The Batman Strikes, Vol. 1: Crime Time

Batman struggles to save Gotham City from villains such as Penguin, Joker, Bane, and Scarface.

Grade 4 Up–Based on the WB television cartoon series, this is a fresh take on the same old bat story. Batman appears younger than he has looked in years. Familiar villains have also received facelifts, with a different one appearing in each of the five short episodes contained in this collection. A new character is introduced: Detective Yin of the Gotham Police, who provides a fresh female counterpart to this Batman. Dark Knight aficionados may be irritated by the heavy use of hip slang and the much more cartoonish transformations villains go through (The Joker in one section appears to have adapted the character fluidity of Beetlejuice), but the intended audience will find this book entertaining. Also noteworthy is the excellent coloration, which matches the dynamic nature of the art.–Dawn Rutherford, Kings County Library System, Bellevue, WA
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