The IDW/DC Comics collaboration comes to a close this week with its sixth issue. Batman/TMNT Adventures is the crossover between Batman: The Animated Series from the 90s and Nickelodeon’s current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. The series wraps up with an extra epilogue issue.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
There’s a bit of a time jump from last issue to the epilogue. This becomes apparent with the animation style being more in line with the The New Batman Adventures. Also the fact that Tim Drake is now Robin. There’s a hilarious introduction scene when the turtles realize they’re dealing with a different Robin.
This series, written by Michael K. Manning, was a perfect crossover between the two very different cartoon worlds. Combining 90s nostalgia with the lighthearted modern TMNT fit together in a much different way than the Batman/TMNT crossover from last year.
Manning delivers a Saturday morning cartoon celebration of both properties. Every interaction between the two factions, and their villains, allows readers to escape the darkness and just have fun.
Bruce and Tim attending a Gray Ghost film was a nice touch. Catching Tim up on the last adventure, as well as Dick returning as Nightwing, were highlights as well.
The art team (Jon Sommariva, Sean Parsons, and Matt Herms) solidifies a smooth transition from old to new for the Bat-Family characters. There’s also plenty of colorful and explosive action as our heroes fend off an invasion by the Kraang. Actions and expressions translate well from cartoon to comic book. Both styles are represented and melded together flawlessly.
The mission of this book was carried out successfully. Batman/TMNT Adventures is a joyous nostalgia overdose that’ll remind longtime fans why they’ve loved both cartoons for so long. Older readers may even check out the current TMNT show on Nickelodeon after seeing how much fun they were along side the Batman they grew up with.
After being transported back to the glory days of Saturday morning cartoons for six issues, it’s a shame this won’t be an ongoing title. After two solid and very different crossovers between the two universes, hopefully this won’t be the last of it’s kind. This book is well worth your time.
Did you read this series? Did you enjoy this better than the last Batman/TMNT crossover? Let us know in the comments below!
