Nightwing: Love and War
DC Comics
Nightwing in his own series has been a bit hit and miss. With the end of the last big crisis his series got a bit of a update and saw Dick Grayson move to New York to get a fresh start. Love and War focuses on Dick starting this new life and making it fit with his role as Nightwing.
He meets the neighbors, we meet the guy who helps make his cool toys and equipment. He looks for a job, and of course he is out hunting bad guys.
Marv Wolfman is one of the writers who seems to really “get” Dick Grayson. His love of the character shows in his writing. He is after all the one who changed the aging Robin into Nightwing.
So while Nightwing is chasing a villain named Raptor we get more than the normal chase and fight. We see Dick have problems and do some real detective work. And the story doesn’t end with the Raptor’s end. The consequences keep moving the story forward.
This is classic Nightwing and fans of the characters and new readers alike should find this extremely satisfying.
It left me wanting the next collection.
Jack Of Fables Volume 2
Jack Of Hearts
DC/Vertigo
Bill Willingham’s Fables spin off staring Jack is a fun series. It is a bit more frivolous, as is Jack. Not weighed down by the problems affecting Fabletown Jack is off to see the world and hopefully make his fortune. In the first collection we saw Jack make it big in Hollywood only to be found out by the people running Fabletown and consequently Jack was sent on his way. He was captured by Mr. Revise who has dubious plans for all fables as he doesn’t want them to have any power.
Jack escaped with some other fables and this volume opens with them on the run and telling tales while hiding. We learn that Jack was at one time Jack Frost, a story which involves Jack being devious and scheming (of course). After the tale is told Jack is off to Vegas. Too bad for him Lady Luck is already there. Jack being Jack he manages to woo a lady and piss off the wrong people. The ensuing mayhem is a riot to watch.
The adventures of Jack are highly entertaining, in part because Jack has a very broken moral compass. While he is aware of this, he isn’t aware just how broken it is. I thing the Fables regular series is too small to contain this character and I love Jack in his own book. The flashback to earlier adventures was really fun and I hope to se more of them.
Jon
