#captain blüd

[gotham-at-nightfall]

Nightwing #106

[nanenna]

This Migraine Could've Been an Intercom Announcement

Sleepy King Masterpost.

Warning for this chapter: intentional italics abuse, some angst. Like the whole point of this was to be cute and silly and fluffy, but the competing POVs and misunderstandings have always leaned a bit on the dark side even if we, the readers, know there's literally no danger. It's just now that Danny's awake it's his turn with the angst. UwU

✨🌟✨🌟

Clark may not be Detective Chimp, but it didn’t take that much to connect a magically appearing tracking boomerang and a magically appearing unknown craft. It seemed the mother hens had arrived, and Clark thought it would be best to have the chick ready to hand over ASAP. “Should I go find Danny? His heartbeat is pretty distinct.” He stared in the direction the boy had run through the wall, also looking through the wall.

Bruce grunted in the negative. “When chased the instinct is to flee, let’s give him a moment to calm down.” He started stalking towards the command center, where with any luck someone was likely already making contact with the unknown craft. J’onn should be on his way as well, and judging from Danny’s clothing he was their best bet to get the boy to agree.

“Status,” Bruce demanded as he power walked into the command room, making an aborted motion to control the cape he wasn’t wearing.

“We can’t get them to respond,” Hal said grimly as his hand danced over the console. “They may not be able to, we don’t even know if they can receive our communications.”

A grim silence followed, everyone around Clark thinning their lips or furrowing their brows as they absorbed that unfortunate news.

“I vant to dwink yur blüd!”

Clark snorted, trying desperately not to dissolve into helpless laughter. It seemed Danny just realized whose cape he’d run off with. While the others gave Clark odd looks, J’onn floated up from the floor then landed gently to come join them next to Hal.

“If we can get the craft and the boy into the hangar that should solve everything,” Clark offered. “Just send one of us out there to guide the craft.” He would offer to go himself, but he was still keeping an ear on Danny, who seemed to finally be calming down from his earlier panic.

“I’ll go,” Captain Marvel eagerly volunteered, then quickly left before anyone could comment.

“J’onn?” Diana asked.

“Yes, though I believe a more human standard attempt at communication will be less startling for the boy.”

“While telepathy may be startling, it will also allow Danny to feel your sincerity,” Bruce said grimly.

J’onn simply nodded. Everyone else politely remained quiet as they waited for him to make contact with Danny. J’onn made a pained noise as a hand came up to cradle his head, stumbling back. Dianna reached out to gently take his elbow, helping to steady the man. Clark cringed as he distantly heard Danny making a similar pained noise down in the bowels of the Watchtower.

“Are you alright?” Dianna asked with worry.

“What happened?” Hal asked, placing a steadying hand on J’onn’s shoulder.

“Sounds like their minds are incompatible,” Clark offered.

“Yes,” J’onn agreed weakly.

“Here, sit down.” Hal guided J’onn into the seat he’d vacated when the Martian first reacted.

“Sorry about that, mate,” Constantine said grimly. “Anything that relies on physical brain matter is useless on ghosts, being nothing but spirit. I thought since the kid was somewhat still alive it wouldn’t make a difference.”

“This is all unprecedented,” J’onn said with a weary wave of his hand.

The comms came to life. “Alright, I managed to get them to follow me, we’re almost to the hangar,” Captain Marvel said cheerfully.

“Now we just need to get Danny there,” Clark said hopefully.

“And keep whoever’s in that thing from just coming out and storming into the Watchtower proper,” Constantine grumbled pessimistically.

“I suggest one of the mundane human methods of communication,” J’onn said with his usual dry humor.

“A station wide announcement over the intercom,” Bruce said darkly.

Hal, leaning over his console, was already pressing buttons. “Who should make the announcement?”

Bruce gave one of his usual smirks, “J’onn, of course. Danny is a big fan.”

🌟✨🌟✨

Danny groaned as he sat up, leaning heavily on one arm as the other hand gingerly pressed against his pounding head. He managed to find the nearest wall and leaned against it, glad for the darkness of the room and the coolness of the wall and floor. “Ow,” he groaned, still not quite ready to start thinking yet. But he needed to.

What was that?! Was it an attack of some kind? Some sort of anti-ghost weapon? If it was it wasn’t any kind his parents had ever even dreamed up. Then again he was pretty sure at least two of the people he’d seen before running knew magic. Captain Marvel definitely did, and he had no idea what else the tophat lady would even do. So that was something he had no idea where to even start. What could magic even do against ghosts?

A lot, apparently.

Between that head splitting attack and that magic crystal Freakshow had used to mind control Danny… well, he was kind of scared. What could he even do against something like that?

Danny groaned and leaned more heavily against the wall, one foot stretching out as he slumped. The foot brushed against thick fabric. Oh right, Batman’s cape. Danny leaned over and blindly felt around until he found some corner of it, then pulled the thing over himself as he went back to resting his head against the cool wall.

The cape was heavy, heavy enough it was basically a weighted blanket. Jazz had talked about getting him one in the past, they were supposed to be good for anxiety or something. Danny didn’t know, he had tuned her out. But, well, he was feeling pretty anxious right now he guessed. And he needed a minute right now, one he still seemed to have thankfully. No one had come looking for him yet so far as he could tell, unless that’s what that attack was.

Ugh, Danny didn’t want to think about it! But he needed to. He was all alone with the Justice League and he had no idea what they knew or why they had him, but they had just attacked him for some reason. Danny felt the booo-merang still tucked into his pants’ waistband, a reminder his family was coming to find him. He just needed to stay hidden until he heard the sounds of chaos that always came with his parents.

There was a short chime, followed by a slightly staticy voice. “Attention Mr. Danny Fenton, your ride has arrived,” an almost familiar, lightly accented voice said pleasantly. “They’re waiting for you in the hangar. You can ask any of us to lead you there, or make your way there on your own if you prefer.”

Why was that voice kind of familiar? It must be someone from the Justice League, had he heard anyone that sounded like that in the videos?

“Is that Martian Manhunter? Holy shit! Martian Manhunter knows my name!”

[hood-ex]

“But at the same time I don’t want to hear it. I don’t care for you concern” I’m sorry but I laughed out loud when I saw your tags. Lol so true so true. Speaking of which the release of that artwork today for the valentine special… it’s never gonna end. I’m not reading Nightwing right now but what’s going on with Bea? How is she being treated. Honestly the whole pirate queen is kinda weird. I loved her for just being the civilian who helped her community and had a normal job.

�� Normally I love it when people express concern over my favorite character, but I cannot stand it when Babsgirl does it. I didn't even mind it when Post-Crisis Babs did it after she found out Dick had been abducted. It's literally just N52 and onward Babsgirl who makes me feel like the Grinch when he's trying to convince Cindy Lou that he's a psycho.

But no yeah so we find out that Bea was adopted by the Quartermaster, and the Quartermaster is the captain of a sea crew called The Crossed Keys. Heartless ends up killing the Quartermaster, so Bea ends up taking over as captain of the crew. We also find out that Bea has an asshole brother named Dirk (yes, Dirk, of all names), and her mission is to capture Dirk and incarcerate him in another country so that he doesn't take over The Crossed Keys and turn it into some villainous secret society. The problem is that some people on the crew don't see Bea as the rightful captain because she's adopted, so there are crew members who view Dirk as the rightful captain.

Oh, also, Bea's crew refer to her as Captain Blüd, and we find out that Bludhaven was named after her adopted family (because Blüd's haven), so her family has got roots to the founding of Bludhaven.

I mean, this backstory is absolutely contrived for this particular storyline, and TT could've made an entirely new character for this captain role instead of using Bea, so I don't think this backstory is necessary for Bea, but her involvement does make some kind of sense with the flashback that TT set during the amnesia arc.

I do think it's silly that Dick attributes her ability to own a bar at such a young age and her involvement with the homeless shelters/counsel meetings to her involvement with The Crossed Keys. He also attributes her bravery during the Court of Owls/Joker/KGBeast situations to her involvement with The Crossed Keys. Like... sure... I guess?

I don't know. I just enjoy the thought of her being brave in general and helping the people and community she loves. I don't know if I like that those characteristics and her success as a bar owner are specifically attributed to her work with The Crossed Keys. Of course, it's true that she could've become a more courageous person through her work with The Crossed Keys before she met Dick but ehhh.

All in all, at least Bea is being portrayed as a strong and courageous captain. Although, she does naturally feel a bit different since she's in a leadership role in this story. There's also no sense of jealousy from either Babs or Bea (except Bea definitely feels bitter toward Dick which is understandable), and I've noticed TT seems very careful about that even when writing scenes with both Babs and Kory. Even though I do find TT's lack of conflict between the protagonists to be a bit annoying, I'm grateful there's not some dumb cat fight situation going on like the one from Aquaman where Mera and Dolphin were fighting over Arthur.

[woowinnie]

Ahoy! Nightwing 106 be a new the hero in blue and back. We will be finding the Hold and what will be in Box 538. Oy who be Captain Blüd? And, do not be damn to get ye heart snatched by the Heartless 😱🫀

I got to enjoy reading the Seaport and see a bunch of doggies. I cannot wait for the next issue. 🫨

And, lastly, Midtown Comics had a sale on Nightwing floppies - purchased issues on the end of the Ric Grayson Era (the Joker War where he be Dickie Boy 😖) .

[whothefuckiscassandracain]

Robin Vol 4 139: Meaner Than a Junkyard Dog

We continue where we left off, with Batman laying out the elaborate scheme Tim pulled in order to fake having an uncle, including all the dozens of laws he broke along the way. Here is the kicker, though: instead of tearing him a new one, as any responsible adult would do, Bruce congratulates Tim, tells him he’s proud, and even offers to help him improve the scheme. WHAT THE FUCK? What is wrong with you, Bruce???

Bruce also informs him that, judging from Tim’s drawings, the man he is looking for is a folk tale hero called “The Veteran”, aka he doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, over in Blüdhaven, a number of dead bodies have been found, which looked to have been mauled by dogs. The killer, calling himself “Junkyard Dog” left a note behind saying he would stop the killings if the BPD delivers Batgirl and Robin. Tim returns to Blüd and gets in touch with the BPD. He informs them that Batgirl is unavailable, but agrees to meet.

While Alfred tears Bruce a new one for assuming his visitations to Mrs. Drake are of a romantic nature, Tim meets with BPD and gets coordinates for a meeting with Junkyard Dog. Tim leaves a clue for the Veteran to follow him, then meets up with the assassin, who is disappointed that Batgirl is not there. Tim’s explanation why is hilarious, though.

Tim is outnumbered, but thanks to the Captain America rip-off—I mean the Veteran and his crew, he manages to take down Junkyard Dog and his canine allies. The Veteran informs Robin that he and his crew already took out dozens more assassins sent after Robin and Batgirl and that he’s here for one purpose only: recruit Robin.

And here I thought this storyline couldn’t get any dumber.