Grayson, Volume 3 Review

Grayson, Volume 3: Nemesis. Tom King, Tim Seeley, Mikel Janin, and Jeromy Cox. 2016. DC Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

See my reviews of volume 1 and volume 2.

Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, has joined the ranks of Spyral, a spy organization that seeks out secrets of the world's superheroes. Someone is killing people associated with every mission he has gone on for the organization. Is the former Boy Wonder behind it or is he being framed?

I like this book because it delves into Grayson's past a bit more than the previous volumes. He chooses to leave Spyral and strike out on his own. Part of his journey involves finding his former friends and allies to let them know that he is still alive. There are glimpses of the comradery they shared, while tying it into the current plotline. Normally I wouldn't like to see this much crossover, but it worked well.

This feels like a placeholder between volume 2 and 4, though that isn't a bad thing. It gives the reader and the creators a chance to back off the super spy motif a little bit and get back to the roots of the character. It segues from the second volume and sets the stage for the next one. I am definitely interested to see where things go from here.

Grayson, Volume 2 Review

Grayson, Volume 2: We All Die At Dawn. Tim Seeley, Tom King, Mikel Janin, Stephen Mooney, and Jeremy Cox. 2016. DC Comics. 160 Pages.

Rating: 4/5

Check out my review of Grayson volume 1.

I enjoyed the continuation of this series quite a bit. Is Dick Grayson, the former Boy Wonder, a great spy? No, but that isn't really the point. He has joined the ranks of Spyral, a spy organization that steals secrets and is currently collecting organs that give people superpowers, as Agent 37.

The Midnighter returns as a nemesis and ally for Grayson. They are seeking out some of the same people in their attempts to retrieve those super organs. Along the way, Grayson comes into contact with a group called The Fist of Cain, which may have found a way to force humanity to destroy itself.

The flashiness of Dick Grayson that has been established in previous DC books is still here. It works great because the creators are sticking to the character. There is a range of emotion applied to him throughout the book too. We get to see him at both high and low points. Since Dick has always been less serious than his mentor, Batman, the tense points become a bit more effective. Definitely pick up volume 1 if you have any interest in this series.

Grayson, Volume 1 Review

Grayson, Volume 1: Agents of Spyral. Tim Seeley, Tom King, Mikel Janin, Stephen Mooney, and Jeromy Cox. 2015. DC Comics. 160 pages.

Rating: 4/5

DC seems to have taken a different tactic to many of its superhero comics recently (or at least the ones I've been reading). In Grayson, Dick Grayson a.k.a. Robin a.k.a. Nightwing joins a spy organization known as Spyral. Their mission appears to be to search out metahumans (people with powers) and neutralize them.

Dick has to rely on a different skill set than he is used to from his crime fighting days. The training he's received over the years is certainly beneficial, but there are times where it is clear he is new to his current role. This isn't a bad thing by any means because he is new to it; I don't think this would have worked as well if there weren't complications along the way.

There is one aspect of the story that I didn't enjoy as much, and it relates to Dick's past. Others may be more enthusiastic with this particular part of the story. I felt like it prevented him from developing as well as he could have. The shadow that looms over Dick Grayson is long and bat shaped. On the other hand, there is a chapter devoted to his future, which I thought was fantastic. It works its way from a point in the future backwards. This could have been hokey or poorly done, but the creators handled it well. The characters are developed well and it unfolds nicely.

This book is friendly to new readers. It gives an overview of Dick Grayson's life and career, so people that aren't familiar with the character can get an understanding of him without having to read a backlog of comics.

Ninjak: Weaponeer Review

Ninjak, Volume 1: Weaponeer. Matt Kindt, Marguerite Savage, Butch Guice, and Clay Mann. 2015. Valiant. 176 pages.

Rating: 5/5

This is one of the graphic novels that I received in the Powerless box from Comic Bento.

Ninjak is a super-spy. He works unofficially for MI6 doing missions that they do not want connected to them. Sometimes this includes assassinations. Plus, he has all sorts of cool equipment to help him pull off his missions.

In Weaponeer, he is hired to infiltrate and take down the largest black weapons dealer in the world. This is a fast paced story that really shows off Ninjak's skills, from interpersonal to fighting. The story weaves together the past and present to give an understanding of Ninjak and carry along the plot.

There is also a small section at the end of each chapter titled "Lost Files" that tells the reader about his early career. This could have made things pretty muddled, but I feel like the creators did a nice job pulling it off.

I do have one quibble with the main plot toward the end of the book, but it is such a fun read that I will let it slide. Looking forward to more Ninjak.