Nightwing: The Crossroads hints at an urban horror story arc

Nightwing #136 by Dan Watters picks up the pieces from the chaotic end of the "Cirque du Sin" storyline in which Blüdhaven is nothing but rubble and ruin. (Read this storyline in Nightwing Vol. 1: On with the Show and Nightwing Vol. 2: Death Traps.

And Dick Grayson / Nightwing is in mourning — not for a person, but for the Blüdhaven he once knew. A Blüdhaven he’d invested so much of his own energy and wealth to make better. What’s more, Dick has been betrayed by his half-sister and the city’s former mayor, Melinda Grayson-Lin, who’s now been replaced by the even more corrupt Bernard Bisogni. Mayor Bisogni has some megalomaniacal plans for Blüdhaven — and they look a lot like turning the city into a mini-Gotham!
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As Blüdhaven begins its grim transformation, whispers of missing people, ghostly sightings, and murder weave through the streets. From the first page, Nightwing #136 has a real urban-horror vibe, and it’s delightful.

Nightwing's decision to patrol the streets rather than the rooftops shows he's committed to seeing the city from the perspective of its inhabitants — literally experiencing it at Ground Zero. As Dick himself reflects, “To understand how my home is changing... I have to see it from the same angles as everyone else who lives here.”

While cruising a newly built superhighway, Nightwing encounters a bedraggled woman wandering in and out of traffic. In true Dick Grayson fashion, he offers her a ride, thinking she might need medical care. (Can you imagine Batman picking up a hitchhiker?) But Nightwing’s act of kindness takes a bizarre turn when the woman pulls a knife on him, claiming to be a witch. Naturally, Nightwing is inclined to think she's having a mental breakdown or is under the influence of something.

The situation escalates when the woman starts bleeding from the eyes. Nightwing is anxious to get her to the hospital, but she insists they stay on the highway to reach "the crossroads." It's all very cryptic and supernatural. Their resulting struggle for control of the car concludes in a massive pileup. The woman vanishes, leaving behind countless casualties, including an injured Nightwing is left to question if she was even real. And if she wasn't, he's directly responsible for the disaster.

The encounter with the witchy woman directly ties into the “Vanishing Hitchhiker” tales, a legend that dates back hundreds of years — and as a fan of urban legends, I love seeing it here! The woman's tales of witchcraft trials and mass executions provide more context to Blüdhaven's strange past. (Remember the secret pirate society from previous storylines!) Indeed, I suspect “The Crossroads” story arc will be a chance to explore Blüdhaven's history in an unprecedented way! 

This issue also highlights how Dick Grayson is so different from his adoptive father, Bruce Wayne / Batman. While Bruce might have approached the situation on the superhighway with skepticism and extreme caution, Dick's instinct is to empathize and help, even when a knife was at his throat. We’re reminded in a very tangible way of Nightwing’s goal to be a better version of Batman.

The artwork by Denys Cowan, Norm Rapmund, and Francesco Segala is spot-on — dark, moody, and fitting for the eerie storyline. Mostly primary colors (reds, blues, and yellows) are used to capture the sullen atmosphere, where you can almost feel the weight of Blüdhaven’s dark future (and past) pressing down on Nightwing.

I can't wait to see where Dan Watters and his team take us next!

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