Convergence: Nightwing and Oracle #1 - "Birds of Rage" Review

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers!

Fan service and slugfests, that's all you need in Convergence

The pacing, the action, the romance, the characters; this issue just does so many things right, it's hard to figure out where to begin. Covered within is the convergence of Pre-Flashpoint Nightwing and Oracle, trying to come to terms with life beneath the dome; and Flashpoint Hackman and Hawkwoman, forfeiting their hometown in an attempt to become refugees/rulers of another.

The book starts out with the sad (although predictable) news for many readers that the Justice Riders have been eradicated by the Flashpoint Hawks. The art here is beautiful, with the burning buildings reflecting the rage which so recently laid waste to the town of El Inferno. The Hawks then take off to terrorize a new world, and the book jumps to Nightwing and Oracle.

Convergence: Nightwing and Oracle #1 
April 8, 2015 by DC Comics
32 page Comic • $3.99

Between Barbara's concern for the mental state of all of Gotham and our two heroes' relationship, this issue does a splendid job of keeping the tension while waiting for the Hawks to show up. While Nightwing stands off against Mr. Freeze in an encounter that sends a chill down the spine, Barbara is having a thought-box reflection of Gotham's time under the dome. From here, the depiction of Nightwing and Oracle's relationship is endearing, highlighted by Barbara playfully calling Dick "Wonder Boy"; and heartstrings are plucked when Starfire shows up to create the love triangle, keeping the reader on their toes to see through a story that probably won't be played out. However, this sequence does a good job of breaking up the action and recreating that intense connection to the characters. A connection which crescendoes when Dick finally pops the question and is denied just before the Flashpoint Hawks show up.

The resulting conflict is nothing special, I'll be the first to admit, but it's sets the story up for what will undoubtably be an amazing showdown in the next issue. From the Hawks showing off their powerful little robot buddies by blowing up a bridge, to Oracle's reveal that even though Nightwing's off to armor up, she's been fighting them for the entire encounter; this sequence is well thought out, and the dialogue is appropriate. 

Verdict

This is what I've been looking for in the Convergence titles. Fan-service and slugfests. Is that too much to ask? Where others have failed, this book delivers. It even has an allusion to that Savior Ivy story I still want to see. If you haven't already bought this one, go out and get it now! It's worth your money.