The Vigilante #20
In "A Dream That Just Won't Die...", former vigilante Adrian grapples with the lingering shadows of his past as a new judge, haunted by dreams that blur into reality when the Vigilante resurfaces—this time with a violent, relentless crusade against criminals. As Marcia tries to ground him in the present, Nightwing arrives to confront the masked figure, only to face a chilling reminder of what once was. Written by Marv Wolfman and Paul Kupperberg, with art by Tod Smith and inks by Rick Magyar, this 1985 DC issue captures a haunting psychological tension, all rendered in Tatjana Wood’s vivid colors and John Costanza’s sharp lettering, with a cover by Smith and Magyar that mirrors the story’s unease.
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Adrian has been made a judge and has given up being the Vigilante but is plagued by nightmares of his former life. He fears he may be going mad when he discovers that his nightmares have become a reality as the Vigilante has returned and has started killing every criminal in sight. Marcia grows concerned when she finds Adrian huddled in the corner crying on his first day of work. She is able to comfort him and bring a little stability to his life. Nightwing comes to town to confront the Vigilante about his recent actions and is almost killed by someone he used to consider a friend.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).