Indie Spotlight: “Grayson: Earth One” Returns To A Dark DC Universe

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now.  Read previous installments here. 

In 2013, creator Hisonni Johnson treated viewers to the first episode of Grayson: Earth One, a web series set in an alternate DC Comics universe. Now, the next episode is here, and Johnson has once again managed to provide a unique, gritty take on a well-known character.

The “Grayson” in the series refers to Dick Grayson, who is better known as the original alter ego of Robin. Grayson was the focal point of the debut episode, but he doesn’t show up in this one. Instead, Johnson focuses on two other incarnations of Robin: Jason Todd, played by Jono Cota, and Carrie Kelly, played by Katie Young. The Joker-inspired villain who appears later in the episode is also drawing some buzz.

Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter that the gritty feel of his series stems from his own experience growing up in inner-city Milwaukee. “I saw what I thought were men with guns and money and cool cars selling drugs and getting the girls. When I look back on it, they were only 20, 21-years-old tops,” he said. “Really, they were just kids whose parents possibly didn’t do their jobs. You take that, and you mix it with Batman

— that’s a world you can handle because you know it better than anyone else.”

Grayson: Earth One‘s vision should be applauded, and viewers who are antsy to see Johnson’s interpretation of Batman need not worry; The Caped Crusader will show up in the next episode.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• Lady Bits. This sketch channel provides viewers with a complement of female-focused sketches.
• Through the Door. Much of this relationship-focused series takes place on opposite sides of a bathroom door–hence the title.
• Get Spy. Amateur spies try to make it to the big time despite their low-budget setup.
• Coffee House Chronicles. This LGBT web series is seeking additional funding on Indiegogo.

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