Written by Jeff Parker.
Art by Jonathan Case & Wes Abbott.
Cover Art by Michael Allred & Laura Allred.
SUMMARY:
Released for September 2013, DC Comics adapts Adam West and Burt Ward’s live-action TV series with this 36-page premiere. Entitled “The Riddler’s Ruse,” Commissioner Gordon, Chief O’Hara, Bruce Wayne, and Dick Grayson are among the attendees for a presentation ceremony of the ‘Lady Gotham’ golden statue at Gotham Park. Swooping down from an airplane, the Riddler brazenly pilfers the statue. Chasing after their arch-foe in the Batmobile, the Dynamic Duo finds only an enigmatic clue hinting his next heist.
A cliffhanger concludes ‘Part 1,’ as Batman & Robin raid Catwoman’s new nightclub hoping to intercept the Riddler’s theft of the second portion of an interlocking golden statue. Seeking revenge, Catwoman joins forces with the Dynamic Duo to pursue the Riddler and his goons on this treasure hunt. The question becomes: who gets to the last golden statue first? More importantly, who invariably gets the last laugh?
Notes: Though the image is not available here, Jonathan Case devised this issue’s variant cover. Initially titled “The Riddler’s Ruse, Part 1: Mirth from Above,” this comic oddly foregoes the TV series tradition of presenting a different subtitle for ‘Part Two.’
REVIEW:
Though not advertised as such, the art team’s visuals resemble 3D-style imagery. Initially less-then-impressive, their artwork gradually becomes more endearing, i.e., terrific depictions of Frank Gorshin’s Riddler and Julie Newmar’s Catwoman. Otherwise, Jeff Parker’s scripting wisely conveys a homage vs. presenting a flat-out continuation of the TV show’s campy humor.
Including a nice joke at the finish line, Batman ’66 # 1 ends well, but this opener is hardly a must-have. Still, its kid-friendliness offers a welcome treat.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
DC’s “All Access” column hypes the New 52 second-year annuals for: Superman, Batman, Detective Comics, The Flash, and Animal Man.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
