Writer: Paul Dini & Alan Burnett
Art: Ty Templeton
Colors: Monica Kubina
Publisher: DC
Price: $3.99
Release Date: 6/1/21
Reviewer: Soycornholio
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Season 2:
This is a cool drink of water during a hot and muggy day. If you are anything like me (aka a millennial), your first introduction to Batman was via the classic animated series that ruled the 90’s. This series fueled me Bat-Obsession for many years to come. Heck, I am wearing Sherpa Batman Socks as I write this review! Dini and Burnett’s Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2 #1 is pure enjoyment. There is something old and something new that provides a refreshing take on the Dark Knight.
Continuation:
Often, we have various “reboots” and “retellings” of classic superheroes. One thing I appreciate about this issue is that it is a continuation and not a reboot. We have the same cast of characters drawn in the style of Bruce Timm with new stories. We are not revisiting how Harvey Dent became Two-Face or that traumatic episode in which Poison Ivy had mutant kids. No, instead, we are seeing what a season 3 of the tv show would have had looked like. I appreciate this. When you’re are dealing with characters such as Batman, you have to balance inserting something new while maintaining what makes that character, that character. Everything from the dialogue and art, straight down to the pacing, is taken straight from the tv show and updated for 2021 (i.e., one of the characters has a smartphone). This book should be exhibit A on how to mix the old with the new.
Characters:
One thing this issue skipped a beat on was the number of characters. On any given episode of Batman the Animated Series, you have a villain, Batman, and maybe a member or two of the Bat-Family. There are even times when it is just Batman and the villain going toe to toe. This allowed the viewer to bask in the awesomeness of the characters. Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2 #1 is a toy chest of classic DC characters. In this issue alone, we have Comm. Gordon. Nightwing, Barbara Gordon, Batman, Dead-Man, Zatanna, and a Talon from the Court of Owls. Each one of these characters coupled with Batman could easily be 2 episodes. What I do appreciate is having Dini on this comic. He knows how to manage multiple characters and ensure they play their respective roles well. Whereas I would prefer to see Batman team up with just Deadman to take on the Court from beginning to end, Dini and Burnett do an amazing job of melting all of the characters together.
Final Thoughts:
Uhmmm if you have not picked up Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2 #1 by now, you are behind! Any Batman fan would enjoy this. It is a continuation of one of the best cartoons of all time (with the added extra of the Court of Owls). With Batman being such an amazing IP, I would love to see “The Adventures Continue” as a new season of Batman the Animated Series. Taking the old and adding in something new works for this creative team. Excellent job DC excellent job.