Nightwing by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau

Sometimes, the decision is obvious: The comic’s quality plunges or goes in a direction you don’t like. Maybe the writer and/or artist changes and their work doesn’t move you.

But let’s say you’re reading a book that you’ve enjoyed for a long time, one that is still solidly good and has had its moments of genius. It’s still better than many comics you could be wasting your money on and you’ve made it this far. However, you’ve had the sneaking suspicion lately that something’s missing. Whereas you once couldn’t wait to fetch it from your LCS and dive right in, you’re now putting it aside and thinking, “I’ll get to it eventually.” Then when you do, your attention drifts. It’s not that the book is bad or even mediocre, but it just doesn’t excite you anymore.

A variation on this theme is character loyalty. Sometimes you’re so invested in a particular character that you’ll buy their title regardless of quality. I’m like that with Wonder Woman and doubt I’d ever drop that book unless something truly dreadful happened. But unless you’ve got money to burn, is it better to spend that $2.99 or $3.99 elsewhere — perhaps on that up-and-coming series that you’ve left on the shelf week after week?

The first scenario illustrates where I stand with Fables. I don’t say that lightly, because this is a series that I have been buying in trade and enthusiastically recommending to friends for a long time. Who can forget the classic 1000 Nights of Snowfall? The excellent concept, well-written characters and knock-your-socks-off storytelling enthralled me for years. Fables is still a fine series, but somewhere around Vol. 13, The Great Fables Crossover, the fire began to dim. I’ve been trying to put my finger on exactly why, because it’s not like there hasn’t been some exciting stuff since then: the entrapment and subsequent escape of the deeply scary Mr. Dark, Frau Totenkinder’s transformation and rock star heroism, and Rose Red’s recovery from her deep, pitch-black depression come to mind. Maybe it’s because the bar was set so high early on, but when I picked up Vol. 16 two weeks ago, I wasn’t dying to read it. I still haven’t. That makes me a little sad.

Tim does not have time for your drama.

As for character loyalty, it also pains me to say that I’m thinking about chucking the relaunched Teen Titans. Tim Drake is still the man. Unfortunately, this is the only book in which he’s playing a lead role, and it isn’t grabbing me. I had a tiny glimmer of hope after reading the second issue, but with the exception of a few panels like the one above, Teen Titans #4 was a letdown. A big fistfight between Wonder Girl and Superboy, complete with silly inner monologues? An epic argument between Tim and Bart over (and I am not making this up) a borrowed sweatshirt? What would make it even more difficult to drop this book is that I so appreciate the diversity of the characters. Plus, it’s the Teen Titans! I just don’t have much confidence that I’m going to fall in deep like with this book, even with Red Robin starring.

And then there’s my dear Nightwing. This comic book is actually entertaining, but not so entertaining that I’d buy it if it were about any other hero, aside from Wondy. The story is solid and Eddie Barrows’ art is very appealing. Still, I have yet to finish an issue and think, “I can’t wait to see what happens next.” Meanwhile, I am all about the excellent Daredevil, despite never having even a passing interest in the character. I want to be just as enthusiastic about the Nightwing comic, but how much time and money do I really want to spend while waiting for that to happen?

Have you guys ever reached a similar crossroads with a once-beloved comic book or ditched a favorite character’s title? What did you do?

Nightwing by Rodolfo Migliari

HOT!

Renee Montoya (The Question) and Kate Kane (Batwoman): As a couple, Kate and Renee shared a relationship that was tender and passionate. But even before they became superheroes — Renee was a cop and Kate was a soldier — these two could kick some serious ass. The relationship proved too turbulent to last, though issues of 52 and Detective Comics indicated that these two still love each other. Maybe their troubled past or their vigilante alter egos are keeping them apart, but the sparks are definitely still there.

Sasha Bordeaux and Michael Holt (Mr. Terrific): For starters, these two are equals in the hotness department, especially in Lee Bermejo’s cover art. The secrecy of their relationship in Checkmate made it kinda naughty, and it was obvious that they had a deep connection. But once they were found out, duty trumped desire. Their romance, woven into the overall awesomeness of Checkmate, was a Grade-A love affair. Michael watching Sasha “die” in Final Crisis was devastating.

Black Adam and Isis: Isis made Adam a better being, and her love redeemed him. She softened his edges, making him a viable and sympathetic anti-hero as opposed to a one-dimensional, all-powerful villain. Her death, and his subsequent suffering, was incredibly moving.

HATE!

Dick Grayson (Nightwing) and Koriand’r (Starfire): We get it. Starfire is essentially a stripper with superpowers, and we’re certainly not mad at her for rocking Nightwing’s world. But alas, she’s no Barbara Gordon, and their relationship always struck us as, well, lame. It appears that Dick thought so, too, given his final answer to Kori’s do-you-love-me query: “No.”

Dinah Lance (Black Canary) and Oliver Queen (Green Arrow): Let’s face it; Green Arrow is a well-known douchebag, and their marriage completely undermined Gail Simone’s development of Dinah in Birds of Prey. (And how come every time this super-couple gets called to action, the comic cuts to a scene of them getting out of bed and/or Dinah in some truck-stop lingerie?) The nail in the coffin was Ollie’s utterly fucked-up decision to send away Dinah’s adopted daughter, Sin — and letting her think the child was dead before explaining. Dinah can do so much better, and she doesn’t need Ollie (or any guy) to be awesome.

Diana (Wonder Woman) and Tom Tressor (Nemesis): Chocotaco said it all in his earlier guest column. Diana is way, way, way out of Tom’s league, and she’s destined to be with Bruce Wayne anyway. Go, BatWondy, Go!

Tomorrow: Five moments in comics that made us swoon.H34QFP8ZRFQN

I can’t say enough about artist Nicola Scott, who has generated some gorgeous panels during her Secret Six run. But she outdid herself in issue #9 with a cameo appearance from a certain member of the Bat family.

This “Battle for the Cowl” tie-in brought the Sixers to Gotham City, where they encountered a seriously pissed off Dick Grayson, who was still in Nightwing mode. Tousled hair. Razor-sharp jawline. Perfectly sculpted rear view. Mercy.

I have a thing about Mr. Grayson (the adult version, pervs), so it bugs me when he isn’t drawn well. This panel may be the Gold Standard. We all know it’s just a matter of time before Bruce Wayne is rocking the cowl again, so assuming that Dick goes back to his old job, I repeat my earlier suggestion to give Scott exclusive drawing rights.