🟢 The Magic People Behind the Comic 🟢
Sholly Fisch – Writer
Dario Brizuela – Artist
Franco Riesco – Colorist
Saida Temofonte – Letterer
Kristy Quinn – Editor
🟢 Publisher / Date🟢
DC Comics / January 2024
🟢 Non Spoiler Spew 🟢
I love that we were solving a mystery at a Circus where Nightwing grew up and where he has a deep personal history as Dick Grayson. Even with that said. I did feel this issue was a little lack luster. I kept waiting for something emotional to happen, but it did not. This could have been a heartwarming comic, but I do feel as if it missed the mark. I totally understand because this comic series is light and fun, but I think they could have found that perfect line to walk. Although, it was great to have a Nightwing focused issue.
The artistry is wonderful throughout the entire limited series. It is always lighthearted and very reminiscent of the Scooby-Doo TV series. They capture the essence of all the characters. It is bright, expressive, and cartoon like. This is what has made this series so fun.
Overall, it is still enjoyable and it is exactly everything you want it to be when it is a Batman and Scooby-Doo crossover.
🔴 Spoiler Summary Spew 🔴
Nightwing is reminiscing about his family and when they were all in the Circus together known as the Flying Graysons. And he was also thinking about how criminals rigged the trapeze and caused his family to die.
The Scooby gang is at the Circus because they were hired to find what is haunting it. The trapeze artist is starting his show when an evil person named Deadman arrives and the trapeze artist falls. Nightwing catches him on time and the audience stays in their seats because they think it is part of the show. This bothers Deadman. Deadman crashes to the floor and everyone runs away in fear.
Vashnu, a performer tells the Gang and Nightwing that Deadman was one of the best performers out there, but a criminal ended his life. Now his spirit lives on to battle evil and injustice. Daphne asks Mr. Hayes, the owner of the circus, if there is anyone out to get him. These two brothers then walk in asking Hayes if he will finally sell his circus. Nightwing gets upset and the two brothers get thrown out.
They all agree to be part of the next circus act to lure Deadman back so they can find out who he is. During the show, Nightwing and Daphne do a trapeze routine and Deadman shows up trying to break the support poles they are using. Nightwing goes after Deadman. Scooby and Shaggy run away because Deadman is right behind them. They accidentally get into a canon. They get shot out of it and bump into Deadman.
They reveal Deadman to be another trapeze artist from the same circus. He wanted his time in the spotlight. Another artist we see take off a mask and we see it is Batman. He was there because he wanted to look after Nightwing because he knows the circus brings up bad memories about his family.
We then see the actual Deadman ghost being happy because the mystery was solved and his reputation is still in tact. We also see Nightwing’s mom and dad floating behind him with smiles on their faces being proud of their son.
This was a disappointing comic. For the second trapeze artist go through all this just to get in the spotlight made no sense. The owner of the circus seemed really nice. So if the guy would have just asked, I am sure he would have given him a chance. The plot truly made no sense. They should have made the owner mean or made the main trapeze artist mean. Should have done something other than making all of the characters nice.
And no Batman?! Only at the end. I get that Nightwing needs his space, but Batman is his new family. And I think Batman should have been there with him throughout the comic but still being in the background.
Since this did take place in a circus, I did expect Nightwing to be more involved with circus acts to bring us back to his roots.
vomitmedia.com 