What I’m less endeared to is his narrative spinning plates as Dick works out what he wants to do with his money. This was so good - all the right amounts of action, friendship, family, grief, romance, and hope put together to show exactly the type of man Dick Grayson is. Bruno Redondo’s art was very expressive and Adriano Lucas’ colours were not overly rendered yet remained effective and atmospheric.

It’s not a badly-written book, it’s just mostly very easy to put down because nothing that gripping is happening - until that final chapter, which has a great scene where Dick escapes Blockbuster and takes down an attack copter. Considering the darkness that we usually expect in Batman comics, but once you step outside of that world and show someone else from the Bat-Family living his/her life, you get a different perspective and the first volume of Taylor and Redondo’s Nightwing delivers one that is hopeful and optimistic.It’s about sacrifice, putting yourself before others, and showing the world that standing up for what’s right is worth fighting for. Perhaps this is the first time that I've really enjoyed reading a Nightwing solo book, but to be honest I haven't read much Nightwing. He’s a young man, perpetually stuck in that nebulous transition into adulthood where living on your own and forging your own path is only the start to becoming who you are meant to be.

Rick Leonardi and Neil Edwards draw the handful of pages that make up the flashback sequence, which aren’t bad but aren’t that special either, and I wasn’t that impressed with Heartless’ character design. The emotional beats were fantastic, especially as Dick and the greater Bat family are still dealing with Alfred’s death. I think this approach often creates problems, which is why he has Dick mention his aspirations to do more than just punch people.There is a deep emphasis on familial ties and the many ways these can establish themselves in one’s life. It’s an important message to deliver and more importantly, a major key to what makes Dick Grayson who he is. It has stakes, fantastic art that elevates the script instead of highlighting it’s flaws, and an actual endgame for Dick Grayson’s character arc.

Nightwing has to get to the bottom of this Heartless character whilst also snooping on the new mayor Zucco, but the info he’s going to find is the last thing he’d expect. A special shoutout to Redondo’s front covers for single issues that more than simple superhero poses, such as one featuring Nightwing chilling with Robin, as well one that is a deliberate nod to Batman ‘66.

I haven’t read Nightwing in years - apparently he recently suffered head trauma and thought he was someone else for a spell? The use of warm tones really added to the emotional and down-to-Earth feel of this volume and Nightwing’s character as a whole. Okay, the essence of Dick Grayson as a person and Nightwing as his vigilante alias has never felt so perfectly captured.