Adam West’s Batman is ed fondly for its nostalgic camp and sublime absurdity, earning it a lasting place in the legacy of the Dark Knight. But while fans still celebrate this iconic take, DC has made it hilariously clear that modern-day Robin, Damian Wayne, is incapable of taking this Dark Knight seriously, while Bruce Wayne is less than impressed.

DC has recently unveiled a series of stunning variant covers by acclaimed artist Bruno Redondo, who is best known for his work on Injustice: Gods Among Us and Nightwing. His work on the latter even earned him the Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist in 2023. As part of a celebration of Redondo’s outstanding contributions over the years, DC will release no fewer than eight new covers by the artist across various ongoing titles in August 2025, as part of their Artist Spotlight promotion.

While all of the teased covers are visually striking, one variant stands out in particular. Redondo’s cover for Tom Taylor’s Detective Comics #1100 playfully pays homage to one of the Dark Knight’s most delightfully bizarre eras, the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West.

Batman & Robin React to the Wild World of Adam West in Hilarious New DC Cover

Redondo’s Detective Comics #1100 Variant Gives Damian Wayne a Front-Row Seat to the Campiest Batman Era

Redondo’s variant cover for Detective Comics #1100 delivers a hilarious crossover of Batman media, as modern-day comics meet the campy yet delightful television of the 1960s. The cover features the current comic versions of Batman, Bruce Wayne, and Robin, Damian Wayne, in their signature costumes. Instead of fighting crime, their focus is on an old-school box television set, complete with antennae. While the screen itself remains hidden, the sticker on the back of the TV and Damian’s commentary give fans all the clues they need.

Damian is shown clutching his stomach and throwing his head back in laughter as he says, “Oh, father, this show is nuts!” If this reaction isn’t enough to tip fans off, the sticker on the back of the television displays the iconic logo from Adam West’s 1960s Batman show. Redondo, known for his attention to detail, fills the background with classic visual sound effects like “Pow!” “Bam!” and “Zlonk!” These action exclamations are synonymous with the series’ aesthetic, making the entire image a fun and clever homage to the beloved TV show.

Damian’s laughter shows he finds the show hilarious but also reveals his complete lack of respect for this portrayal of the Dark Knight. To the Boy Wonder, the campy Batman seems utterly ridiculous. While Damian’s amusement is funny on its own, the humor deepens with Bruce’s stoic reaction. Standing beside his son, Bruce looks less than unimpressed and says, “Enough,” a clear demand for Damian to stop finding amusement in this embarrassing portrayal of his Dark Knight persona. This is a 10-out-of-10 cover that will no doubt leave fans applauding Redondo for this brilliantly hilarious and nostalgic tribute.

Bruno Redondo’s Cover Hints Adam West’s Batman Exists in Today’s DC Universe

Why the Campy '60s Batman Is a Solid Addition to Modern Continuity

What makes Redondo’s cover especially amusing is that Bruce and Damian are shown in their current mainstream continuity costumes and character designs, suggesting that Adam West’s Batman exists within the present DC Universe canon. This subtle nod, that the wild, campy 60s show is acknowledged by the Dark Knight himself and his Robins, adds an extra layer of humor. The only thing that could make this even better would be if DC officially recognized West’s Batman within its narratives.

Though Batman was well established before the 1960s, from the perspective of modern-day comics’ current narrative timeline, the hero wouldn’t have existed yet when the show originally aired. Despite this, DC is no stranger to bending timelines. They could easily reframe the 1960s Batman show as a more recent, yet still campy and charming, part of the universe’s history. Some may argue there is no real need to include the show in Batman’s storyline, and they would be correct. However, its inclusion would add much-needed levity and humor to Batman and Robin’s narratives, which alone makes it a worthwhile addition.

DETECTIVE COMICS #1100 is available in August from DC Comics!

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  Batman

  One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.

• Robin