Batman '66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel Chapter #2 Review

Nine Lives

Written by: Ian Edginton
Art by: Matthew Dow Smith, Jordie Bellaire and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 22, 2016

I don't think I'm the only one who scratched his head is disbelief when this book was announced, but after reading the first issue, I was looking forward to this one.  Of course, I am one of the few that this book is targeted at being a fan of both the Batman '66 show as well as the Avengers.  So, did this chapter continue the fun of the last one and is it good enough for me to recommend it to just about any comic fan?  Let's find out...


The chapter opens with Commissioner Gordon introducing Steed and Peel to the Dynamic Duo and no, it's not Alfred dressed as Batman anymore.  I really wish it was, but sadly it is 100 % Adam West Batman.  The two teams of crime fighters exchange pleasantries and Steed makes mention of the British Batmobile and Emma Peel flirts a bit with Robin.  Okay, that's where I lost it...I had such a crush on Mrs. Peel as a kid and seeing her make the moves on the Boy Wonder made my mind wander to places it probably shouldn't have.  She just better remember that her husband is just missing and (spoiler alert) will return eventually.  Still, she really seems interested in Robin... I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse me for a moment.

Okay, I'm back and the chapter continues with the reader finding out that the White Star Diamond was only a replica being used to draw out the big bads.  The thing is, one of them is listening to every word here and now knows everything.  Way to go Steed! I thought that hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.  Quiet, Steed, Quiet!!!

After a funny reason for this tie-in (Gordon's British Cousin), they decide to question Catwoman about the who and what of the attempted burglary, but the bad guys (or gal) are still listening and decide it's time to act.  It's Cybernaut activation time and that means a whole lot of bad news for Catwoman.

The issue ends with Catwoman fighting for her life against some of the Avenger's most popular villains and I'm not sure if Batman will be able to stop them.  Who am I kidding, of course he will be able to stop them, but until then, I will just be thinking about a blindfolded Emma Peel with Robin in the Batcave.  Hubba hubba!

This chapter is pretty much Batman and Robin being introduced to the Avengers.  Because of that, it was not as good as the first chapter and even seemed to drag a bit.  I understand it had to be done and there were a couple of in-jokes for fans, but it still was just setup.  I am looking forward to seeing what happens next, but a big part of that is not getting much here.

Matthew Dow Smith's art was as good as the first and I really like his work on everything Avengers, especially his Cybernauts.  Now, if he could just keep Peel in her normal leather catsuit, we'd really have a winner here.

Bits and Pieces:

After the first chapter of this miniseries, I was fully prepared to tell everyone to jump on the trolley, but this issue is a bit of a step backwards.  It's not necessarily bad, but not enough happens to get me excited...except maybe Peel flirting with Robin.  That had me VERY excited.  The issue ends with some Cybernaut action that has me excited for the next chapter, but until then, I can only recommend this chapter to those Avengers/Batman '66 fanatics out there.  I won't joke about there only be six of us out there.  Instead, here is my score...

6.5/10