I’m not
usually given to spoilers, but in this case, I will make an exception. Raptor
was a major pain in my ass, and I’m glad he’s dead.
Y’see, I
haven’t followed Nightwing until
about 27 issues ago. All I really knew was he was Dick Grayson’s adult
super-hero identity, and Dick had briefly given it up during the New 52, when
he was an agent for Spyral. So when I picked up Nightwing #7 (the Rebirth
version), I was surprised to learn of this guy who had some nebulous claim to
Dick Grayson’s upbringing.
At first, he
just seemed to be Dick’s espionage mentor, but as the series progressed I
learned the attachment went further back than that. Apparently he was devoted
to Dick’s mother, but when the Flying Graysons were being murdered, Raptor was
under the bleachers of Haley’s Circus trying to figure out how to lift Bruce
Wayne’s watch.
THEN HOW
COME WE HAVEN’T HEARD OF HIM UNTIL NOW??!!
It’s not
like the guy has been a major player in Dick’s life, like Bruce, or Barbara
Gordon, or even Jason Todd. Even Starfire has greater claim to Nightwing’s
emotional real estate.
I don't object to the occasional ret-con, if it improves the overall lore of the franchise. But sometimes I think DC wants us to believe the ret-con in question was always there. That Cyborg was never a Teen Titan, and Alan Scott was always gay.
So Raptor’s Revenge” comes to its inevitable conclusion.
Nightwing wins, Raptor loses – is anyone really surprised. The Run-Offs finally
abandoned the stigma of former villainy and embraced potential super-heroism.
It’s about time.
And
Blockbuster? Well, I’m not going to reveal everything.
Rating:
8/10