Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: Nightwing Magilla Gorilla #1

By Philip Schweier
October 31, 2018 - 08:12

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)

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12