Why Nightwing’s Amnesia Arc isn’t working: a long-ass list
This arc came out of nowhere, especially if you’ve only been reading Nightwing. I admit to having skipped the whole “bleeding edge” story arc, was it something I missed? Either way, this was sudden and a bizarre break from the previous story, as far as I was aware. To be fair, so was the Judge storyline, but that didn’t suffer from some of the next few problems.
You know what’s a really popular genre? whump.
you know what’s bound to happen after a headshot? whump.
You know what the writers didn’t even have the courtesy to give us ?
Instead, we went straight from a hospital stay (a single panel) to Ric Grayson, in almost perfect health. There’s no time to go from Dick to Ric, no time to sympathize with the struggles of recovering from a traumatic brain injury, so we basically have to deal with the dissonance between Ric feeling like a different character and knowing that he isn’t. and speaking of...
The arc wasted no time in bringing in brand new characters and, in the process, completely forget about the old ones. Detective Svoboda is still there, but just barely. Instead, we are expected to care about a whole new set of characters, which further distances us from the story in general. We don’t care about these people and we’ve already built relationships with other characters who have just as much reason to take up the mantle or at least be a replacement.
Not to mention, Nightwing is usually a work-alone hero. So not only do we barely know these character’s names, but we have to juggle them constantly.
Even when the run-offs were introduced, it was done in a way that felt natural. Their history was explained and they felt like actual people. the nightwings seem like what you get when you mix quippy dialogue and not much else and pour it into a mold four times.
When Dick first came to Bludhaven, it was full of neon lights and beauty. It had its dark side too, sure, but it felt unique in its marketing, at least.
To their credit, bludhaven stayed like that from issue 50 to 52. compare these two images. the first from Nightwing 30 and the second from Nightwing 61.
Now, bludhaven just feels like a concrete hell. There’s nary a street sign to see, let alone all the neon and bill boards of previous issues. Where are the casinos? the bars? the anything?
We’re in a new world with new characters and what may as well be a new setting. If you’re doing that, just make it a new series.
Remember the Judge’s story arc? It lasted from issue 35 to 41. That’s 7 issues. And in that time, I was getting kind of bored with the weirdness.
The amnesia arc has lasted from issue 50 to 61 and counting. If you’re going to have an amnesia arc so you can make your little AU canon, at least keep it brief and return us to normal like they did after the Judge. It’s gotten to the point that I just don’t read the issues anymore. It’s boring and irritating.
How to fix it (or rather, have avoided it)
If I understand it correctly, this whole thing came as a result of Bane and some shit, yes? so mention that, literally ever, in Nightwing’s comic. Even in passing. Even in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail. It feels like Nightwing isn’t even a member of the batfam anymore. mention the wedding, bane, anything in the comic to keep us up to date.
According to the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, some of the fastest improvements take place over 6 months, but the process from injury to fully or almost fully recovered can last years or even a lifetime. Skipping this time not only causes an immersion-breaking timing problem, but does a disservice to people who have actually had these injuries.
Instead, make recovery a part of the story. I’m not saying to make it its own arc, but just an issue or two would be fine. Dated excerpts from doctor’s notes would be a perfect way to give us a sense of time.
The return of the Run-offs
We already have a cast of characters that we know. The last time we saw them, they’d left Bludhaven with a negative image. In the absence of Nightwing, they’d have the perfect opportunity and motivation to return and redeem themselves. they could reach out to Dick, too, since he seems so keen on keeping the batfam at bay.
If you absolutely, positively need to have a cop in there, include Svoboda as the new ‘nightwing.’ we know her, and the thought of her having to keep the secret from her husband is funny, at least to me.
not much to say, here. Just keep the signs and billboards in the design. it’s not that hard.
12+ issues is way too long to keep people waiting for the real Nightwing to return. Just finish this now, while you have the chance, and you might retain some of your reader base. Continue down the road you’re on, writers, and you might just be walking alone on the road to nowhere.
