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| Art by Mikel Janin |
Out of every single superhero in comics, it is perhaps Dick Grayson who has gone through the most character development. After being the iconic sidekick Robin for four decades, he stepped out of the shadow of the Bat and became Nightwing, a change that has lasted until this day. Over the years, he has also taken on different personas, including picking up the mantle of Batman when Bruce Wayne was out of commission.
After his identity was exposed in Forever Evil and the world believed him to be dead, Dick took on another guise: Agent 37 of Spyral, the shadowy intelligence organisation introduced in the pages of Batman Incorporated. This new chapter in his life was told by writers Tim Seeley and Tom King in Grayson, a brilliant spy saga that further establishes Dick as one of DC's greatest characters.
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| Robin and Nightwing, Dick's previous guises |
As Agent 37, Dick has to balance tracking down superhuman criminals and his true goal of providing intel to Batman without being caught by his fellow agents. Everything about Grayson is fun, thrilling and fresh, with twists unfolding every time you turn the page. The series is structured almost like an episodic TV show - instead of having every arc lead directly into the next one, we get to see Dick on different missions that are supposedly days or weeks apart.
However, each new adventure still contributes towards the overall narrative of trying to discover the true nature of Spyral, which all comes together in the epic finale written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelley. We also see a lot of character development for the whole cast, as recurring characters like the Matron, Tiger and Midnighter warm to the titular super-spy.
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| The other Robins are among the recurring cast |
Tom King's issues are possibly the most powerful when it comes to characterisation. Using the poetic symmetry and hard-hitting commentary that make his other works so great, he provides some of the most memorable moments in the series. Seeley, on the other hand, is responsible for keeping the narrative moving - he writes the most of the issues, and drops plenty of crazy plot twists.
Grayson is also punctuated with lots of seriously funny moments. The repartee between characters will have you laughing out loud, and is always carefully placed so as to not distract from important scenes or feel forced. Characters' dialogues feel natural and, for the most part, the pacing is sublime.
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| Inside the Spyral headquarters with Doctor Netz |
The majority of Grayson is illustrated by the stellar Mikel Janin, whose art is realistic enough to make the story feel grounded yet wacky enough to give it a distinct flavour. Character interactions are beautifully brought to life by his mastery of facial expressions and body language, and the fight scenes are super fluid and dynamic, leaving the reader little to fill in with their imagination between panels. The guest artists are also good, but Janin was undeniably the perfect choice for this book.
This series is essential for fans of Dick Grayson. It reinforces the idea that it's not the masks he wears that make this character so beloved, it's his personality - and the entire creative team understand it deeply. Grayson is and will continue to be an indispensable part of Dick's history that will be referenced and recommended for years to come. Delve into the world of Spyral and prepare to have your mind blown.
Rating: 8.5/10
Grayson spans five trades in total, available on Comixology. Collectors can also get the awesome Superspy Omnibus edition, which binds the entire story in a single volume.
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