Release: September 2026 | Writer: Dan Watters | Artist: Denys Cowan | Inker: Norm Rapmund | Colorist: Francesco Segala | Letterer: Wes Abbott
*Nightwing #142 SPOILERS ahead!*
Just when Nightwing thinks he’s going to get his revenge. A huge Outbreak makes its way over from Gotham City, causing Nightwing to investigate.
EXPLOSIVE DISTRACTIONS:
The time for revenge is here. For all the stress, sleepless nights, and endless headaches brought on by the city. Nightwing is feet away from Bisogni's window. Finally, it's time to kick his head in.
But it'll have to wait a little longer as explosions go off in Blüdhaven. This explosion was caused by a worker named Ben James. He's taken a truck that is filled with TNT, and he's on the road to Gotham City.
Commissioner Sawyer informs Nightwing that Gotham has a spore outbreak that's heading towards Blüdhaven and is making individuals act out of the ordinary.
And right on cue, a man who was infected by these spores attacks Commissioner Sawyer, destroying her phone and leaving Nightwing in the dark.
After trying to talk to Ben James in his truck through the radio frequency, he doesn't pay any attention to Nightwing. Luckily, Commissioner Sawyer calls back. But it isn't her.
Bisogni. He has gotten in contact with Nightwing through a communicator he left with Roland Desmond's gang in the past.
He tells Nightwing the story of Ben James and how his son was infected by the spores and fell to his death from their apartment building. Giving Nightwing more information to try and talk to Ben James into changing his mind.
Ben isn't infected; he was an old construction worker for the Gotham Arkham Towers building. Ben's son was the one infected by these spores, and he knew the spores were coming from Gotham. The same city he gave his all to took away his son from him. So, because of his death, he now wants to get back at Gotham by blowing up the same building he helped create.
The visual change in Gotham is shocking. Vines and branches everywhere, with creatures moving in the shadows.
Not only that, but there are hits out on the Bat-Family, and Nightwing is met with gunshots to his car immediately by masked men on motorcycles.
When he fights them off, Ben talks to Nightwing again, shocked that he isn't doing more to try to stop him. But he's calling Nightwing just to not be alone while he completes this crime.
Before Ben can set off these explosives he's stopped by good ol' Damian Wayne.
Final Thoughts:
Just when you thought things were slowing down in Nightwing, nope! We now enter the insanely changed and doomed Gotham City for, presumably, a few issues. Nightwing always keeps me guessing what will happen next. But then the issue comes and diverts my expectations every single time. Which is great from an entertainment perspective.
The layers in this recent run go deep, where it may be hard for a new reader to jump into while in the thick of it. But if you've stuck through it the whole time, this a guaranteed pick-up for sure.
The spores are also a new terrifying villain for Nightwing to deal with in a time when he's battling everything under the sun. Even himself.
The art delivers on this gritty aesthetic for sure, with everything feeling dark and almost horror movie-esque. Some panels are better than others, with tremendous details in some areas and odd-looking characters in the next. I am very curious where this will go next since it could set up a whole list of potential story beats.
Overall Score: 8/10