Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo Announced as Nightwing's New Creative Team for DC Comics

Dick Grayson has had a rich and colourful history throughout his tenure in the DC Universe: beginning from being the very first Robin to the Caped Crusader, Nightwing eventually took a persona of his own, stepping into his own world outside of the Batman’s shadow. Now, fresh off the heels of the “Ric Grayson” storyline, Dick is back under a new creative team entirely. From Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, Nightwing #78 opens a new chapter for Richard, set in Blüdhaven after the events of Future State!

Taylor and Redondo – writer and illustrator, respectively – have previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed Injustice and Suicide Squad comics, with this as their latest creative endeavour. This time around, they’re tackling the former Boy Wonder side-by-side with Batgirl. Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson are a pair who have been romantically on-again, off-again since before I was even alive – though we may be seeing Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl instead. Here, the two are investigating Blüdhaven’s new mayor, a man with the last name Zucco… the same surname as the man who killed Dick’s parents. What the two discover will, according to DC, “unearth details that will shock and fundamentally change the hero” – but, far more importantly, Dick’s gonna be spending time taking care of a three-legged puppy on the side!

Taylor had the following to say about the ongoing, and you can tell he’s enthusiastic about the opportunity to write a character he believes to be vital to the world of DC:

“Despite, awkwardly, killing him twice (in Injustice and DCeased),” said Taylor, “I’m a huge Nightwing fan. And I couldn’t be more excited to take on a hero I’ve always considered a DC A-lister. Our series is about showing that. It’s about putting Dick Grayson back on that pedestal where he belongs.”

“It’s also about taking everything Bruno and I love about Nightwing and testing him in a completely new way,” continued Taylor. “Exploring how Dick reacts when faced with impossible odds, and with a life-changing opportunity which comes his way in our very first issue.”

Redondo, meanwhile, seems to have an excellent understanding about the energy you need to properly handle a Nightwing project, along with the care it takes to present him as both a human and role model.

“I’m not holding anything back from this project,” said Redondo. “Nightwing means kinetic potential, evolution, and a positive assertiveness more than any other character I’ve worked on…and that’s the kind of hero we all need right now. Working with Tom on Nightwing is the perfect evolution for us as a team! We have incredible ideas for Dick Grayson’s new adventures.”

In addition, Nightwing will see colouring handled by Adriano Lucas, lettering by Wes Abbott, editing by Jessica Chen and an alternate cover by Skan!

Dick Grayson has been through a lot in recent years. It’s important for characters we love to go through adversity – and triumph over it – but fans have been waiting for some time to see Nightwing back in the spotlight. Taylor seems to agree. “This is the perfect time for a Nightwing story,” he added. “It’s the right time for a charming, entertaining, positive force for good standing with the underrepresented, and pushing back against corruption and greed.”