They couldn’t have picked a worse person to review the newly anticipated animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader” at MKAU. Why, you might ask? I am incredibly biased. Batman has always been my one true love in any comic book universe inside or out. So trying to throw aside my unbridled affection I dived into what Amazon Prime had to offer in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU).

Plot

Developed by a shopping list of executive producers, most will recognise the likes of Matt Reeves of the recent movie ‘The Batman’ famously Dark Knight-ed by Robert Pattison, and J.J Abrams who has a flair for all things Sci-fi and action-packed from instalments of ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Mission Impossible’.With a 1940s Noir ‘Dick Tracy’ detective style setting, this series focuses on Batman early in his career as a crime fighter, much before his alliance with Commissioner Gordon and before his future evolution to the bat signal. It’s great to see the Reeves-like influence of a younger Batman still naive but talented enough to take on the world.

With ten episodes in the first season, each is an individual story with an overarching connecting background plot that ties them all in together. It feels at times that Batman is not necessarily the star of the show as you would expect, instead, the cast of characters that flesh out his world. Classic characters such as Gordon, Harvey Dent, Alfred, or even Selina Kyle are developed exceptionally well over time becoming allies and even friends with Bruce Wayne and turning into villains we all love to hate and hate to love. New characters, though, need more than a 25-minute episode to make an impact and the plot as a whole over ten episodes feels a little stunted.

Characters and Casting

Each episode does not hesitate in diving in and introducing a plethora of characters all voice acted with charm and charisma. Each reimagining is fresh but oddly homely. Our star, Batman, not known to be overtly an emotional being, is voiced by Hamish Linklater. While missing the nuances that our beloved Kevin Conroy left behind, he dons the proverbial cowl of the bat in voice perfectly, earning his position in the role with outstanding grace.

Another notable performance is Detective Montoya and Commissioner Gordon, Staples in the Gotham universe but not necessarily ever characterised well. Montoya, especially in this series, voiced by Michelle C Bonilla, is given some attention she rightly deserves, often involved in the ins and outs of the police department and adding some sassy strong flair to a female character instead of a damsel in distress.

While the well-established iconic characters meet with the newly introduced ones seamlessly, due to the shortness in the season a lot of these exchanges have no weight to them and they easily become either forgettable or left with a wanting to know more. For the latter, I am looking at you the voodoo-esque vibe of Linton Midnight of Episode 6.

Cinematics

One thing that does seem hotly debated is the cinematics. It was too similar to the past with the likes of Batman: The Animated Series (Which is not necessarily a bad thing, in my opinion), and it did, at times, feel outdated in animations. It needed its own style, to stand out on its own, like ‘The Brave and The Bold’ or’Batman Beyond’, hell even some of the more obscure iterations such as ‘Batman Ninja’. It does have its raw and sharp moments though, with the Bat’s hotrod darting down the dark steamy and dingy alleys of Gotham and while it is atmospheric I just wish it had been more violent and gritty like all the pent-up rage Bruce internally stores.

Speaking of which, the masked vigilante looks good, real good in a suit that feels retro but has lots of nods to his past but evolution. The music by Frederrik Wiedmann is also perfectly scored with over-dramatic orchestral strings setting that gothic Gotham ambience perfectly.

Final Thoughts

In finalising my thoughts I was stuck with a few internal struggles. Is it better than ‘Batman: The Animated Series’, for me, one of the best interactions of Batman in animated form? No. Is it a fabulous Hommage? Yes definitely. Does it hit every high note? Not necessarily but it is worth the watch, Batman fan or not, even as just a good cartoon. This series is both a breath of fresh air and a comforting blanket we are far too familiar with. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the caped crusader in season 2.

Written by: Stacey