GRAYSON: FUTURES END #1 Review

What will Dick be up to 5 years from now, and will he still be a spy? Read on to find out.

The official description from DC Comics:

Branded a traitor, Dick Grayson has become the most powerful hero in the newly resurgent and dominant Mother Russia – and now, he must battle the Beast from the East in one final struggle for supremacy!

DC have made a very bold move in my opinion by adding Grayson to their Futures End month, and even more so by having him remain a spy (practically confirming he’ll be so for the next 5 years of the New 52 timeline). None of this really matters concerning the events of this issue itself, which sees the events of Dick’s life in reverse.

Tom King steps into script duty for this issue with co-writer Tim Seeley working alongside him on the plot. The story that the duo have created for this issue didn’t win me over, as though the concept of Dick’s life told in reverse sounds good, it doesn’t work well. Feeling confused, and muddled, the story has a very awkward flow to it, with the overall experience being unpleasant. Despite all this I did like the connections made throughout, and to see Helena appear, as well as to see Dick once more as Nightwing and Robin.

Stephen Mooney handles the art on this issue, and though he doesn’t surpass the wonderful work that the series’ regular artist Mikel Janin produces, he still does an excellent job. The sheer detail of Mooney’s art, coupled with the intense layouts really help to make this lackluster tale pop out a bit more. On a page by page basis it also gives a very smooth flow, with Jeromy Cox‘s colours making things more vivid. I did however for some reason feel that Dick didn’t look as he should, as though each artists has their own take, with the likeness not being totally off, a part of me felt as if this could be anyone with short hair.

Grayson: Futures End has some interesting concepts, but the overall flow of this story in reverse fails to impress, and thud I can’t recommend it.