Nightwing #78 Review: Back in Blüdhaven

Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics A new era in DC Comics is here, and it’s called Infinite Frontier. It’s a fresh beginning without retconning the past. In short, everything that’s happened before matters, even with a new direction on the horizon. That’s why this Nightwing book hasn’t started over at #1 even though it has a new creative team. In this new run by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, Nightwing is back in Blüdhaven to shine some light on the dim and dingy city. This issue was a reintroduction to Nightwing after he regained his memories and to Blüdhaven after being gone for so long.  As stated in the issue by some narration by Nightwing, Blüdhaven is a cruel city. And cruelty breeds more cruelty. Taylor masterfully played out that lesson time and time again throughout the issue. 

But though the city might be cruel, Nightwing is an agent of compassion, and if anyone can do some good in this here, it’s him. But he’s got his work cut out for him. Blüdhaven’s biggest crime boss and giant Steven Segal cosplayer Blockbuster is still running the city, and he just appointed the daughter of Tony Zucco as the new mayor by crushing the previous one with his left hand.  Nightwing is really going to be tested before he can make a difference. And I’m here for it.  Bruno Redondo brings something special on art duties, and I’m so glad he’s attached to this book. Speaking of compassion, Redondo has the ability to balance that …