Greater than 30 years after its debut, Batman: The Animated Collection stays the gold customary for comic-book cartoon sequence — not only for Batman himself, however actually any superhero. Whereas the unique present ceased manufacturing within the mid-90s, it spawned continuations, spinoffs, sister reveals, expansions, after which a complete DC Animated Universe that borrowed from Batman in methods large and small.
So Batman: Caped Crusader — which has been bought as one thing of a religious sequel (or possibly a religious prequel, because it follows a Batman in the beginning of his profession) to Batman: The Animated Collection, and was made by a few of the similar inventive staff, together with artist and animator Bruce Timm — comes not solely with large expectations, however with a whole lot of competitors as nicely. When Batman debuted on Fox Youngsters in 1992, it seemed like nothing else on youngsters’s tv. In 2024, a whole lot of superhero animation mimics its gritty tone and moody model. Plus the unique sequence continues to be out there on house video and streaming on Max. It appears honest, then, to be a bit skeptical about the entire endeavor. Does the world really want yet one more darkish Batman cartoon?
“Want” is likely to be a bit robust. However that doesn’t imply Batman: Caped Crusader isn’t a worthy successor anyway. In actual fact, the primary episodes of the brand new sequence are nearly as good or higher than the strongest installments of the outdated Animated Collection. Should you do just like the authentic present, I discover it onerous to imagine you gained’t additionally take pleasure in the brand new one.
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Whereas Caped Crusader doesn’t share a continuity or voice solid with The Animated Collection, it bears loads of stylistic similarities — together with that particular Bruce Timm, art-deco design sense. Its Batman lives in a Gotham Metropolis that exists out of time; the televisions are all in black-and-white, but Batman himself nonetheless has his infinite array of superior devices and expertise. And the sequence’ characters, costumes, and structure all match the present’s retro noir vibes.
Changing the late, nice Kevin Conroy because the Darkish Knight is Hamish Linklater, who supplies a vocal efficiency in the same register: A grim and guttural Batman that serves as an aural disguise for the chipper and cheerful Bruce Wayne. (Or is it the opposite manner round?) Batman himself in all fairness recognizable from the sooner present, and most DC comics of current years; haunted, decided, and resolutely with out humor about his work or his life.
The place Caped Crusader differentiates itself from The Animated Collection is in its therapy of the title character’s rogues gallery. An early screening of the sequence this week on the Alamo Drafthouse included a preview of the season’s first three episodes, every of which introduced a definite tackle a basic Batman villain.
The premiere stars a feminine model of the Penguin (voiced by Minnie Driver); the second affords a twist (rooted within the Golden Age comics) on Clayface; the third contains each a brand new Catwoman (properly performed by Christina Ricci), reconfigured as extra of a form of darkish mirror picture of Bruce Wayne, and a primary glimpse of psychiatrist Dr. Quinzel — higher recognized to DC followers as Harley Quinn. Lurking within the background of all these episodes is Harvey Dent, who will inevitably change into the psychotic Two-Face, however at this level within the sequence is merely an excessively bold (and morally ambiguous) district lawyer. (In a enjoyable twist, he’s performed by former Batman voice actor Diedrich Bader.)
Of those three episodes, I’d say the pilot was completely superb, the third was solidly good, and the center episode (the one involving Clayface) was completely excellent, and definitely on par — each by way of the writing and the dynamic visuals — with something produced within the authentic run of Batman: The Animated Collection.
With out spoiling an excessive amount of of its plot, this significantly stellar episode, “And Be a Villain,” finds Batman in full-on detective mode, investigating the disappearance of a well-known film star with the assistance of the Gotham Metropolis Police Division’s Renee Montoya (Michelle C. Bonilla). Set backstage at a Gotham film studio, the episode pays homage to Batman’s pulpy inspirations from the Shadow to Robin Hood, and in addition contains nods to basic horror movies like The Pit and the Pendulum — whereas additionally showcasing the sequence’ most placing imagery and sharpest dialogue thus far. It’s an ideal 22 minute superhero story — whereas additionally clearly establishing bigger plot threads (just like the contentious relationship between Batman and Montoya) that can proceed to play out throughout future episodes. (This episode’s high quality may need one thing to do with the truth that it was written by longtime comics scribe Greg Rucka.)
Caped Crusader had an extended street to tv. It was initially introduced as a challenge for HBO Max manner again within the spring of 2021, and solely obtained launched after Amazon acquired the present from Warner Bros. Discovery. Apparently Prime Video is pleased with the sequence thus far; it’s already been renewed for a second season. Watching these three early episodes, it’s simple to see why. If the present is already this good, and Amazon lets Timm and the remainder of the inventive staff not solely pay homage to outdated Batman reveals however increase upon their promise with much more mature tales and extra dramatic animation, we would possibly sometime take a look at Batman: The Animated Collection because the predecessor to Batman: Caped Crusader, and never the opposite manner round.
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