Review: BATMAN ’66 Volume 1

BATMAN ’66 VOLUME 1
Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Jonathan Case, Ty Templeton, Joe Quinones, Sandy Jarrell, Ruben Procopio, Colleen Coover
Published by DC Comics
Release Date: April 2, 2014

STK631756Fire up the theme music, we’re heading back to ’66, baby.

Batman ’66 got the industry fired up last year when the digital first series was announced and now, trade readers can get in on the action! Jeff Parker channels the spirit of the original series like a medium channeling a spirit, and his work with Jonathan Case will transport you back in time and straight into an episode you’d swear you’ve seen before because of how familiar it is, yet you will get excited by the fact that you’re getting new stories!

Parker’s dialogue in this comic is phenomenal, as he nails the tone of the show in an almost uncanny way. The puns will come at you fast and furious, which I’ll admit was a lot to digest in a single setting, but I’m also a cynic who hates fun…and this comic is a lot of fun. Parker does an excellent job of integrating many characters into this volume, each with their own unique, and very 60s, voice. You aren’t going to get New 52 Joker in this book, and reading these old school versions of iconic characters is a lot of fun.

If you aren’t into campy tales this book will annoy the living hell out of you, don’t get me wrong, but if you dig the 60s series and are looking for some nostalgia, Jeff Parker has written a really strong helping of it. At times the dialogue feels repetitive, but his voices for the characters are consistent and strong throughout, and his quirky humour really comes through in this volume. I highly recommend reading this collection in multiple sittings to keep the stories fresh and the energy high.

On the art front, it is somewhat of a mixed bag. What I mean by that is at times (when Jonathan Case is penciling) this volume has a dynamic energy that leaps from the page. His work with the colours is eclectic, but it works, and his chemistry with Parker’s writing is obvious. The rest of the team, however, provides fairly generic artwork that is not poor, but lacks the energy of Case’s work.

The artwork, built to be digital first, translates to print well, much better than the Marvel Infinite issues that have seen print. The colours aren’t as dynamic as what you’ll see on an iPad, but they still leap from the page and evoke the spirit of the 60s series well. Case’s work is arguably worth the price of admission for this collection, and he and Parker are a truly dynamic duo, pun intended.

Batman ’66 is a campy, fun book that fans of the old TV series will enjoy immensely. Parker and Case are a creative team that work very well together, and bring a lot of energy to this series. It can easily be argued that the digital first issues are a better value than purchasing this collection, but for fans looking for some nostalgic fun it really comes down to picking your method of ingesting this series. Batman ’66 is exactly what it should be, now let’s cruise away in that kick-ass old school Batmobile!

The Verdict: 7.5/10

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