Batman Adventures, Batman and Robin Adventures

Batman Adventures 31-36

The last of the Puckett/Parobeck run.  (Mike Parobeck would pass away a year or so after the final issue of this series came out.)  The final three issues formed a rare multi-issue arc in the title. Hugo Strange wipes Batman’s memory, reducing him to his seven year-old mental state.  It creates a couple of funny moments, particularly when Bruce discovers that he’s the Batman.

It also allows for one of the few moments where Batman is able to break through Catwoman’s affectation of not caring about what Batman thinks of her.  

I was moved by the tragedy of Hugo Strange’s predicament.  

This title is light and fun, with a nice touch of poignancy.  But a good portion of my affection for Batman Adventures comes from the fond memories I have reading these with my sister when we were in high school.  I’d buy these again if faced with the choice, but much of it would be for sentimental reasons. I don’t have the same feelings for the followup titles, as will be evident in my future reviews.

 

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Batman and Robin Adventures 1-20

Paul Dini wrote the first three issues, and Ty Templeton took over after that.  The stories are serviceable for the most part, but not really memorable. I’m sorely tempted to keep only the few issues that made any kind of impression on me, but I’m still undecided.  Part of me is thinking that it’d be nice to share these with my kids someday. Here are the highlights:

Issue 6 - A tabloid headline announces that Batman fired Robin, which leads to an epidemic of sidekick wannabes.  Batman and the very-much-employed Robin have to deal with these nuisances while trying to locate a kidnapped Robin pretender.  One of the applicants bears a striking resemblance to Frank Miller’s Carrie Robin, though she’s not nearly as competent.

Issue 8 - Poison Ivy mind controls Robin with a kiss, adding an unwelcome addition to her partnership with Harley Quinn.  Harley bristles at her new role as third wheel, and resorts to drastic measures to restore the status quo. A hilarious story, and like issue 6, also drawn by Rick Burchett.  I wonder why he inked most of the issues, when he’s a far better artist than the other pencillers (Brandon Kruse, Dev Madan, Joe Staton, and the truly regrettable Tim Harkins)

This is Burchett, not the regrettable Harkins.

Issue 20 - It turns out the GCPD has a nightly betting pool on how many criminals Batman and Robin will bring in.  Detective Bullock is stuck with the the high number of twenty, and spends the night rooting for the Dynamic Duo. It’s an amusing little hook, and adds just enough spice to an otherwise pedestrian night of crime fighting.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No.  Yes for 8 and 20.

Rating: Fine.  Nice for 8 and 20.