No Bat-Mite yet.
So there’s a new Batman cartoon, showing on Amazon Prime instead of Max for reasons that I’m sure make sense to Warner Brothers (I’m guessing $$$). Regardless of its streaming home, the series is a lot of fun, moody and exciting and well-acted.
In this age of Too Much TV, it’s nice that series have scaled back their season lengths, and Batman Caped Crusader‘s first (and hopefully not last) season runs a tight ten episodes.
It’s a period piece, set in the 1940s-ish, and as a result sometimes the cityscapes don’t look all that much different from those in the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series, with its “timeless” retro-setting with occasional modern tech. Producer Bruce Timm was involved with both iterations, so there are some “DC Animated Universe” house style similarities, but Caped Crusader is a little more free with a variety of ethnicities and body shapes.
Batman himself resembles the earliest incarnations of the character, all grey and back with smaller black gloves. Alfred isn’t the familiar slim interpretation but rather the plus-size version from the Golden Age. However, characters from comics published in later years appear in the cast, such as Barbara Gordon (first appearing in the 1960s), Harvey Bullock (the ’70s) and Flass (the ’80s).
Interestingly, at least in the earlier episodes (I’ve only watched the first eight thus far) Batman’s attitude toward Alfred is…not quite the familial one we know. It’s more “master to servant,” Batman being more blunt with his commands and referring to Alfred by his last name “Pennyworth.” There is a moment in one episode where Alfred appears down for the count, and Batman, believing him to be dead or nearly so, declares “I can’t do this without you!” Whether that’s out of love for the person who was essentially his surrogate father, or or a more practical “I need you for my crimefighting support team!” is at least a little ambiguous.
There is a throughline in these episodes that appears to be leading to the introduction of a major Batman villain. Not the Joker, who thankfully hasn’t shown up in the episodes I’ve seen (despite a related character doing so). The Joker, like the Daleks in Doctor Who, can very easily overstay his welcome, though I feel this cartoon might give us an interesting interpretation of him. Depends on how interesting a job they do on the villain they are going to present at the end of the season. Presumably. Haven’t seen that episode yet.
Anyway, it’s a good program, slightly edgier than its Bat-cartoon predecessors. Not like the animated Harley Quinn-levels, but the language is just a tad saltier. Worth a watch, and at only ten half-hour episodes, it won’t take too much time for you to get through…says the guy who hasn’t watched the last two episodes yet.
The trailers for “Batman: Caped Crusader” look very good! It is interesting that the Gentleman Ghost, originally a Hawkman villain, is in the mix …although I do recall Batman battling him at least once in the Bronze Age.
It would be cool if 1940s-based Superman and Wonder Woman shows could be greenlit as well. Especially a Golden Age Earth II -type Superman who is a true social justice champion for the downtrodden as in the early comics.
And a 1940s JSA (which would incrementally add the full 1940s membership–as opposed to only having five members, as seen in the recent JSA animated film) or All-Star
Squadron animated show would be wonderful-
-I’d love to see the Paul Levitz/Joe
Staton Secret Origin of the JSA adapted.
Or even a “Showcase” anthology animated series that could build out from “The New Frontier” animated film by showing the Silver Age adventures of a rotating cast of characters: Challengers of the Unknown, Metal Men, original Doom Patrol, Adam Strange, etc.
But even in the Batman
Oh… I didn’t finish the fragment…
I meant to write that it might be fun if even in the Batman:Caped Crusader–assuming it goes on for multiple seasons–we get to see the occasional cameo of other 1940s DC characters …like Slam Bradley, Zatara, Sargon, Hop Harrigan, and maybe even other early mystery men like the Crimson Avenger and Sandman.
I was so thrilled to see an interpretation of Harley Quinn completely unmoored from the Joker.
Thanks for reminding me that the series dropped! I couldn’t remember when it was starting.
I’m wondering if the difference of attitude between Batman and Alfred is because they’re playing with the Golden Age Alfred, who *wasn’t* Bruce’s father figure, but simply a servant who was introduced in the 40s?
I’ve just seen the first episode, and really enjoyed it. The Batman/Pennyworth relationship is definitely one I hope will be explored… and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the whole cast. Also, it looks like it was greenlit for a season 2 before this one premiered, and it’s already being worked on.
Also: In episode one, did the Penguin’s younger son remind anyone else of Eric Trump? Or at least, Stephen Colbert’s imitation of him?
If only he had the purple gloves!
I thought the gender switching of Penguin really worked. She immediately became more interesting to me than Penguin in the comics has been for many years.
I thought the youngest Cobblepot was utterly Trumpian, so I’m glad someone else noticed it.
My favorite characters so far, to be honest, have been the Fleischer Lois Lane and Jimmy (who doesn’t look like that in the 40s cartoons, but I prefer the SA look here).
I liked the series more than I predicted. The general aesthetic and most of the character changes worked. I really like Barbara as a defense attorney, this version of the Penguin, Harvey Dent’s arc, scary Clayface, Harley Quinn reimagined, spoiled Catwoman, and the fact that Batman is not the main focus all the time.
My biggest problems are the monotone Batman voice, and the brighter characters and darker backgrounds not always meshing well. The show shouldn’t copy B:TAS, but I think the night scenes should be a little darker.
I agree with Cassandra – it seemed a deliberate nod to the original Alfred and, as you’ve now seen, deliberately moves to the more human, familial relationship by the end. I really like this version of the character and his personality.