NIGHTWING: THE NEW ORDER #1 by Kyle Higgins - Book Review

From the publisher: NIGHTWING: THE NEW ORDER is the story of a future world without “weapons”—where superpowers have been eliminated and outlawed. The man responsible? None other than Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Nightwing, now leader of a government task force called the Crusaders who are charged with hunting the remaining Supers. But when events transpire which turn the Crusaders’ aim toward Grayson’s own family, the former Boy Wonder must turn against the very system he helped create, with help from the very people he’s been hunting for years—the last metahumans of the DC Universe. Don’t miss this bold new vision from the team behind the New York Times bestseller BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM! 

Nightwing: The New Order #1, by Kyle Higgins, is an interesting new series. As far as I know, its not meant to be any part of the current DC continuity, but it presents a fertile ground for telling stories.

In this first issue, Higgins sets forth the setup: As a result of an action Dick Grayson (Nightwing) took twelve years ago, the world is without 90% of its superpowered people. Those that remain must use a power inhibitor (at least in the U.S.). The United States has become a sort of facist state, with superpowers being outlawed, and Nightwing being looked at as both hero and traitor, depending on the person's point of view. In a story narrated by his son, Nightwing's choices become even more interesting.

I enjoyed the first issue of Nightwing: The New Order. Higgins gives just enough information to draw the reader in, but still dangles several mysteries to be answered as the series progresses. There is just enough of the familiar to make this seem like a logical future for DC. The characterization of Dick Grayson is not as an extremist, but appears to be as someone who wants what is best, and had to make some hard choices. I'm very curious to discover how a hero (one of my favorites) described in this book as the "heart and soul of the hero community" ends up as a near dictator. This is a book for Nightwing/Batman fans, but also fans that enjoy speculative takes on established characters and situations. I highly recommend it.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.