Written by Michael Teitelbaum. Cover Art by Ron Zalme.
SUMMARY:
In 2012, DC Comics and Tom Doherty Associates, LLC (through its Starscape imprint) released this 144-page Bat-caper for elementary school students. With black-and-white illustrations echoing the fourth season of Batman: The Animated Series, Gotham City’s Dark Knight takes on a solo mission pursuing four escaped villains from Arkham Asylum: Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler.
Aside from deducing the shadowy mastermind behind this jailbreak, Batman may find himself outnumbered by his elusive foes. Helped by solving enigmatic puzzles, readers make the risky decisions as to what Batman should do next. With one ideal ending in sight, readers must tread cautiously to avoid leading the Dark Knight to failure, if not imminent doom.
REVIEW:
Author Michael Teitelbaum devises a fun storyline where young readers can fairly navigate the plot twists. Unlike most other titles in the choose-your-own-story genre, only a single path leads to victory. More specifically, the option of at least partial success (i.e., capturing one villain) isn’t available. Teitelbaum, in that sense, applies plausible realism to Batman’s mortality, so some younger readers might become frustrated thinking victory ought to be easier. Still, this storyline’s simplistic entertainment value holds up relatively well.
Batman: Super-Villains Strike isn’t a remarkable find, but its target audience won’t likely be disappointed.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
The first page is an introduction for readers new to the choose-your-own-adventure concept. Included throughout the story are a series of word searches, word scrambles, mazes, and hidden/coded messages. At the back of the book is the answer key, which includes an exact reading path to nab all four Bat-villains.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
