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Glen reviews "Batman Beyond" !!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Image from The Official Batman Beyond Web Site (Copyright Warner Bros., DC Comics, etc.)
Glen here...
...with (at long last) a look at The WB’s new revamp of its animated Batman franchise. This time it’s called Batman Beyond.
Regular readers may recall my bitching and moaning last week about how Warner Bros. shafted me on a screening copy of the series’ introductory episode. Well, momma always said: "the squeaky hinge gets greased". I never really knew what the hell she was talking about, and still find the analogy somewhat irritating. None the less, she was right. I squeaked, and I was greased.
Batman Beyond’s first episode...called "Rebirth"...opens with Batman moving to rescue a kidnapped damsel-in-distress. A back-ground television introduces the audience to the idea that Wayne Industries is fending off hostile takeovers from a mega-rich sleaze ball named Derek Powers.
The Bat comes to the girl’s aid. Different costume, same Bruce Wayne. But he’s getting tired, older, slower, clumsier. He’s loosing the edge. Barely makes it out alive. He is shaken. When he un-suits, we see him older and a little beaten. He stores away the Batsuit, promises himself "no more". The lights go out in the Batcave.
Credits (which you can CLICK HERE to see). Funky. Psychedelic. Fast. Weird. New.
Back to the show: Gotham City, 20 years later. Think the cities from Judge Dredd and Akira and you get the picture pretty well. Hover cars, ray guns, cops looking like a hybrid between Dredd and Star Wars Stormtroopers patrol the streets.
This isn’t Gotham the way it used to be.
An Akira-like biker gang calling itself "The Jokers" is running wild in the streets, terrorizing the populace. They’re dressed-up and made-up like The Joker, and they’re just plain mean.
Terry McGinnis is a regular young kid: on his school’s wrestling team, chasing after girls, getting into fights. His world is about to be turned upside down by a chance encounter with The Jokers. An encounter which peripherally results in the death of his father, the discovery of a horrific conspiracy at the Wayne / Powers corporation, and his meeting a Kane-like hermit named Bruce Wayne.
This sets Batman Beyond into motion. Needless to say, McGinnis’ encounter with the hardened and (apparently) spiritually damaged Bruce Wayne results in McGinnis becoming the new "Batman". Needless to say, for Bruce Wayne to allow McGinnis to don the cowl after swearing-off Batman forever (I think it’s cool the way that title sort of slipped in here) - something big must be at stake.
At stake in this adventure?
McGinnis’ discovery that Wayne / Powers is developing a really nasty "DNA mutagen" (spelling?) which is about to be exported to marginal governments overseas for use in territorial standoffs. Calling the cops is no good - not enough time, and Powers pretty much owns the Gotham Police Force (save for Commissioner Barbara Gordon).
So when you’ve got a Batsuit...
...the Batsuit. Many fans have been asking "where’s the cape?!?!?!?!?" Well, this Batsuit doesn’t really have a cape in the traditional sense. It does have wings that spring out when needed - enabling Batman to glide from building to building. He can also fire rocket boots (for want of a better term) to propel him skyward, then use wings to glide to a touchdown or surface. This creates something of a "bounding" or "leaping" effect...from rooftop to rooftop...building to building...with moments of genuine and elegant free-fall interspersed. Also included in the suits’ immediately revealed capabilities: morphing Bat-a-rangs, and some nifty high-tech surveillance equipment.
Bruce Wayne (still voiced by Kevin Conroy) is portrayed as a bitter and angry old fart who, at one point, is literally willing to let McGinnis die just to get his out of his hair (thus taking McGinnis’ knowledge of matters Batman with him).
McGinnis is, from the outset, a very real character who feels "right". He’s not a whinny kid or a "I’m so tough" reckless teenager. He’s out to avenge his father’s murder (sound familiar?), and he’s also out to do the right thing. And even at his reckless age, he knows what "the right thing" is - and has enough integrity to chase after the ideal .
Bruce and Terry’s relationship is initially stand-offish, but as hard as he tries, Wayne is ultimately unable to escape the conclusion that Gotham still needs a Batman - and that this kid is the right person, at the right time.
Gone is the elegant and gothic Batman scores to which we’ve grown accustomed (which have put a vast majority of other television scores to shame). Replacing it: something I don’t quite know how to describe. A cross between Eric Serra (La Femme Nikita and The Fifth Element) , Apollo Four Forty’s hard rock series theme redux which accompanied the Lost in Space feature last year, Beverly Hills 90210, and every John Hughes teen angst movie from the ‘80s.
There’s probably too much music used in "Rebirth", and sometimes it’s a bit overbearing. Series composer Shirley Walker is listed as "supervising composer" for Batman Beyond, this episode’s score was co-composed by Michael McCuistion (Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero) and Lolita Ritmani. The new theme for the series is composed by Kristopher Carter.
Is Batman Beyond constructed for younger audiences, as had been widely reported? There is certainly a more "juvenile" feel to it than it’s predecessors. Part of this feeling certainly comes from the change in music. It’s difficult to take something seriously when the music resists letting you do so. But my hesitance about this re-think runs deeper than that.
It’s almost esoteric at times, but there’s a certain edge missing in Batman Beyond. It doesn’t feel quite as smart as it should for some reason, not quite as legitimate as the previous animated incarnations felt. There are some great sock-o kick-ass fights, and wonderful imagery spread throughout. But when all is said and done, it doesn’t feel quite like Batman.
Perhaps this is simply an adjustment to all the changes. Perhaps this is a subliminal reaction to the new look of the show, which is often brighter - and sometimes more sparsely rendered than its predecessors. Perhaps there is something more profoundly amiss here - which won’t become apparent until we’re a few episodes deeper into the series.
It’s not bad show. In fact, it’s sometimes it’s quite good.
But it’s very disorienting, disquieting, and the answers to many of the questions which might determine whether Batman Beyond will be a solvent series are not answered in this introductory episode.
Questions like:
1) What’s up with Bruce Wayne? Why is he so hostile towards this nice kid? Even Terry acknowledges that "something" has happened to Bruce - more than just grown old.
2) What will happen with their relationship, as McGinnis still has a mom and a little brother back home? Terry’s out a father now, after all. Will McGinnis and Wayne’s relationship be paternal, combative, co-operative, or all of the above?
3) Also, I’m assuming we’re into virgin territory here as far as super-villains go. Can the writers of Batman Beyond whip-up a new & futuristic cadre of evil antagonists interesting enough to match (or surpass) our memories of all the wonderfully realized bad guys who have come before? Tough gig, if you ask me . Reversely, these writers have managed to turn straw into gold in the past, so anything’s possible.
4) Will we ever learn what happened to Batman's posse of sidekicks? Could be interesting and emotional if done, but also a heinous oversight if ignored.
5) Can the emotional integrity of the show be maintained in the face of an (*apparent*) effort to make it more accessible to a younger audience? Or will the genuine heart and soul which distinguished the previous Batman animated incarnations be somehow maintained and nurtured in this new and evolving scenario.
6) Does the presence of The Jokers (bike gang) imply that somehow...somewhere...there is still a real Joker to be reckoned with out there?
And what of all the other classic villains? Are they still around? Do they still pose a threat?
Ultimately, the answers to all of these questions (and many others) will determine whether or not Batman Beyond will be a hero for the next millennium - or a woeful misconception driven by demographic and marketing considerations.
I wanted to love this premier, but ended-up only liking it. I desperately wanted to be able to look someone in the eye and tell them how phenomenally kick-ass this new Batman series is. Alas, I can not do that.
None the less, I do want to see more. I am intrigued, and believe the series might well work *if* fans (who have been with the franchise all these years) can regain their slippery footing and acclimate to this new environment, and if Batman Beyond’s writers are successfully able to re-integrate all of the emotional and conceptual resonance which made this series’ predecessors so special and significant.
Alas, I fear that the very charter of making a Batman for a younger crowd might conflict with these time-tested sensibilities. As cliched as it sounds, I suppose time will tell. I’m not sure where it’ s going, and I’m not entirely convinced it’s ever gonna get to where I would like it to be. But the opening episode of Batman Beyond is enough to make me want to see more.
And...I suppose...when all is said and done, what more can one ask from an opening episode?
Batman Beyond debuts the evening of Sunday January 10 on The WB, with a re-airing Saturday January 16.
Glen
Or call:
(512)347-1992
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have they tottally discontinued work on the "classic" Batman or are they gonna run both series at the same time?
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it sounds like to me that the WB is screwing with the Bat again...Why...I don't mind playing with the mythos like Tim Burton did in his two excellent Batman movies for Warners and I absoutly LOVE TAS...but why this seris...is it the name "Batman" that they think will draw the younger audience in while retaining the loyal adult fan base that TAS has maintained scince it's FOX days. Why Batman Beyond instead of a Nightwing or Teen Titans or JLA series...both which could have been marketed toward younger viewers...and speaking of NightWing, doesn't this new Batman outfit sound a lot like the NightWing outfit in TAS... BB brings up some other questions I hope will be answered, like what happened with Babs Gordon and Dick, did they let the romance bloom, marriage kids, the whold 9 yards?, Why didn't Dick take over the cowl when Bruce dicides to hang it up, or at least have NightWing patrol the skies, What happened to Tim/Robin, what made Babs hang up the ole Batgirl outfit and become a cop and commissoner(another intresting quirk, aren't commissonsers elected/appointed...if Powers is so powerful surely he can get rid of a police commish...ran an alternate canidate, "rub-out" or "whack" Commish. Gordon, etc...why leave her in power if she isn't corrupt?) just some questions to provoke some thought, Here's hoping Batman Beyond WON'T suck cheers
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At the San Diego Comic Con last year, Timm and Dini stated that they would NOT be using the traditional Batman villains in the show. They want Batman Beyond to be completely new. There will be villains inspired by old villains, like the Joker gang. The Royal Flush Gang will major baddies (there designs are awesome). And the guy trying to buy Wayne Corp will be a villain in the tradition of Lex Luthor. There's also a cool new villain who has some kind of smoke-like body. I forget her name, but I think it was something like Ink. A very cool drawing of her was shown at the Con. Wish I could remember more, but hey, it was last summer. :)
Purr,
Calico -
... when I heard about this series the first thing that came to my mind was the briefly popular but overall ill-fated Marvel 2099 line(s). I was a huge fan of those comics (I had a subscription to all of them for over a year) and can't help but wonder how similar this series will be. With science fiction (even superhero sci/fi) you have a great opportunity to float some very powerful comments on society under an entertaining guise, and I would be very impressed if they took it that route. Of course, if they just made it a good ol' superhero tale (especially up to the quality of TAS) I wouldn't have a problem...
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Is it just me or could it be that the boy wonder got himself perished in one storyline? Surely that would account for Bruce being a little "strange" (and also give the writers a good excuse for a flashback episode with a few old villains)
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This project doesn't appeal to me. Batman is Bruce Wayne like Superman is Clark Kent (or am I just old-fashioned?). It didn't work with Azreal, and it doesn't sound like it will work here. If I want to see a future Batman adaptation, I'd rather see Dark Knight Returns. It sounds like trying to cash in on the Batman name be introducing someone who could be just another new superhero.
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There was a scoop here awhile back and a friend of mine who works at a WB store in Florida also mentioned it to me this weekend that they are animating Dark Knight Returns w/ Frank MIllers help. I can't wait!!! I'm not so crazy about the idea of Batman Beyond either. Anyone remember that shitty book that came out about a decade ago with the computer art, set in the future when Gordons son took over the Batman costume? Reminds me of that.
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Bruce Wayne **IS** BATMAN. Oh well I will be watching Sunday night as I havent been loyally watching the WB's cartoons shows ever since Superman was introduced (and they stopped making Animaniacs)Pinky and the Brain are COOL....Yakko Wakko and Dot are COOL...Batman WAS cool....grumble grumble. LOBO should rock if it isnt too watered down.
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Unlike most who come here, I am a on again, off again fan. So I haven't seen all the original TAS episodes. So my question would be.. Will they countiue with the TAS reruns? ...... As for Batman Beyond, I see nothing wrong with the animated media as long as you keep it mature. Kids today who would watch BB are of two mind sets, Corny (Power Rangers) and Mature (Batman). If the WB lessens the maturity of BB they will loss alot of their "adult" crowd (and possibly alienate that crowd from Superman and other possible spin-offs) and come up in compition of the cornier shows on FOX and the cable networks during the same time period. ..... I carry no hopes for BB. Granted I think TAS was getting long in the tooth, but there are so many comic book story lines they could have adapted.
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I give credit to WB for trying something new with the character. From the review, it sounds like it isn't merely a Batman rip-off designed to pull in the fans, but an attempt to do something new with the basic concept. I'll reserve judgment until I see it in action, but I'm willing to give it a chance.
After all, one of the problems for creative teams is that you have this really cool concept in Batman, and it comes with more than half a century of accumulated history, myth and expectation. How do you keep doing new things with the concept, while maintaining continuity and keeping it from being a rip off?
If the series gives us a believable back story over time of how Bruce Wayne ended up like this, and ties things in thematicly with TAS, it could be a very cool new chapter in the Batman saga. Of course, if it doesn't deliver, it will die and sink into well deserved obscurity.
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Greetings, citizens! I just wanted to let you know I'm putting the finishing touches on my review of "Rebirth," and am taking into account issues/questions/concerns raised here in talk back. So if you want to know something specific about the show, post it here in Talk Balk and I'll do my best to include it in my Robo-review. (P.S.: Look for my review of Disney's "Tarzan" soon!)
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POTENTIAL SPOILERS!
Cool review. Some of the questions have been answered in a Starlog interview (the current issue with the Babylon 5 cast on the cover).
1. Joker is dead, period. The biker gang is meant to continue his spirit.
2. Nightwing and Robin's fates will not be dealt with in the first 13 episodes, but maybe in the next batch (assuming a next batch is made). There will be hints that Nightwing, Robin and Batman did not split up on good terms.
3. Alfred is long gone. The idea of having Alfred as the Batcave computer voice was toyed with, but trashed. It's possible his remains are buried on the Wayne Estate however.
4. One super-criminal from the original series will appear, and in some ways is the most logical one to appear. (Hint-he hates warm weather).
Hope this helps folks.
Ben -
I think that BATMAN BEYOND could turnout to be pretty good, if they keep a somewhat original storyline. The backstories will become crucial within the first season. Also, as I have created several of my own comic book characters along with several different storylines, I can tell you that it's more about the characters than good vs. evil because, at times, I have blurred that line at times. With one of my storylines, two archenemies turned into more than good friends. So, if they can give us some original storylines, good, solid characters & villians, and backstories, then I think this could turnout to be pretty damn good. I've enjoyed the new Batman episodes and a few of the Superman ones as well ('Speed Demons' was good w/Superman vs. Flash race). And back with my characters, my main one, Michael Flossman, goes from P.I. Dangerous to Red Warrior Dangerous to Silver Hawk to P.i. Dangerous all in the span of 20 years. Of course, you probably don't care about that BB can be truly successful as long as the writers bring out the same quality as TAS, but one thing is decidedly different in atmosphere, and that's brighter colors of the night. In TAS, it's the blackness of night (the animators started from black canvases for the backgrounds instead of white), but in BEYOND, it's black and mostly red. I've seen the commercial for it a few times already, and it seems pretty cool. If this premiere has a story nearly as good as MASK OF THE PHANTASM, we should be ready for a good, new series. -NJM
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What amazes me is that SO MANY of he animated series episodes are really good, and the ones P. Dini
wrote are amazing - but they can't make a decent live action movie. -
some boys are going to become men after seeing the intro to BB....
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Ok Robogeek heres a question, why would anyone with the capacity to replace Batman actually do it? (as opposed to becoming his own superhero) I mean sure I'd be honored to "be" Batman too but each superhero has a history behind him that is unique to the original person. This "new" Batman has nothing to do with the inner turmoil and psychology and past history that made Bruce Wayne become a crimefighter. Isnt the real reason that Robin became Nightwing because he wanted to have his own identity? I'm willing to give the show a chance because, well quite frankly all the stuff I have seen from Warner Brothers Animation has been excellent thus far (I didnt get to see "Quest for Camelot" yet though). FOR CEREBUS: "Why cant WB make a decent live action Batman?" Well gee, among other things that have gone wrong with the Batman movies is the director of 3 and 4 Joel Shumaucher(SP?). Replace him with somebody that could give it a new MEAN image. Also, My friends and I were discussing which parts of the cast were wrong and who we'd like to see. We really didnt care who played Bruce Wayne, one of the main problems is the lack of a really good Commissioner Gordon. PAT HINGLE SUCKS as Gordon!!!! Among other actors suggested, Donald Sutherland was my cantidate to replace Pat Hingle as Gordon. Oh well, I tried keeping this short...hehehehehe. -McKracken
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