The Batman Adventures #5

Robin takes center stage in this 1993 installment of The Batman Adventures, trapped in the grip of the menacing Scarecrow amid a chaotic tangle of street signs bearing scrambled, nonsensical lettering — a vivid visual hint at fear-induced disorientation. The animated-series style really shines here, with cover pencils by Mike Parobeck and inks by Rick Burchett giving the scene a clean, expressive energy that suits the tone perfectly. If the Scarecrow is already looming this large over Robin on the cover of "Riot Act II," the story inside — from writers Kelley Puckett and Martin Pasko with art by Brad Rader — promises plenty of psychological tension to go around.