Tom Taylor is writing the current adventures of Dick Grayson over in the fantastic Nightwing, but Mark Waid is also taking a swing at the character in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest. From the previous arc about the Devil Nezha, Grayson as Robin is lost in the time stream and needs to return. From this creative team, we see his exploits reminding us of his circus ties, how great of an acrobat he is, and also what a keen detective he has become. Let us look at the last plot thread from World’s Finest.
Beginning with the main cover by Dan Mora, that fantastic revision of Grayson’s Robin costume has taken center stage. I like seeing Batman and Superman on the cover, of course, but it is excellent that Robin gets the main showcase front and center. The color choice is excellent as it pops and gives off a vibe that helps bring you into the circus.
Travis Moore handles art duties with Tamra Bonvillain on colors in this issue. Moore does a great job as a fill-in by keeping up with the high standard that Mora has set. Moore draws his characters with very expressive faces, as you can see in the anger about the animals and the sorrow their trainer feels with the potential danger to the animals. Something I found interesting in Moore’s art was the lack of capes in this adventure. When we see Robin up high on the trapeze, he is in full costume, mask included, but no cape. I am intrigued by Moore’s – or maybe Waid’s – decision on the lack of capes.
Speaking of Waid, he crafts a fun adventure that showcases both Robin and Dick Grayson. Grayson gets the feature with a nod to his life in the circus, reminding us how he can make friends with just about anyone from anywhere. Robin gets highlighted with a mystery involving death and robbery. I appreciate how Waid can use many elements of the character’s backstory and real-world history to give Grayson this moment. (Robin has been featured as a World’s Finest team member since its founding in 1941.)
I don’t want to spoil the adventure for you, and I would advise you also play detective and pay attention to the panels and characters. Keep in mind that Waid won’t make it easy for you, so make sure you’re confident with your reasoning from the creative team’s clues. I enjoyed the mystery they presented and liked how we can be part of the adventure, too.
If you want more comics about Grayson being a detective at the circus, I would recommend New Titans #60, part of the A Lonely Place of Dying story arc, which is very worthwhile reading.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #6 is a great showcase of the Boy Wonder that reminds us of how fantastic he is at the trapeze and as a detective. This character-focused issue by Mark Waid and Travis Moore is an excellent complement to the main Nightwing series.
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