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Batman Adventures: Rogues Gallery and Shadows and Masks from DC Comics*
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With the big-budget, star-studded “Batman Begins” in cinemas this summer, I’ve had several friends ask which Batman books would be good for kids or siblings too young for all the widescreen plots and pyrotechnics. (And trust me, kids like Batman, but they don’t like having the bejeezus scared out of them by Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow. Hey, I could barely handle that.) So, here are my two top recommendations: Rogues Gallery and Shadows and Masks. Each book collects five issues of the all-ages Batman Adventures comic title, and true to the name, they offer excellent Dark Knight adventures. This is Batman as the world’s greatest detective: quick, clever, and always thinking ten steps ahead of the bad guys. He faces off against the Joker, Two-Face, the Riddler, and even the dastardly Ra’s al Ghul – and his sinister Society of Shadows – one of the big villains of “Batman Begins.” He’s given a helping hand by Catwoman and Nightwing and the loyal Alfred, the best butler a super hero could ask for. It’s fun stuff, mixing humor with clever crime-fighting hi-jinks. The stories move at a good clip, helped along by crisp, angular artwork. Batman looks a lot like he does in the popular “Justice League” cartoons or the long-running “Batman/Superman” cartoons from the ’90s. The atmosphere is exciting and dramatic without ever edging into the realm of too dark or intense. They’re aimed at kids in fourth grade and older, but you’ll get a kick out of reading them to even younger tots... or by yourself, after they’ve fallen asleep. Also handy, the books are digest-sized, like a paperback novel rather than a large newsstand magazine, making them perfect for kid-sized backpacks and small hands. Toss of couple of these Batman collections into the car and enjoy the hush that descends on the back seat during your family’s end-of-the-summer road trip. It will be like relaxing in your very own batcave. Recommended for all ages. Reading level, ages 9-12. Review by Mark Bradshaw, July 26, 2005
*Rogues Gallery is written by Ty Templeton, Dan Slott and Scott Peterson; with art by Rick Burchett, Templeton, Tim Levins, and Terry Beatty. Shadows and Masks is written by Dan Slott, Ty Templeton, Gabe Soria, and Vito Delsante; with art by Rick Burchett, Dean Haspiel, Templeton, and Terry Beatty.
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