Exclusive DC preview: The Allreds end Batman ’66 by going back to the beginning

Since 2013, DC Comics’ Batman ’66 has provided a delightfully campy alternative to the more serious superheroics of the publisher’s main line, reviving the style and stories of the classic ’60s Batman TV series with contemporary comic talents. The series sadly comes to an end with this week’s Batman ’66 #73 digital comic, which will be reprinted in next month’s Batman ’66 #30 physical issue. But DC has hired a bold creative team to bid adieu to Batman, Robin, and rogues. Writer Lee Allred, artist Michael Allred, and colorist Laura Allred previously worked together on Marvel’s FF, and they’re a reliable team for telling superhero stories full of humor and fun. For the final issue of Batman ’66, the Allreds tell the tale behind the original TV series’ opening animated title sequence, detailing the events that lead to the fight that begins every episode:

As the cover artists for the entire Batman ’66 run, Michael Allred and Laura Allred have consistently started each issue with a captivating visual, making them the perfect creators for this story about the TV show’s beginning. Michael has a firm handle on the actors’ likenesses and the show’s awkward-but-charming action staging, and Laura’s vibrant color palette makes the line work pop on the page while accentuating the light retro tone. DC’s main Bat-titles have significantly brightened up in the time since Batman ’66’s debut, but the series will still be missed when it ends. Few superhero titles are willing to embrace silliness and joy like Batman ’66, and that bright, all-ages approach makes it a fine tribute to the classic TV series.