by Michael Moreci
Illustrated by Phil Hester, Sas Milledge
Published on May 5, 2020 by DC Comics
Format: eARC
Pages: 208
Genres: Graphic Novel, Mystery
Haly's traveling circus no longer has the allure of its glamorous past, but it still has one main attraction: the Flying Graysons, a family of trapeze artists starring a teenage Dick Grayson. The only problem is that Dick loathes spending his summers performing tired routines for a dwindling crowd.
When the Lost Carnival, a wild and enchanting new attraction, opens nearby and threatens to pull Haly's remaining customers, Dick is among those drawn to its magical nighttime glow. But there are forces ancient and dangerous at work at the Lost Carnival, and when Dick meets the mysterious Luciana and her carnival workers--each stranger than the last--he may be too mesmerized to recognize the danger ahead.
Beneath the carnival's dazzling fireworks, Dick must decide who he is and who he wants to be--choosing between loyalty to his family history and a glittering future with new friends and romance. Writer Michael Moreci and artist Sas Milledge redefine Dick Grayson in The Lost Carnival, a young adult graphic novel exploring the power and magic of young love.
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A Fun Story With Captivating Art
The Highlights:
- Quick read
- Insta-love, but cute
- Fun characters
- Simple, yet beautiful illustrations
I’d been looking forward to Michael Moreci’s Lost Carnival for so long. Carnivals are kind of my thing, and I’ve always loved the story of young Dick Grayson, so this graphic novel was definitely one I didn’t want to miss. And I wasn’t disappointed! No, it wasn’t perfect by any means, but Lost Carnival was a fast, fun read, and the art really made it stand out.
Like I said, this was a really fast read. The story, while fun, is a little shallow. I could have done with a bit more depth, a bit more exploration of the magical elements and character’s backstories, but the settings were really great, and overall I enjoyed it as a whole.
The characters were, again, fun. Dick Grayson is a personal favorite comic character of mine, as well as the Flying Graysons as a whole, so I loved seeing them and how their lifestyle impacted Dick’s story. Luciana was a fantastic character to read, and I really wanted more of her. I liked how her side of the story played out and was unveiled, although their romance did feel very rushed and unfounded. I might have liked it better as just a friendship, or with more heartfelt dialogue to make it feel real. But aside from the romance, reading Dick and Luciana’s story was very entertaining. The side characters were also good, if a bit one dimensional most of the time.
I think the strongest aspect of this comic was the art. It was absolutely stunning. And so simple! At first I was a little worried about the minimalist color palette, but the more I read and saw the more I felt that it was perfect for the story and the illustrations. Some of the panels, especially the bigger ones, were breathtaking, and exactly what I was hoping for. Everything flowed together so well, from the characters to the settings, panel to panel. It was really my favorite part of reading this one and I’ll definitely be looking up some of Sas Milledge and Phil Hester’s other works.
The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Graphic Novel was a fun coming-of-age story, and is perfect for young readers or those who don’t usually read comics. It leaves a little to be desired, but overall I enjoyed reading it. And the art alone makes it one hundred percent worth picking up.
About Katie
I'm a twenty-something aspiring writer who really, really needs to get back to revisions. I've been reviewing books since 2014, and am determined to somehow make stories my day job. I truly think that every book out there contains something good and is meant for somebody.
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