Batman: The Adventures Continue #11 - DC Comics

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE No. 11, August 2020

Firmly focused upon Jason Todd’s downward spiral into becoming one of Gotham City’s most notorious anti-heroes, this particular instalment of Alan Burnett and Paul Dini’s “Red Son Rising” storyline must surely have delighted many fans of the 1992 "Batman: The Animated Series” with its clever weaving of the rogue Robin into the television programme’s mythos and its numerous characterful cameos. Indeed, considering that the digital first comic book contains appearances from the likes of Leslie Thompkins, the Clock King, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, The Penguin and Commissioner James Gordon, it is quite remarkable that it still seemingly finds plenty of time to shine a spot-light upon both Harley Quinn and the Joker, as well as the Dark Knight himself.

Of course, the true highlight of this publication is following Alfred Pennyworth’s narration to a wide-eyed Tim Drake as to just how Todd went “from Boy Wonder to Boy Barbarian” by ruthlessly beating up any low-life criminals unlucky enough to cross his path during a robbery. But it is still nice to see that Park Row’s dedicated doctor continues to tend to the injured over at the Gotham Clinic, and how informants such as Sid the Squid repeatedly react when dangled upside down over the metropolis’ skyline by the Caped Crusader; “Waaah! Okay! Okay! I’ll tell ya!”

What it particularly noticeable about Issue Eleven of “Batman: The Adventures Continue” however, is just how much the sheer savagery of Jason’s violence is on show for all to see. The always aggressive adolescent appears to have little mercy for the street-level goons he encounters and even less for “Batman’s usual rogues”, with both the heavily-mutated Morgan and Temple Fugate getting riddled with numerous bullets and stabbed through the chest with a giant clock arm respectively.

Such wanton carnage is only the start though, once Harleen Quinzel’s deranged alter-ego and the Clown Prince of Crime arrive on the scene. Supposedly riled by her lover’s lack of attention, “the Joker's on-and-off girlfriend” is dynamically-drawn by Ty Templeton demolishing half a dozen fairground stalls and toy stores with all manner of bulldozers and hydraulic cranes. Yet this is just a taster for the comic’s cliff-hanger of a conclusion as “Punkin-Pie” faces off against an all-too cocky Robin, and gets savagely smacked to the ground by a stinging back-handed swipe.

Writers: Alan Burnett & Paul Dini, Penciler: Ty Templeton, and Colorist: Monica Kubina