Nightwing #104
- Writer:
- Tom Taylor
- Artist:
- Travis Moore
- Letterer:
- Wes Abbott
- Cover Artist:
- Bruno Redondo
- Publisher:
- DC
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-05-23
- Colorist:
- Adriano Lucas
DC's Nightwing #104 is promising a lot of Dick Grayson, and this is music to the ears of fans of the first Boy Wonder. The lead story, written by Tom Taylor with art by Travis Moore, colors by Adriano Lucas, and lettering by Wes Abbott continues to prove the hero is the light to counteract all the darkness in the world with two hopeful tales. While the second adventure is written by C.S. Pacat, penciled by Daniel HDR, inked by Jonas Trindade, colored by Lucas, and lettered by Abbott.
Both the main arc and backup story close their respective chapters here. In "Rise of the Underworld," Nightwing experiences what it is like to have superpowers for two hours as Superwing. Of course, this is only a ploy from Neron to give him a taste of what more he could have in exchange for Olivia. It's a typical Faustian deal; however, Grayson is no ordinary hero. In the finale of "Night at the Circus," Nightwing and Jon Kent finally identify the person who harbors nefarious intentions for the circus and put a stop to his dastardly deeds.
Taylor whips up the ultimate what-if fantasy in Nightwing #104. Considering how much time the character spends with other super powered beings, it must have crossed his mind what he would do if he had extraordinary abilities at some point. The writer also toys with the idea of how much better Nightwing could be if he had the same extra edge as Superwing. However, this angle is used by Taylor as a device to show how Grayson's greatest power would never be flight, speed, or strength but his desire to do good. In essence, everything he requires to save the world resides inside of him already.
Moore's artwork carries through the fantastical qualities of Taylor's script. The artist depicts a world where Superwing can globetrot from crisis to crisis, while also finding the time to admire the Earth from space with Superman. Lucas is also pivotal in conveying this feeling of greatness, especially in the colorist's approach to Superwing's glowing costume as the bright yellows and accents add another dimension to the character. Abbott's lettering shines once again in this run, as the letterer plays with alternative styles and methods to showcase how certain characters and supernatural beings communicate differently from each other.
Out of the two stories, "Night at the Circus" ends without much pomp and circumstance. While the art remains high quality throughout, the big climax ends prematurely, choosing to focus more on the relaxed moments between Superman and Nightwing. Sure, it's nice to see the two friends connecting, but it comes across like this multi-issue-spanning heroic mission meant nothing more than an opportunity for them to hang out at a circus.
Much like the previous issues, there's a breezy, lighthearted fun to Nightwing #104. The outcome is fairly predictable, but it further enforces this run's theme of Grayson being a symbol of hope in the DC Universe. The former Boy Wonder is finally coming into his own here, and he keeps proving that he might be better than Batman after all.