Huge thanks to Nightwing mainstays Adriano Lucas (another stellar flashback) and Wes Abbott for making this annual an essential part of this wonderful series, and not just a take-it-or-leave-it comic book. Everything about the Nightwing 2022 Annual is spot-on-perfect. Read Full Review

Overall, I found the visual choices enhanced my emotional and sensory connection to the tales. Read Full Review

The 2022 Nightwing Annual is a perfect sampling of the current run, providing three stories that speak to the artist, narrative, and emotional sensibilities of the book. Its a rewarding read to current fans of the series, digging deeper into the key players of the run while reminding audiences of the stakes of the current villain, whos taken the backseat to recent issues. Its also a fun read for newcomers, offering snapshots into new characters and Nightwings role in the wider DC Universe. The art also sets an expectation for the style that appears in the main title while delivering different styles to Redondo linework. That expectation setting is also thanks to the cohesive colors and lettering from mainstays Lucas and Abbott. Read Full Review

The 'Nightwing 2022 Annual' #1 is all about hearts as the issue takes us on a roller coaster from the rise of a villain that is a dark mirror to our hero before gliding into two lighter fares that tug at the heartstrings in more positive ways. All of it melds well together with such strong artistic visions, keeping to the elements that have made this such a popular era for the hero of Bldhaven. Read Full Review

Nightwing fans should definitely grab this issue thanks to the Heartless backstory, which felt a little overdue and got neatly addressed here. The side stories are good enough to not make this feel like a pricier standard issue in the series. Read Full Review

Overall, all three stories are good, but you can't compete with Taylor on his own book. The first story is a classic. Read Full Review

Nightwing 2022 Annual #1 delivers with intent. If youd like to see the gnarled machinations of Heartless, this issue is for you. If youd like to see a somewhat retcon of history involving Dick and Shelton that kind of fits, Nightwing 2022 Annual #1 is for you. If youd like to see a unique parallel to Bruce, Alfred, and the Batman with Gerard, Shelton, and Heartless, this comic is totally for you. Readers, this story may not be critical nor does it need an explanation to follow. However, it will genuinely help your understanding of Heartless and to see where hes coming from. You certainly wont feel for the character but youll definitely understand where hes coming from and why he is how he is. I think if youve been following Taylors Nightwing, then Nightwing 2022 Annual #1 is totally for you! Read Full Review

Nightwing Annual (2022) #1 is an enjoyable read with a variety of different points of view throughout the issue. Each story carries an independently strong narrative that is partnered with stellar art. Read Full Review

There's a balance of tone between the stories as well, the shorter tales take a bit of the sting out of the lead feature. It's nice to cleanse the brain with some fun and heartwarming content after the wrenching origin of Heartless. Read Full Review

Solid scripts, very solid artwork, and a really good origin for the new villain. Fun stuff all around. Read Full Review

At long last, Tom Taylor gives an origin story to the villain that's been stalking Bldhaven, ripping the hearts out of those most unsuspecting. It's delightfully twisted, setting up the antithesis to Dick Grayson's all-American persona. Read Full Review

Whether you like this Annual will probably come down to whether you enjoy Tom Taylor's Nightwing run. You get an origin for Heartless and a lot of Fan-service moments. Plus, we again find out that Dick Grayson is a great guy overall. If that's enough for you, you will probably love this. I liked it enough but was left wanting more. Read Full Review

Nightwing Annual: 2022 #1 delivers a mostly compelling origin for Heartless, while asking for an extra two dollars for two forgettable shorts right after. I think the issue is worth picking up for anyone currently following Tom Taylor's run, but anyone looking for a series of solid one-shot stories will be disappointed. Eduardo Pansica's pencils are a suitable fill in and maintain the series' high bar for art, but there is slight hesitation in a full recommendation. Completionists can stomach the extra two dollars, but casual fans aren't missing too much if they forgo knowing every aspect of Heartless. Read Full Review

I thought the Heartless and Jon Kent stories were great, but the Haley story ended really weirdly for my taste.

The Heartless origin would've been solid without making it so ridiculous how he witnessed the Grayson's death and that was the moment of inspiration for his life going forward. I can roll with this one but there seems to be a trend lately of too many new characters having major connections to the hero's origin that it takes away from the impact when done right.

I did like the deconstruction of Heartless. A little bit of insight about a character we knew nothing about helps. Maybe we will finally get a resolution to that story now. The dog story was okay. It was different and then a training story. I don't usually buy Annuals, because they have turned into meaningless anthologies, but this one was better than most.

Art: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Total: 7/10

The backups were alright, but learning his origin story didn't change the fact that I still just don't care about Heartless

Haley is cool, the rest I really don't care.