 |
|
| Home · Reviews · Interviews · Contests · Blog · Forums · Follow Us On Twitter |
|
by R.J. Carter Published: October 29, 2009
Drawing upon that formula, Warner Brothers has reinvented the animated Batman series once again, giving viewers Batman: The Brave and the Bold, with a more kid-friendly Caped Crusader and a more basic, cartoonish style reminiscent of Dick Sprang's work -- or that animated opening to the Batman television series starring Adam West. The premise is the same as the comic book that shared its name: team up Batman with another DC character and let the adventure unfold. The formula for each episode is to open with a mini-adventure -- usually a closing sequence of a battle we don't see -- where Batman works with one character, then opening credits and a whole new adventure with a different character, maximizing the exposure of the wide gallery of players available to the animators. Batman may be described as a grunting loner by those who know him, but he's presented as a much friendlier fellow than the Kevin Conroy Batman most recently animated. He manages to get in his one-liners, and his internalized thoughts are often quite comedic. Even the theme music reflects the change in attitude, being just short a "Dat dwee, da-da-da dow" from being the theme song for The Tick cartoon show. Batman: The Brave and the Bold puts the "comic" back in "comic book," and while that will definitely go against the grain of fans of the grimmer Dark Knight, it makes the franchise more marketable to younger viewers -- who, quite likely, are the target market for the redesigned Batman action figures based on the new series. Day of the Dark Knight: This episode, written by Justice League alumnus J.M. DeMatteis, opens with Batman helping the Green Lantern Corps finish a case (because the all-powerful Guardians know that Green Lantern Guy Gardner needs a firm hand guiding him. Expect to see Kilowog, Ch'pp, and other familiar Lanterns as Batman helps clean up after an escaped prisoner. But the real adventure begins back on Earth when a prison break releases Merlin -- as in, Camelot's Merlin (and what he was doing in prison in the first place will forever remain a mystery). Merlin has come through time because Morgan LeFey has turned Arthur and the Round Table Knights to stone, and he needs one worthy of pulling the sword from the stone -- again -- to defeat her. Unfortunately, Merlin's prognostication isn't all that clear, and he doesn't know if the worthy one is Batman, or his mouthy arch-rival, the Green Arrow (voiced by James Arnold Taylor). As the two work together to defeat Morgan, their constant scorekeeping during battle and bickering over who's the better hero wears on Merlin's nerves. This episode also features a guest appearance by Jason Blood and his netherworldly alter ego, Etrigan the Demon. Enter the Outsiders: The pre-show adventure finds Black Manta stealing an armored car. You'd think this might be a job for Aquaman, but instead it's the unexpected B'wana Beast who comes to Batman's aid in capturing the villain, using his powers to combine the best qualities of two available animals into one powerful mutation -- a power Batman admits is useful... but gross. Afterward, Batman is working out with his mentor, the aging Wildcat (R. Lee Ermey), when a group of super-powered teenagers attacks a local mall. The teens are Black Lightning, Katana, and Metamorpho, and they call themselves the Outsiders. Before S.E. Hinton can fire off a letter of complaint, I'm thinking: Wait, aren't the Outsiders a team of heroes that Batman actually led? Not in this telling, as we meet these dissatisfied youths led down a corrupt path by their underground leader, Slug, who has convinced them that they are spurned by society. But when Batman and Wildcat fight Slug and show them a different path, they see the error of their ways -- just in time to be a lifesaving team when Wildcat surrenders another of his nine lives to a heart attack. Dawn of the Dead Man! Now here's an opening action sequence that I'd really liked to have seen drawn out into a full blown adventure: Batman teamed up with Jack Kirby's Kamandi and Dr. Canus! Some beautiful background work done here, and the animators really captured Kirby's unique vision of the future. After the opening credits role, we arrive just in time to see Batman's ghost rise out of his grave. What's this!? Batman deceased? Ah, but things are seldom what they appear to be in the comics, are they? No, it's merely the aftermath of Batman's battle with Jim Craddock, aka the Gentleman Ghost, who has buried an unconscious Batman in a booby-trapped coffin. Using meditation techniques, Batman astral projects (is there nothing Batman can't do with enough preparation?) so he can find a hero who can come dig him up. As he floats there, he encounters another departed spirit -- Boston Brand (voiced by Justice League Unlimited's Flash, Michael Rosenbaum), a murdered circus aerialist -- who urges Batman to go into the light. Meanwhile, Gentleman Ghost is collecting cursed artifacts to use in his plan to take over London. (Watch for a nifty little Doctor Who reference in a seance parlor where a medium tries to conjure up the spirit of Tom Baker to speak with his nephew Colin.) Fortunately for Batman, Green Arrow and Speedy (voiced by James Marsden) are in London, and using Boston Brand's unique ability to possess the living (a power Batman now has himself), he communicates his dire circumstances. Ultimately, Boston Brand is given a reason for "living" and decides to use his ghostly status as a means of fighting for justice. Notice in this episode that Batman uses Nth Metal to fight against supernatural beings -- a Hawkman appearance can't be too far in the future. Fall of the Blue Beetle! This is the only episode of this collection where the pre-adventure seamlessly blends into the main adventure, as we begin two years in the past with Batman fighting alongside Blue Beetle -- the Ted Kord version of the character. It's an interesting pairing, as they're both basically the same archetype, and they take notes from each other on the technology each of them uses, sharing notes on how they got past design problems that stumped the other. Jumping to the present day, we find the current Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes, wondering whether he was chosen to become the Blue Beetle or if it was just dumb luck that dumped the scarab in his lap. Going against Batman's advice (during a battle with Dr. Polaris), Jaime digs into his past, uncovering Kord's secret lair and the flying Bug, which leads him to a hidden island fortress. Is this where Ted Kord is actually building an army of beetle-powered robots to take over the Earth? Or is there something even more devious at work? For fans of Ted Kord, like myself, this episode was a welcome one -- and you get a bonus cameo of the first Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett, to boot! Batman Beyond alumnus Will Friedle voices Jaime Reyes, with Star Trek: The Next Generation's Wil Wheaton providing the voice for the Ted Kord version. Previews on this disc include "A Miser Brothers Christmas," and "Halo Legends." |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 1997-2009 Burlee LLC. All rights reserved. | Reprints | Privacy Policy | Disclosure | About Us/Contact Us | RSS Feed |