This and Geary Gravel’s other Batman: The Animated Series novelizations have been legendarily difficult to come across in the wild.
So when good ol Fitzy Man just so happened to stumble across this and a few others at one of his Chicago Con trips and asked if I saw any I wanted, I made a point to let him know not to pass this one up.
But after years of wanting, chasing, and drooling, now I have it in my bat fan hands.
So now the question is how does it stand up to such protracted interest?
Let’s cut the jibba jabba and find out together, gang.
Like a signal to the sky, this is your official ***SPOILER ALERT***
When a corrupt real estate developer, Roland Dagget, hires a firebug to blow up a prominent section of Gotham City, The Dark Knight must stop this nefarious plan and preserve a long held appointment with a figure from his childhood.
The following day, Robin realizes that the Circus is back in town and goes to visit his old friends.
Finding that the traveling show that was his childhood home may soon be under new ownership, Dick turns to Bruce for help.
Being back around the three rings brings up a lot of old memories for Dick, including the death of his parents and their killer, who got away.
But when the killer is rumored to be back in town, it puts the dynamic duo at odds.
Surprisingly, adapting three thematically tied classic episodes of Batman: The Animated series, Appointment In Crime Alley & the Robin’s Reckoning two-parter, this book seamlessly blends them into one cohesive and logical story.
This is a story of childhood traumas, guilt, and this duos reaction to both.
Much like the show it was based on, this isn’t just throwaway kid’s show fluff.
This is still, 30 odd years later, the best version of Batman and his universe we’ve ever gotten.
I could see every second of it crystal clear in my head as I made my way through it, hearing the legendary duo of Kevin Conroy & Loren Lester echoing in my head as I made my way through.
Dealing with a shit ton of parental death in such a short page count could have easily been a dour and dreary affair, but Gravel is still able to inject a sense of adventure and a good amount of detective work into it.
Batsy logically chases down leads and disarms scumbags in the way only he can, and his intimidating presence can come off so perfectly chilling.
Never once did this feel like it was trying too hard or making the events feel lighter, it’s all masterfully lain out and tonally spot on.
It’s never stopped being stunning to me the sheer depth and layers that Bruce Timm and Co wove into this series, and Geary manages to raise the bar by tying two arcs together so well that I wonder if actually watching the episodes will feel like something is missing going forward.
This is a rock solid Bat Book, gang, whether you know these eps by heart or not.
I really want to find, or hope Fitty stumbles, across the others so I can take a look at key moments from my childhood again with fresh eyes.
Special thanks to @ACFerrell1976 for her continued editorial assistance.
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And finally, given the state of the world, do what you can to leave it a little bit better than you found it.
As difficult as that may be currently, it can have an impact far greater than you know.
Until next time, stay safe out there, gang.
