Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Two #6 - DC Comics

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON TWO No. 6, January 2022

Jam-packed with as many twists and turns as you’ll find on-board a funfair’s rollercoaster ride, this second instalment to Alan Burnett and Paul Dini’s “Mayor Mayhem” storyline probably landed rather well with fans of the “Batman: The Animated Series”. For whilst the central plot of the twenty-page periodical predominantly focuses upon former Mayor Mayfield’s inexplicably successful ‘charm campaign’ for re-election, the “visionary team” behind the nineties cartoon television programme also throw in an intriguing mix of familiar rogues and freshly-created villains to help liven the party up.

Indeed, arguably one of this comic’s biggest successes is its narrative’s ability to initially ‘hook the reader’ with the mystery behind just how the enigmatic Emerson is able to surprisingly hypnotise all those around him in order to fulfil his shady political ambitions, and the subsequent revelation that the corrupt councilman is actually doing it by utilising the special powers of certain nefarious Arkham Asylum inmates; “Something funny is going on. Like how my enthusiasm for Mayfield fades whenever he’s not nearby. Judging by the way Miss Hanbury reacted, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with this off-limits Strategy Room.”  

Furthermore, the book’s collaborative writing duo also pen some truly exhilarating fight scenes for the Dark Knight to become embroiled in, most notably his tussle with a seemingly all-power Errol Flynn lookalike referred to solely as “the actor”. This rooftop bout of fisticuffs is remarkably well-played, with Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego momentarily appearing completely outclassed as his well-dressed opponent attempts to brain the Caped Crusader with his own Bat-signal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the super-tough assailant is eventually outmanoeuvred and forced to flee when a nearby water hydrant is overturned. However, by then the goon has already rather cleverly been shown to unwittingly leave the audience with a tantalising hint as to his true identity.

Helping to add plenty of “Thuuf”, “Whack” and “Bammm” to this publication are the layouts of artist Rick Burchett and colorist Monica Kubina. The pair do a tremendous job in illustrating such dynamic action sequences as Clayface’s sense-shattering ambush whilst the Dark Knight is driving the Batmobile. But debatably some of the line work used to sketch many of this comic’s more sedentary, dialogue-driven sections, most notably when a bare-chested Wayne is exercising in his gym, appear rather disappointingly minimalistic in nature.

The regular cover of "BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON TWO" #6 by Jorge Fornes