Release: June 2026 | Writer: Dan Watters | Artist: Denys Cowan | Inker: Norm Rapmund | Colorist: Francesco Segala | Letterer: Wes Abbott
*Nightwing #139 SPOILERS ahead!*
Can Nightwing find a way to lead himself down a path to get back to his normal self?
TRYING TO DO GOOD
The word is out. Nightwing has tried to keep his name, but Ms. Eastbourne has taken what Nightwing told her in confidence and has twisted what he said to tell the community that he's a liar.
Nightwing is continuing to try to get a grip on his life right now. But a warrant for his arrest won't make his life any easier, and neither are the dead bodies that are being pushed ashore. Due to the bridge's construction, nearby rivers are being redirected to Blüdhaven's coast.
Nightwing is trying to do whatever he can after his recent accident to write his wrongs. He assists the coroner while examining the bodies that are coming in. But he is doing so much that even the coroner has to tell him to take a step back and get some sort of rest. He looks exhausted and everyone can notice.
Even when being given that advice, he doesn't even go home. He goes to the nearest church to try and speak in confession to hopefully heal what he thinks are his recent sins.
During his confession, the priest says that in some circumstances, taking matters into one's own hands against an evil individual causing harm to others could be warranted. Almost saying that eliminating an evil for the greater good is okay to do. That's when it clicks for Nightwing, and he asks the priest if that was his thought process when he threw that man into the river.
The priest heard that man's sins and the things he heard him say. The things he did and confessed to, the priest felt as if he couldn't let him walk away freely after. He thought the only way to have that man reach salvation was to take his life. When Nightwing hears this, he tells the priest that he has to take him in, but the priest runs to a nearby building.
When Nightwing catches up, he demands to know what the man did. But the priest is keeping the confession confidentiality that he's sworn to. He then presents Nightwing with a difficult question. Asking Nightwing where someone draws a line. This question may cause Nightwing to question and look at his line of work differently. What will be Nightwing's mindset going forward?
Art:
I've spoken about how great Denys Cowan has been on this series so far. But this issue is especially great. Nightwing running through the city in the rain looks amazing.
He is capturing this darker version of Nightwing so well. The visuals of this book emphasize the grittiness of the writing perfectly. It meshes together very well. Denys and Watters are a tremendous duo.
Final Thoughts:
This story is dark, gritty, and feels just drenched in reality. Even though it’s tackling an entity haunting Nightwing and the highway. The mental effect it has on Nightwing is what feels real. The trauma of causing deaths and the repercussions from the Blüdhaven government feel real. There's pain all around this city, which is shown perfectly through the writing of this story. It's a completely different vibe from the first arc, and it's done purposefully.
I thoroughly believe that this current Nightwing run is a book that has the potential to win awards and nominations. And it will be something we look back on in the future as a pivotal point in this character's life.
Overall Score: 8/10