A major part of the appeal of Dick Grayson’s Robin is that he’s nowhere near as serious as his brooding partner, providing a lighter, happier worldview that is a nice contrast to Batman’s personality. He’s a kid in a costume who takes pleasure in his superhero lifestyle, and that sense of fun has carried over to his current role as a secret agent in the ongoing Grayson series. Writers Tom King and Tim Seeley have revitalized the character by taking him on a new path while exploring the past that led Dick to this point in life, and this preview of this week’s Grayson Annual #2 spotlights that narrative dynamic by starting with a flashback to one of Dick’s early encounters with Superman. (For more on the exceptional work this team has done, check out last week’s Big Issues on Grayson and We Are Robin.)
While Batman begrudgingly accepts Superman’s help on a mission to stop rampaging supervillain Blockbuster, Robin is thrilled to team up with one of the big guns, establishing a personal admiration that will come into play as Dick and Superman team up in the present. The art team of penciler Alvaro Martinez, inker Raul Fernandez, and colorist Jeromy Cox maintains the sleek visual aesthetic that has defined the title, and this preview begins with a dynamic energy that kicks the story off with a lot of momentum. The past is full of excitement, but it will be very interesting to see how Dick and Superman’s relationship changes in the present considering the huge status quo changes both characters have recently experienced.