by Alan Rapp on September 2, 2020
in Comics
Batman calls on an old friend looking for advice, but Jason Todd‘s current plans as the Red Hood are put on hold as Batman: The Adventures Continue #11 explores more of the tumultuous former Robin’s past and the circumstances behind his final days as Robin.
Writers Alan Burnett and Paul Dini definitely capture the snotty nature of Todd’s late run as the Boy Wonder which made him a divisive character among fans and ultimately led to his death in the comics. As Alfred‘s flashback continue we see more of Robin out of control, becoming more dangerous at times than even the super-villains he was helping Batman apprehend.
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by Alan Rapp on August 17, 2020
in Comics
Along with continuing the flashbacks of Jason Todd as Robin and the friction with Batman that was there from the start, Batman: The Adventures Continue #10 also finally offers us the character in costume as it delivers our first look at the Batman: The Animated Series version of the Red Hood.
Most of the comic remains in flashbacks, narrated by Alfred, explaining the tensions between the second Dynamic Duo including pointing out Jason’s propensity to take harsher measures on Batman’s masked villains, including endangering the life of the Scarecrow which finally expanded the rift between the two. Although alluded to, the issue does not show the Joker‘s brutal assault on Robin and suggests, in this version, Jason may not have actually died but merely slipped into the shadows and began plotting his revenge.
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by Alan Rapp on August 6, 2020
in Comics
The tale of Jason Todd begins here. Batman‘s second partner was skipped over in the Batman: The Animated Series run which featured Dick Grayson in the role at the series outset and Tim Drake in the relaunch of the show. Todd was a controversial character in comics, likely why the series chose to ignore him, but after teasing us with the character lurking in the shadows for several issues Batman: The Adventures Continue #9 finally gets things started when Todd’s stakeout of the Joker ends poorly leaving evidence for Batman to discover that his fallen protege has returned (although no word yet on how the comic will explain those events).
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by Alan Rapp on July 27, 2020
in Comics
The two part “Darker Knight” story concludes as Batman and Azrael discover who stole the Shawl of Magdalene from the Order of St. Dumas.
As in the first-half of the story, Batman’s concern over the the ferocity of Azrael’s actions (such as beating a lead out of the Penguin) continues to grow. However, despite the foreshadowing of a possible physical altercation between them, the pair do not come to blows as Azrael confronts Mister Freeze who hopes to use the shawl to save the life of his wife Nora. Fortunately for Azrael, after biting off more than he can handle in Freeze, Batman arrives in time to save the day wrapping up the tale and leaving the heroes on good terms.
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by Alan Rapp on July 13, 2020
in Comics
With the Deathstroke story concluded, and Jason Todd still lurking in the shadows not yet ready to reveal himself, a new arc begins in Batman: The Adventures Continue #7 with the arrival of Azrael in Gotham City. The soldier of the Sacred Order of Saint Dumas has arrived in Gotham City seeking a shroud recently stolen. Unfortunately for Catwoman, she’s the one who stole it.
After a brief altercation between Batman and Azrael, the pair begin working together to find the shroud offering the opportunity for artist Ty Templeton to give us not just the Batman: The Animated Series look of Azrael’s original costume but also his Bat-costume from Knightfall (even if the logic of the costume change feels rushed in all sorts of ways). There’s also foreshadowing that dressing him up as Batman hasn’t calmed the violent tendencies of Gotham City’s new tourist.
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