Oh no…Steph overslept, and now the review is late, but it’s okay; I think she and Ian finally caught up on the latest chapters of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures! Let’s find out the latest with our review of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #70-72.
Steph: Ian! Oh no, we’re late, we’re late, for a very important…review with Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #70-72!
Ian: Follow the white rabbit! (though I will say, no Mad Hatter in these comics yet!)
Steph: Phew! But we are starting up in the middle of an adventure! Barbara Gordon has let herself be kidnapped…Did the story go the way you thought it would?
Ian: I think so! When Babs is Oracle, I almost always am assuming her backups have backups! Plus, she’s a formidable fighter in her own right, whether here in WFA, or in the Titans tv show, or as a mentor to Cass and Steph when they are Batgirl – she’s one dashing daredoll! What about your expectations? Were you surprised at her plan?
Steph: Reading over our last review, I think I was expecting something a little more involved, probably because I still think like the main comics sometimes. Though this wasn’t bad at all. I think it was meant to showcase how smart Babs is and how she can use villains’ underestimation of her to her advantage. The baddy’s intention and actual crime were not the story’s point.
Ian: Something that is a bit funny is that Babs’ knowledge of her enemies reminds me a lot of the way Tom King writes the Riddler (see his recent One Bad Day one shot for an example). Perhaps the reason why some writers have tried to pair the two of them up (like in the Prelude to the Wedding issue by Tim Seeley many years ago).
Steph: I was a little sad that, because it was a “smart Babs” story, and we didn’t get tons of butt-kicking, and no Steph action at all, even though she’s there to “Save the Day.” Cass got to kick a door in, so that was cool. And I do love the art of these ladies, as always.
Ian: Indeed! I had real Batgirls flashbacks when reading Spoiler and Orphan bursting in to save Oracle!
Steph: Oh, I don’t know if I’d noticed before, but how do you feel about Commissioner Gordon’s red hair?
Ian: Well, I kinda got used to it in the New 52. I prefer him being a silver-haired man, but I can handle red.
Steph: I thought it was interesting. Do you think most of them are their New 52 selves?
Ian: I think most of them are sort of in a late n52/early Rebirth era, given their costumes and code names (Spoiler and Orphan are particularly indicative of that era, to me). Jim didn’t have grey hair again until Infinite Frontier’s Joker series by Tynion (a truly excellent series, by the by!).
Steph: Ah. But back to the story at hand, what did you think overall? I was a little disappointed in it as a story, but as a short webtoon about Babs, the art was great, and I think her showcase was pretty nice.
Ian: I think it’s great that Babs got her own story – is this the first time she’s gotten one? I guess she had a couple earlier, but this is her first two-parter for sure. I loved that it focused on her capability and the protectiveness of her father.
Steph: I did love that. And then came something completely different! Ep. 71 – High Heels – The Steph and Selina team up I didn’t know I wanted. However, the real question is…why did they have a pair of identical high-heels in Damian’s size immediately available?
Ian: You KNOW the Batcave is fully stocked with disguises for every single member of the Bat-Family! And I have to say, this episode gets my equivalent of a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly – my highest commendation! It taps into so many of my absolute favorite characters and relationships in the Bat-Family, particularly Steph and Damian, who haven’t had this hilarious, sparky, and delightful interaction much since the absolutely brilliant Batgirl #17. (though there was a hint of it in the great Flash #786 recently) What did you think?
Steph: I loved it. Selina is looking amazing as always, and I love that she’s an incorporated part of the family, not just “Bruce’s Thief Girlfriend with weird Armpit holes”
Ian: She’s a great mentor figure, and they really captured her voice, I think.
Steph: I wish she and Damian had more interaction, but I’ll take what I can get. And I love when whenever Damian gets humble pie. And, of course, any media with a Bat/Cat kiss gets an automatic 5/5 Fan Girl Giggle from me.
Ian: I knew that would work for you! I enjoyed it a ton as well, of course. I thought the art really stood out in this episode. Really great body language and expressions conveyed, and the hilarity of Steph and Damian falling on their backsides was perfect! And then the very end, with them working together with a determined expression, was very heartwarming
Steph: So good. Unfortunately, we’re going to end on another cliffhanger…Ep. 72 – Snowfall (Part 1).
Ian: Well, thankfully, it’s not a kidnapping cliffhanger! It’s a snowball fight cliffhanger!
Steph: I’ll be honest, I don’t see canon Bruce being this silly, but I really loved it, and I wished he would be. What did you think of everyone teaming up very seriously to gang up against their dad? I personally loved that their roles were very similar to what they might be in a real battle and that it was Tim taking charge of the kids.
Ian: I think it’s pretty realistic, as Batman is the most formidable opponent they will all face! Cass may have him beat hand to hand, but in terms of overall skills and strategy, Bruce is, well, he’s Batman! Plus, he trained them all, so he knows them super well and will anticipate their moves!
Steph: I love the picture Tim uses to show “Priority Alpha”… such a candid photo of Bruce. It’s great.
Ian: And Tim being the one to have the photo AND to say “Priority Alpha” as perhaps the second most strategic family member is such a great pair of character notes!
Steph: It’s great…CRC Payne should write the Tim Drake: Robin comic. I’d happily read that.
Ian: I think that would definitely be worth checking out, and I’d have a lot more enthusiasm for it than I do the current one…though what if it had Riley Rossmo on art still?
Steph: Meh. So, what’s going to happen? Are the Bat-chillins going to prevail against such a formidable foe?
Ian: I have to say, I’m always rooting for the Bat-kids, but I have my doubts! Especially since I feel that Bruce may have a trick or two up his sleeves! (and in his mittens!) What’s your money on?
Steph: I mean, I’d love to see Bruce get his humble pie, but I don’t know if he could call himself Batman if he lost in a snowball fight against them.
Ian: Exactly! And since it’s a snowball fight, I could see him going all out because “it’s for fun”
Steph: Oh yea. That was fun. Talk to you soon about more webtoons?
Ian: Absolutely!
Editor’s Note: You can find Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #70-72 and all other past chapters exclusively on the Webtoon platform. You can find all other reviews from the series here at The Batman Universe.
