There is a great deal riding on the shoulders of Tim Seeley with this book. Grayson #1 isn’t your everyday retelling or expansion of any other hero in the DC universe that we have seen dozens of time before. No, this is a book about Dick Grayson, about that child that we watched grow into adulthood over the years. A character so ingrained in the psyche of not only comicdom, but of mainstream entertainment as well.
There are few characters from any of the big comic publishers that actually grow as characters. Spider-Man is still essentially the angsty teenage self he’s always been even as those around him grow. Superman is still the all-american hero that you can predict from a mile away. The list really goes on and on with dozens of characters playing it safe. But, then there is Dick Grayson, the original Robin, the character that many of us watched grow up alongside the Batman to the point the he even took up the mantle for a time.
So, when DC Comics big villains event happened and resulted in the outing and death of Nightwing, people were shocked and even a little enraged about the whole thing. Killing off Dick Grayson isn’t anything new for those that may be aware of the behind the scenes at DC Comics over the years. For whatever reason the death of the original Robin has always been something that has been pitched time and time again. Well, DC finally got their wish (sort of) and now we seen the end of the fantastic Nightwing series and the beginning of Grayson.
With such a polarizing event Seeley would have one chance to prove that everything leading up to this point had been worth it for fans. There would be no second chance, no “Maybe the book will improve down the line,” talk among critics and fans. It’s a monumental burden to carry on ones shoulders, and yet the team behind the book make it work.
The biggest thing to note is that the series is more akin to the spy thrillers of days gone by. It is evocative of the age of classic James Bond and the multitude of spy fiction that permeated 1970s culture. Colorist Jeromy Cox does a magnificent job of painting a picture that feels ripped straight out of another age. His colors pop while featuring subtle touches that lets the reader fall into the world that writer Time Seeley is building. Likewise, the art from Mikel Janin serves the style and tone that Seeley is setting with all the spy action.
Dick Grayson as the world knows him is dead and yet many wondered just how it would be possible for him to go about his activities within the nefarious organization of Spyral without him being noticed, especially by those that he is sent to target. Well, that were his new gadgets come into play. Each Spyral agent is equipped with an identity protection implant that distorts the face of the agent to all camera equipment and with the memories of those they encounter. It seems like a cheesy way of operating without the masks, but in the case of the story fits like a glove.
For those that may not be in the know about the events that led to Dick Grayson becoming a member of this super secretive organization I’ll refer you to my review of the final issue Nightwing HERE. As for the story at hand in issue #1, we get lots and lots of action from beginning to end. Grayson #1 isn’t interested in taking things slow and because of this feels like a continuation of his Nightwing persona. He fights the same, acts the same, and handles business in much the same manner. That’s what makes Grayson #1 such a stand-out book, especially as a number 1. Seeley understand the character, understands what fans love about him, and what makes him tick.
The team didn’t set out to reinvent the character of Dick Grayson into something that he isn’t. Instead they placed the character into a position that’s entirely at odds with everything he’s been taught and fought for in the past. That’s the crux of the series, just how far will Dick go with his new role in Spyral, how much will he have to give up, to sacrifice as a person to uncover the truth behind the organization, and will trusting Batman, his role model, his friend, mean sacrificing all he’s stood for to protect every hero in the DC Universe?
There is a monumental task ahead of him, but also the underpinnings for some amazing growth for the character the likes that we rarely get to see in the medium. Mix all that with the veneer of a vintage spy thriller and you have the makings for one of the freshest books from DC Comics. Grayson #1 is full of action, intrigue, and some surprising cameos from two characters you wouldn’t expect to see make this a fantastic read and an exciting setup for what’s to come.
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