Batman: Wayne Family Adventures is the best thing to come out of DC. Bold statement, I know. But it’s true. Out of everything that DC has ever done this Webtoon by CRC Payne and illustrated by Starbite feels like the healing balm that we’ve all needed since we started on this wild journey with Batman. Because as much as I love watching him go on adventures and save the day while sassing the Justice League, there is something so satisfying about watching Bruce Wayne just be a dad to the next generation of superheroes without death and the fate of Gotham on the line. In fact, the only thing on the line in Wayne Family Adventures is how many tissues you’re going to need for the family feels and who will get the last laugh during the paintball game between the Batfamily.
Still need some convincing? Here are five reasons why you should be reading Batman: Wayne Family Adventures!
1. Bruce is the best dad
🎶Bruce is a single dad who works too hard, who loves his kids, and never stops. With gentle hands and the heart of a tiger, he’s a survivor!🎶 Yes, that was the introduction to Reba but for Bruce. And technically he isn’t a single dad because he has Alfred there to be his right hand. But you get what I’m saying. Bruce has spent decades being this brooding father figure. And in Wayne Family Adventures he gets an opportunity to be loving, understanding, a goofball, and a tired dad who loves his kids. And guess what? His kids love him just as much. That’s why he has a mug that says “World’s Okayest Father.” Personally, it’s the best version of this character across every comic book, cartoon, or movie. I said, what I said.
2. The hijinks are top tier
As much as the Batfamily likes saving the day, they also like to have fun. And you can tell that the author knows how to hit on that aspect over and over in this Webtoon. Without giving too much away, you have hijinks wear a paintball fight gets out of control. There’s also that time when a snowball fight goes from planned chaos to just chaos. And where kidnappings get out of control. All of it is arranged in this really delicate manner where it fits the characters, this comic, and totally feeds our need to have domestic fluff and family feels. There’s even an incident with Alfred’s cookies that gets a little wild when there’s one left. All of them hilarious and all of them with perfect comedic timing.
3. It introduces more of the Batfamily
Before Wayne Family Adventures I had no idea who Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, or Stephanie Brown were. I’ve watched Batman cartoons since I was a kid and I’ve read a handful of comics, but I never knew them. Now I’m glad I do. These new additions to the Batfamily speak of the ever-expanding world of DC that includes people of color and women. And in a way, it gives me something like Marvel’s Spider-Man does where anyone can be Spider-Man under that mask. So being a part of the Batfamily, it’s not about a specific skin color or gender. Being part of the Batfamily is a symbol of heroes. And anyone can be a hero worthy of taking up the Bat mantle.
4. The way it deals with trauma
As much as I love the family feels and hijinks of this version of Batman, we can’t deny the fact that every single one of these characters has gone through significant trauma. One character in particular, Jason Todd aka Red Hood, who was brutally beat by Joker. And there comes a moment in Wayne Family Adventures where his PTSD gets triggered. Without losing a sense of what this story is about, his trauma is acknowledged and he is helped through his pain, ultimately making this one of the most realistic portrayals of how pain stays with you long after the event and that there is no timeline for healing. Plus you get top-tier Bruce being there every step of the way. Seriously, bring your tissues.
5. It’s unapologetically queer
The queer aspects of Wayne Family Adventures don’t feel like this Webtoon is checking off a box. Instead, it just feels like a part of their lives just as much as fighting crime is. They save the day and some of them just so happened to be queer. And it’s not that queer drama where it’s just angst angst angst. The queer drama is about stuff like holding hands. It’s cute fluff and something that we so desperately need and that Hollywood really isn’t giving us despite the fact that we’re like everyone else. And that’s this Webtoon’s strength in due to the author. They treat the queer aspects of this story with the respect they deserve and that we deserve as readers. Plus Harlivy! *swoon*
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Volume 1 and Volume 2 are available for purchase now. Volume 3 is set to be released on March 5, 2024.
