Grayson #18

Grayson #18 was published by DC Comics in 2016 as the penultimate issue of the Grayson series. This run sought to reinvent Dick Grayson, the original Robin and former Nightwing, by stripping him of his superhero identity and placing him into a high-stakes espionage thriller as a secret agent for the organization Spyral. The series was designed to explore Grayson’s capability as a protagonist outside of his traditional Batman-adjacent role, focusing on themes of identity, trust, and the moral complexities of spy craft.

The creative team, led primarily by writers Tom King and Tim Seeley with art frequently by Mikel Janín, aimed for a distinct aesthetic that favored sleek, cinematic layouts and a more grounded, kinetic visual style compared to standard caped-crusader fare. This particular issue follows the series' trajectory toward its conclusion, centering on Grayson’s efforts to dismantle the corruption within Spyral. It was well-regarded by critics and fans for its sharp dialogue and its successful transition of an iconic character into a new genre.