This is a great issue for people missing the kid-version of Dick Grayson's Robin. Read Full Review

For the most part, these Zero Year tie-ins have been great. This particular issue of NIGHTWING is a great insight into the early makings of one of DC's coolest characters. Higgins does a phenomenal job at showing the reader that Dick had what it takes, early on, to become the hero he is today. The story of Dick helping out this group of kids, while running from one of his future villains is a really cool one and a great place for new readers to jump in. If anything, that should be the main focus for Zero Year, as a whole. Overall, I highly recommend this issue. Read Full Review

Just like the story, Conrad and Richards' art was totally solid. I loved the body language, the faces, the colors, and all of it. I think the best part had to be the alleyway chase scenes. I really adored all of the different angles they used for each panel. The variety was just awesome. Read Full Review

The issue is a bit heavy-handed in its approach, but since it's Nightwing, it works to a certain extent. Dick Grayson is, and has always been, a cheeseball, and it's fitting that his Zero Year tale would take a sentimental turn. Visually, Will Conrad and Cliff Richards keep things appropriately dark without falling into gritty territory, a fine line to walk in a city like Gotham. The detailed art, along with Peter Pantazis' saturated color scheme, creates a world that's both bleak and hopeful, a stylistic choice that works with the book's overall sunny optimism. Read Full Review

Overall, it's an entertaining read " a good distraction before major events start to unfold the title, specifically regarding Nightwing fate in Forever Evil. If you're enjoying Zero Year as a whole, it wouldn't hurt to pick up this book. Read Full Review

Higgins writes an interesting Zero Year issue. Exploring a young Dick Grayson was a fun read. Conrad and Pantazis keep producing visually great issue after issue after issue. If you left the series before now is the perfect time to come back. Pick up this issue! Read Full Review

Another solid issue by Higgins. Again, Nightwing fans are waiting for the fallout of Forever Evil in his solo title, but it was nice to see a pre-Robin Dick Grayson, in Gotham during one of its worst hours. We get a arrogant Dick Grayson, a realistic John and Mary Grayson, two characters who we know will become villains but are portrayed well as regular teenagers and a nice surprise to see a connection between Grayson and the Maronis – who would seem to have a different history in the New 52 than before and will be interesting to see in the book going future. Read Full Review

Like "Action Comics" last week, this 'Zero Year' tie-in doesn't seek to add anything to the main story itself, but fleshes out the wider world of Gotham during the blackout. It is really just a fun installment in the adventures of young Dick Grayson, so readers looking for additional insight into the Riddler's plot against the city will be disappointed. The story itself is well done, and gives some good insight into the journey the character has to go on to become Nightwing. Higgins knows the character well enough that he is able to include plenty of moments that foreshadow the future. Will Conrad is proving himself very qualified to handle the regular art duties on "Nightwing". He has proven himself capable of rendering the big explosive action scenes and, while this issue features its share of fighting, the past setting gives Conrad the opportunity to visually explore a different side of the character, and he pulls it off very well. Read Full Review

Nightwing #25 is not a bad book by any stretch, but offers up nothing particularly memorable or exciting. It is pretty average in terms of writing and art, while functioning well enough as a tie-in to Zero Year. There are certainly better tie-ins you could be reading, especially this week. Read Full Review

Like a lot of these Zero Year issues, this was a good issue, but there's nothing that particularly stands out about it. There's a bigger idea I could put into words about that, but here is not the place. Overall, if you really like Nightwing/Dick Grayson, sure, pick it up, you'll probably find some enjoyment, but if you weren't picking up the series before, don't feel like you need this issue to fill in any gaps with Zero Year. Read Full Review

"Nightwing" #25 works as a "Year Zero" tie-in, but also just as a flashback on its own. Like last week's excellent "Action Comics" #25, old and new "Nightwing" readers will find something to like here. Read Full Review

Nightwing #25has some fun moments in it, but overall there isn't much that readers of the series would miss if they skipped this issue. If you need a monthly fix of Nightwing then this should tide you over, but don't feel inclined if you're on a budget. Read Full Review

While generally entertaining, there was nothing really new or exciting about this comic. It's a fun little adventure for Dick Grayson as he learns a lesson about the importance of friends and not being a show-off. The appearance of his circus friends is a little sad, considering their eventual grisly deaths, but its nonetheless nice to see that Dick had a life before Batman. That the story managed to get him in a mask and running from a super-villain is a little silly, but like I said, it's a fine little tie-in story. Read Full Review

Nightwing #25 is a solid, stand-alone issue that brings the title into another Batman-centric crossover. While entertaining, the issue stalls the forward momentum that this series had gained over the previous few installments. Luckily, the title returns to the Windy City next month as the legend of Dick Grayson continues. Read Full Review

There are high and low points in this book in both the story and art departments. Maybe Im a glass-half full type, but I think theres a few gems (mainly centered around the debt of gratitude at the end) to make this a worthwhile read for the Bat-nation. Read Full Review

Kyle Higgins uses Zero Year to tell the story of a young Dick Grayson learning to a man and a hero.  It is nice to see him pre Robin in the New 52.  However, it's a shame the story had to be so heavy handed.  Higgins has given us so many great Nightwing moments in the past couple of years, but unfortunately this one seems like a missed opportunity.  This issue is by now means necessary as a Zero Year tie-in, but Nightwing fans will probably like the early look at their favorite crimefighter. Read Full Review

“One Dark City Night” has a few so-so moments, but it's definitely filler. Nightwing #25 is the weakest issue of this series in quite some time and the most forgettable Zero Year tie-in so far this month. I found it to be especially disappointing for the increased $3.99 price. Read Full Review

Ultimately Nightwing #25 fails to tell us much about Dick Grayson. It's a fun little story, but, especially since the New 52, there's been a dearth of stories about Dick's life before Nightwing, it's a shame that this issue didn't take the opportunity to fill in some of the teen wonder's history. Read Full Review