I really, *really* loved Batman Beyond when it first debuted. So did DC, because they’ve tried multiple times to make a going comic that captures the spirit of the original show and I think Neo Year is the best job they’ve done since Beyond 2.0.

Terry’s voice has the same biting sarcasm he had in the show, but with a fun noir twist that I really like. Terry starts journaling monologues to help process Bruce’s death and figure out his next move to save the city those monologues have a Frank Miller-esque quality them that feel nostalgic without devolving into unhinged ranting like crazy Uncle Frank is prone to do in his modern work.

I think the art team has a better grasp on what made Beyond visually appealing too. The original tv show featured a suit that was sleek, minimalist, and had a strong silhouette. When Terry dons a disguise or builds a new suit, his clothing isn’t bogged down a thousand extra lines or details that make him look busy like in the Rebirth era. I really hope the art team sticks around for this series, because this is exactly what I’m looking for from a Batman Beyond comic.

Now let’s talk about the antagonist, because this is gonna be what makes or breaks the book for people. The concept is sound, a rogue AI develops and hijacks all the access points Bruce installed in the city’s infrastructure at the start oh his crusade and throws everything it can to kill Batman. It’s a great commentary on how outdated city infrastructure can be and suits the cyberpunk setting. It’d be a great villain for one episode of the show, but it’s so powerful that it makes you wonder why it had so much trouble killing Terry, and when it finally is defeated at the end of the story, it went down so easily that I don’t think the author had a clear idea of how to kill the new antagonist.

Regardless, this is the most excited I’ve been for a Batman Beyond on-going in years and I can’t wait to see what comes next!