Disclaimer: When
BATMAN BEYOND first came out some 10
years ago, I was a bit skeptical. The premise sounded fishy – an 80ish year
old Bruce Wayne passes the torch to a teenager who is also a total stranger.
Come on!
And I will be the first to say that I was wrong.
The show was created for kids. Not so much as the current BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, but the intent was a "lighter" Batman animated series. However, the series was darker than BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. But a teenage Batman is still appealing to younger kids and that was probably the target audience.
BATMAN BEYOND was a great addition to the DC Animated Universe and the Batman mythos, so it is a privilege to be reviewing it for BATMAN ON FILM.
The first episode is actually a two-parter titled "Rebirth". It’s a
simple enough title that more than explains the story -- and the series for that matter.
The episode opens with a scene of Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin
Conroy) as Batman and his last run in the cowl -- he ditched the cape by the way. He
is now an older man (in his 50s) and can't do it like he used to do. A heart attack in the
middle of a fight will cause any man to question his lot in life. So he
saves Bunny Vreeland (who you may or may not remember as the daughter of
Veronica Vreeland from B:TAS) and hangs up the suit.
20 years after Bruce's final mission, we meet Terry McGinnis (voiced
by Will Friedle) -- a teenager with a bad attitude and typical high school issues. Our first encounter with him shows him help a lady who has a Joker problem. Not THE Joker, but a member of a gang named “The Jokerz” -- an homage to the criminal mastermind of the past.
During Terry’s chance encounter with The Jokerz, we are introduced to the now elderly Bruce Wayne and his dog Ace. Depsite the fact he’s now an old man, Bruce whoops some ass on a bunch of Jokerz -- then his heart gives on him once again. Terry helps Bruce back into Wayne Manor and then does a little snooping around once Bruce falls asleep, Terry discovers…
Well, what do you THINK he discovers?
Eventually, we find out Terry’s "motivation" for donning/stealing the cape and…well, the cowl: He’s avenging the murder of his father.
Sound familiar?
I was officially drawn into this series after watching “Reborn.” Admittedly, I went in thinking BATMAN BEYOND was doing to suck. But it didn't and
it’s still fun to watch some 10 years later. - Justin Gonzalez
