Nightwing #98 // Review
An imp. Grayson’s got an imp admirer. So it’s not just Batman. (Grayson’s imp is trying to be better than Bat-Mite.) That’s why he’s approaching him: there are things that have gone wrong, and he wants to alert him to them in Nightwing #98. Writer Tom Taylor takes his hero through an endearing journey with the aid of guest artist Daniele Di Nicuolo. Color comes to the page courtesy of Adriano Lucas. Taylor’s tale is a natural and rewarding progression from previous journeys with imps throughout the DC universe. It’s a strange interlude, but it IS strangely satisfying.
Nightwing doesn’t even recognize him at first. Some car pulls up, and there’s a very familiar face behind the wheel. The driver just kind of looks like Dick Grayson...with a ponytail. And an old costume. A couple of moments later, all becomes revealed. And Batgirl is amused. Evidently, he’s got an imp. That imp is going to tell him about some demons in Gotham that are going to have to be dealt with. It’s okay, though: the Nite-Mite has it all under control. If Nightwing can follow along, all will be well, and a little girl will be saved.
Taylor adds a bit of depth to the Bat-Mite’s world. The thematic parallels in the Batman/Bat-Mite vs. Nightwing/Nite-Mite dynamics are intriguing. The single-issue departure from the ongoing storylines is a welcome diversion that lends some added resonance to Dick Grayson and what he’s been going through lately. Bat-Mite always held great potential to explore the nature of hero worship in a pleasantly strange way, but no one ever quite managed to harness that potential. Taylor does so beautifully in Nightwing #98. Both Nightwing and Nite-Mite grow a little bit in a fun adventure.
Di Nicuolo manages a really sharp definition between the rubbery cartoonishness of Nite-Mite and the relative realism of Nightwing’s world. There’s a strong contrast between the two, but there’s also a great sense of fantasy action once things really get moving. Nite-Mite allows for an amplification of emotionality that serves the 98th chapter of the current series quite well. Dick is at a perfect spot to stand a bit back from the darkness that he’s been dealing with to help save a girl who is plagued by demons. Di Nicuolo’s art fits the mood nicely.
There’s a real sense of integration between hero and admirer that feels particularly satisfying for those who have encountered the imps on the comics page in the past. With this moment well and fully taken care of, Nightwing has the opportunity to take a clearer, more level-headed look at what’s going on in and around his corner of Gotham City in the next couple of issues. Of course, the next couple of issues happen to include the big 56-page 100th issue celebration in mid-January. It’s a big close-up of a character who has been around for a long time and is looking better than ever.
