On September 5, 1992, Fox Kids aired “Batman: The Animated Series” - a critically acclaimed animated series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, the show would tackle the adventures of The Dark Knight and his ongoing crusade against crime - defending his hometown of Gotham City against the likes of The Joker, Penguin, and Two-Face while also gaining allies in his fight for justice like Commissioner Gordon, Robin, and Batgirl.
The series would jumpstart the DC Animated Universe, and would gain a significant following in the years leading many to consider it the definitive Batman series. The late great Kevin Conroy was cast as Bruce Wayne/ Batman, while also featuring Mark Hamill (aka Luke Skywalker) as the voice of The Joker. Additionally, the character of Harley Quinn made her debut in this show - first appearing in “Joker’s Favor” and played by the wonderful Arleen Sorkin, who sadly passed away just last month.
31 years later BTAS still holds up pretty well, and is the go to recommendation for anyone who wants to get into Batman and his world.
Following on the footsteps of a critically acclaimed animated series based on DC's flagship hero is no small feat, let alone being a drastic idea of a sequel that pushes forward some decades past The Dark Knight's prime and seeing a new successor take on the mantle of the bat altogether. That pretty much sums up 1999's "Batman Beyond" - the futuristic sequel to "Batman The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures" and created by the triple threat team of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett. Set primarily in the year 2039, the story follows Terry McGinnis - a young teenager living in Neo-Gotham who meets the elderly Bruce Wayne and stumbles upon his secrets during his days as the Caped Crusader. After crime and corruption claim the life of Terry's father and circumstances see the need for new blood to defend his city, Bruce reluctantly takes the headstrong youth under his wing and trains him to become the new Batman.
Released in 1999, Batman Beyond became a critical and commercial success - thanks in no small part to the brilliant writing and animation put together by the team of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the rest of Warner Bros. Animation. Reprising his role as Bruce Wayne of course is Kevin Conroy - the voice of Batman - who plays the mentor role this time around as the spotlight now turns to Terry McGinnis/ Batman Beyond, who is voiced by Will Friedle.
Batman Beyond Intro (HD Widescreen)
As the show explored a time when Bruce's life moved ahead and many of his allies and villains have either grown older, retired, or died - the series reflects the toll and consequences his crusade has taken on him - his last outing (ironically set in 2019 in the Pilot epiode "Rebirth Part 1") as Batman almost cost him his life and an act of desperation caused him to almost rely on the very weapon that took his parents life - leading to his subsequent retirement and life as a recluse. However because crime never sleeps and villains new and old continue to prey on Gotham and the innocent, he is forced to reevaluate his self-imposed exile and lend his knowledge and wisdom to a new ally in Terry McGinnis. Most of Batman Beyond's episodes deal with the growing relationship and respect Bruce and Terry have as mentor and student - as both face enemies from the past and a new rogues gallery that has risen in the wake of the new Batman's emergence. Terry's crusade would see him face off new opponents like Inque, Shriek, Spellbinder, and Wayne's corrupt business rival partner turned mutant Blight, while also encountering his mentor's own adversaries who have returned in the future such as Mister Freeze, Ra's Al Ghul, and later the Clown Prince of Crime himself in the animated movie feature "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker".
As someone who grew up idolizing and admiring the adventures of the one true Batman, Batman Beyond is undoubtedly a worthy follow-up to the saga of The Dark Knight and now stands with its own legacy 20 years later. The show has spawned various merchandise, toys, and multiple comic book sequel series and spin-offs, and has become a part of the DC Multiverse canon altogether. As Frank Miller told the story of an elderly Bruce Wayne returning to fight crime in his "Dark Knight" universe of stories, Bruce Timm and Paul Dini have done the same with Old Man Wayne in their DC Animated Universe and giving him a worthy successor in Terry McGinnis. If you haven't watched this show - you are truly missing out. As they would say in 2039 - it is very "Schway".
This week marked a lot of celebrations and anniversaries for a lot of franchises and properties that have stood the test of time, but one series that certainly became the "Gold Standard" in the way modern day superhero shows set the bar is Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment's "Justice League" - which aired on November 17, 2001 and is set in the same DC Animated Universe that began with 1992's Batman: The Animated Series, continued with Superman: The Animated Series, and eventually expanded into this powerful team that united The Man of Steel and Dark Knight alongside the likes of Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern John Stewart, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter J'onn J'onzz!
Justice League: The Animated Series
Running for two seasons and eventually evolving into the much expansive "Justice League Unlimited", this is the DCAU at its finest... And one year from now, we will be getting the DC Films' equivalent with the Justice League movie!
