Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 #1

DC Comics
Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 #1
By Avi Weinryb
January 22, 2017 - 22:50

DC Comics
Writer(s): Jeff Parker & Marc Andreyko
Penciller(s): David Hahn
Inker(s): Karl Kesel
Colourist(s): Madpencil
Letterer(s): Wes Abbott
Cover Artist(s): Michael & Laura Allred; Variant by Alex Ross

Based on the incarnations of their characters from their respective live-action televisions series, Batman ‘66 Meets Wonder Woman ‘77 is a lot of fun. And unlike the campy television shows on which it is based, this comic has a tight plot - setting the stage for a solid mini-series. The first issue in this six-parter features the dynamic duo making a purr-fect capture of a glam Catwoman as she attempts to steal a rare book for Talia al Ghul. This leads to a long-form flashback in which young Bruce Wayne first encounters Wonder Woman at the Wayne Mansion when she’s involved in a dust-up with some nazis at an auction in which they are trying to pinch the same book. We also encounter a young Talia and her evil father, the infamous Ra’s al Ghul. Holy plot twist, Batman!

Jeff Parker and Marc Andreyko have lovingly crafted this tale. When a young Bruce encounters Diana Prince for the first time, it’s as she is transforming into Wonder Woman. The young lad is dazzled by Lynda Carter’s heroine spinning around as her clothes morph into the star-spangled underwear and metallic top. He can’t believe his eyes! It’s a moment that highlights the silly joy of the TV series. And as Adam West’s Batman recounts the tale to Robin and Alfred, the reader’s pleasure for nostalgia is only compounded.

Being only issue number one in a six-parter, we’re introduced to the plot, but there’s still much to tell. Judging from what we can read so far, this will be a fun series to collect and/or enjoy as an inevitable trade paperback. The camp is dialed down because stressing it would only get boring after a while. Instead, the writers smartly rely on good writing and a solid story. A rarity these days.

The dynamic duo theme runs through this comic, from the heroes, to the writers to the artists. David Hahn and industry veteran Karl Kesel are a perfect pairing for this series. Hahn’s pencils are playful and relaxed, acknowledging the source material, but stylized and on-point, never allowing the abject silliness of the source inspiration to derail the need for strong illustration. Kesel brings his versatile inking abilities and wealth of DC Comics experience to ensure a cohesive visual experience. Some pages have echoes of the retro-style work of the late, great Darwyn Cooke, and all the better.

This is a fun new mini-series and I look forward to reading it to completion. By bringing together two beloved television series and additional characters from the Bat mythos, there is only one thing a reader should exclaim: Holy comic book gold, Batman!
Rating: 9/10