Holy time-travel, Batman! This review originally published graciously at Striptease The Magazine!
Batman ‘66 #1
Jeff Parker (w) Jonathan Case (a)
DC Comics $3.99
I’ve not read a Batman comic since the first three issues of
DC’s New 52. Not that I read much before, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around
continuity issues of the entire line. I’d never been much of a fan of Damien
Wayne, either. But with my own super-baby on the way, money’s going to be tight
and I’m going to be picky.
I’ve still a box of my uncle’s from the 80s that I’ve still
not read, as well as a great big honkin’ gift of Superman titles that I got for
my birthday. I’ve even got three or four longboxes of stuff that I’ve been
meaning to pore over again, maybe with said super-baby.
I’ve also not yet gotten into the cheaper digital comics,
but my deficient computer handling skills coupled with the fact that I already
spend so much time on the internet just sounds like bad news. How ironic, then,
that I should pick up the two first issues of comics that were A) Batman and B)
originally distributed as digital issues? I just now picked up on the fact that
these were both television shows, too.
In our first review, Jeff Parker (Bone) and Jonathan Case
(Dear Creature) bring a rowdy and raucous take from the small screen to your
fingertips in Batman ’66. The feel of the original television program is here,
almost as if it never left us. The announcer introduces us to the perfectly
mundane Gotham City before some spectacularly dazzling crime takes place—this
time in the throes of that Pasha of Puzzles: The Riddler. We’re thrown into the
action and it isn’t long before Bruce and Dick are missing, the day saved by
Batman and Robin.
There are some Bat-tastic nods here including Robin pounding
his fist in frustration and Bruce/Bats telling him to “’Take heard, old chum.’”
And how can you not mention a super-surprise guest-star appearing out the
window as the Dynamic Duo climb up the side of a building?
There’s a cacophony of camp an color here, but the color
concerns me: the shading and dot texture giving a feel of the sixties make for
some hard-to-digest scenes, as if were almost meant for 3-D. Maybe something to
do with the comic originally intended for the digital market.
Despite that little bump, $3.99 for thirty pages is a steal
which the Caped Crusaders will be more than happy to let you get away with.
Batman Beyond Universe #1
Rewired Kyle Higgins (w) Thony Silas (a)
Power Struggle Christos N. Gage (w) Iban Coello (a)
DC Comics $3.99
In going with this time travel theme, how will we read
comics in the future, especially now that we’ve gone a bit digital. Not sure
why I’ve never picked up Batman Beyond because I’m a huge fan of appropriating
old characters for new situations. Originally billed as Batman Beyond 2.0 and
Justice League Beyond 2.0, Batman Beyond Universe has somehow helped me buy
into DC Comics for at least a little while.
Gotham of the future goes back to its roots with the Arkham
Institute, working very hard to “rehabilitate” the city’s biggest and baddest.
In short order, the mayor is killed by an unforeseen murderer which we later find
out is bioelectric in nature. There is no one the boys can put their finger on,
so it seems there’s a new player in town. As usual, Terry is left completely
unprepared for what lay ahead.
Next up is Justice League Beyond and Superman is
experiencing issues with his powers having vaulted into overdrive. The League
is there to help out when Supes’ powers go haywire, but the only way they can
prevent further damage is Kryptonian nanotech which blocks his power to absorb
solar energy.
There’s a neat twist here with a flashback aside remembering
Lois which ties in nicely with Kal’s (Clark’s new alter-ego) fitting into
normal society as a firefighter. Lots of flirting with a lady firefighter who
seems to be asking him out, and not taking no for an answer.
Great art by Silas on Batman Beyond with plenty of panels to
shake a stick at. Coello hits home with his depictions of Superman in Justice
League Beyond, both in and out of the suit.
Even though neither story is wrapped up in this compendium,
weighing in at FORTY PAGES for $3.99, you’ll be more than happy to pick up the
next installment.
