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Nightwing has become close to Tarantula, a gal on the wrong side of the law, whom he thought he could reform. But she has killed the super villain Blockbuster while Nightwing failed to prevent it. Guilt weighs heavily on his mind. In such a mood he meets Tarantula so he can turn her in to the authorities. She resists and they fight. And the guilt must stab him even deeper at his "betrayal" of her.

The blocky McDaniel/Owens cover belies the fine drawing and shading within. Lilly's portrayal of the fight scene is good — no fancy weapons or whirligigs, just a fistfest between two combatants who are already beaten up. Grayson has Nightwing explain clearly his philosophical position and the code he lives by. Action and inaction have consequences, and taking responsibility is the duty of everyone. And in the back of his mind, perhaps he thinks, even after all these years, he isn't ready for the job he has to do and that people can suffer for that failing. His talk to Tarantula is like a talk to himself; he thought she was reforming but she has now committed a huge transgression. She is backsliding just as he is.

Nightwing flashes back to his youth as an acrobat with the circus and the lessons his father taught him. In a parallel memory, Batman acted as his father figure, also pointing out where Nightwing — then fighting crime as Robin — needed to work harder to achieve an acceptable level of performance. This reminiscence directly leads to the dramatic ending and a turning point in the life of Nightwing. High drama! Recommended!

Quote of the Week: "Whose son will I turn out to be?"