Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle [Paperback]

Chuck Dixon (Author), Greg Land (Illustrator), Butch Guice (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156389940X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563899409
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHUCK DIXON
Born in Philadelphia, Pa.

Chuck Dixon has more than twenty-five years of experience in the graphic novel field as an editor, writer and publisher. He has contributed well over a thousand scripts to publishers like DC Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse, Hyperion and others featuring a range of characters from Batman to the Simpsons. His comic book adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit continues to be an international bestseller. Considered to be one of the most prolific writers in his field, this award-winning storyteller currently writes G.I. Joe and A-team for IDW, The Good the Bad and the Ugly for Dynamite, The Simpsons for Bongo Comics along with many creator-owned projects for various publishers. He is also the co-publisher of an ambitious line of graphic novels based on the American Civil War.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Friendship And Love In The Bat-Family!, June 13, 2004

By 

Edmund Lau Kok Ming (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle (Paperback)

"The Hunt For Oracle" is volume five in the Nightwing Series that collects the original monthly comics (it's volume six if you count "Ties That Bind" but that one collects the miniseries). This volume continues from the previous one, "A Darker Shade of Justice" and it collects issues 41-45 of the monthly Nightwing and the two issues of Birds of Prey that it crosses-over with.

Chuck Dixon continues his excellent storytelling and characterization-work here. Nightwing (Dick Grayson) returns to Bludhaven after the events of "No Man's Land" in Gotham City. He takes his finals and graduates as a police officer. Meanwhile, the subplots from the previous volumes involving Tad (Nite-Wing) builds to a new level of intensity and violence in this volume as Nightwing attempts to take him under his tutelage. Also, new developments in the relationship of Dick and Clancy. Finally, there is the introduction of a new element into the Bludhaven police force (MacArnot) who may be a sleazier cop than even the legendary Dudley Soames was. For those who have been diligently following Chuck Dixon's developing plot-lines, the rewards of this volume are numerous. If like me, you like the soap-opera aspects of a monthly superhero comic where the characters grow, you'll love what Dixon is doing here.

Then we move on to the main plot. Blockbuster, the "kingpin" of Bludhaven wants to hunt down Oracle (Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl and Dick's girlfriend). And he does that by torturing Nightwing for information and by hiring a whole group of thugs/assassins. Oracle's partner, Black Canary, races against time around the globe to save her. This story also provides the biggest pay-out in the relationship of the "Birds of Prey" (Oracle and Canary) since the series began.

My only complain here is that the book seems to end on a cliffhanger (that I believe doesn't continue in the "Nightwing" books but are carried over into the "Birds of Prey" book instead). But then, such are the stuff that crossovers are made of. All in all, the story has so much to offer already that you'll overlook that.

Lastly, this volume also sees the debut of Greg Land as the new penciller for "Nightwing"; taking over from Scott McDaniel, who moved on to draw "Batman". While I absolutely love the dynamism and crazy action of McDaniel's art after the last four books, I have to admit that Greg Land is no slouch either. While he lacks the kinetic energy of McDaniel, Land more than makes up for that in his beautiful, clean line-work and absolutely gorgeous figure-drawing. For those of us who've followed Greg Land's art since the original "Nighwing" miniseries, you'll be pleased to see how much the man has evolved and improved here (and also in the CrossGen book, "Sojourn"). On a personal note, I prefer Drew Geraci inking over Land's pencils than Jose Marzan Jr. (who is far better when he's inking over Stuart Immonen). Both inkers strut their stuff in this volume so you can make your own comparisons. Patrick Zircher helps Land out as co-penciller and Butch Guice draws the "Birds of Prey" issues. The art in this book is pure eye-candy and this book is worth the price of admission on that alone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars cat-and-mouse.., November 16, 2005

By 

Corum Seth Smith (Hendersonville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle (Paperback)

Blockbuster has recently suffered his greatest loss not at the hands of Nightwing or Batman, but Oracle. He becomes obsessed with finding Oracle and killing him/her.
Nightwing and Nite-wing team up in this volume. It is Dick's hope that he can take Tad under his "wing." However, Tad shows a violent, antisocial streak when he kills an undercover FBI agent.
Oracle is nearly found, however, she runs circles around her enemies with superior planning and craftiness. She is proving to be a great asset to the Batman family beyond her impairment.
I could be wrong, but this looks like someone else started picking up the art in this volume on. Personally, I like the art either way, the main thing I like about the series is how action-packed it is without compromising the detective element. If you are picky about that sort of thing though, you might want to ask around.
Otherwise, I strongly suggest this book, and the Nightwing series.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your average damsel in distress, December 14, 2003

By 

Rachel R. Hartman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle (Paperback)

(This TPB contains BoP issues #20-21 and Nightwing #41-46.)

Just to make it clear, I started out as a Black Canary fan, then as a BoP fan, and have only recently become a Nightwing fan. I wouldn't recommend this to newcomers of either title, but it's a fun read for anyone who knows the characters and settings well enough to hang on during the ride. As a BoP fan, I really enjoyed seeing how Oracle handles herself outside the clock tower against someone more challenging than a would-be mugger or a condescending shop clerk.

Good choice of art team--while I'm not utterly opposed to any of the other artists who've worked on either series, Land, Guice, and Zirchner's realistic styles are ideally suited for this gritty story.