Blockbuster is dead. His heart ripped out by the murderous Heartless. And now that Blüdhaven’s without it’s crimelord, someone’s bound to come along to fill the void. But what is Heartless’ connection to Nightwing? And why does he kill parents? Perhaps Tony Zucco – the man who murdered Nightwing’s parents, the Flying Graysons – holds the answers.
Blockbuster’s death doesn’t mark the only power vacuum in the DC Universe. The Justice League recently disbanded. Is it time for the next breed of heroes to step up?
Minor Crossover: The Nightwing Annual isn’t an official part of this four-parter, but it does relate and set the stakes for the grand finale.
Must-Reads: Issues marked with a ✔are essential to the story.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS (2022-2023) – The Justice League disband
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Nightwing #97
- Nightwing #98
- Nightwing 2022 Annual
- Nightwing #99
- Nightwing #100
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Nightwing #97 Commissioner Maggie Sawyer and Detective Dan Turpin from the Blüdhaven Police Department convince Boss Maroni to help them use the evidence found in Blockbuster’s files to shut his operation down. Commissioner Renee Montoya has Maroni transported to Gotham City for his protection, but their transport is attacked. Batgirl and Nightwing take him to a safe house. The next morning, a cab driver turns up, claiming to be Ric Grayson (the alternate persona Nightwing was cured of during THE JOKER WAR, 2020-2021). 1st appearance: Nite-Mite (unnamed) |
| ✔ | Nightwing #98 ‘Ric Grayson’ reveals himself to be Nite-Mite – a Fifth Dimensional imp and Nightwing’s biggest fan! He teleports Nightwing and Bitewing (Batgirl and Nightwing’s dog, Haley) to Blüdhaven to save Blockbuster’s daughter, Olivia Desmond, from Neron ruler of Hell who intends on taking her soul (following a renegotiated agreement after the events of UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED). A power up from Nite-Mite gives Nightwing and Bitewing power ups, allowing them to drive off the demons. Olivia turns out to have super-strength like her father. Raven’s magic can also mask her from Neron. Nightwing and Nite-Bite reveal their identities to each other. Nite-Bite suggests Nightwing fills the hole left by Blockbuster in Blüdhaven… 1st appearance: Olivia Desmond, Nite-Mite/Dyxl (named) New identity: Haley as Bitewing |
| ✔ | Nightwing 2022 Annual [1/3] Years ago, a killer from England stole another man’s identity and his new job, arriving in Gotham City and becoming ‘Gerald Chamberlin’, butler to Charles & Jane Lyle. When the Lyles’ son showed sociopathic tendencies, ‘Gerald’ took Shelton Lyle under his wing. He so happened to treat him to a trip to the circus on the night the Flying Graysons died. Watching them fall to their deaths brought Shelton happiness for the first time. Years later, he later clashed with the young Dick Grayson and taunted him over his parents’ deaths. Gerald arranged for the demise of Charles and Jane, but Shelton was caught in the explosion. Charles’ heart was transplanted to Shelton, saving his life. Money and cybernetics turned Shelton into Heartless – a killer who stole people’s hearts. He fought Nightwing. And he recently killed Blockbuster. Now, Gerald transplants Blockbuster’s heart into Heartless… True identity: Heartless is Shelton Lyle |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Nightwing #99 Maroni testifies and the BPD crack down on everyone involved in Blockbuster’s operations. Tony Zucco – the man who murdered Nightwing’s parents – forces his way into Blockbuster and Maroni’s secret ‘bank’, the Hold, forcing the Quartermaster to hand over the Eye of Kahndaq. Nightwing apprehends Zucco and the Quartermaster tells him Safe 538 is his. Mayor Melinda Grayson-Lin reopens the case against Tony Zucco over the murder of Dick Grayson’s parents. But someone is about to free Zucco and the KGBeast. And Heartless is back in Blüdhaven… 1st appearance: The Quartermaster, the Hold New identity: Mayor Melinda Zucco as Mayor Melinda Grayson-Lin |
| ✔ | Nightwing #100 Heartless breaks into Blüdhaven Private Prison with his crew and offers a job to all prisoners, as long as they sow chaos in Blüdhaven. Nightwing starts turning the prisoners against Heartless. The Titans arrive, take out Elephant Man, then bring down KGBeast. Heartless meets his hero, Tony Zucco, the Graysons’ killer. Heartless escapes and it’s all over before Wonder Woman and Superman show up. They take Nightwing to the ruins of the Hall of Justice (destroyed during DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS). They suggest Nightwing lead the heroes in their place when the next crisis hits. Weeks later, at Alfred Pennyworths grave, Batman tells Nightwing he’s the best of them and apologises. The next day, Nightwing buys Blüdhaven Private Prison. A month later, during the prison’s transformation into a new Titans Tower, Nightwing stands alongside the Titans and announces a new direction for Blüdhaven… First appearance: Titans Tower |
| Must Reads | Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Nightwing #101-104 (2023) Not wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps and become more like her hero, Nightwing, Olivia Desmond adopts the costumed identity Nightbuster; Neron sends the shapeshifting Grinning Man to claim Olivia’s soul, though she’s defended by the Titans; the Titans start to accept their new role as the next premiere super-team. | DAWN OF DC OUT OF THE SHADOWS |
| Unstoppable Doom Patrol #5-7 (2023) Elephant Man goes on to join General Immortus’ Brotherhood of Evil. | DAWN OF DC | |
| ✔ | Titans #1-5 (2022) Titans Tower officially opens; the Titans take on their first major threat. | DAWN OF DC OUT OF THE SHADOWS |
| Nightwing #105 (2023) Nightwing confronts Shel Pharmaceuticals CEO Shelton Lyle, not realising he’s Heartless. | DAWN OF DC | |
| ✔ | Nightwing #106-109 (2023-2024) Heartless breaks into the Hold; the true nature and fate of the Quartermaster is revealed; Bea Bennett is revealed to be the person who kept Safe 538 for Dick Grayson; Bea’s connection to the Hold and her true identity are revealed; Nightwing gains footage that proves Tony Zucco killed his parents. | DAWN OF DC |
| ✔ | Titans: Beast World #1-6 (2024) The first major threat the Titans face truly tests their new position and divides public opinion on them. | BEAST WORLD DAWN OF DC |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Nightwing: The Leap (vol.4) | Nightwing #97-100 Nightwing 2022 Annual |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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