Page 1
Panel 1 An alleyway, a young woman is running down the
street. The shadow of a powerfully built man is after her.
Caption New York City, a few weeks prior
WOMAN
Someone! Help!
Panel 2 She comes to a dead end.
Panel 3 She spins around and faces her pursuer.
WOMAN
Please, I got money. I don't want
to die! I can pay you double what
whoever is paying you.
Panel 4 We see her attacker in shadow. Powerfully built,
with an acrobat's frame. He's dressed in all black, with a
hood that covers his whole head. He has a utility belt
around his waist. His gauntlets have two large cases of
some sort on them.
SHRIKE
No.
Panel 5 Two spikes come out of the cases.
Panel 6 The woman shrieks as he attacks.
Page 2
Panel 1 He walks away. Her body is on the floor, her
blood splattering the wall behind her.
Panel 2 The exterior of Dick Grayson's Chicago apartment.
Caption Chicago. Dick Grayson's Apartment. Now.
JOEY
(from inside)
Hey, Grayson!
Panel 3 Dick Grayson wakes up with a bolt when Joey, his
blond girl roommate opens his blinds.
JOEY
Yeesh, how do you keep it this
dark?
Panel 4 Dick carefully slides his Nightwing suit under
his bed with his foot before she can notice them.
DICK GRAYSON
Well I do like my sleep.
Panel 5 Joey turns to him with her arms crossed.
JOEY
It's almost half past 10. And I
want to remind you that rent day is
coming up. How's job hunting
coming?
Page 3
Panel 1 Dick sighs.
DICK GRAYSON
Hard.
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
Without a college degree, finding a
job other than "janitor", "fast
food worker" and similar jobs is
difficult. And I'm not going to
drop the "Bruce Wayne's adopted
son" card to get one.
JOEY
Geez, Grayson, I could put a good
word in for you at work-
DICK GRAYSON
I'm not the best at computers.
Panel 2 Joey begins to head out of the room.
JOEY
I'll keep my ear to the ground. I
don't know how you keep getting the
money each month, but I don't want
to see you with your butt on the
couch every time I get back-
Panel 3 She closes the door.
JOEY
(sotto voce)
-no matter how good looking your
butt is.
Panel 4 Dick sighs and grabs clothes
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
She's right, can't keep sponging
off my trust fund forever, what
little is left. And hiding my
nighttime activities from her and
Mike is already hard enough without
an explanation about what I do
during the day.
Page 4
Panel 1 Dick comes out in jean, t-shirt, sweatshirt,
socks, and sneakers. Joey is watching TV.
JOEY
Hey, Grayson, seems Chicago has a
new mass killer.
DICK GRAYSON
Mask Killer?
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
Oh just perfect, I just got Mike to
trust me after the last one and now
we have another one!
JOEY
No, MASS Killer. Well, serial
killer.
Panel 2 Joey turns up the volume on the TV.
NEWS ANCHOR
Chicago seems to be the new hunting
grounds for the mysterious Shrike
Killer. Named for his habit of
impaling victims like his or her
namesake, last night the Shrike
murdered 28 year old Mike Peters of
Glen Ellyn.
Panel 3 We see a grainy security camera still of the
killer. To anyone, it looks like some sort of ninja
NEWS ANCHOR
(voice over)
Security cameras took this image
last night near the crime scene.
Panel 4 Back to the anchor
NEWS ANCHOR
The Shrike Killer is known to stay
in a location for weeks, killing
multiple victims, before
disappearing and reappearing
elsewhere. Citizens are advised to
be cautious at night.
Panel 5 Joey turns off the news.
NEWS ANCHOR
In other news, a series of jewel
thefts have baffled the-
JOEY
Great, more fear. If you really
were Nightwing, Dick, and not set
up by those Crime Syndicate
lunatics, I'd accuse you of
attracting them.
Panel 6 Dick looks nervous.
DICK GRAYSON
Really?
JOEY
Hey, the accusation works for
Batman.
DICK GRAYSON
Anyways, I should get out-
Page 5
Panel 1 Dick Grayson heads out of his apartment.
DICK GRAYSON
(finishing his conversation)
-Look for a job.
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
And also look for information on
this Shrike guy.
Panel 2 Dick hides in the shadows as Johnny Spade gives
him the low down
JOHNNY SPADE
No one knows who he is, man. All my
boys can tell me is that he's
dressed like a damn ninja with
spikes coming out of these things
on his arms.
DICK GRAYSON
Anything else?
JOHNNY SPADE
He can use those spikes to travel
around, like your grapnel. Other
than that, I can't tell you much.
DICK GRAYSON
Come on, Spade, don't hold out on
me.
Panel 3 Spade gives his associate in the shadows a look.
JOHNNY SPADE
Given that I don't even know your
face, if that crazy anti-Justice
League was lying, I'm giving you
all that I got.
DICK GRAYSON
I beat you at cards-
JOHNNY SPADE
And I still don't know how you keep
doing so. Sorry, man, but even my
pals down at CPD don't have much
information on him. I'll keep my
ear to the ground.
Panel 4 Dick tosses Spade a roll of bills
DICK GRAYSON
Thanks for your time.
Panel 5 Dick climbs a fire escape and does a series of
acrobatics across roof tops to get away without Spade
seeing him.
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
Well, that was somewhat helpful,
now I know what to look out for at
least. But I don't know motive,
pathology... And I'm not asking
Joey to hack into the FBI's files;
took me too much time to earn her
and Mike's trust again.
Page 6
Panel 1 He lands in an alley, checking his watch.
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
And now I'm late for a job
interview, great...
Panel 2 Dick rushes past a cafe catering to a more high
end class of customers. One of the people sitting in front
is a young man in a proper fedora (NOT the hipster kind)
and suit, reading a newspaper, his face hidden.
Panel 3 As Dick runs past, we see that the young man,
barely out of his teens, is watching Dick out of the
corner of his eye. He has blond hair and brown eyes. We
can see the newspaper headline reads "SHRIKE KILLER IN
CHI!"
YOUNG MAN
(narrating)
So, there you are, Nightwing...
Panel 4 He motions for the waiter.
YOUNG MAN
Check please.
YOUNG MAN
(narrating)
Long time, no see.
Page 7
Panel 1 Later that night, Nightwing swings over Chicago.
Caption That Night.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Too quiet. Barely any crime, heck
barely any police corruption. This
Shrike guy is in town for one
night, and already everyone is
scared. I could go to Zane; but I
doubt he'd be cooperative.
Panel 2 Nightwing lands on an art deco gargoyle
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
I'm working blind, I don't like it.
Panel 3 He hears a wooshing sound.
NIGHTWING
Huh?
Panel 4 He sees a ninja like figure flying across the
night sky, using what looks like SPIKES to help zip across
the skyline.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Guess overconfidence has made
Shrike sloppy.
Panel 5 Nightwing follows the figure.
Page 8
Panel 1 Nightwing perches on top of a roof as the ninja
inspects the body.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
A recent kill? Why is he inspecting
it?
Panel 2 The ninja, obvious to the reader, is NOT Shrike.
He is a lot leaner, though obviously somewhat athletic,
and we can see his eyes in his hood. He has numerous belts
around his suit, all attached to the grapnel like device
attached to the back of a utility belt. He turns over the
body to inspect the wounds driven clean through by the
actual Shrike.
NINJA
Damn it...
NIGHTWING
(off panel)
So, you see that you're getting
sloppy.
Panel 3 The ninja looks up as Nightwing flips down.
NINJA
I'm not the Shrike.
NIGHTWING
You match his description.
NINJA
Yes, because all ninja garb looks
the same...
NIGHTWING
Then what are you?
Panel 4 The ninja crosses his arms, looking comically
huffy.
NINJA
An interested party.
NIGHTWING
Got a name?
NINJA
Nemo.
NIGHTWING
Very funny, "Nobody."
Panel 5 The ninja's eyes show that he's smiling under the
mask.
NINJA
Well, not telling you who I am
anyways.
Panel 6 Nightwing is less than amused.
NIGHTWING
Even if you aren't Shrike, you are
interfering with a crime scene.
Page 9
Panel 1 The ninja's amusement fades. The two size up each
other.
NINJA
Oh like you're one to talk.
NIGHTWING
What are you, some kid who decided
to play hero?
NINJA
One, not a kid. Two, who's playing?
Panel 2 CLOSE UP Nightwing's narrowed eyes
NIGHTWING
What do you mean?
Panel 3 The ninja smiles under his mask and approaches
Nightwing
NINJA
You can make these claims about
being falsely identified by those
Crime Syndicate freaks. You can
convince others that your lie is
the truth. But I know who you
really are.
Panel 4 The ninja whispers into a shocked Nightwing's
ear.
NINJA
You really are Dick Grayson, and
I've known that a lot longer than
you think.
Panel 5 Nightwing reacts
NIGHTWING
How?
NINJA
Oh you want to know?
Page 10
Panel 1 The ninja trips Nightwing.
NINJA
TAG! You're it!
Panel 2 The ninja leaps
Panel 3 Two controls come out of his sleeves.
Panel 4 His device activates; think the 3D Movement Gear
from Attack on Titan.
Panel 5 Nightwing follows
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
This guy has some answers, or this
will be one hell of a wild goose
chase.
Page 11
Panel 1 ONE PAGE PANEL. Nightwing and the ninja flying
over the rooftops with their various devices.
Page 12
Panel 1 Start of a double spread for this. (pgs
12-13)Panels won't be exact. Artist can adjust at their
leisure, just keep me in the loop. Nightwing throws a wing
ding at the Ninja
Panel 2 The ninja flips over the wing ding
NINJA
TOO SLOW!
Panel 3 The ninja zips around and up a building.
NINJA
My turn.
Panel 4 The ninja takes a bunch of throwing knives from
his utility belt and throws them at Nightwing.
Panel 5 Nightwing dodges as the ninja zips away.
Panel 6 Nightwing looks around.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Where did he-
Panel 7 The ninja hits Nightwing in the back before
leaping off.
NINJA
Keep your eye on the bouncing
ninja!
Page 13
Panel 1 Nightwing watches the ninja as he zooms off
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Well he's got some skills, and he's
stronger than he looks.
Panel 2 Close up on the ninja's device.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
But that system of his is probably
taxing his strength even with those
belts helping to reduce stress on
his body.
Panel 3 Nightwing follows as the ninja flips around a few
buildings
NINJA
WAHOO!
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
And while he's trained in
acrobatics-
Panel 4 Nightwing grins as he vaults over rooftops
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
He's nowhere near my level.
Panel 5 Nightwing keeps an eye on the ninja
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Whoever you are, you are smart.
But-
Panel 6 Nightwing tackles the ninja in mid air
NIGHTWING
-You REALLY need to stop talking
so much.
Page 14
Panel 1 They crash to the rooftop.
Panel 2 Nightwing holds onto the ninja's leg
NIGHTWING
I got you.
Panel 3 The ninja kicks Nightwing in the face.
NINJA
Not quite, Old Buddy, Old Pal.
Panel 4 They both flip up to stand.
Panel 5 The ninja throws a punch which Nightwing blocks.
NIGHTWING
You're tired, you're not as strong
as you think you are, and you're
not as well trained as I am.
Panel 6 The ninja knees Nightwing in the groin
NINJA
So? I fight a tad dirtier than you.
Page 15
Panel 1 Nightwing kicks the ninja into a chimney.
Panel 2 The ninja takes out a knife and leaps back.
NINJA
Well, this is fun, isn't it.
Panel 3 Nightwing almost growls as they trade blows.
NIGHTWING
Fun?! Your antics tonight has cost
me a night's search for this Shrike
guy.
NINJA
I can help.
NIGHTWING
Don't want it.
Panel 4 Nightwing grabs the ninja's wrist, and knocks the
knife out.
Panel 5 He then wrenches the ninja's shoulder.
NINJA
GAAAH! You dirty-
Panel 6 The ninja holds his shoulder while in obvious
pain. Nightwing smirks.
NIGHTWING
I fight dirty too.
NINJA
Yeah, but you're a hero. You don't
have an excuse to do so.
Page 16
Panel 1 Nightwing goes to remove the ninja's hood.
NIGHTWING
Now, to see who you...
Panel 2 The ninja flips back.
NINJA
Hey, just because I know who you
are doesn't mean you get to know
who I am. It's not like I planned
to announce it to the Sun-Times or
Oprah. It's to be our little
secret, my friend.
Panel 3 Nightwing looks confused.
NIGHTWING
Do I know you?
Panel 4 The ninja looks a tad sad.
NINJA
You did, a long time ago. Must have
felt like a whole 'nother lifetime.
Anyways, Nightwing, we will be in
touch.
Panel 5 The ninja drops a smoke grenade.
NINJA
Good bye, for now.
Panel 6 The ninja vanishes.
Page 17
Panel 1 We see Nightwing alone on the roof.
ALIKI
(off panel)
There he is.
Panel 2 We see Shrike. Next to him are two acrobatic
young women with red hair and matching yellow and black
uniforms, obviously sisters. The sisters are Aliki and
Margot Marceau, aka the thieving duo DOUBLE DARE.
MARGOT
You can take him now, notre amour.
He is tired.
SHRIKE
No, not yet. Not until my next
contract is fulfilled. Then, I will
deal with this false friend of
mine.
ALIKI
And what about the other one?
SHRIKE
That clown? An annoyance, nothing
more. However, should he resurface,
even after that injury, follow him.
MARGOT
May we go?
ALIKI
We want to get some pretty jewels
from Neiman Marcus.
SHRIKE
Go ahead.
Panel 3 The acrobatic duo of thieves leap away, leaving
Shrike to study his future prey.
Page 18
Panel 1 A posh hotel room somewhere in Chicago. The ninja
enters off the balcony. The lights are off.
Panel 2 They are turned on, and a gun is in his face.
BRIGHTON
(off panel)
Whoever you are...
NINJA
Brighton, get that gun out of my
face.
Panel 3 We see Brighton is a massive man, ex-special
forces. Obviously, he works for this ninja as some sort of
bodyguard. He's putting the gun away.
BRIGHTON
Sorry, Joseph, just a formality.
NINJA
Can the formality, and get your
first aid kit. Nightwing decided to
play "Dislocation" with me.
Panel 4 Brighton leaves as the ninja flops down and goes
to remove his hood.
Panel 5 We see that it's the young man from the cafe.
SAM KANE
(off panel)
Joey?
Panel 6 A small boy, obviously the ninja's little brother
or close relative, comes out of his room. He has Batman
pajamas. Joseph, as that is the ninja's real name, smiles.
SAM KANE
What happened?
JOSEPH KANE
I saw him.
Page 19
Panel 1 Sam rushed over and sat next to his brother.
SAM KANE
Really? What did you do?
JOSEPH KANE
Tag. For the first time in...well
ever.
Panel 2 Joseph looks somewhat sad when Sam asks the next
question.
SAM KANE
Did he recognize you?
JOSEPH KANE
No.
SAM KANE
But, that's a good thing, right?
Because of the Plan?
Panel 3 Joseph grinned and hugged Sam with his good arm.
JOSEPH KANE
When did you get so smart?
SAM KANE
From watching my brother.
Panel 4 Joseph winces in pain as Brighton pops his arm
back into place.
JOSEPH KANE
YOWCH!
BRIGHTON
Thought it would be best done while
you were distracted.
JOSEPH KANE
Before you do anything else, call
Okamura and let him know I want to
talk to him about the grapnel
device he sent me to test. I'd
prefer something not out of an
anime!
BRIGHTON
I'll make a mental note. Sam, make
sure your brother doesn't leave the
couch and do something stupid like
shadowboxing before that arm is
fully healed.
Page 20
Panel 1 Elsewhere Nightwing slips into his room.
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Well, that was interesting. But I'm
nowhere close to figuring out what
Shrike has planned, or who he is.
Panel 2 Nightwing gets undressed
NIGHTWING
(narrating)
Only good thing about today is that
I got a follow up interview with
that possible job tomorrow.
Panel 3 Dick brushes his teeth.
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
Plus a physical and other tests.
Panel 4 Dick climbs into bed for a few hours shuteye
DICK GRAYSON
(narrating)
Won't Mike and Joey flip once they
find out what job I signed up for.
Panel 5 He turns out the light.
Panel 6 Outside the apartment, Shrike stands, watching.
Page 21
Panel 1 The next day, Mike, Joey, and Dick are eating
lunch together.
MIKE
Grats on the job, Dick!
JOEY
A COP though? Just because we
thought you were a hero, doesn't
mean you should actually become
one.
DICK GRAYSON
Hey, I don't mind, besides, I
needed a...
Panel 2 He sees Joseph and Sam across the street, by the
park. Joseph is getting a couple hot dogs from a vendor
DICK GRAYSON
...Job. Excuse me.
Panel 3 He goes to cross the street.
Panel 4 A truck passes before him.
DICK GRAYSON
HEY! WATCH IT!
Panel 5 Joseph and Sam were gone.
DICK GRAYSON
Joey Kane...was that you?
Panel 6 Joey (the girl) calls back to him
JOEY
Hey, Grayson, what is it?
Page 22
Panel 1 Small inset panel. Dick walks back to the table.
DICK GRAYSON
Nothing.
Panel 2 HUGE PANEL. Dick rejoins his friends. Joseph and
Sam walk through the park, Sam pulling on Joseph's suit
cuff and pointing back at Dick. Joseph is smirking, he
also has his arm in a sling. Seated on a bench nearby is
Shrike in civies (turtleneck sweater, black pants, combat
boots). He has short blond hair, almost a buzz cut, and is
wearing sunglasses. He holds a paper that reads "SHRIKE
STRIKES TWICE!"
DICK GRAYSON
Thought I saw someone I used to
know.
SAM KANE
Joey, that was...
JOSEPH KANE
I know, Sammy, I know.
TO BE CONTINUED