WARNING: Contains Spoilers for Nightwing #119Nightwing’snew creative team has completely pulled me in, and after just one issue, I’m convinced this could be one of Dick Grayson’s greatest runs yet. Their portrayal of the Original Boy Wonder nails everything I love about him, and with an electrifying plot and a thrilling new villain, I’m already counting down the days until the next issue drops.
…Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s Nightwing is a masterclass in capturing everything I adore about Dick Grayson…
Nightwing#119 marks the official creative team shiftin the series, with Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo passing the torch to Dan Watters, Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini, and Wes Abbott.
Taylor’s run left Dick Grayson in a strong place after the bittersweet, emotionally charged conclusion of theFallen Graysonarc, whereNightwing finally defeated Shelton"Heartless"Lyle, reclaiming both his city and his legacy.Watters picks up the baton by bringing Nightwing back to his street-level roots, thrusting him into a three-front warthat threatens to throw Blüdhaven into chaos, launching a thrilling new chapter for Dick Grayson in the DCU.
…everything about this new era feels fresh and electrifying…
Dan Watters & Dexter Soy’s Nightwing Kicks Off a New Era for Dick Grayson (& I’m Already in Love)
Nightwing #119 Presents a Terrifying New Villain & an Incredibly Exciting Plot
Nightwing#119 wastes no time plunging us into the action, immediately introducing the conflicts and new foes Dick Grayson will be up against. On the first pages, we meet a mysterious, unnamed,meta-powered clown with a chilling obsession with Nightwing.This clown claims that he and a shadowy group have been watching Dick since his boyhood, confessing that when Dick became Robin,“…it was then that [they] knew he was [theirs].”This sets an ominous tone, made all the more unsettling as the clown discusses his twisted sense of ownership over Dick while playing with puppets of the Boy Wonder and his family
It’s rare for me to get hooked on new villains, as they often feel underdeveloped, but this clown instantly grabbed my attention. In just a few brief scenes, he’s already intriguing, withhis creepy fixation on Dick making him one of the most exciting and sinister villains DC has introduced in years. His teased connection to Spheric Solutions—a shady security company crafting weapons to target heroes—only adds to the mystery. But it’s not just the villain that has me thrilled about Watters and Soy’s run—everything about this new era feels fresh and electrifying.
I Can’t Believe DC Just Turned Me Into a Nightwing/Starfire Shipper
While I’ve always vastly preferred Nightwing and Starfire over Nightwing and Batgirl, I never fully shipped the Boy Wonder and the Princess—until now.
Nightwing is now facing three major threats: the clown and Spheric Solutions, the Blüdhaven Police Force equipped with military-grade weapons, and the city’s gang warsspiraling out of control after the deaths of its four gang leaders. What makes these threats so compelling is their simplicity—none of them are overly convoluted. Instead, it’s the way they feed into each other, creating a perfect storm of chaos. Spheric Solutions arms the police, setting the stage for a brutal showdown between law enforcement and the gangs, pushing Dick into his element—fighting to save a city on the brink of destruction. This layered conflict has me more excited for Nightwing’s future than I’ve been in years.
Dan Watters Masterfully Captures Nightwing’s Voice & Heroic Persona, Combining Quips & Competence
“It Brings a Tear to My Eye. It Really Does. Anywho. Time For Jail.”– Dick Grayson inNightwing#119
While I always value a solid plot and conflict, the real reason I read comics—the heart of what makes a story special for me—is the characters. Great characterization can make or break a story, and I’m thrilled to say Watters absolutely nails every aspect of Dick Grayson that I love.He perfectly balances Dick’s famous quips with the raw competence that defines him.For me, Dick is at his best when he’s kicking ass while cracking jokes, and Watters goes full throttle with this portrayal. It’s this exact mix of charm and skill that’s made Dick one of my all-time favorite characters, and seeing it shine in this new era has me beyond excited.
What completely blew me away, though, was the reveal of Nightwing’s new approach in Blüdhaven. With the gang wars escalating and the Blüdhaven Police Department armed to the teeth,Dick isn’t just fighting crime—he’s attempting to control it.The moment reminded me instantly ofJudd Winick’s Red Hood—my favorite character—and I couldn’t help but grin, knowing Dick is taking a page out of his younger brother’s playbook, albeit with a non-lethal twist. This strategic shift feels like one of the boldest, most exciting changes for Nightwing’s character in years, and the inevitable clash it’ll spark between him and Batman only makes it more thrilling.
Dexter Soy Captures Both the Charming Good Looks & Dynamism That Define Dick Grayson
The Art InNightwing#119 Gets a Solid 10/10 From Me
While the writing in this newNightwingrun is stellar, Dan Watters isn’t the only reason this series has shot to the top of my list—Dexter Soy’s art is just as essential.Soy has nailed everything that makes Dick Grayson iconic, especially his charming good looks and unmistakable dynamism.Some might think it’s vain tohighlight how handsome Nightwing is, but for me, that’s a core part of his character. An unappealing Dick Grayson wouldn’t feel like Nightwing at all, so I was beyond relieved that Soy didn’t skimp on giving the Original Boy Wonder his trademark appeal.
Beyond capturing Dick’s near-legendary looks, Soy masterfully showcases his dynamism, particularly in the way he brings Nightwing’s acrobatic fighting style to life. The fluid, graceful movements that scream"acrobat"are quintessential to Nightwing,and Soy goes above and beyond in depicting them. The scene where Dick dodges Spheric Solutions’ security lasers is a standout, perfectly illustrating his ‘flippiness,’ flair, and flexibility—the three defining elements of his fighting style. With Soy’s art hitting every mark and elevating the action, this comic is visually a 10/10.
Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s Nightwing Is EVERYTHING I Love About the Character
Nightwing#120 Releases on August 05, 2025
Overall, Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’sNightwingis a masterclass in capturing everything I adore about the character, seamlessly combining exceptional characterization with an on-point visual representation of Dick Grayson. The strength of Dick’s voice in this issue is so profound that I could have read it blindfolded and still instantly recognized it was Nightwing speaking—this, to me, is the ultimate test of effective character and dialogue writing. Watters brilliantly revives Dick’s competence and bull-headed stubbornness while balancing it with the hero’s signature quips. Coupled with Soy’s stunning art, thisNightwingrun has me absolutely convinced it will stand out as Dick Grayson’s best yet.
Nightwing #119is available now from DC Comics.
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
