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Batman Adventures (1992-1995)
Batman Adventures Annual #1
Batman Adventures Annual #1 "Joker & Harley Quinn Appearance"
Comic
Published January 1, 1994
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20 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dini
726 books717 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 19, 2019
A few of Batman's foes attempt to go straight, but because they live in a superhero comic universe where permanent change is impossible, they of course fail. Still, on their own some of the stories were good.
The Ventriloquist was always one of my favorites. Poor sod.
The Ventriloquist was always one of my favorites. Poor sod.
October 18, 2025
”Going Straight” suggests it is actually drawn by Bruce Timm! It starts with Batman being dragged through the air by Roxy Rocket. But while he does capture her, she is released less than two years later.
Batman muses that Scarface seemed like he’s finally ready to go straight.
Scarface is working at a puppet show on TV when it gets canceled. But when the hostess discovers Wesker’s past, she has a special dummy built for him. She has her boss set up to be killed (and therefore the show won’t be canceled) but Batman intervenes. Scarface is not a good partner.
”Sorry, toots. Dat’s show giz!”
”24 Hours” starts with Harley Quinn (looking strangely like Betty of Betty and Veronica) is being released from Arkham Asylum.
”Study Hall” starts with Scarecrow torturing a student who has had a sporadic appearance in his American Literature classes.
Scarecrow has decided that he is perhaps too old to keep engaging in a contest of wills with Batman so he forges himself a way into a sedate college as an English professor.
”On the whole, my pupils were a dreary lot, a depressingly typical assortment of brain-dead quarterbacks and preening co-eds.”
Of course, one of his students is a hot babe and he decides to torture the boy who sought to date her.
”For only an animal would have done what you did to her. ”
Finally, Scarecrow discovers that leeches are what this boy fears.
Batman captures him, having waited because he really believed Scarecrow only wanted to get back to teaching.
Then we’re at Catwoman impersonating Rocket Rocky and Roxy not liking that at all!
”The Laughter After Midnight” has John Byrne penciling! It doesn’t look like the Byrne I know but I’d be happy if it was!
Joker is thrown from a police blimp into the Gotham river by Batman. He heads home. Of course ultimately he laughs off the defeat.
He picks up some donuts on the way. Leaving one corpse behind.
Getting a newspaper leaves another one.
He calls Harley Quinn for a ride home but she’s currently in custody.
Batman muses that Scarface seemed like he’s finally ready to go straight.
Scarface is working at a puppet show on TV when it gets canceled. But when the hostess discovers Wesker’s past, she has a special dummy built for him. She has her boss set up to be killed (and therefore the show won’t be canceled) but Batman intervenes. Scarface is not a good partner.
”Sorry, toots. Dat’s show giz!”
Actually that was more moving than I expected, but Scarface stories can sneak up on you that way. Definitely 5 stars
”24 Hours” starts with Harley Quinn (looking strangely like Betty of Betty and Veronica) is being released from Arkham Asylum.
Ha! A fun four-page story of the vicious cycle Harley gets in. Silly but 4 stars
”Study Hall” starts with Scarecrow torturing a student who has had a sporadic appearance in his American Literature classes.
Scarecrow has decided that he is perhaps too old to keep engaging in a contest of wills with Batman so he forges himself a way into a sedate college as an English professor.
”On the whole, my pupils were a dreary lot, a depressingly typical assortment of brain-dead quarterbacks and preening co-eds.”
Of course, one of his students is a hot babe and he decides to torture the boy who sought to date her.
”For only an animal would have done what you did to her. ”
Finally, Scarecrow discovers that leeches are what this boy fears.
Batman captures him, having waited because he really believed Scarecrow only wanted to get back to teaching.
Then we’re at Catwoman impersonating Rocket Rocky and Roxy not liking that at all!
Okay, it goes from a sad Scarecrow redemption story to a Catwoman vs. Roxy story where nobody wins! Fun stuff. 5 stars for unpredictability.
”The Laughter After Midnight” has John Byrne penciling! It doesn’t look like the Byrne I know but I’d be happy if it was!
Joker is thrown from a police blimp into the Gotham river by Batman. He heads home. Of course ultimately he laughs off the defeat.
He picks up some donuts on the way. Leaving one corpse behind.
Getting a newspaper leaves another one.
He calls Harley Quinn for a ride home but she’s currently in custody.
Okay, this short story had Paul Dini written all over it! But it was still funny! 4 stars
Overall it’s a little unclear whether there are four or five stories in this annual, but either way they’re all amusing and fun to read. 5 stars
July 6, 2025
love the recurring stories where Scarecrow genuinely tries to help bullied school kids but with the wrong methods :( he’s trying his best! also I like that Batman does notice what Scarecrow is doing is his way of ‘redeeming’ himself but still doesn’t get that what ultimately gets him into Arkham again is that he has to abduct and fear gas his way through everything instead of just his worldview and that part where he says ‘at least he has the decency to wear his mask on the outside’. favorite character fr<3
Joker’s and Harley’s parts were meh, Harley is one of my favorite characters as well but her part felt way shorter than 24 hours to be honest, it just felt like she got released from the asylum and the joker’s car pulls up and she just goes back to robberies immediately. Could have at least added in some parts of her having some fun:( loved the little panels of her and ivy interacting though, I love some Harlivy references.
The ventriloquist story was great! I felt kinda bad for him and the frog:( they just wanted to lead a normal life and then got used and pushed back into one of crime:(
Joker’s and Harley’s parts were meh, Harley is one of my favorite characters as well but her part felt way shorter than 24 hours to be honest, it just felt like she got released from the asylum and the joker’s car pulls up and she just goes back to robberies immediately. Could have at least added in some parts of her having some fun:( loved the little panels of her and ivy interacting though, I love some Harlivy references.
The ventriloquist story was great! I felt kinda bad for him and the frog:( they just wanted to lead a normal life and then got used and pushed back into one of crime:(
June 8, 2024
This is a cute anthology comic with one over arching theme of the Batman villains trying to go good. Most of the stories are really good and show how evil people with good intentions still do evil things.
My only criticism of the comic really are the two shortest stories which are Harley's and Joker's stories. Joker's story was right at the end after what felt like the climax of the story and did not follow the theme at all. Harley's story on the other hand I wish was a couple pages longer to establish that she was planning on becoming good until the Joker convinced her not to.
My solution for both of these stories is to combine them and have the Joker convince Harley to help him by calling her like he does in the comic but instead of her being restrained by the police she instead has to choose between following though with the goal is set up earlier that day as shown by the original Harley story. The new combined story ending in the same way as Harley's story did.
My only criticism of the comic really are the two shortest stories which are Harley's and Joker's stories. Joker's story was right at the end after what felt like the climax of the story and did not follow the theme at all. Harley's story on the other hand I wish was a couple pages longer to establish that she was planning on becoming good until the Joker convinced her not to.
My solution for both of these stories is to combine them and have the Joker convince Harley to help him by calling her like he does in the comic but instead of her being restrained by the police she instead has to choose between following though with the goal is set up earlier that day as shown by the original Harley story. The new combined story ending in the same way as Harley's story did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
This is the best Scarecrow story by a landslide. Ventriloquist also has a nice tale in it but Crane's is sooooo good
September 19, 2022
Thought it was funny having Arnold Wesker working on a puppet show that's like Muppets and Sesame Street. Also interesting having Batman dwell on villains going back to their ways.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews