Dick
Grayson is in Hollywood, where a big-time movie star wants his blessing to tell
the story of the Flying Graysons. Said star is none other than Magilla Gorilla.
Sounds silly, but in a world where super-heroes are common, having a talking
gorilla be the #1 box office draw doesn’t sound terribly far fetched.
But
apparently writer Heath Corson has been reading the Toby Peters mysteries,
because when Magilla is accused of murdering his agent, a sympathetic Nightwing
steps in to clear his name. Together, they take it on the run, piecing together
clues along the way until the true murderer is exposed. (Spoiler alert: it’s
NOT Magilla.)
One
thing about these Hanna-Barbera team-ups: they’re designed to appeal to older
fans, who grew up on the Saturday morning cartoons of the 1970s. If DC wanted
the younger audience, chances are you’d see more Cartoon Newtwork characters
such as the Powerpuff Girls. So, having reached out to the Baby Boomers and
Gen-Xers, DC continues to throw them a bone with occasional guest cameos.
(Spoiler alert: you’re going to have to buy it to find out to whom I refer).
Despite
the artwork being handled by a round robin of two pencilers and two inkers,
it’s surprisingly consistent. Methinks this book may have been produced under
strict deadline, but that’s okay. It works for me.
Also
in this issue is a Secret Squirrel back-up feature, written by J.M. DeMatties.
It’s chapter 3 of 4, running through the four DC-H/B comics released this week.
I was subjected to Secret Squirrel in the pages of Scooby Apocalypse, which I didn’t enjoy so much. It seemed to run
WAAAY too long, but if this holds to four chapters, I may sit down to read them
all. I’m just in no rush.
Rating:
9/10 (Kudos to DC for the cameo, and especially for showing Dick Grayson in his
PROPER Robin costume)