I’m about to upset a lot of comic fans.

My extensive knowledge of the DC universe comes from MCU films.

I’ve never been one for comics, but I do love superhero movies and the Marvel films have an iron tight grip on those. I’ve been slowly inching in towards DC graphic novels this last year or so (I loved the Diana graphic novel I read and the Raven graphic novel too). I figured I’d give a Dick Grayson graphic novel a try when I saw Lost Carnival pop up on NetGalley.

I know very little about Dick Grayson and his origin story. In fact, I know very little about most DC hero origin stories (except for the ever present Superman and, of course, the lady of my heart, Wonder Woman). I went into Lost Carnival not knowing what to expect and I think that made me appreciate it a lot more. I had no context to base my judgement on and I ended up reading Lost Carnival as if it were any other graphic novel. There’s a lot of expectation of adherence to the original comics in remakes, but without the original in my head, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost Carnival for what it was: a magical, coming of age of a boy who wants to find his place in the greater world, who falls in love with a rival carny and gets entranced into a wild ride of a summer.

Lost Carnival featured Dick Grayson, teenage acrobat who wants more from his life than to be a part of a failing circus. Along comes Luciana and Quinn, members of a carnival that pitched its tent across town. What follows is a well written and beautifully illustrated story of teenage rebellion, love, and loss.

The art itself really blew me away, especially its use of colors. Dick and the circus he’s a part of, Haly’s, is always colored in cool tones, lots of blues and grays. When Dick meets Luciana and goes to the Lost Carnival, the color explodes into bright oranges and reds. The use of color, lack thereof, or changes within the page really sets the mood and setting with incredible grace and weight. The illustrators, Sas Milledge and Phil Hester, really stand out. Moreci’s writing brings it all home in a neat little package.

All in all, I enjoyed my next step into DC graphic novels, and I can’t wait for the next one!

I was really excited when I first heard about The Lost Carnival! It’s a brand-new graphic novel centered around my favorite DC character, Dick Grayson, and it’s set in a world where Dick’s parents are still alive, the family is still the Flying Graysons and they are traveling and performing with the circus. Dick wants to break free of this life and try something new, and he finds himself crossing paths with folks from a rival carnival that sets up nearby and drawn deeper into the mysterious atmosphere it has. And there’s a girl, of course, because there usually is. Overall, reading this was a fun way to pass some time. I liked the art style and the coloring (which was mostly blue and orange/amber-toned) a lot. I found the story pretty solid, though I did feel it was a bit unremarkable and predictable when laid out side by side with other tales I’ve read in the DCU. Personally, I think I felt that way about the story because I didn’t click with this version of Dick. I’m so used to his personality and choices being informed by the major tragedy of his life in other tales he’s in, and seeing him be different in this one didn’t sit well with me. Overall, this is one that Dick Grayson fans might still want to check out (just for more time with him even if it’s not the “him” we know and love per se), but otherwise, I would recommend this one be a borrow overall.

I thought this graphic novel was AMAZING! I loved the artwork and the story. I was able to follow along easily with all of the imagery and dialogue and I speed-read this one because of how much it sucked me in from the beginning. YA Fantasy/Fantasy graphic novels are my favorite kind, and this one hit all the marks for me. And I don’t usually read DC comics either!

SPOILER-FREE SUMMARY
Before he met Batman, Dick Grayson discovered the power of young love and its staggering cost at the magical Lost Carnival. 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 featuring a teenage Dick Grayson. The only problem is that Dick loathes spending his summers performing tired routines for dwindling crowds. When the Lost Carnival opens nearby and threatens to pull Haly's remaining customers, Dick is among those drawn to its nighttime glow. But there are ancient forces at work there, and when Dick meets the mysterious Luciana and her nomadic family, 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.

I thought this was a very sweet story, and the twist definitely surprised me. The romance was a sweet addition to the story that didn’t upstage it, as were the friendships. I was able to get a feel for the different characters and the world inside this graphic novel, and I fell in love with it. I am always drawn to stories that feature carnivals, and this one was unique and entertaining. I hope there are more and that this becomes a series... but until then I am definitely going to be rereading this one sometime.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy!

I am a big Dick Grayson fan, although generally of his post-Robin days (I really enjoyed the Agents of Spyral line of graphic novels). This story takes place before tragedy strikes and before his days with Batman (although there's a FANTASTIC foreshadow in this that I enjoyed a lot for just a single panel).

This is a love story. Dick is longing to leave the circus and a life he feels is repetitive and dull. He meets a girl from the carnival nearby, and he is captivated by her powers and the mysterious air about her. Tensions between the circus and the carnival escalate, putting Dick and Luciana in the middle. And then Dick's best friend falls into a coma and he goes to Luciana for help.

The story arc here is satisfying, and I didn't find there were any surprises to the story. The art work is well done and I think readers will enjoy the story. This is a solid entry into the collection DC Entertainment has been launching over the last couple years.

Every time I see a story about a carnival or a circus, I'm not sure what it is but I know that I will love it. And that was definitely true in this case. I loved the idea of a lost carnival that disappeared long ago only to pop back up years and years later. And the star crossed lovers from opposing carnivals was also really intriguing. It was fun, adventuresome, and sweet all at once. I think my only complaint would be that it wasn't long enough! I wanted more!!! But all in all it was a perfect graphic novel that checked off all the boxes that would make it extremely entertaining and yet memorable as well. The art was wonderful, realistic yet also had that comic art style that made it feel classic. I loved the color changes between one carnival and the next, it was a visual queue that was super helpful in understanding which scene you were reading at each time. I loved the details in the characters too, that they weren't some obscure facial features or body shapes but very realistic.

The action scenes were great and I loved how each carnival worker/ performer's talents showed in their style of fighting. But they also didn't overpower the storyline. And the sweetest part of the story would have to be the romance and the connection with family. How you can want to be something more but still love and respect where you came from. This was a beautiful graphic novel and I would definitely be interested in more by this author and illustrator!

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.

(accidentally posted my review for a different book here instead. Will update with my review for this book later)

For those of you who know me, you might be aware that the Robins are my favorite characters from DC. I have loved all four of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne so when DC kindly offered me the opportunity to review this new release, I immediately accepted. I cannot exactly explain why I love these four in particular, but I know one thing for sure and it's that they hold a special place in my heart so anything new that comes out about them, I must read. And reading this graphic novel was a great experience!

In it, we follow Dick as he is a teenager tired of being part of Haly's circus and wanting more for himself. When he discovers the Lost Carnival, he is immediately intrigued by its grandeur and eccentricity. But things are not always what they seem...

I really liked the mysterious aspect behind this story because it already shows Dick's detective skills. This story takes place before he becomes Robin and I believe it fits well with the actual timeline even though it is a new take on his origin story. From the story to the beautiful art, it was a real delight to go through this comic and I sincerely hope we get a second volume because it has a lot of potential!

This was a refreshing read and one of my favorite of the DC Ink imprint thus far. I say refreshing just because Dick Grayson is so wonderfully in character here (Rick Grayson? I don't know her) and its nice to see some curious Gothic whimsy in the world of Batman again (the comparisons of the plot to The Night Circus are pretty right on).

I personally really liked the art and its minimalist use of color, but I can understand why other reviewers were underwhelmed by it after the sheer BEAUTY of the art deco-inspired cover, which is absolutely such a hook (dark deco Batman is the best Batman) and probably why I'll end up buying a hard copy of Lost Carnival when it's released.

Thanks to Netgalley and DC Ink for offering an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lost Carnival gives readers a rare inside look into the life of Dick Grayson before he came to Gotham. This story is told as the events unravel, unlike how flashbacks to Grayson’s early youth are often coming from a place of nostalgia or even regret. This difference in mood allows us to really notice and appreciate the youthful innocence during these times in Dick’s life.

The art attempts to capture the peaks and highs of the acrobatic routines, with text and dialogue going alongside it. While it can be difficult to understand the flow of actions being taken, you progress through the story without having to reprocess a scene too many times to fully understand what just happened.

The story begins during the summer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dick looks like a teenager, and he certainly is as he is old enough to drive.

But the main tell is in his teenage angst and a desire to break away from his dull life in the circus to live in the city.

“I don’t want to be here, Dad, doing the same routine for the same bored crowds. I just want things to change.”

But even during a time like this, Dick’s love for his parents shines bright.

“I want something other than circus life. I see my parents struggle — but for what?”

The story is named Lost Carnival after a competing traveling attraction sets up camp across from Haly’s Circus. The conflict becomes quite clear: Haly’s Circus versus the Lost Carnival.

But quickly, as Dick meets a girl from the Lost Carnival, this supernatural story turns into a pseudo-Romeo and Juliet tale.

DC's Next Comic Storyline - Dark Days
We see Dick ask her out, and of course, she says yes to the DC Universe’s future most eligible bachelor.

As the story progresses, Dick’s emotions get the best of him as he takes out his frustrations on his best friend in the circus, Willow.

“Home isn’t a place that bleeds you dry, then threatens to kick you out the second you step out of line.”

But his new lady friend, Luciana, is able to give him the right words to think on, in order to properly appreciate the life he was born into and how to make the most of it.

“What you were saying before, about feeling sifted by the circus? I do get it. People expect… so much. And before you know it, what they need is more important than what we want. Some days I just want to walk out of that carnival and keep walking.”

“Why don’t you?”

“Dick, just know that you are not trapped. What you’re going through isn’t forever. Nothing is. You just have to hold on to what you have… Hold on to it for as long as you can.”

A one of a kind story featuring one of DC’s best characters, with beautiful illustrations each page, and well-written dialogue. That’s what Lost Carnival is.

Best Easter Egg Moment: A fortune teller reading Dick’s future, “There is a knight looming over your days to come.”

A fun mysterious graphic novel. I liked the old timey feeling of the book, but the story was not really my type.

Dick Grayson is part of the Flying Graysons, a circus trapeze group that we find somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming. While the circus isn't doing so great, Dick's parents believe that working in the circus and spending time with their son is the best thing for their family. Dick is dissatisfied with the mundanity of it all, and the ever-shrinking crowd day-by-day. This isn't helped by the magical carnival that set up shop just a stone's throw away, though nobody can say where it arrived from. There's a girl at the carnival who sparks Dick's interest, but there's more to her than meets the eye. As Dick is sucked into the world of the carnival, and his wonderment is met with mystery, can he untangle his desires from the truth, or will he lose more than he ever bargained for?⁣⁣
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I enjoyed The Lost Carnival because it was a brisk, fun-filled, casual read that focused on mystery and intrigue. The art style is somewhat simplistic, yet it's effective at conveying the tone of the moment through subtle palette shifts. My favorite characters were those in the carnival, though I did like Dick's best friend and her loyalty to Dick, even when he wasn't always making the best choice. There's a mystery that swirls around these characters, and the final act delivers on the mystery quite effectively. The last pages are bittersweet, with a lingering tone of hope. If you're looking for a tale of youthful antics, otherworldly developments, and tragic mystery, look no further than the dynamic duo of the Flying Graysons and The Lost Carnival!⁣⁣
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⁣Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⁣⁣⁣
Artwork: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⁣⁣⁣

The Flying Grayson’s have been a part of Haly’s Circus for many years and things have been mostly good. But the economy is tight, there’s more competition for people’s dollars, and frankly, Dick is bored. On the road in Wyoming they set up next to a carnival. The Lost Carnival is full of magic and mystery… and a girl who Dick just has to see again.

As conflicts rise between the two camps, Dick finds himself caught in the middle between his new love interest, Luciana, and his family. His best friend Willow is the circus’s magician’s apprentice who tries to give good advice, but Grayson’s mind is on escaping his lot in life and trying to maybe get Luciana to run away with him. There are so many themes running through this book: coming-of-age, escaping one’s past, finding the right place in life, finding love, etc. Things do get a little jumbled in the telling though.

I guess I liked the idea of this graphic novel. It seemed like an opportunity to tell a bit about Grayson’s backstory and personality before he meets up with Bruce Wayne. And maybe how he experiences magic and is ready for this type of opposition in his next life. But I felt the story was thrown off by a bad villain and congested rising action.

The artwork was well done. The sketch work was impressive and connected well with all the Flying Grayson action. Fun and light. I did have a little problem with the coloring though. Haly’s Circus was filled with a small palette of blues and grays, and The Lost Carnival was also limited by just two or three shades of orange and yellow. I felt like the story could have moved forward with a larger array of color to show depth in setting and character. It was disappointing. I could see the style but it wasn’t for me.

A YA graphic novel that looks into the backstory of Dick Grayson… unfortunately, I was left wanting many times throughout the book.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, DC Comics, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for providing me an advanced reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a very interesting story. The inclusion of a magical mystery created a unique tone that quickly drew me into the world of the Lost Carnival. I enjoyed the artwork and how color was used to create a distinction between the normal and the enchanted.

While I'm not very familiar with Dick Grayson and cannot judge how well this book characterizes him, it seemed to get the basics down. Dick is caring, passionate, daring, and stands up for what he believes in. We learn some about who Dick was and the people he was close to before his vigilanty life. Personally, teen romance narratives don't really appeal to me. I would have liked for this book to primarily explore who Dick was as an individual and how he related to his family before he became a hero, but other readers may find more enjoyment.

Overall, this was a dynamic and well-paced story that quickly grabbed and held my interest even though I've had difficulty convincing myself to read lately. I will be specifically recommending this book to my sister and I would encourage others who enjoy fantastical romances to read it!

Huge thanks to DC Comics and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, can we just appreciate how gorgeous this cover is? It's beautiful! That same artistry carries throughout the entire comic. I loved that the artist used a simple but elegant color palette to tell Dick Grayson's story. I am a huge fan of the Batman series so I eagerly anticipated getting my hands on this and it definitely didn't disappoint. I loved reading about Robin's story and his life before he was Batman's trusty sidekick. There's magic, there's tragedy, a circus and, of course, there's the Flying Grayson's. There's not much more you could ask for in a story. This was wholesome, gut wrenching and addictive. I immediately connected with the characters from the first page and I couldn't stop reading. I swallowed this in one sitting.

I gave this 4 stars because I have all intentions in continuing in the series and rereading it. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves superheroes or just needs a heartwarming story.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After getting this to finally download I dove right in. The story was interesting but didn't completely captivate me. I do like a good Batman story and seeing a Robin origin story told in such a unique way was extremely fun!

I also picked this up because of the carnival aspect and was not disappointed. I think my main issue with reading this is that I read it as an e-arc, starting to realize that I prefer to read graphic novels in the physical form.

This book has it all! There's mystery, friendship (the what-would-you-do-without-me? type), and that adorable first love! (Insert all the heart eye emojis!) In The List Carnival, we get to see Sick Grayson before he became the Boy Wonder and it's such a sweet story! I might have shed a tear or two.... Okay so besides Dick, we also get to meet Willow, his best friend and fellow carnival performer. And then we have the mysterious performers from The Lost Carnival, the new show in town that sets up their tents right next door to Haly's. After witnessing Luciana use her powers to help her friend avoid some bullies, Dick becomes curious about The Lost Carnival. So he decides to check them out. And so begins a thrilling adventure filled with magic, danger, mysteries and a heartbreaking romance. Honestly this book is filled with hope, love and so much wonder. I hope other readers enjoy this book!

We’ve all heard the story of how Robin met Batman but in a refreshing new take on Dick Grayson’s days at Haly’s Circus and his role in the infamous “The Flying Graysons”. Getting down to the roots of this story through both plot and a modern take on vintage comic book graphics, Michael Moreci and Sas Milledge bring a vibrant and unbroken Dick to the stage. A story of teenage love, loss, and friendship with a twist, The Lost Carnival is a must read for any fans hoping for a backstory on Batman’s #1!

Thank you to Netgalley, DC entertainment, Michael Moreci, and Sas Milledge for the advances read of “The Lost Carnival”!

A story filled with magic and choices. Dick Grayson will have to choose between the family and life he has and the life he wants in this exciting graphic novel! I highly recommend this if you’re look for a quick yet entertaining read!

Special shoutout to DC Comics for providing me with an arc of this via NetGalley.

I really wish that I knew who this was written for. I also wish that I felt at all qualified to discuss this graphic novel with any sense of authority, but seeing as my bare bones research into Michael Moreci seems to tell me that this isn't his first time writing Dick Grayson I don't know what to make of it.

I do want to start off by saying that I like the art style done here, the artists that worked on this title really hit it out of the park for me. I say that as someone that doesn't typically like graphic novels that are done with the monocolor approach, but the way it was used here to establish a dichotomy between Haly's Circus/Dick's normal reality and that of The Lost Carnival was really well done. But it was the cover art that really prompted me to request the title in the first place.

If the story had just been the art then perhaps I might have had a better experience.

As I've already alluded to, I'm by no means a Dick Grayson expert. I did not grow up reading the comics, but I did spend some time last year reading some golden age Batman, I have always been drawn to DC Comics and this year in particular I set out to read more of Dick's stories in particular. In a lot of ways I like that this tells a fully standalone story, aimed at new readers that requires no actual knowledge of the character, I think that's really nice. At the same time, I don't really feel that after having read this I'd be all too interested in continuing on with Dick's stories, in part because they would be so divorced from this version of the character, but also because this version of the character isn't really a character I'd want to follow?

I don't think that I have issues with a universe wherein Dick is an older teenager and lives in the age of the internet and both of his parents are still alive. Really I think the issue was that this is really a poorly paced love story and the plot was crafted around the idea of the love story and making said love story have as bittersweet an ending as possible. The narrative spends about as much time exploring what Dick would be like as a teen in this era as it does exploring the relationship between him and his love interest. The actual conflict there being some kind of hard to follow rivalry and a magical coma.

At the end of the day I didn't have a particularly great experience reading this, I definitely spent the first quarter or so of the story confused and by the time that I accepted things for what they were I didn't really enjoy it anymore than I already had when I was still confused about what was actually happening. I think that there are definitely people out there that might enjoy this, particularly readers that are familiar with Dick, but as for this being a decent starting point? That I'm not actually sure about.