Fans of the Batman: The Animated Series cartoon will fall head first for this new hardcover.

BATMAN: MAD LOVE AND OTHER STORIES
Publisher: DC
Writers: Paul Dini, Bruce Timm and Glen Murakami
Artists: Bruce Timm, Mike Parobeck, Matt Wagner, Dan DeCarlo, Klaus Janson and Glen Murakami
Cover: Bruce Timm

Summary: Tales by two of the creators behind the acclaimed Batman Animated TV series are collected for the first time in hardcover!

The centerpiece of this fantastic collection is the Eisner Award-winning BATMAN: MAD LOVE, the surprisingly dark origin of Harley Quinn, co-starring The Joker and Poison Ivy as well as Batman. Also included are tales by Dini, Timm and others that feature the Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Mr. Freeze, Batgirl and more, from BATMAN ADVENUTURES ANNUAL #1-2 and stories from the BATMAN ADVENTURES HOLIDAY SPECIAL, ADVENTURES IN THE DC UNIVERSE #3 and BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #1!

Review: As an adoring fan of Dini and Timm’s work, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the shiny new collection housing a flavorful medley of light-hearted stories kin to the 90s Batman cartoon. Flipping open the book, familiar quotes and images snagged my attention and welcomed a smile to my lips—this was going to be a walk down memory lane. To my delight, the fantastic storytelling was kept intact in comic form, and I even discovered some fun new tales.

“Mad Love” composes the real meat of the trade. I couldn’t help but replay the classic B:TAS episode in my mind as I browsed the colored pages; although the memorable Harley Quinn origin story/smiling piranha gag initially debuted in comic book form and translates nearly word-for-word to the screen, the cartoon version truly brings to life the Dini and Timm magic. Not to say that the original form doesn’t impress down to the last panel, but I prefer the television episode in all its voice acting and animated glory. After all, nothing quite nails the creepiness of Batman laughing like hearing Kevin Conroy.

The stories that follow are shorter but entertaining and feature visuals by various artists, including Bruce Timm. “Going Straight” ties together multiple mini villain stories, focusing on the Ventriloquist (”Puppet Show”), Harley Quinn (”24 Hours”), the Scarecrow (”Study Hall”), and Roxy Rocket and Catwoman. John Byrne provides the pencil work for “Laughter After Midnight,” which follows the Joker’s spree around Gotham after being thrown out of a police blimp by Batman. “Cruise to Nightmare” shows Poison Ivy riding in on a seaweed-stuffed sea serpent (say that three times fast) in a plan to steal the money from a charity cruise event.

Then comes Batgirl’s Christmas-themed smackdown against Clayface in “Jolly Ol’ St. Nicholas,” with the winning blow thrown by St. Nick. Etrigan and Ra’s and Talia al Ghul take center stage in “Demons,” and the trade finishes off with the black-and-white, Harvey Dent/Two-Face “Two of a Kind” story by Bruce Timm.

A large portion of the collected works in MAD LOVE AND OTHER STORIES have been brought to life in the 90s cartoon, but even though the entire hardcover blooms with that old school feel, the book allows for something the show couldn’t really explore. Numerous artists lend their talent here, and the variation further solidifies the collection. The stories might not all stand tall on their own, but together they’re worth the cover price—not to mention they’re sure to delight fans of Batman: The Animated Series. Plus, beneath the jacket lies one of the coolest bindings, like, ever.

The trade hits stands tomorrow, May 19.

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