Dan Watters and Dexter Soy Have Nightwing Swinging at His Best Yet

I recently picked up the first trade of the current Nightwing run on a total whim, and it honestly blew me away. I've always loved the character—the Chuck Dixon run from the 90s really set the standard for his voice, and honestly, no one has matched it... until now.

The main plot is straightforward: a gang war brewing in Bludhaven after the leaders of five different mob groups are killed in one night. While that premise sounds like something we've read before, Dan Watters and Dexter Soy make it feel entirely fresh, thanks to a few stand out details, first being the gang design.

Instead of typical thugs, the creative team gives each group a unique, highly stylized visual motif. The aesthetic is cool, dark, and almost Tim Burton-esque gothic. You get twisted concepts like the Teddies, with their childlike stuffed-animal style, contrasted with the Flyboiz and their grotesque insect aesthetic. It’s dark, unique, and it’s where the team truly takes advantage of what only comics can do, making the book instantly stand out.

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But the real standout is the main villain, The Zanni. He's a dark, clown-like entity fighting Nightwing on both a street level and a genuinely paranormal one. The Zanni messes with Dick's mind and communicates to the reader in a way that feels genuinely scary. His design by Soy is incredible and his writing makes him eerie and one of the most unique villains in comics.

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Speaking of the visuals, Dexter Soy’s art and Veronica Candini’s colors are a perfect fit. I wasn't super familiar with Soy before this, but he's quickly become my new favorite Nightwing artist and arguably one of the best in Gotham right now.

The biggest win, though, is Watters' take on Nightwing's voice. While I loved Tom Taylor's optimistic take, Watters nails the crucial edge Dick Grayson carries. He's an optimist full of hope, but he's a Gotham boy at heart, so that little bit of vengeance makes perfect sense. This whole book feels fresh and full of potential—I honestly think Watters and Soy could hit 100 issues without it feeling stale. Specifically, the end of Issue #2, with the line "I will burn you for this" is the moment the entire run instantly clicked for me.

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This is one of my favorite comics running right now. It's always at the top of my to read pile. I highly recommend picking up the first trade and catching up with the single issues. This is one of the best take's on the character and you don't want to miss out.