REVIEW: Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2

Nightwing (and Scarecrow) team up to escape the maddest madhouse ever in Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2. Can the one-time sidekick and his new “partner” rescue Oracle and break free from this nightmare?

The first issue was pretty wild but this one kicks things up yet another notch. Nightwing is in Arkham Asylum for killing Batman and becomes cellmates with Scarecrow. But things really takeoff once Oracle is brought into the asylum. So the premise shifts from Nightwing figuring out how he got there to finding Oracle and escaping. All of which leads to him teaming up with Scarecrow. It’s poetic as a villain dedicated to fear becomes Nightwing’s guide through his own worst nightmare. Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad take the rest of the issue in unexpected directions keeping the reader on edge throughout. New characters appear and new nightmares are revealed as the writers take the reader on one truly wild rollercoaster of a ride.

This issue also retains the first’s unique art direction. It’s like nothing else seen in the Knight Terrors saga. The anime inspired art style returns with its bright colors, over-the-top action and super exaggerated facial emotes. It’s something more akin to a JRPG video game like Persona than your traditional DC comic book. The way Batman’s infamous rogue’s gallery are represented is the true standout of the issue. It is a nightmare after all and the art team gets to take some liberties with the villains. Solomon Grundy as a gigantic man-baby and Killer Croc’s head being croc-skin purse are literal laugh out loud moments. From everything about the look of this comic, the art team clearly had a lot of fun creating this one.

Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2 is a ride. Part prison-break story, part nightmare, part buddy comedy, part love story. And Scarecrow as a demented yet comedic sidekick is something the world didn’t know it needed until now. Add some unique art and you have something that manages to be both terrifying and zany. A small nitpick is that the murder of Batman storyline is replaced halfway through by a different nightmare. It’s a doozy but doesn’t get much time to cook before the issue concludes. It’s a nice touch however that Nightwing is late to realizing he’s in a nightmare. That acknowledgment is usually knocked out by the end of the first issue which makes most of the concluding issues not as intriguing as their first. But this one’s ending is quite satisfying leaving the reader wanting to know more in the best way possible. Fantastic issue and is a must-read.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 4.5 Stars
Coloring – 4 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Art by; Daniele Di Nicuolo
Colors by; Adriano Lucas
Letters by; Wes Abbott
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Christopher R. Ford

Writer, author, and blogger. Published author of three children's books and also writes for the boy Creators For The Culture. Part-time sneaker head, full time nerd.