Dick Grayson becomes the ultimate villain.
It's easy to draw comparisons between Nightwing: The New Order and Marvel's Secret Empire. Both mini-series deal with a beloved hero turning against their allies and helping to usher in a new world order. But this series is less concerned with the hows and whys of Nightwing's fall from grace than it is in simply telling a dark, character-driven story that wouldn't be possible in the regular DCU. As such, it's well worth a read for fans of all things Dick Grayson.
Essentially an Elseworlds tale, The New Order unfolds in a futuristic DCU where a middle-aged Dick Grayson is responsible for eliminating the vast majority of the world's superhuman population. As Dick sees it, he's making the world a safer place for the ordinary, human residents of the DCU. But there's a thin line between security and fascism, and Dick increasingly finds himself on the wrong side of that line as this issue unfolds. As much as this series also brings to mind the world of Injustice: Gods Among Us, Dick makes for a more conflicted and relatable protagonist than that version of Superman ever could be.
It also helps that writer Kyle Higgins places so much emphasis on Jake Grayson, son of Dick and a mystery mother (whose unexplained absence is a subplot in this issue). We've seen many stories involving Batman becoming a father figure, but this represents a rarer opportunity to see how Dick handles the pressures and responsibilities of fatherhood. Higgins does a great job establishing the relationship among Dick, Jake and Alfred, and that work begins to pay off almost immediately. The series is also narrated by an adult Jake, giving the entire conflict a grim, fatalistic quality.
Artist Trevor McCarthy takes a far more subdued approach to the interior rt in this issue compared to the propaganda-style cover art. And that understated approach generally works to the book's benefit. Though this story unfolds several decades in the future, there's a clear desire to draw visual and topical parallels to current events. There's a moody, grimy, down-to-earth quality that often makes The New Order feel like a book that could be happening in the here and now. Dick's bat-clad foot-soldiers imposing, yet just grounded enough that it's easy to picture them patrolling the streets of a real American city. Colorist Dean White is instrumental in in terms of maintaining that balance and giving the series a generally cold, quiet feel.
McCarthy also succeeds in bringing life to his main characters. Each character has a unique look and posture. Dick himself very much looks like a former superhero now plagued by the ravages of time and mistakes made. For all the futuristic superhero trappings, The New Order often comes across like an intimate family drama more than anything else.
The Verdict
Nightwing: The New Order isn't just a welcome opportunity for Kyle Higgins to return to the character, but also a chance to see one possible future for this long-standing hero. The New Order's character-driven approach helps mitigate the shock of seeing Dick become the villain. Higgins' strong characterization and the moody visuals both combine to form one enjoyable package.
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