It’s been a crazy three weeks, but in the mayhem, Ian and Steph have found a few minutes to discuss one of their favorite Webtoons series: Batman: Wayne Family Adventures!
Steph: Holy smokes! Ian…you’ll never guess what we’re talking about today!
Ian: I KNOW! I’m so, so excited! We get not one, but TWO Stephanie Brown-focused episodes, and they are EXTREMELY rich and full of history and moral themes that are central to Stephanie Brown’s story! CRC Payne clearly was listening to my comments in earlier reviews! (kidding 🙂 )
Steph: It’s very possible. I feel like Steph gets featured in a few of these two-part character exploration stories.
Ian: Well, this one definitely doesn’t just feature her, but has her history and actions as central to the story itself!
Steph: Is “Clyne” a villain from her book or her past?
Ian: No, I believe that’s a brand new minor villain made up for the episode. It’s definitely not anything from her past.
Steph: Well, if anyone knows that to be fact, it’s you. I really liked Steph’s journey at the beginning, starting with Bruce Wayne’s “villains to be punished” and by talking to Jason Todd in particular, ending up at “some people need to be given a 2nd chance and guided to a better solution.”
Ian: I particularly loved the way Jason and Barbara serve as Stephanie’s confidantes and encouragement in this episode.
Steph: There’s a lot of conflict in her about wanting to help someone, but also understanding that a person can’t change if they don’t want to.
Ian: Barbara Gordon, of course, has been a force in Steph’s life since she was Robin, and then Batgirl, being a trainer and then close friend. And Jason hasn’t been that close to Steph historically, but his experience as someone who’s come from a very rough background in Gotham City connects well with Steph’s, especially the criminal parentage portion.
Plus, I believe this is the first time we’ve seen Jason stealing the tires off the Batmobile in Wayne Family Adventures– do you recall seeing that previously?
Steph: I think so…?
Ian: I also loved seeing some new images of Steph’s time as Robin – one of my favorite, neglected periods of DC history,
this time with Babs and Dick Grayson mentoring a young, insecure-looking Steph Robin!
Steph: Yes! Very cute and very awesome. I love that this comic gives space for new friendship pairings we’ve never had before. ‘Cause, honestly, the Steph/Jason friendship just makes sense. They’re both of criminal parents, they both were Robins…it’s great!
Ian: Absolutely! And both of them “died” in the line of duty!
Steph: Lol. Yeah. What did you think of Part 2 of “Enough”?
Ian: I thought I couldn’t get more excited about an episode than the last episode, but this one topped it!
Not only does it have Spoiler being wise and strong in mentoring a young person caught in a life of crime they don’t want, but we also get a DIRECT reference to Detective Comics #649, Stephanie’s first origin story, by the great Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle (which will be collected for the first time this fall in Batman: The Dark Knight Detective volume 8, a most highly recommended trade paperback purchase right next to Wayne Family Adventures Vol 1 and 2!) Also, shout-out to background artist Suzi, who put more Sailor Moon Sparkles behind Steph in her final panel!
Steph: Nice plug.
Ian: I’m very smooth.
Steph: As someone who isn’t as an avid of a fan, I was really able to appreciate the message that people can disappoint you. Your PARENTS can disappoint you. They can let you down. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t wonderful, special, or loveable.
It means THEY have problems. You do have a family, you just may have to find them.
I love that Steph, at least appears, to want to be one of those people for Erick.
Ian: The ending images of Steph finding her family – happy, but still people who disagree and quarrel, yet are there to make their family the best people they can be – is so wonderful. I personally hope we get some references to Steph continuing to mentor Erick! And maybe Jason mentoring that kid he saved a few episodes ago!
Steph: Yes! Lots of lovely threads that need to be picked up!
Ian: Indeed! WFA: Tapestry!
Steph: lol. And I love that we can end on another Bat-Family love note, episode #102 “Bad Day”
I was so worried when I read the title!
Ian: Me too! I was worried it’d be one of those episodes that are supposed to be funny but instead are just depressing
but no! It was great!
Steph: I love that the family is learning from past mistakes and having everyone work to their strengths, acknowledging their physical weaknesses! They’ve come so far from the Thanksgiving debacle…or whatever meal it was they tried to make.
And I’m glad Alfred was still in charge.
Ian: That’s a great point! Character development!
Steph: Though…I have to wonder why a Billionaire can’t do takeout for sick days.
Ian: Perhaps Bruce didn’t want to create questions for curious paparazzi as to why his WHOLE family had so many injuries!
Steph: Possibly. I think it’s also a real-world example of how the quick and dirty solution may be depriving you of character development and family bonding.
Ian: Very true! Real life wisdom!
Steph: I remember a Christmas where my oven broke and we had to turn the water off to work on plumbing (with 12 people in the house). The family bonding we had wouldn’t have happened otherwise!
Ian: Indeed!
Steph: I am so glad that Starbite has been doing so much of the main art lately. It’s been so beautiful!
Ian: It has! I definitely see more smoothness in his style, and I really like the flourishes like the chibi figures we mentioned last batch of episode reviews. WFA has always been a really polished, appealing comic, but I think it’s definitely one to be proud of by the creative team!
Steph: For sure. I’m a little jelly you got your wish! At this point I’d take more Selina in any form.
Ian: We shall keep hoping!
Steph: There was a Showcase issue once where Catwoman and Damian-Robin save a bunch of kidnapped cats. Hopefully we’ll see something like that.
Ian: We did get that great Birds of Prey episode where she stole the show (literally!)
Steph: Haha. Yea…MOAR!
Ian: Indeed, moar!
Steph: Well Ian, as always, it is a pleasure to talk to you about my favorite Webtoon. I can’t wait to talk more about them, ’cause I don’t see an end in sight for us!
Ian: Indeed! I’m so excited about the print releases, but as always, the Webtoon on my phone remains a Wednesday night thrill!
Steph: oh yea! The first volume comes out soon! I’m so stoked!
Is that a word kids use anymore?
I’m not sure my generation even used that word.
Ian: I think “hyped” is something like that.
Steph: K. I’m HYPED
Ian: ME AS WELL.
Steph: 🥳
Talk to you later friend!!!
Ian: Au revoir!😄
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.
