Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 3 #5 is published by DC Comics and written by both Alan Burnett & Paul Dini. Artwork is by Ty Templeton, colours by Monica Kubina and letters Josh Reed. Main cover artwork (left) is by Scott Godlewski.
Batman: The Adventures Continue Season 3 #5 is available now, in print and on digital where all good comics books are sold.
Synopsis
The battle for Straightman’s mind concludes as Batman clashes with the Joker and the Suicide Squad! Can the Dark Knight free Straightman from the clutches of the Joker or will he be lost forever to the Clown Prince of Crime?
Review
This week Batman: The Adventures Continue is wrapping up its Straightman arc with an all out war of a finale. With Straightman, Joker, Task Force X and Hugo Strange all in the mix, this has certainly been the busiest arc the series has produced to-date. But with so much going on, can the series stick the landing?
I’ve not been fully on board with The Adventures Continue Season 3 until now. Whilst it has had the intriguing subplot featuring Task Force X, I’ve struggled with the main arcs. It’s felt a little disconnected from Bruce and the Bat-Family with more focus on its villains. Perhaps in service of the Task Force X plot. But here the series is able to coalesce in to a fitting finale.
There’s still a sense that Burnett and Dini are currently more interested in the wider world of Gotham. Batman, Robin and even Batgirl only really dip in to the story when required. Much of this issue is instead focussed on Harley, Joker and Straightman. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But for a series with Batman in the title it feels as though it’s almost unnecessary except to save the day.
It’s fair to say that Batman: The Adventures Continue has veered in to darker territory in season 3. This arc in particular has posed some basic questions around morality. Hugo Strange’s technology, even before it was corrupted by Joker, was questionable in its control of the human mind. These types of questions definitely formed the basis of episodes from Batman: The Animated Series. But something about the approach of The Adventures Continue has diminished the magic of the animated series.
That being said, there’s a still a lot to enjoy here. The high stakes action makes for a great, page-turning issue particularly when all the various parties end up in the same location mano a mano.
The highlight of Batman: The Adventures Continue remains Ty Templeton’s brilliant artwork. Brining the aesthetic of the animated series to the page lovingly and painstakingly. This issue offers up plenty of opportunities to impress with its huge ensemble cast. I’m particularly enjoying Templeton’s interpretation of Task Force X as it’s great to see the BTAS-era Harley breaking out of Joker’s shadow.
The fact much of this issue is taken up with fight sequences also gives plenty of excuses to have fun with the artwork. Whilst I feel like I’m coming down hard on the storytelling, there’s no mistaking that the artwork has been wonderfully dynamic and engaging to the reader.
Verdict
It’s a mixed-bag of results at the end of Batman: The Adventures Continue‘s latest arc. Whilst the storytelling is coming together it still lacks some of the punch of Batman: The Animated Series. But on the other side of the coin it’s hard not to love Ty Templeton’s excellent rendering of this world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
