This page contains summaries and reviews of specials and issues of other comics pertaining to the New Batman Adventures.
COMIC: The Batgirl Adventures
ISSUE: "Oy to the World" (#1)
WRITTEN BY: Paul Dini
PENCILED BY: Rick Burchett
INKED BY: Rick Burchett
ISSUED: December ?, 1997 (Cover date is February)
RATING: ***** (out of 5)
"You and Ivy are... well... friends..."
"Yeah...?"
"Y'Know... friends... like..."
"Like what everybody says about you and Supergirl?"
"What?! Who says...? Forget it! Forget it!"
--Batgirl questioning Harley Quinn about her relationship with Poison Ivy.
SUMMARY: On her way to meet her father, Barbara Gordon spots Harley Quinn and changes into her Batgirl costume. She confronts Harley on the Police
Headquarters rooftop where Harley is trying to turn on the Batsignal. Harley takes out a makeshift grappling hook and jumps off the side of the building.
Batgirl goes after her and chases her over the roofs of various vehicles until Harley hops onto an elevated train and rides over to a warehouse on the
pier. Batgirl finds her and Harley explains that Poison Ivy is trapped on a ship. Batgirl agrees to check it out. Ivy has been kidnapped by a group of
women led by Kit Nozawa (last seen in the Batman and Robin Adventures Annual #1) who want her to join their group. They are puttin together the "top
talent in female terrorism." Ivy refuses to join so they take her computer and hack into it to find all of her formulas (as a way to kill her). Harley
tells Batgirl that if Batgirl helps Poison Ivy, then she will go peacefully with her to jail. Batgirl attacks and is blinded by Kit's jewel, but she uses
her hearing to help her fight. Meanwhile, Harley frees Ivy. Batgirl recovers and Harley helps her fight. Kit uses her jewel to disguise herself as
Harley, so Batgirl doesn't know who is who. However, when the real Harley calls her "Bratgirl," she knows and defeats Kit. Batgirl takes Harley to jail,
but Harley was released from Arkham two days earlier, so she can't be imprisoned. However, if she was caught in the presence of a wanted flon like Poison
Ivy, she would be in trouble. Batgirl rushes out after Harley who has been picked up by Ivy, and takes off after them.
COMMENTS: This comic is great! Batgirl is back to her idependent self from the original cartoon (a welcome return from the side-kick version we get now
on the show), and her interaction with Harley is hilarious. This issue is a real treat, as all Paul Dini comics usually are. A special that deserves to
an ongoing series, this issue has it all: action, adventure, comedy, and great artwork. In fact, the art is so good, that it feels like watching an actual
episode of the show. If you haven't picked this one up yet, you must. It's wonderful.
CRITICISMS: None that I recall.
BOTTOM LINE: Buy it. Buy it now.
COMIC: Superman Adventures
ISSUE: "(Almost) The World's Finest Team" (#25)
WRITTEN BY: Mark Millar
PENCILED BY: Mike Manley
INKED BY: Terry Austin
ISSUED: September 9, 1998 (Cover date is November)
RATING: ***** (out of 5)
"I'm not going back to Arkham. That place is full of lunatics!"
--The Mad Hatter as he evades Batgirl
SUMMARY: Bruce Wayne has been kidnapped by the Mad Hatter who demands
Batman's cowl (he's collecting rare headpieces) or he will shoot him.
Nightwing is in Louisiana capturing Killer Croc and Robin has also been
captured by the hatter. Superman responds to the batsignal after
hearing about the trouble. He tells Commissioner Gordon that Batman is
out of town and that he will help out. He tracks down Batgirl and
assists her in the capture of some of the hatter's goons, but none of
them will tell where the hatter is. They find a man who is a 'real
estate' agent to many criminals after they break out. He says that the
hatter didn't need his help and would be in the last place anyone would
look for him. Batgirl and Superman figure out that the place is the
police headquarters, but the Mad Hatter creates a diversion; he sends a
mind-controled Robin to take a ride in the Batplane. While Superman
stops Robin, Batgirl ends the hatter's games by knocking of his hat with
a batarang. The Mad Hatter retreats into the sewer, but Superman lures
him out by offering him Batman's cowl (he'd been to the Batcave...).
Later, Batman thanks Superman, and the latter takes off for Metropolis.
COMMENTS: As a fan of the Mad Hatter's as well as the Superman animated
series, I really enjoyed this issue. I thought the story was engaging
and original and that the art was very well done. The coloring of this
issue was also excellent. Even if you don't like Superman, I highly
recommend this issue.
CRITICISMS: None!
BOTTOM LINE: A great issue that is just as fantastic as any issue of
Batman: Gotham Adventures or episode of The New Batman Adventures.
Comics
Issues 1-6
Issues 7-12
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