Well this is exciting.  The upcoming direct-to-video animated feature Batman and Harley Quinn is getting a digital-first prequel comic.

Thats all well and good, but the real surprise is in the creative talent tapped for the story: none other than Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett.  The duo are veterans of the animated-style Batman, having been heavily involved in the excellent Batman & Robin Adventures comic series.

Per DC:

It’s the team-up we’ve been dreaming of as the cute psychopath Harley Quinn joins the brooding Dark Knight for a brand-new Digital First comic series, HARLEY QUINN AND BATMAN. The series, from Batman: The Animated Series writer Ty Templeton and artist Rick Burchett, is an exciting new five-chapter prequel adventure to the Batman And Harley Quinn animated film coming out this August from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

“Batman and Harley, Joker and Ivy, Nightwing and Catwoman. Is there a better cast of characters anywhere in fiction?” says Templeton. “I spent some of the best years of my career working with these icons and could not be happier to be returning to Gotham City and their adventures. And to top it off, I get to work with the incomparable Rick Burchett again! Pinch me, I'm dreaming. We're getting the band back together!”

Harley Quinn is a legend in her own mind, so when she realizes the Joker thinks of her as a sidekick, she takes her revenge. Harley’s now faced with a hard decision to break out as her own super-villain, and she’s willing to go for it!

“I spent quite a few years working with these characters in this art style,” says Burchett. “It’s like visiting old friends. For me, though, the best part is having the opportunity to work with Ty Templeton again. It’s been way too long.”

The digital series will launch Monday, July 31, with the five chapters being released bi-weekly.

But wait! Where’s the sequel?

Beginning in October, seven sequel chapters will be released digitally each week, and to make it extra-crazy, we flipped the names! BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN is a collection of stories tied to the events of the film. These chapters will feature stories and art by Jeff Parker, Craig Rousseau, Luciano Vecchio, Amanda Deibert, David Hahn, Dario Brizuela, Matthew Dow Smith, Sandy Jarrell, Ty Templeton and more.

All 12 chapters will be collected in trade paperback in summer 2018. Digital chapters will be available for download beginning July 31 via the DC Comics App, readdcentertainment.com, iBooks, comiXology.com, Google Play, Kindle Store and Nook Store.

The series begins as a five part prequel on July 31st, and then becomes a seven part sequel in October.  That's kind of insane and I kind of like it.

In the meantime, sound off with your thoughts.  I think we can all agree more Animated Series-style Batman stories are welcome, at the very least.