Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Convergence Nightwing And Oracle #1Convergence: Nightwing and Oracle #1 of 2
DC Comics
Simone, Duursema, Parson & Dzioba

Convergence is an event that pits cities from various worlds that inhabit different universes against each other. The Nightwing/Oracle book uses that to isolate the relationship between the title characters. I'd be guessing as to which universe/Earth these two come from, but the characterization transcends such details. The comic is a breath of fresh air in an event that caters to the most seasoned DC reader. This comic is worth a close look.

Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson. No matter what your DC knowledge is, you probably know something about this pair. In this comic, Babs is in a wheelchair, but holds the Oracle title. Meanwhile, Grayson has moved on from Robin to become Nightwing. The pair have a long history and have an unflappable bond. In this comic they live in a city that is on a war-world awaiting a battle with another city. The city is in a bubble and the citizens are waiting for something to happen, freedom, death, something. Things are changing though as they wait.

Criminals are finding themselves bored and disgruntled from stealing the same things over and over again. Citizens are finding that living everyday life is a chore. Some are looking at the bubble as a way to create a new way of life. Why go back? Grayson decides this is the time to propose to Babs. Before this has time to set in, the bubble vanishes. But there's a reason why.

Enter Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The champions from some other universe and city are ready to take on Nightwing and Oracle to the death. The twist is that they want their own city to perish so they are looking to forfeit. However, they want to rule Oracle and Nightwing's Gotham and that doesn't fly with Babs and Dick at all.

The comic book is very good. The story moves along at a nice pace and has some action to it. Grayson gets a little spotlight and Babs get some of her own, but the real chemistry in the book is when they are together. The comic works well on a number of fronts. It tackles the Convergence event and boils it down without trying to recap the whole thing. It also frames up the mood of a lot of the ancillary characters to aid in juxtaposing how defiant Babs and Grayson are towards the Hawks. Plus, the book ends on a heck of cliffhanger.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe artwork is very good. The depiction of Babs is one of detailed beauty, mixed with intense passion and intelligence. The characterization is simply perfect on paper. The depiction of Dick is a little older, perhaps more jaded. It works but the writing presents Dick as more of a "live in the now" kind of guy and he seems a little distant in the way he shows up on paper. The comic has some terrific action scenes and really punctuates how powerful the Hawks are compared to the little regular, powerless people like Babs and Dick.

Convergence: Nightwing and Oracle represents my favorite book in the Convergence cache to this point. This is the kind of characterization the DC could use more of in their comics. Plenty of action, a surprise or two, all while injecting the Convergence story line. If you know and love these characters then this is a comic to pick up.

4 out of 5 Geek Goggles