Nightwing Vol. 1: A Knight in Bludhaven

Nightwing takes to Bludhaven, a city with no spandex-clad, super heroes of its own, and quickly discovers that he likes having his own turf to patrol.

"A Knight in Bludhaven" is the first story arc of the NIGHTWING regular series, featuring the story of Nightwing's adoption of the dismal, blighted city of Bludhaven and the discovery of the nasty villain who holds sway over the city. It's very much a coming-of-age story for a character who has existed for sixty years now. Dick Grayson isn't Robin anymore. He's his own man and he has his own unique way of dispensing justice. The best chapter of the story is the one which features Tim Drake, the current Robin, as a guest star. Robin contrasts Nightwing and Batman and shows just how much the two men are cut from the same cloth.

Great reading and a non-stop thrill ride. The action scenes read like a Hong Kong action flick thanks to the wild, dynamic art of Scott McDaniel. Writer Chuck Dixon is top-notch at plotting and characterization. Don't miss out! This is one great book!


The Start of a Beautiful Friendship......   May 16, 2002
Savant11 (Canada)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

Needing an aesthetic fix I picked this book up one day simply for the art and after reading I was not disapointed either by the writing. Chuck Dixon is a great writer and along with Scot McDaniels pencils it makes this book a must have.

Nightwing is a spin off character from the Batman franchise. He's the first Robin, Dick Grayson, all grown up now and his own man. He goes to a Bludhaven an industrial city sent by his mentor/Father Batman to solve a crime. In the process Nightwing decides to stay in Bludhaven because he can make a difference as well as get away from under the shadow of Batman.

I like Nightwing a lot. He's likable, smart,kind,confident and sexy.the type of guy every girl dreams of having for a boyfriend (or husband). Nightwing is constantly being hit on by women in his books and not without reason. For male comic book readers he has more of a realistic kind of masculinity, none of the overbearing machismo, which is what makes him so popular with male readers.

Nightwing is supposed to be his own character in his own right. But frankly I think that he's DC's answer to Spiderman. I find the two characters very similar except for the fact that Nightwing has no superpowers and he's a bit more confident than Spider-man in his real life. Unlike Batman (or Spider-man) Nightwing does not do what he does because he feels it's his responsibility to make the world right. He does what he does because its the right thing to do.

Anyway this is a very good book one of the better books in DC's arsenal because it has a lot of action and the character, unlike Batman really does have a life when he's not in costume. I love the character so much that even though I have the four TPB I also collected the entire run in single print. Its that good. I would also recomend the second TPB Rough Justice as the art work is a bit more sexy and hard edged. TPB 3& 4 Love and Bullets and a Darker Shade of Justice are a bit more cartoony. But the writing is good all around


A great beginning to an awesome series!   May 7, 2000
B. White
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This series contains DC comic's greatest hero, Nightwing, and is written by DC comic's greatest writer, Chuck Dixon! He's written all 40+ issues so far and the consistency and quality is in each and every one. It's also drawn by one of the most dynamic artists around, Scott McDaniel. His perspective work will make you believe Nightwing is the greatest acrobat ever. The story entails Dick Grayson/Nightwing moving out from under Batman's wing, down the coast to crumbling, crime-ridden Bludhaven. It makes Gotham look nice. With crooked cops and crime wars all around, can Nightwing figure out who's behind the murders he's investigating?


One of the best spin-off sagas in the Batman mythos!!!   November 21, 2001
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is the best spin-off saga in the Batman mythos that I have read, in my honest opinion!
It's about Dick Grayson, who was once the Dark Knight's vigilante sidekick, Robin. But, because of their differences and internal conflicts with one another, Batman and Robin went their separate ways, and Dick Grayson went from the vigilante sidekick, Robin, and assumed the identity of a new vigilante just about as rough and as vicious as Batman himself, Nightwing!
In this first volme of the "Nightwing Series", Batman orders Nightwing to investigate the brutal and grotesque murder of over twenty gangsters belonging to a Chinese Mafia. Nightwing is charged with finding out who is the culprit of this hideous and insidious crime, and has to go deep into the city of Bludhaven's underworld to find out.
No Batman fan should miss this great spinoff in the Batman mythos that is filled with action, intrigue, and dark mystery.
I myself can't wait to buy the next volumes in the Nightwing series!!


Warning: you WILL get hooked on Chuck Dixon   January 26, 2006
Windbreaker (USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This trade collects the first 8 issues of Nightwing. In a word - Outstanding! This is definitely not just for NW fans, but Bat-family fans wil especially love it. Dixon's story is a perfect balance between action and mystery. For the most part, I love the art. But it is occassionally too busy. McDaniel's action scenes have so much going on, that it's sometimes difficult to keep track of exactly what's happening.

Batman sends NW to Bludhaven to solve a mystery involving 21 dead criminals. Before long he's in over his head finding a place to settle, his day job, crooked cops, and his caped crusades. Robin drops in at one point, and the two have a revealing conversation about what makes Bruce, Dick, and Tim all tick.