I am a simple woman who enjoys found family dynamics. Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, DC’s popular digital comic series which has found a home on Webtoon, has this in spades. Taking all of Bruce’s children and plopping them into a world where every single member of the family is currently alive and actively battling the forces of evil in Gotham, the series focuses mainly on slice of life snapshots of life in and around Wayne Manor. The strip definitely doesn’t ignore interpersonal conflicts and how hard balancing a career with one’s personal life is, but mainly it explores what it feels like to live in a large, extended family where everyone is busy, sometimes everyone is angry, but everyone cares.
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures
StarBite (art), CRC Payne (writing), Kielamel Sibal (lettering), Lan Ma (production designer)
Webtoon, 2021-Ongoing
Sometimes that means an all-out battle for the last cookie in the house. Sometimes it means Bruce has to figure out how to make it up to Cass when he misses her ballet recital with the help of the ever-wise Alfred. Sometimes Jason has to provide counsel to Dick when Tim gets upset because he’s skipped out on a one-on-one day out because Damian needs help with a school project. And sometimes the entire Batfam gets grossed out because Bruce forgot to switch off his comm device before flirting with Catwoman.
That balance between happiness and sadness, fights and displays of devotion, is what makes Wayne Family Adventures so good. It’s the sort of comic that can first give us a thoughtful encounter between Damian and his mother, Talia Al Ghul, in which she expresses concern that she’s made the right choice in leaving him with Bruce, where mother and son come to a sort of understanding, then follow it up with an outing in which Tim, Damian, Dick and Jason argue over who gets to ride shotgun in the Batmobile. The comic, in a touching two-installment arc, has explored what it’s like for Jason to deal with his Joker-related PTSD and how hard Stephanie, Barbara and Cass have to battle their inner doubts and demons.
The comic is just plain wonderful at reflecting the ups-and-downs of life while filling in missing moments and solving conflicts in a relatable way. And there’s definitely some dashing heroics, such as Duke and Stephanie speeding off to provide Bruce with backup even though Steph has one arm in a sling and it’s Duke’s first time behind the wheel of the Batmobile. Even better, Barbara Gordon is not magicked up out of her wheelchair thanks to technology — the comic even takes the time to depict the existence of mobility aids in her apartment. Barbara continues to be a vibrant part of the team and an important one as well, with recent editions of the comic addressing the high amount of pressure she lives with on a daily basis.
The writing is incredibly strong, and CRC Payne is so good at capturing the humanity and the wit of this version of Gotham. Starbite, Maria Li, and Lan Ma team up to illustrate a universe that’s bright-eyed and accessibly cartoony, while retaining good on-model recognition. The comic’s layout is beautiful, with visually brilliant letters by Kielamel Sibal, who knows how to add to the story and punch it up. And a Adrienne noted, characters like Damian, Talia, Duke, and Cass aren’t whitewashed out of existence thanks to Starbrite’s coloring work.
It’s hard for me to pick a standout arc; the strip really is that good. But the two-part epic Strong Enough is a great exploration of Jason’s PTSD, with lovely artwork. All Seeing, which takes a look at life through Cass’ perspective and her relationship with Stephanie and Barbara, stands out and has some amazingly eye-catching artwork. For a simple, serotonin-inducing shot of joy, please enjoy S.O.S., where no one in the Batfamily or the Justice League knows how to tie a tie.
Readers won’t find a better Batman comic on the market as of press time – and it’s completely free, unless you want to read ahead of schedule. All hail Wayne Family Adventures. Long may it run.
