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Batman Adventures
The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years
Spanning the gap between the animated series The Batman and Robin Adventures and the current Batman: The Gotham Adventures, these stories detail many changes as Dick Grayson quits being Robin to take on the new heroic guise of Nightwing, young Tim Drake becomes the new Robin, and Batgirl becomes a frequent guest in the Batcave.
Collecting BATMAN ADEVENTURES: THE LOST YEARS #1-5.
Collecting BATMAN ADEVENTURES: THE LOST YEARS #1-5.
118 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
About the author
Hilary J. Bader
39 books4 followersHilary Bader was born in Brooklyn, and attended State University in Stony Brook with a major in Mathemathics. She also studied Mime in Paris and toured with Edmond Felix. She was a fan of Star Trek, and relocated to California to become a freelance script writer.
Primarily writing for Star Trek series, Bader rolled into DC productions when she wrote "Chi of Steel", and episode of Lois & Clark. She was asked aboard the writing staff for the DCAU, and contributed to their shows until her death.
Hilary Bader died in 2002 from metastasized breast cancer. She was married to Jay Broad.
Primarily writing for Star Trek series, Bader rolled into DC productions when she wrote "Chi of Steel", and episode of Lois & Clark. She was asked aboard the writing staff for the DCAU, and contributed to their shows until her death.
Hilary Bader died in 2002 from metastasized breast cancer. She was married to Jay Broad.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 18, 2014
Riiiiight
So here's the thing, nine times out of ten I hate origin stories especially when they are ridiculous and/or forced. There are a few origin stories that are essential for understanding a character like Superman or Captain American, these origin stories define the characters. However, for the most part I would argue that the origin story is irrelevant especially since the next writer to take over the character might throw out everything you know and start from scratch (see Wolverine, so many conflicting origins!) Often the origins are lame- Oliver Queen was just rich and bored, Batman was rich and depressed, Barry Allen walked past a cabinet of chemicals that were struck by lighting...
Listen, I don't care how they became giant turtles or why they were raised in a sewer by a giant rat, they just are and it is awesome, slap some green ooze on there and call it a story.
This book attempts to create a Nightwing origin and it is even more unnecessary than that stupid secret subway lab in Amazing Spider-man 2.
We don't need some convoluted origin involving South American tribes and flying monks. I don't need to see the items along the way that helped Dick come up with his new outfit. I understand not wanting to get into the whole Superman being the original Nightwing to fight crime in the tiny city of Kandor, because yes it is weird and has little to do with Dick taking on the moniker, but come on, this story is a derivative piece of crap. Everything leading up to Dick's year abroad with him being all emo was fine but listen, here is all you had to do, Dick outgrows being the boy wonder and decides to head out on his own, the end. But...but how do you explain the costume and name change? Um He thinks Nightwing has a good ring to it and has been doodling costume ideas for years, who hasn't.
Aside from the annoying, unneeded, and very boring origin story there are a number of other details that drag this story down. Dick is apparently in the middle of nowhere when he runs into a huge crime operation, who is running it? Two-face, really? What were the chances of that? Oh and of course the best way to show character development is by watching a rat tail slowly become a mullet. Yes, Nightwing is draw with an uncomfortably long hairstyle but surely we can be spared the in-between rat tail.
When the story stayed in Gotham with Babs and Batman it was great. We are introduced to Tim Drake and it is fun to see a new dynamic but then we are dragged back to Dick and the origin that will not end! Ugh, just so unnecessary. Not a must-read, even for those who love the Animated series.
Too recap...
Nightwing is great
This story is not.
So here's the thing, nine times out of ten I hate origin stories especially when they are ridiculous and/or forced. There are a few origin stories that are essential for understanding a character like Superman or Captain American, these origin stories define the characters. However, for the most part I would argue that the origin story is irrelevant especially since the next writer to take over the character might throw out everything you know and start from scratch (see Wolverine, so many conflicting origins!) Often the origins are lame- Oliver Queen was just rich and bored, Batman was rich and depressed, Barry Allen walked past a cabinet of chemicals that were struck by lighting...
Listen, I don't care how they became giant turtles or why they were raised in a sewer by a giant rat, they just are and it is awesome, slap some green ooze on there and call it a story.
This book attempts to create a Nightwing origin and it is even more unnecessary than that stupid secret subway lab in Amazing Spider-man 2.
We don't need some convoluted origin involving South American tribes and flying monks. I don't need to see the items along the way that helped Dick come up with his new outfit. I understand not wanting to get into the whole Superman being the original Nightwing to fight crime in the tiny city of Kandor, because yes it is weird and has little to do with Dick taking on the moniker, but come on, this story is a derivative piece of crap. Everything leading up to Dick's year abroad with him being all emo was fine but listen, here is all you had to do, Dick outgrows being the boy wonder and decides to head out on his own, the end. But...but how do you explain the costume and name change? Um He thinks Nightwing has a good ring to it and has been doodling costume ideas for years, who hasn't.
Aside from the annoying, unneeded, and very boring origin story there are a number of other details that drag this story down. Dick is apparently in the middle of nowhere when he runs into a huge crime operation, who is running it? Two-face, really? What were the chances of that? Oh and of course the best way to show character development is by watching a rat tail slowly become a mullet. Yes, Nightwing is draw with an uncomfortably long hairstyle but surely we can be spared the in-between rat tail.
When the story stayed in Gotham with Babs and Batman it was great. We are introduced to Tim Drake and it is fun to see a new dynamic but then we are dragged back to Dick and the origin that will not end! Ugh, just so unnecessary. Not a must-read, even for those who love the Animated series.
Too recap...
Nightwing is great
This story is not.
July 28, 2021
The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years is a five-issue limited series set in the DCAU. It explores the matriculation of Dick Grayson from Robin to Nightwing and the ascension of Tim Drake to Robin. The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years collects all five issues of the 1998 limited series.
The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years is a five-issue limited series that traces how Teen Wonder Robin became the mysterious avenger Nightwing. Increasingly discontented with his junior role, Dick Grayson acrimoniously departs Gotham City to travel the world seeking his own path, inevitably finding evil everywhere and eventually encountering a tribe of Brazilian Indians called the Invisibles who teach him their unique secrets of stealth and combat.
Meanwhile back in Gotham, Batman increasingly relies on Barbara Gordon as Batgirl to help him carry on the good fight, but their lives change forever when they meet a troubled kid named Tim Drake whose dad is caught up in a situation that only a hero can handle. Even with the kid eagerly taking on the vacant role of Robin against the hordes of criminals infesting the city, troubles mount in the beleaguered metropolis and the odds look bleak until a new vigilante named Nightwing joins the squad.
Hilary J. Bader has penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it was written rather well, but lost a point for unoriginality. Bader retells "Old Wounds" (The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years #1–2) and "Sins of the Father" (The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years #4–5) with some new insights not shown in the episodes and nicely bridges Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, but eighty percent of the story has already been told.
Bo Hampton penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Hampton's penciling is wonderful done and mimicked the animation of The New Batman Adventures rather well.
All in all, The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years is a nice bridge between Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, but doesn't tread on new grounds.
The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years is a five-issue limited series that traces how Teen Wonder Robin became the mysterious avenger Nightwing. Increasingly discontented with his junior role, Dick Grayson acrimoniously departs Gotham City to travel the world seeking his own path, inevitably finding evil everywhere and eventually encountering a tribe of Brazilian Indians called the Invisibles who teach him their unique secrets of stealth and combat.
Meanwhile back in Gotham, Batman increasingly relies on Barbara Gordon as Batgirl to help him carry on the good fight, but their lives change forever when they meet a troubled kid named Tim Drake whose dad is caught up in a situation that only a hero can handle. Even with the kid eagerly taking on the vacant role of Robin against the hordes of criminals infesting the city, troubles mount in the beleaguered metropolis and the odds look bleak until a new vigilante named Nightwing joins the squad.
Hilary J. Bader has penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it was written rather well, but lost a point for unoriginality. Bader retells "Old Wounds" (The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years #1–2) and "Sins of the Father" (The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years #4–5) with some new insights not shown in the episodes and nicely bridges Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, but eighty percent of the story has already been told.
Bo Hampton penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, Hampton's penciling is wonderful done and mimicked the animation of The New Batman Adventures rather well.
All in all, The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years is a nice bridge between Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, but doesn't tread on new grounds.
December 17, 2012
What happened between the end of Batman and Robin Adventures and the new Batman Adventures television series as well as the Gotham Knight Adventures comic book series? This book has the answer.
Dick Grayson is approaching college graduation and increasingly, he's locking horns with Batman. He's questioning Batman's judgment and decision making processes. Meanwhile, Batman is feeling more frustrated and less confident in Robin's ability to be there. This leads to the eventual break up of the team as Dick Grayson sets out to find his way in the world.
The story can be, at first, hard to wrap your mind around. One simply doesn't question Batman's judgment. Yet, there's a bigger relational context going on here. Batman is still treating Dick Grayson the way he did at the beginning of their partnership when Grayson was a young teenager. Now, he's a man, a man who is an experienced crimefighter thanks to his years with Batman and Batman can't cope with it.
He's uncertain of Robin and takes Batgirl on as a partner because Batgirl respects him and his decisions. (As an aside the book's treatment of the Batman-Batgirl relationship v. the TV show's which seemed to suggest a romantic interest that began while she was dating Dick.)
At the same time, Dick has to find his own way in the world. In Book 2, he lays down the Robin colors and says that the Robin colors are for a boy, not a man. So, he sets off to find himself leaving Bruce Wayne behind without even saying goodbye and using his Grayson trust fund money to finance the trip.
The journey abroad is only somewhat interesting. Dick is shown as a quick learner who travels from one corner of the globe to the other seeking to learn new skills and quickly exhausting the knowledge of one teacher after another who warn him that he needs to learn about himself. The stories abroad are interesting but not amazing.
Issue 4 has a bit of a break as Batman gets a new Robin in Tim Drake who Batman rescues and takes to the Batcave. Drake quickly uncovers Batman's identity and then puts the old Robin suit on to avenge his father's death. The story seemed odd as the other four books in the collection focused on Grayson, but this was necessary.
The book rises to a higher level because of the pathos of the story. This isn't Marvel where characters are very vocal about their emotions. But there are subtle touches. In Book 3, Dick realizes it's been a year since he left and wonders if he's missed. The comic cuts to Bruce Wayne sitting by the fire and when Alfred reminds him it's a been a year, Wayne feigns ignorance, all while staring at a picture of Grayson. He has a decidedly negative reaction when first seeing Drake in the Robin costume.
Grayson also has these reactions. When he finally returns, Alfred interrupts with word that the Batman signal has been flashed. Grayson responds, "That's all right Alfred. Business always comes first, doesn't it?" Wayne answers yes and they're off. Though in that moment is the great tragedy and sadness of Grayson. He wanted and needed more than work, more than a partner in crimefighting. He needed a deeper father-son relationship that Wayne could never provide.
Dick Grayson is approaching college graduation and increasingly, he's locking horns with Batman. He's questioning Batman's judgment and decision making processes. Meanwhile, Batman is feeling more frustrated and less confident in Robin's ability to be there. This leads to the eventual break up of the team as Dick Grayson sets out to find his way in the world.
The story can be, at first, hard to wrap your mind around. One simply doesn't question Batman's judgment. Yet, there's a bigger relational context going on here. Batman is still treating Dick Grayson the way he did at the beginning of their partnership when Grayson was a young teenager. Now, he's a man, a man who is an experienced crimefighter thanks to his years with Batman and Batman can't cope with it.
He's uncertain of Robin and takes Batgirl on as a partner because Batgirl respects him and his decisions. (As an aside the book's treatment of the Batman-Batgirl relationship v. the TV show's which seemed to suggest a romantic interest that began while she was dating Dick.)
At the same time, Dick has to find his own way in the world. In Book 2, he lays down the Robin colors and says that the Robin colors are for a boy, not a man. So, he sets off to find himself leaving Bruce Wayne behind without even saying goodbye and using his Grayson trust fund money to finance the trip.
The journey abroad is only somewhat interesting. Dick is shown as a quick learner who travels from one corner of the globe to the other seeking to learn new skills and quickly exhausting the knowledge of one teacher after another who warn him that he needs to learn about himself. The stories abroad are interesting but not amazing.
Issue 4 has a bit of a break as Batman gets a new Robin in Tim Drake who Batman rescues and takes to the Batcave. Drake quickly uncovers Batman's identity and then puts the old Robin suit on to avenge his father's death. The story seemed odd as the other four books in the collection focused on Grayson, but this was necessary.
The book rises to a higher level because of the pathos of the story. This isn't Marvel where characters are very vocal about their emotions. But there are subtle touches. In Book 3, Dick realizes it's been a year since he left and wonders if he's missed. The comic cuts to Bruce Wayne sitting by the fire and when Alfred reminds him it's a been a year, Wayne feigns ignorance, all while staring at a picture of Grayson. He has a decidedly negative reaction when first seeing Drake in the Robin costume.
Grayson also has these reactions. When he finally returns, Alfred interrupts with word that the Batman signal has been flashed. Grayson responds, "That's all right Alfred. Business always comes first, doesn't it?" Wayne answers yes and they're off. Though in that moment is the great tragedy and sadness of Grayson. He wanted and needed more than work, more than a partner in crimefighting. He needed a deeper father-son relationship that Wayne could never provide.
October 28, 2025
This is a fun collection of issues that tell mainly 3 branches of stories.
1- Dick leaves Batman and Gotham and embarks into a journey. In this journey he gets to train a become a better version of himself (physical and mentally). While this goes on we see the effect of his departure in Bruce, who is clearly sad about it. Dick then becomes Nightwing as expected.
2- Tim Drake is introduced as a kid and follows Batman. Batman tries to push him away at first but then helps him train and he becomes the new Robin.
3- Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) starts working with Batman after Dick's departure and gets access to the Batcave and of course Bruce.
This book is fun, family friendly and clearly builds the Bat family inside the Animated Series Universe. Good stuff!
1- Dick leaves Batman and Gotham and embarks into a journey. In this journey he gets to train a become a better version of himself (physical and mentally). While this goes on we see the effect of his departure in Bruce, who is clearly sad about it. Dick then becomes Nightwing as expected.
2- Tim Drake is introduced as a kid and follows Batman. Batman tries to push him away at first but then helps him train and he becomes the new Robin.
3- Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) starts working with Batman after Dick's departure and gets access to the Batcave and of course Bruce.
This book is fun, family friendly and clearly builds the Bat family inside the Animated Series Universe. Good stuff!
November 29, 2022
I loved getting Dick's story!!!!
November 30, 2022
Provides context for Bruce and Dick's falling out, but it just all feels forced. The Batman of The Animated Series feels very different from the later stuff, and I don't really like it.
January 19, 2025
This wasn’t bad, but it also didn’t feel at all inventive.
August 19, 2012
Suitable for 8 -11 year olds.
This book covers the gap inbetween Batman series. It explains a lot, from Dick becoming Nightwing to Tim becoming Robin. And how Barbara as Batgirl was accepted. A good, light read which is sometimes a lot of fun.
This book covers the gap inbetween Batman series. It explains a lot, from Dick becoming Nightwing to Tim becoming Robin. And how Barbara as Batgirl was accepted. A good, light read which is sometimes a lot of fun.
March 3, 2011
cute stories
December 1, 2012
My favorite Batman Era. Batgirl steps up, Robin leaves to "find himself" and Tim Drake picks up the former Robin's mantle. Absolutely loved this novel.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews