Ian and Steph have been busy this summer with Knight Terrors coming up, but they were able to sit down recently and talk about their favorite Webtoon, Batman: Wayne Family Adventures! Warning: spoilers ahead.
Steph: Hi Ian! You in the mood to talk Batman: Wayne Family Adventures?
Ian: ALWAYS! Especially with the announcement that volume two of the paperback collection is coming out in October!
Steph: That IS exciting!!! I love them so much. I’m glad it’s getting the attention it deserves.
Episode #88 “Birds of Prey”. Well, this is our first look at BOP, isn’t it? What did you think of the team setup?
Ian: Yes! This is the classic Gail Simone Birds of Prey trio of Oracle, Black Canary, and Huntress,
and hilariously, Black Canary and Huntress are BOTH sporting midriff shirts, which normally was just Huntress!
Given the recent announcement about yet another Harley Quinn Birds of Prey book coming in September, it was refreshing to see a story featuring a team without Harley on it.
Steph: For real. Though they did have Catwoman as a guest-member. Is that something they do often?
Selina or people in general? I vaguely recall one of the last Birds of Prey during Rebirth had Selina helping save mankind (literally all the men).
Ian: Catwoman was a frequent guest star in the Chuck Dixon original run! So that was perfectly in line with the team! And yes, the Benson sisters’ run of Batgirl and the Birds of Prey also had Catwoman (and Harley and Ivy) help save Gotham from a man-killing virus.
Steph: I’m glad to see Selina’s status quo is as a sorta-villain. But definitely not reformed.
Ian: Well, it’s certainly more fun than the upcoming Gotham War seems to promise…
Steph: Don’t even get me started…
But, as we’ve seen in the past, she still an active member in the family.
Ian: Haha, sorry, I just did my solicitations reaction, so I have September brain right now. What did you think of our next episode, “Stick Up”?
Steph: #89 “Stick Up” was amazing. I think this is the first time a story thread has continued far removed from the original, isn’t it?
Ian: I think so, too! From Episode 44!
Love that kind of connected story – like any serialized element, it rewards longtime fans!
Steph: It reminded me a lot of a Critical Role Campaign 2, which had a group of NPC bandits that kept changing careers and running into the main group. It was delightful. These new bad guys better come back, but it would be funny if Jason gets “in trouble” next time. Comedy of threes and all that
Ian: Tim needs to have his revenge! He is competent! Just has terrible luck (and taste in boyfriends) (but not, of course, girlfriends 😉 )
Steph: Do you think these are appropriate reactions for both Jason and Tim to have?
Ian: I think it’s a great playing of their dynamic. Tim is such a great “normal” type of reaction that the more extreme personalities in the family like Damian Wayne and Jason really tend to get a rise out of him in a hilarious and dramatic way
Steph: I agree. I also really like Jason not being too hard on “low-level” criminals. Like, yes they’re bad, but he can see they’re not hardened jerks either. Also, the ability to mess with Tim is too tempting, I’m sure.
Ian: Absolutely! Who doesn’t like to mess with Tim, after all!
Steph: Then we have episode #90 “What I Want (Part 1)” about Cassandra Cain being controlled by Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch). Main Bat-Fam in this issue are Cass and Damian. Did you like this team up?
Ian: Talk about an intense break between episodes! Cass and Damian have such a similar background – born in secret, raised to be living weapons only designed to kill – but that’s rarely brought up, so I love it when they let Cass and Damian spend time together in any context!
Steph: I agree. They seem like they’d get along really well.
Ian: The only major instance I can think of is Gates of Gotham from 2011. So long ago!
Steph: Tetch usually requires people to wear his mind control tech, but this time he seemed to hypnotize his victims. Do you think Cass fell too easily?
Ian: I think a villain developing new tech that the heroes aren’t ready for is a pretty standard plot device to give some more intense drama, so I didn’t mind it at all.
Steph: I thought her guard wasn’t up enough, but I think that Tetch isn’t always taken seriously (I mean, he’s really annoying). Do you think Damian could have taken her out? He’s seems to be going the diplomatic route in this episode. Do you think that’s in character for him, to ‘go easy’ on the female members of the team?
Ian: Honestly, no. Cass’s whole character is wrapped up in her body-reading and absolute toughness, and while Damian is a superb fighter, he’s a lot younger in WFA, and I don’t think has ever been shown to be anywhere close to Cass’s level in fighting. I didn’t really see him going easy on her so much as knowing that Cass is not someone you can realistically beat.
Steph: Hmm, those are good points. I was thinking Damian could have probably done a little more, but overall, I think you’re probably right…though I’d never tell him that.
Ian: One does not tell Damian he can’t do things, even if he really can’t. 🙂
Steph: One last question, from this first part, it’s hard to tell what the title means. Any predictions?
Ian: Well, I think it might go back to what I said about Cass’ backstory – she was never given a choice by her father – it was always what he wanted. Maybe it’s going to be about what SHE wants!
Steph: Or maybe she doesn’t want to do what Mad Hatter is making her do! But I guess we’ll find out soon.
Thank you for chatting with me Ian! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Any last thoughts?
Ian: Just that it’s always so great to read WFA with you, and everyone should order the volume 2 collection with Steph’s backstory episodes!
Steph: Me too! See you again next WFA time!
Editor’s Note: We thank Webtoon for providing TBU with access to episodes of Wayne Family Adventures for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing Volume 1 on Amazon or through Things From Another World when it releases on August 1, 2023.
