Tag Batman: The Animated Series

Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface #1 Micro-Review – Getting Cute with Clay

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman One Bad Day Clayface 1, cover, February 2023, XermanicoTITLE: Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface #1
AUTHOR: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
ARTISTS:  Xermanico, Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)
RELEASED: February 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue gets cutesy at certain points, with Basil Karlo working on movies based on The Killing Joke, and then the Grey Ghost from Batman: The Animated Series. Actually, this issue reminds me a lot of a B:TAS episode.

All in all, this is pretty solid. Definitely one of the better One Bad Day issues. It dives in the bitter actor/artist side of Clayface as he tries to get his big break as a performer. It all goes about the way you’d expect. But that isn’t a bad thing. Xermanico and Fajardo also make it look great.

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Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Three #2 Micro-Review – That Certain Look…

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman the Adventures Continue Season Three 2, cover, February 2023, Kevin Altieri, Monica KubinaTITLE: Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Three #2
AUTHORS: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini
ARTISTS: Kevin Altieri, Monica Kubina (Colorist), Josh Reed (Letterer)
RELEASED: February 14, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Kevin Altieri’s art is reminiscent of the original Batman: The Animated Series, as opposed to the subsequent show, The New Batman Adventures. That’s not a bad thing, per se. But aren’t these Adventures Continue issues are supposed to look like the latter?

This issue is largely about Harley Quinn, and incorporates her bisexual nature into the story. I have to assume that’s been formally done in the BTAS universe before…right? It’s certainly been done in the main DC Universe.

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Toy Chest Theater: Kevin Conroy Tribute by kneelbeforezod

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I’m normally not a huge fan of toy photographers processing grief or sorrow at someone passing away via their work. Simply put: It often comes off tacky to me. For instance, we saw a lot of that when Stan Lee died.

But once in awhile, you get a shot like this one. On paper, the idea of various versions of Batman saying goodbye to the Kevin Conroy animated Batman as he journeys into heaven sounds like a recipe for a tacky, tone-deaf disaster. But kneelbeforezod (who has appeared in this space with Batman before) managed to do it in a classy way. Not to mention visually appealing, with the contrast between the darkness of the cave and the brightness of the heavenly clouds.

Having the Adam West Batman in the background with the ’66 Batmobile is a great little touch too. It provides a nice sense that the Conroy Batman isn’t going to be alone on his next great adventure…

Kevin Conroy Batman tribute, kneelbeforezod

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Astonishing Art: Kevin Conroy by Francesco Francavilla

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Is it cheating to do two Kevin Conroy tribute pieces back-to-back in this space? Even if it is, I don’t care. Kevin Conroy’s loss will weigh heavily on Batman fans for years to come, and Francesco Francavilla is just that good an artist. A fitting tribute to a performer who left an indelible mark on an iconic character.

Kevin Conroy, Batman, Francesco Francavilla

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Astonishing Art: Kevin Conroy by Marcelo Millicay

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Batman fans were dealt a pretty painful blow over the weekend, as Kevin Controy passed away at 66 after a brief battle with cancer. Conroy was known the world over as the voice of the Dark Knight in Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, the Batman: Arkham video games, and various other Bat-projects over the last 30 years.

Naturally, the web was filled with tributes to Conroy. This piece from Marcelo Millicay was one of my personal favorites. It recreates a famous shot from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, in which Conroy of course voiced the titular character.

Thank you for 30 years of memories, Mr. Conroy. You are, and for so many of us, always will be the definitive voice of Batman.

Kevin Conroy Batman, Marcelo Millicay

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Astonishing Art: Three Jokers by Dan Amyotte

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Three Jokers had its critics. I was one of them. But if you go in with the idea that it’s sort of a non-canon thought experiment, it’s actually fairly enjoyable. (Even though it was thought to be in canon at the time. Nowadays it’s clearly not.)

Here we have Dan Amyotte giving us his take on one of Jason Fabok’s covers for Three Jokers, using versions of the character from Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and Justice League. All voiced by the great Mark Hamill, of course. This piece actually makes me want to see a “Timmverse” take on Three Jokers. We’ll never see that, of course. But again, it’s a fun thought experiment.

Three Jokers, Dan Amyotte

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Astonishing Art: Mr. Freeze by Mano Ramirez

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By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I’m a sucker for Mike Mignola’s Mr. Freeze design from Batman: The Animated Series. It’s got a great vintage sci-fi space suit look to it. The red eyes are awesome too. It’s not a coincidence that the look coincides with the character’s whole renaissance that came about after the pivotal episode “Heart of Ice.”

So when I saw this portrait from Mano Ramirez, I jumped at it. The age that Ramirez injects into the character’s face adds a realism that’s very complimentary.

Mr. Freeze, Mano Ramirez

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A Catwoman: Lonely City #1 Micro-Review – The Cat Returns

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Catwoman Lonely City 1, cover, 2021, Cliff ChiangTITLE: Catwoman: Lonely City #1
AUTHOR & ARTIST: Cliff Chiang
RELEASED: October 19, 2021

This is basically Cliff Chiang’s attempt at giving Catwoman her own version of The Dark Knight Returns. I can’t say this is the best TDKR style “future Gotham” story I’ve read. But one great thing Lonely City has going for it is a strong noir vibe. Both in terms of the writing and the art. It’s similar to the old Darwyn Cooke/Ed Brubaker Catwoman stories.

Of course, as a Batman: The Animated Series buff, I appreciated Chiang’s use of the gray costume.

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A Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Two #5 Micro-Review – A Gray and Blue Flashback

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Batman the Adventures Continue Season Two 5, cover, 2021, Jamal CampbellTITLE: Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Two #5
AUTHORS: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini
ARTISTS: Rick Burchett, Monica Kubina (Colorist), Josh Reed (Letterer). Cover by Jamal Campbell.
RELEASED: October 5, 2021

This one’s got some meat to it, telling a story of how a young Batman took down Gotham’s corrupt mayor. And because this book is awesome, he’s wearing his gray and blue Batman: The Animated Series costume in the flashbacks.

I’m noticing Rick Burchett’s art isn’t necessarily as crisp and clean as Ty Templeton’s. At least not on this issue. The end product is still of high quality. It’s just a difference.

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A Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Two #3 Micro-Review – A Birds of Prey Tease?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Batman the Adventures Continue Season Two 3, cover, 2021, Stephanie PepperTITLE: Batman: The Adventures Continue – Season Two #3
AUTHOR: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini
ARTISTS: Rick Burchett, Monica Kubina (Colorist), Josh Reed (Letterer). Cover by Stephanie Pepper.
RELEASED: August 10, 2021

They’re doing a Birds of Prey tease of sorts with Batgirl and Huntress together, aren’t they?

Like Ty Templeton, Rick Burchett is a veteran of those old Batman: The Animated Series inspired comics. It’s nice to see him working on some of these characters again.

They bring back yet another one-off character from B:TAS here. Frankly, I’d rather Burnett and Dini go the extra mile and create some new characters for this series. It’s not like they don’t have the talent or the product knowledge…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.