Customer Reviews

Nightwing & Huntress

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

People are making way too much out of this book's implication that Nightwing and Huntress "hook up." I bought this book because I like these characters, but was bracing myself for some tasteless love-tripe. The situation is barely in the book! Here it is:
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[At the end of Chapter 2...]

Nightwing: "...I've been working alone for quite a while now and it's...fine, I'm good at it, but I --- sometimes I'm just so..."

Huntress: "...lonely?" [they kiss]

[Beginning of Chapter 3...]

Nightwing wakes up in her apartment wearing only his boxer-briefs.
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That's it! Not even PG-13.

Yes, the love connection seems a little forced and awkward. However, there is a great crime story here, and it's only briefly interrupted by this minor episode. Their short romance leads to some great tension in future DC books, like in Birds of Prey (Huntress joins that group of super-chicks along with Nightwing's sort-of girlfriend, Oracle). It does not ruin this book. Here's why...

Devin Grayson does a great job with the crime story, a suspenseful thriller about a murder, the mafia, and crooked cops. The author creates a compelling tale that you want to keep reading. Ms. Grayson explores the characters' differences and similarities, explaining their opposing philosophies on crime-fighting and life in general. This shows why their personal relationship can only go so far.

The artists do a fine job as well. Greg Land and Bill Sienkiewicz team up for some memorable artwork, detailed but not over-done.

So in the end, I would recommend this book. An even better one is the "Batman & Huntress" trade paperback by Greg Rucka, a great crime story and Huntress' origin story are included. Huntress is also depicted well in Gail Simone's run on "Birds of Prey," Simone has rescued that series. If you want more Nightwing, check out Judd Winick's run on the "Outsiders," a fun and gritty super-team book.

Happy reading!

This graphic novel collects the four issue Nightwing/Huntress miniseries.
SUMMARY: A hooker is killed, a mobster is framed and Huntress and Nightwing are on the case.
Nightwing is the original Robin all grown up, Huntress is the rough mafia princess whose family was murdered by the mob and now seeks to inflict her own brand of justice. The bat-family disaproves of Huntress because she is too hardcore for their taste, and a little bit of a tramp. Huntress wants to unlock the secrets of the bat-family so she sleeps with NW to try to break into the batfamilys secrets all the while solving the case of the dead hooker. The art by Greg Land is just OK and so is the writing. I only purchased this book because i like both characters, BUT they really don't have any chemistry between them. AND i really hated the scene when Nightwing calls Oracle from Huntresses apartment after having sex with her, talk about passive agressive. EP

Part of the reason that I decided to write this review was to provide a second opinion since there is and has been only one review for this book.

Firstly, the plot is irrelevant, as the sole purpose of this mini-series was to create an atmosphere where Nightwing and Huntress could become romantically involved. People familiar with both characters and the "DC Universe" in general will already have a knowledge of the Nightwing-Huntress dynamic (Nightwing is restrained, Huntress is unpolished, and etc.). Whenever these two have come into contact, the clash of styles has always defined their relationship and in many instances, driven the plot. It is no different here. With that said, the inclusion of it in the story is neither innovative nor compelling.

The main reason why I am giving this book a positive review is that it further complicates the relationship between Nightwing and Huntress. One may be compelled to say that the presence of this book reduces the credibility of both, recklessly altering the characters of two individuals that DC has spent years and even decades developing. My argument against this is that things change and people change. There needed to be more than just a clash of styles to drive their confrontations. Chuck Dixon has certainly used their affair as a point of tension during his run on Nightwing. Nightwing having his own monthly comic meant that there needed to be a direct association/history between the two in order for Huntress to make appearances. An affair is a plausible way to accomplish this. This book took Batman totally out of the picture - you now don't need point B to connect points A and C.

In addition, I would not take their later contentions that "it was a mistake" too literally as an editorial comment. What guy hasn't had an ex-girlfriend who they've conceded to a flaw in judgement? Ultimately, that's what it all boils down to - with no one around to judge them, two unchaperoned kids succumb to their hormones and do something they later regret. They have since reacted differently to each other because of it.

In the end, this graphic novel doesn't hold a straw to Alan Moore's "The Killing Joke" or even Doug Moench's "Knightfall" as required reading for Batman fans (you just have to "know" what happened at the beginning of the third comic, which everyone knows anyway). However, those who want to pick it up know what they're getting, and it's decent enough that if you happen not to like it, you wouldn't be kicking yourself too hard.

I've always been a fan of Huntress, MUCH moreso after her involvement with Birds of Prey. (Birds of Prey, Vol. 1: Of Like Minds Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Endrun (Birds of Prey (DC Comics))) My brother turned me onto the Nightwing graphic novels, telling me that they were some of the best comics he's read in the last 20 years. I am happy to say that was NOT untrue. (Nightwing Vol. 1: A Knight in Bludhaven) The two characters are, of course, extended parts of the Batman family, and are certainly interesting characters to say the least. This graphic novels is basically a murder mystery, and a good one at that. Nightwing and Huntress get caught up trying to solve the mystery together, and the sparks fly. There is natural chemistry and attraction that comes from any shared trauma, and then the awkwardness that comes from two people who lead secret lives and are not sure how much of their guard to let down. And all of these things, the hook up angle and the plot and story, and a TERRIFICLY done mystery, are handled masterfully by Devin Grayson. And can I say, how perfect is it for a guy named Devin Grayson to write the character of Nightwing, who's secret identity is Dick Grayson, so well? Gotta love irony. LOL All in all, this is a fun little read, and a must have for any fans of Nightwing and/or Huntress. I thoroughly enjoyed it, enough so that I immediately went looking for more stories featuring each of them. Give it a try, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Thanks for your time folks.
Sincerely, R.A. McDowell

Nightwing & Huntress has an interesting premise and a good choice of characters to bring together. Nightwing is the grown-up Robin and Huntress was originally conceived as the grown daughter of Batman and Catwoman but recast as a mafia princess who now hunts criminals and as a more extreme version of Batman. Both are surrogate children of Batman, the loyal son and the rebellious daughter.

In this story a criminal is framed for murder and they must team up to clear him and find the real killer.

The case itself is not too memorable, the main point is the interaction between the two characters and how their relationship develops.

It's a decent enough character story but really doesn't stick with the reader.

the stroy line was good and it had nice flow to it but it could have dealt a little more with the relationship that she had already developed with oracle.

This story involves Nightwing (the former Robin) and Huntress getting together to solve a crime. During the process of the investigation they have a one-night stand.

I really disliked this story immensely primarily because both Nightwing and Huntress are written WAY out of character and do things that neither character would do.

Helena "Huntress" Bertinelli, is an Italian American, who comes from a traditional Italian background. She is a devout Catholic and more to the point she has a great sense of pride and self-respect. She would never stoop to seducing/sleeping with a man to get something. More so what she desires more than anything in the world is Batman's respect and approval. A smart and shrewd woman like Huntress would know that seducing his former pupil in order to get in with him. Would be the fastest way of NOT getting Batman's respect. It would make her nothing more than a prostitute. A reputation that Huntress would run a mile to stay away from.

Dick "Nightwing" Grayson is an old fashioned gentleman. He is not the type of guy who indulges in one-night stands. Especially with a woman he barely knows and whom he really doesn't like. He is a capable leader and is not easily manipulated, he would have seen right up front that Huntress had no genuine interest in him and would have not touched her.

Since this story was written three successive authors at DC comics have tried to 'clean' up the events in this book. By having both characters refer to what happened as a "mistake".

I totally agree. It was a "mistake" that this story ever saw the light of day. As it did a disservice to two great characters.