Rogues Gallery

I remember these stories came out while Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's "Hush" (Batman: Hush, Vol. 1, Batman: Hush, Vol. 2) was still gracing the pages of Batman. A few years later, and I actually remember this one (and Ed Brubaker's phenomenal work on Detective Comics) a little more fondly. At the time, of course, I was drawn in by all the hype surrounding "Hush," but it managed to whet my appetite for more quality Batman stories. What I didn't realize was that Ty Templeton and Dan Slott had apparently been writing/illustrating some of the best for years. I got the first issue of this series as a Free Comic Book Day promotion. I hadn't really planned on actually reading it at first. (It was made for kids, right?) It wasn't until I read an extremely positive review of the issue that I decided to crack it open. I immediately felt like a total idiot for doubting it would be good. After all, Batman: The Animated Series is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It rarely talked down to its audience, making it just as acceptable to adults as it was suitable for kids. The stories were never as simple as they seemed, and they managed to work with strong thematic elements and well-developed characters. The comics based on this series followed suit. One of the things that impressed me most with this set of stories was the fact that it managed to tell a multi-issue story arc while making each entry a standalone tale. At present, decompressed storytelling is the norm. Many writers seem to be writing trade paperback-length stories that just happen to be cut up into smaller portions. It was refreshing to be able to pick up one issue and feel satisfied. Even better, it made me want to read more of the series. Also, this book isn't bound by the DC Comics continuity of the time. (For instance, Barbara Gordon is still Batgirl.) Anyone could pick this series up with a minimal understanding of Batman and be able to enjoy it with no problems. Unfortunately, I feel that good all-ages comics are lacking. It's not to say that they don't exist, but all the major titles are now being written for people who have been reading comics for years. It's hard to find series that are suitable for new readers. (The Marvel Adventures line is admirable. Now they just need to lower the prices on single issues and get them back in grocery and drug stores.) That's one reason why I was heartbroken when I heard that this series had been canceled. I just wish DC would allow Templeton and Slott to work on another continuity-free Batman series. (That seems unlikely to happen, since The Batman Strikes is the current all-ages Batman title. I hear it's good, but I'm just not a big fan of The Batman.) Could DC, at the very least, put the collections of the '90s Batman Adventures and Gotham Adventures comics back in print? Fans of this should also check out Templeton and Slott's Spider-Man/Human Torch: I'm With Stupid.