Review: BATMAN ’66 #1

BATMAN ’66 #1
Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Jonathan Case
Release Date: July 17, 2013

BATMAN '66 #1 CoverLRFor Batman fans of a certain age, there has been no bigger white whale these last 10 years than the Batman 1960s television show. Long mired in legal conundrums and distribution battles, this classic rendering of the (not-so) Dark Knight has been nearly inaccessible save a few random airings on offbeat cable channels. No DVDs, no toys or merchandise, and certainly no comic books.

Now all that has changed, and the floodgates are open for awesomeness.

Jeff Parker directs this first installment of the digital-first series as a perfect interpretation of the original series, capturing so much of the quaintness and humor that enraptured us as children (and frankly, adults) in the original airing/rerun cycle. His set-up and pacing — like a lot of DC’s recent digital first “issues” on Comixology — pack a lot of value into the .99 format, giving readers a longer reading experience than in some 20 page print comics. The confrontation between the Dynamic Duo and the Riddler (this month’s “villain-of-the-week”) is heavy on action, keeping the story moving in rapid pace, but features fun and fresh dialogue that should delight kids who are reading — imagine that! An ongoing Batman book for kids! —and not in any way bore the adults who pick up the title as well. There was a moment of cleverness for Batman escaping possible death that could never have been filmed for the TV show, and it will be moments like that where Parker will be able to transform these archetypes into something new and widely accessible. As someone who has slightly less nostalgia for the original series than those a bit older than myself, I found all the representations fun and not nearly as corny as I would have expected, with the exception of Gordon’s right-hand man, Chief O’Hara. Perhaps it is time to retire the over-the-top Irish stereotype. Shouting “Begorrah!” in surprise isn’t as amusing in 2013 as it may have been forty-seven years prior.

The art throughout is nothing short of spectacular, as Jonathan Case genuinely captures the flavor of the 1960s without regressing into absolute anachronism. In fact, Batman ’66 has a mod feeling — with its enlarged ben-day dots and bright, nearly neon color palette — that seems perfectly parsed through a post-modern artistic eye. Facial expressions are Case’s strong suit here, as their uniqueness delights on every page turn, coming close to the image of the original actors without, again, devolving into actual mimicry. Scenes of destruction are neither trivialized nor sensationalized in a mature reader sense, but just so beautifully rendered you can’t help but stop on the page and gaze awhile. This is part of what makes this title a true “all-ages” phenomenon, as I would have no issue at all with sharing this with my seven year-old niece (and I may very well do so within minutes of this writing), but it can’t possibly bore the adult who laments a day when comics were just a bit more upbeat and fun.

The one tricky part of Batman ’66 in its digital form is that, unlike digital-first offerings from DC Comics to date, it absolutely requires the guided view format built into Comixology for optimal reading. As this format isn’t the default (at least in my settings), it takes a little bit of doing to realize how best to read the installment the first time. Picking up a bit of the methodology spearheaded by Marvel’s Infinite Comics and Thrillbent’s work in the area, the story relies heavily on same panel images that have cascading word balloons or color shifts, but thankfully not many pedantic motions like eye blinks or details so slight in their change that you miss them completely. There’s some beautiful color shifts at work here and, of course, the occasional insertion of a large sound effect — what would Batman ’66 be without a little BIF, BANG or BOOM? — but it does take a little bit of doing to make that motion work the first time.

An absolutely brilliant and long overdue addition to DC’s bank of titles, Batman ’66 is just another example of how the publisher is expanding its all-ages offerings through its digital first offerings, without exclusively dumbing them down for the pre-school set. Perfect for kids and adults alike, this title is a wholly different take on the Caped Crusader in the comic market, and one that has been sorely missed for decades. Glad to have you back, old chum!

UPDATE for print edition: A compilation of the first three digital chapters arrives in stores today and it is as delightful on paper as it was on the screen. Not only do we get interior art that is surprisingly as vibrant as its digital edition, but the added bonus of an original Mike Allred cover makes this comic pretty difficult to pass up on the shelf.

Catwoman is particularly intriguing in the follow-up chapters to the one reviewed above, as she seems to mix well the Julie Newmar version of the classic villainess with a more modern twist on the character. Not satisfied to simply work on the wrong side of the law, Catwoman becomes an erstwhile partner to the Dynamic Duo, however briefly — a role I’ve always loved seeing her in over the years. If you’re a fan of any version of the character (or want to see a delightful version of Alfred Pennyworth in action), definitely check this issue out.

Verdict (revised): 9.5/10

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