. You’re never confused. Give this man his flowers now! An Eisner, too.
I could talk about Nightwing #87 forever, but I have a word count to attend to, so I’ll just leave it at this: Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo are both denoted as storytellers in this issue, not writer & artist. Because something as ambitious as this blurs the line between those defined roles, and I think that’s both beautiful and inspiring. Damn, now I’m crying.
Go buy this book! Even if you don’t read this series. This is a masterclass of storytelling.
10 Dognappings out of 10
Enjoying Nightwing? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post Nightwing #87 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writers: Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala / Artists: Alitha Martinez, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Mark Morales, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. / DC Comics
Nubia & the Amazons is quickly becoming one of my favorite books on the shelves. The expansion on this area of the universe that Williams, Ayala, and Co. are fleshing out is not going unnoticed.
I haven’t always been the biggest fan of stories in Themyscira. The dense language and magic/mythology-centered storylines usually just aren’t my cup of tea. But I’m finding out like I’m also finding out with the Black Manta book, that anything is better when it’s layered with representation. I’m much more engaged when there are different types of people in a story, as well as different types of people telling those stories. Nubia & The Amazons is teaching a master class in that right now.
Besides Nubia, the story is centered on new Amazons that getting a second chance at life after a tragic ending in Man’s world. They get a clean slate with the chance to live in bliss and happiness. It is a wonderfully weaved queer narrative about finding yourself, and the fact that it’s told within the context and rules of a fictional, mythological comic book island make it even stronger. When we can carve out spaces for ourselves in these larger-than-life places, it goes so far in making people feel like they’re seen and that they belong in places that aren’t always fictional. It’s so wonderfully done.
Nubia & the Amazons #3, in particular, follows Medusa as she possesses Amazons after slipping through Doom’s Doorway, the portal that connects Hades and Themyscira. Nubia feels some type of way because before she was Queen of the Amazons, her job, for as long as she can remember, was to guard Doom’s Doorway. She feels a sense of responsibility for what’s going on now. Heavy is the head who wears the crown, especially when it’s burdened with luggage from the past.
The story is positioning itself to reveal more of the backstories of the new Amazons, which is more and more likely going to feed into the conflict for Nubia. These new Amazons have been living in bliss since they arrived here, but what happens when they start to remember their lives before, and the pain and suffering are fueled by Medusa? Nubia is about to have a lot on her hands.
10 Snake-Headed Gorgons out of 10
Enjoying Nubia & the Amazons? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post Nubia & the Amazons #3 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Kyle Higgins / Artist: Marcelo Costa / Image Comics
With each issue that passes, Radiant Black ceases to amaze.
Kyle Higgins has become increasingly more nimble at keeping this book on a tightrope between relatable down to earth character study and sci-fi/superhero blockbuster. What’s taking Hollywood so long to throw trucks full of money at this guy in exchange for the tv rights is beyond me.
Radiant Black #11 picks up with Marshall dealing with the fallout from his most recent RB escapades, the return of Nathan, and the hit his personal life has taken while dealing with all of the above. Just when you think you have this book figured out, it gives you something else to appreciate. Even the irreverent, unconventional hero has to face the choice of sacrifice for the greater good. Marshall isn’t really seen as a good person and most of the people in his life tolerate him more than they actually like him. The deeds he does as Radiant Black are actually teaching him what it is to be a better man, but he can’t show this in the parts of his life that mean something. It actually follows very closely in the vein of a classic Spider-Man tale.
Higgins’ script makes for a fresh, creative, not-so-preachy take on the hero’s burden while still giving us fun sitcom type exchanges to help the medicine go down. Visually, Marcelo Costa’s work is fun, but this week’s work in Radiant Black #11 just lacked the energy of past issues. This is likely, in part, due to the script calling for far less audacious sci-fi antics than the issue before. The action just didn’t quite jump off the page like it has previously, and the figures felt slightly lazier in their renderings.
Bottom Line: The artwork isn’t quite the home run it’s been in the past, but this is still a perfectly solid addition to a terrific series.
8.5 VR Troopers episodes out of 10
Enjoying Radiant Black? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post Radiant Black #11 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.