Nightwing #77
DC Comics
Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Ronan Cliquet
Colors by: Nick Filardi
Letters by: Andworld Design
Everyone knows this is the time of year we get all the holiday specials, whether it be in comics or television. Nightwing #77 is just that.
Even if you haven’t been reading Nightwing faithfully, this is an issue you can pick up — so long as you have a general idea of what Dick has gone through over the past year-plus.
All that being said, Nightwing #77 is a tough read in 2020. That’s not a commentary on the structure of Dan Jurgens writing or Ronan Cliquet’s artwork. It’s just what went on within the story itself.
Personally, Nightwing #77 hits closer to home than it probably would’ve any other year.
(WARNING: Spoilers for Nightwing #77 ahead.)
What Nightwing and Bruce Wayne do for Clarissa, her daughter and their friends is great. Very generous. They went above and beyond.
But I couldn’t help but think — even after seeing the bus full of homeless people — “What about all the others?” Be it Bludhaven, Gotham, whatever fictional DC city you want, you probably can’t fit all their homeless people on one bus.
Moreover, what Clarissa experienced with Dexiturn is brutal. Things like that happen to people, though. And in a year where so many have lost so much, it just felt very, very real.
Also, seeing Alfred’s name pop up isn’t getting any easier the further away we get from his death. It hits a little differently when Dick brings Alfred up, too. He didn’t get the chance to mourn properly when Alfred first passed, and Dick’s mind was all messed up the last time the two crossed paths. So while it’s still tough for everyone to cope with, Dick’s situation is unique.