Future State: Nightwing #1

 **This Blog entry contains spoilers for Future State: Nightwing #1**

Recap: 

From the start, we are dropped right into the action. Nightwing is on his way to rescue two individuals who are being assaulted by Magistrate Robots. While Nightwing is approaching the situation, his location is being tracked. Nightwing handles the robots, but the reader discovers that the two individuals are actually Magistrate augmented humans. Nightwing takes out the augmented humans, but is shot in his armor by a Magistrate sniper. Nightwing finds the sniper and takes care of him. However, once Nightwing leaves the scene, the sniper radios back to the Magistrate that the mission has been accomplished. 

We move to the Magistrate headquarters where the Peacekeepers are discussing the “direct hit” on Nightwing. Two of the Peacekeepers continue to discuss how they are making good progress on wiping out the masks across Gotham. The reader also discovers that Nightwing believes that the Magistrate killed Batman. Peacekeeper-01 is holding the name plate for Commission Montoya in his hand. This would suggest that the Magistrate is now in control of GCPD. 

Nightwing has taken base at the Batcave inside of Arkham Asylum. He is discussing with Batgirl that the Magistrate is coming for them. Batgirl brings up that there are reports of a new Batman roaming around Gotham. Nightwing reminds Batgirl that there will only ever be one Batman. Nightwing has an internal monologue referencing that he feels that he failed Bruce. During this monologue, he is attacked by the New Batman. Nightwing is able to restrain the New Batman by using some of the Bat Cave’s defenses. We learn that the New Batman has come to Arkham to ask for Nightwing’s help and join the resistance that he has created. There is a young girl who the New Batman has saved, but is missing again because of the Magistrate. The alarms for the Bat Cave start going off and Nightwing confirms that the Magistrate is coming. We learn that the Nightwing knew that the bullet that he was shot with contained a tracker that lodged into his armor. Nightwing confirms that he wanted the Magistrate to come here. 

Thoughts: 

It was good to see that we still have good old Dick Grayson roaming around Gotham is the Blue and Black. Based on the presence of the Robots and augmented humans that work for the magistrate,  the cybernetic technology that was referenced in the “Outsiders” Chapter 1 has been developed. This leads me to believe that a significant amount of time has passed in the Future State universe since the introduction we received in “The Next Batman #1.” During this time, it appears that the Magistrate has increased the control that they have over Gotham. Does the GCPD still exist? We do not see any indication of the GCPD throughout this issue.  

The Peacekeepers within the Magistrate HQ are discussing the progress of the plan to wipe out all the masks. I am interested to see what masks have been wiped out. Are they referencing actual “heros” or are they referencing the gangs that we saw in the “Next Batman #1” ? I have the feeling that it is a mixture of both. I am curious to find out how powerful that Magistrate has become since we were first introduced to them in “Next Batman #1.” The peacekeepers discuss how Nightwing believes that the Magistrate killed the “real” Batman. So far in the Future State stories, the absence of Bruce Wayne has not been addressed. All that we know is that the Magistrate was not responsible for the death of Batman. 

I enjoy the irony of Nightwing taking base inside the Batcave that is under Arkham. If you remember from Chapter 1 of “Arkham Knights,” Astrid Arkham has created a gang of all the “Villains'' from Arkham and they are taking base inside Wayne Manor. This is most likely an intentional move by the writers to stress the degree to which the Magistrate has caused turmoil within Gotham.  We know that Batgirl as well as other members of the Bat Family are in communication with Nightwing. It is not clear who he is communicating outside of Bat Girl. We know from Chapter 1 of “Outsiders” that The Signal and Katana are active inside and outside of Gotham. A quick glimpse at the list of releases for Future State would show what members of the Bat Family are present during this time, however we are unaware if they are working together. Nightwing and Bat Girl discuss this new Batman that has been seen roaming around Gotham. Nightwing interjects that there will only be one Batman. This conversation also shows that the “New Batman” and the original Bat Family have not been working together up to this point. That will change very soon. 

Dick is struggling with the internal feeling that he was the reason for the death of Bruce. It is not 100% clear why Dick has this feeling. There was some event where Dick feels he could have prevented the death of Batman. I am very interested to learn about the events that lead up to the death of Batman. I am guessing that it involved Bruce sacrificing himself because he knew that it would force Dick to step up. A classic unselfish selfish move by Batman. 

Enter stage right, the “Next Batman.” Luke confronts Dick as he is getting out of the shower. A Low T move in my opinion. At least wait for him to get dressed, before you start throwing hay makers at him. We learn that Luke needs help finding a girl that he saved, but was abducted by the Magistrate to be questioned about Luke. There is something else about this ten year old girl that Luke is not sharing. Of all the people in Gotham, the Magistrate is going to abduct a ten year old girl to interrogate about Batman? This whole situation stinks. Dick agrees to join forces with Luke, but first there will be a battle at Arkham as Dick has intentionally led the Magistrate to Arkham. It would appear that we are getting ready for an “Arkham Asylum” style battle in the next issue.