Writer Dan Watters’ Nightwing #133 delivers some quieter, more reflective moments as the Zanni arc nears its end. He gives us an important glimpse into Dick Grayson’s inner resolve as the hero prepares for his final confrontation with the Cirque Du Sin. It’s slower than the previous issue, creating some pacing problems, but it still effectively sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
This issue opens with the fallout from Olivia Pearce’s public decapitation, a crime pinned on Nightwing. We know our hero was framed, but the viewers don’t, making him public enemy number one. Dick sits solemnly at Nightwing Prime’s bedside, reflecting on his failures while his allies attempt to lift his spirits. It’s not until the Martian Manhunter arrives that Dick gets ready to leap into action. He successfully opens a gateway to the fifth dimension and Dick dives in headfirst to confront the Zanni and end his reign of terror.
The Zanni and the Social Commentary of Blüdhaven
Watters explores how children often become the unintended victims of adult conflict. We see Spheric Solutions tech-enhanced law enforcement battling gangs on the streets, chunks of asphalt and laser beams flying every direction. Their chaos allows the Zanni to continue abducting the city’s children for his sinister Cirque Du Sin. The despair of parents with missing kids is briefly mentioned, but they’re the only ones crying out. It’s a damning commentary on humanity’s ability to compartmentalize horror as long as it doesn’t reach our doorstep.
Watters brilliantly uses a circus and the acrobat-influenced Zanni as foils for Dick, a former circus kid himself. Having him confront this sick, twisted version of his childhood has been an intriguing development. Watters also explores Dick’s childhood trauma in a fresh way by looking to his past. He never had a normal upbringing, moving quickly from his parent’s deaths to a life of danger as Batman’s sidekick. It makes sense when the normally good-natured hero loses his cool as kids continue to disappear. His own lost innocence gives him personal stakes in this fight, driving him to protect Blüdhaven’s children from the same fate.
Pacing Issues and Guest Stars: The Transition to the Fifth Dimension
This issue does suffer from following one the run’s strongest entries. Last issue’s gripping confrontation with Olivia Pearce makes this one’s quieter tone feel like a letdown. While Dick’s transition into the fifth dimension is necessary, Watters’ failure to capitalize on his momentum creates a jarring whiplash. The Martian Manhunter’s appearance feels forced. He shows up briefly to serve as a supernatural plot device while delivering light exposition. It’s an oddly minor role for a Justice Leaguer that could have been handled in a simpler way.
The Visuals: V Ken Marion and the Art of Nightwing #133
V Ken Marion admirably handles the artwork, but unfortunately, he isn’t given a lot to do. Most scenes take place at Titans Tower as Dick’s supporting cast rotates through to offer encouragement. Marion renders them competently, but the static nature of his scenes – characters just standing around and talking – lacks the energetic work Dexter Soy brought to previous issues. Marion does come alive on page twenty, though, with a two-page splash where Nightwing strikes multiple heroic poses mid-leap, his dynamic line work successfully capturing Dick’s acrobatic nature.
Colorist Veronica Gandini uses contrast to great effect. Nightwing’s bright blues pop against deep blacks while Martian Manhunter’s alien greens and rich purples stand out against the Tower’s softer tones. The grey veil she layers over the fifth dimension panels creates a compellingly eerie atmosphere, signaling Dick’s arrival in an abnormal realm. Wes Abbot offers an effective variety between characters with his letters. Nightwing’s speech bubbles spike dynamically when he raises his voice, while the Martian Manhunter’s remain characteristically stoic, with subtle squiggles that add an alien feel.
Final Verdict: A Personal Stakes Setup for the Finale
Nightwing #133 explores Dick Grayson’s childhood trauma through the lens of Blüdhaven’s missing children, proving how well Watters understands the character. The slower pacing after last issue’s explosive confrontation is jolting, and Marion’s artwork doesn’t match Soy’s electric compositions, but the social commentary still props up this issue. Dick’s personal stake in protecting the children promises we’re in for a dramatic finale.
‘Nightwing’ #133 examines the Heart of Dick Grayson
Nightwing #133 explores Dick Grayson’s childhood trauma through the lens of Blüdhaven’s missing children, proving how well Watters understands the character.
