• batman adventure continues seaston 2 tp cover
    Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Two
    Writer:
    Alan Burnett, Paul Dini
    Artist:
    Ty Templeton, Rick Burchett, Jordan Gibson
    Letterer:
    Josh Reed
    Cover Artist:
    Riley Rossmo
    Publisher:
    DC
    Price:
    $19.99
    Release Date:
    2022-06-14
    Colorist:
    Monica Kubina

A Batman: The Animated Series revival might not be in the cards right now, but DC is keeping the fan-favorite interpretation of the Dark Knight alive through the comics. Writers Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, who both played important roles in the creation of the show, return for DC's Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2. Hopping into the Batmobile with them for the ride are artists Ty Templeton, Rick Burchett, Jordan Gibson, colorist Monica Kubina, and letterer Josh Reed.

The new season plays out like the Brave and the Bold, with different characters from the DC Universe joining Batman across the various issues. Fan-favorite heroes like Deadman, Huntress, and Zatanna appear as the Dark Knight works to uncover the shady political landscape of Gotham City as the candidates all clamor for power. At the same time, the Court of Owls lurks in the shadows waiting for an opportunity to strike.

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Deadman Fighting Talons in Batman: The Adventures Continue Season II

Burnett and Dini pen the entire story here, whipping up a concoction that wouldn't feel out of place on the original Batman: The Animated Series. The tone and pacing are all there, and it's a delight for fans of the show. Unfortunately, the Court of Owls doesn't have the same impact as it did in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman run. In the context of the more family-friendly nature of Batman: The Adventures Continue, the nefarious secret society comes across as heavily watered down and not as menacing as it should be. The sections of the book that focus on other antagonists and the complicated relationship between Deadman and Dick Grayson are the most engaging. So it is a bit of a let-down for fans of the Court, but there are plenty of other characters to look out for.

Templeton has long been the go-to artist for all things pertaining to Batman: The Animated Series. The good news is he returns to pencil and ink the story here; however, he also shares these duties with Burchett and Gibson. While the change-up in artists could be jarring in any other book, all three do a seamless job of maintaining the aesthetic that Bruce Timm created for the animated series. In fact, if one doesn't check the credits to see who is responsible for the story, most people won't notice the different artists at work.

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Black Mask fighting Batman in Batman: The Adventures Continue Season II #3

The coloring and lettering departments remain stable throughout Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2. Kubina stays true to the series' color palette, delivering brighter colors and shades of Gotham City. Even when the stories take place at night, it appears as if all the citizens have fully functional lights in their apartments and offices. Reed also adds to this atmosphere with crisp and precise lettering. Pay attention to the specific treatment for Deadman's speech, where everything is made slightly more transparent to tie in with Boston Brand's apparitional abilities.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 2 offers a breezier version of the Dark Knight. It doesn't collapse under decades of mythology or try to tie into other areas of the DC Universe. Instead, it offers an easy-to-read tale for long-time fans of the animated show or brand-new readers as it doesn't require any previous knowledge of this interpretation of Batman.