JUSTIN’S PICK :: BATMAN ’66 #1: I was gonna start this write-up with a “Holy ______, Batman!” joke, but let’s buck convention and skip it. It seems nowadays, the majority of Batman’s fanbase exhibits a slavish devotion to the “dark”, “realistic”, “grim ‘n gritty” take on the character that Neal Adams initiated, and Frank Miller solidified. It’s often taken for granted just how outlandish and ridiculous the entire premise of Batman is (but I guess when you think critically, that’s any superhero). On the other end of the spectrum, you have the TV show’s garish, Warholian take on everyone’s favorite playboy vigilante, and that interpretation was also pushed to its grossest extremes, unquestionably. But visually, the 60s Batman show was a technicolor wonderland, taking full advantage of the potential of its nascent medium, just as the character had a couple decades earlier in the comics. Does it play on nostalgia? Certainly. Could it go horribly, terribly awry? Of course! Could it be a lot of fun? Well, that depends on your sensibilities. For me, a kid who grew up on reruns and dusty old comics, it’s likely to be right up my alley. The quality talents of Jeff Parker and Jonathan Case don’t hurt the book’s chances, and Mike Allred covers are always a bonus.