1. On Leather Wings
Basic Premise: Bullock blames Batman for a series of robberies that involve stolen medicine, and the caped crusader investigates.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, Bullock, various members of the police force, Man Bat/Dr. Langstrom, Dr. Francine Langstrom, Dr. March
Review: On Leather Wings is a strong beginning to an awesome series. The positive elements that defined this show are there: Batman's detective skills, the exciting action sequences, the noirish setting, and a well-developed villain. Kevin Conroy's voice isn't quite as distinguished yet, though he does a decent job of alternating between Bruce Wayne and Batman as appropriate to the situation. Also, this episode doesn't quite delve into Langstrom's motivation for turning himself into a giant bat. It is not perfect, but it is far superior than the mediocre episodes that follow.
Random Comments:
- Batman bleeds!
- The way the story is structured like a mysetery reminds me of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, with Batman in Mr. Utterson's place. Dr. Langstrom has a terrible secret, only unlike in Stevenson's novel, Batman saves Dr. Langstrom before he could destroy himself. Mr. Utterson is no hero.
- Could the name Dr. March possibly be an obscure reference to the 1931 Rouben Mamoulian version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Fredric March played the doomed protagonist, Dr. Jekyll. He is the only actor in a horror movie to receive a Best Actor from the Academy. Perhaps I'm looking far too deeply into Dr. March's name. This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands.
- Forshadowing for Two-Face: Watch for the brief moment when Harvey Dent flips a coin.
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2. Christmas With the Joker
Basic Premise: On Christmas, the Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon, Summer Gleeson, and Bullock.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Dick Grayson, Joker, Bullock, Summer Gleeson, Commissioner Gordon, Bullock
Review: In contrast to On Leather Wings, Christmas With the Joker is a lighthearted romp. On a more serious note, it shows that Batman does not know how to enjoy a holiday, for better or worse. In this case, it's better that he does not take a break from protecting Gotham city.
Random Comments:
- Is this the origin of the silly rhyme that children like to sing? Batman smells, robin laid an egg...
3. Nothing To Fear
Basic premise: Scarecrow attempts revenge on the university that allegedly wronged him
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Scarecrow/Jonathan Crane, Commissioner Gordon, Bullock, Scarecrow's stupid henchmen, Summer Gleeson, Dr. Long
Review: The episode lives up to its title. There is truly nothing to fear. The Scarecrow is a b-movie villain. He looks silly rather than truly frightening and he comes off as a delusional maniac who only thinks he scares people. That the Scarecrow actually induces fear in the citizens of Gotham is a joke, and so is this episode.
Batman's innermost fear involves his father telling him he is a failure. His fear is legitimate, but it has no place in an episode like this, especially if everybody else fears are of the boogeyman sort: turning into a skeleton or having spiders crawl all over the body. Perchance To Dream is a much better episode that deals with the kinds of fears that torment Batman without the goofiness.
Random Comments:
- I'm assuming The Scarecrow hires stupid henchmen keep his ego inflated.
- Why is Bruce Wayne wearing those shades when he visits his parents' grave?
4. The Last Laugh
Basic Premise: Batman must save Gotham's citizens from Joker's laughing gas, or else, they will suffer from permanent insanity.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Joker, Summer Gleeson
Review: In writing, the idea of Joker poisoning Gotham's citizens with laughing gas seems like a good idea, but somehow, it falls flat. The Joker is desperately in need of the vibrant personality of Ms. Quinn to make the episode come alive.
- Alfred displays his dry sense of humor when when he "draws" Bruce Wayne a bath for April Fool's Day.
5. Pretty Poison
Basic Premise: In a quest for revenge, Pamela Isley becomes Poison Ivy.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent, Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, Mayor Hill
Review: The episode suffers from silliness and unnecessary melodrama. Pamela Isley goes through the trouble of turning into Poison Ivy just to kill Harvey Dent with a kiss. In the hospital, Bruce Wayne pleads Havey Dent to fight as if Dent can use willpower to overcome Pamela's poison.
Basic Premise: Batman discovers the underground lair of the Sewer King, where he forces orphan children to work for him.
Featuring: Bruce Wayne/Batman, Alfred, Sewer King, Frog, other orphans
Review: Uhhhh... the Sewer King? A weird deviation from the Batman universe.
Basic Premise: Bullock, Montoya, and a rookie cop each provide their own versions of what went wrong on a sting.
Featuring: Bullock, Montoya, rookie cop, Batman (who is surprisingly not the center of action), Commissioner Gordon
Review: Boring, boring, boring... except for the scene when the rookie cop describes Batman as some sort of magician.
Basic Premise: While investigating the disappearances of homeless people, Batman gets amnesia from a blow in the head and somehow ends up in a labor camp.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, a forgettable villain and some other forgettable characters
Review: Exactly what the title suggests. The Forgotten is well... forgettable (or at least you wish you could forget it).
Rnadom Comments:
-Batman must have forgotten to take his vitamins that day. Surely, a simple blow in the head would not give our favorite hero amnesia. He's taken bigger and harder blows. For example, in "The Laughing Fish," the Joker whacks him on the head with a monkey wrench, and neither Batman's fighting skills nor his intelligence have diminished.
Basic Premise: Mayor Hill's son runs away from his birthday party... and what happens next isn't very interesting.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Joker, Mayor Hill, Jordon (Mayor Hill's son)
Review: I could care less.
Basic Premise: Attorney Harvey Dent's alto ego takes over when an chemical accident scars a side of his face.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent/Two Face, Grace (Harvey's fiance), Rupert Thorne, various henchmen
Review:
Basic Premise: Something to do with some mob boss and a train
Featuring: I don't remember
Review: Melodramatic and noirish
Basic Premise: A kid detective defeats the penguin while Batman is unconscious in the kid's basement
Featuring: Batman, Penguin, kid detective
Review: This must be a terrible episode because I can't remember the kid's name, or the name of his sister... or was that his best friend?
Basic Premise:
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle/Catwomen, Alfred, Red Claw
Review:
Basic Premise: Introduction of Mr. Freeze and his famous tragic background
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Mr. Freeze/Victor Fries, Nora, the heartless Ferris Boyle
Review: Excellent episode with everything: action, humor, drama... and morals! It explores the characters of Mr. Freeze and Batman in what makes them villain and hero, respectively, when they are both seeking justice. For example, Mr. Freeze would leave his own henchman to die while Batman rescues him, even though Alfred clearly points out that the henchman wouldn't have done the same if Batman was in peril. There is effective use of irony, especially in Batman's last words to Boyle, and nice wordplay in general that takes advantage of Mr. Freeze's unique condition without being cheesy.
Random Comments:
-Does Ferris Boyle remind anyone of the late Belgian ruler, King Leopold? They both were evil men who disguised themselves as humanitarians to the public.
- Chicken soup to defeat a cold? What a neat idea!
Basic Premise:
Featuring:
Review:
22. Joker's Favor
Basic Premise: Years after an average joe insults the Joker, he has to do a favor for the villain.
Featuring: Charlie Collins, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Hill, Bullock
Memorable lines:
Charlie: Wait. . . That's the favor? You called me here just to open a door?
Review: Most people enjoy this episode, saying that it shows how sadistic the Joker is, but I just found it boring. It focuses mainly on Charlie Collins, who is simply a very dull character.
Random Comments:
- Intro of the one and only Ms. Quinn!
- Does the music at the beginning vaguely remind you of "The Andy Griffith Show?" If not, I must be losing my mind. :0
25. The Clock King
Basic Premise: Temple Fugate thinks the Mayor made him late.
Featuring: Temple Fugate/Clock King, Mayor Hill, Batman/Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Commissoner Gordon, Summer Gleeson
Review: I admit that the idea of a clock king wasn't too appealing to me, but this episode works. It spends a great amount of time delving into Temple Fugate's background and character. Unlike Mr. Freeze or Mad Hatter, he is one of the most unsympathetic of villains. While Mayor Hill is no angel, Fugate is the sort of uptight bastard that nobody wants to hang around. Certainly he doesn't know the meaning of fun, not even daring to take a 15 minute break for fear it would break his schedule. All the building up to the emergence of the Clock King is worth it. The climax with the clock tower is exciting and suspenseful!
27. Mad As A Hatter
Basic Premise: Jervis Tetch is in love with his secretary but has trouble telling her so because she has a boyfriend.
Featuring: Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter, Alice, her boyfriend, Batman/Bruce Wayne
Review: The origin story on the Mad Hatter is well done and the Alice in Wonderland allusions are appropriate and not too intrusive. The Mad Hatter isn't really a villain at heart, just the lovelorn, lonely type who happens to know how to control people's minds. Yikes, bad combination. With Batman showing up to save Alice and her boyfriend at an opportune time, the Mad Hatter blames Batman for ruining his chance with Alice and forcing him to use mind control on her. Of course, it's obvious to everybody but Jervis that Batman is only a scapegoat and the real problem is with Jervis himself. Meanwhile, Alice isn't much of a character. She's sweet if a bit too naive.
Random Comments:
- When Alice laughs and her shoulder shakes, the animation looks a bit off.
- This episode is full of Alice in Wonderland allusions.
- How does Jervis control several people at once? Does he control them one at a time or does he give them instructions and they just do his bidding?
29. Eternal Youth
Basic Premise: Poison Ivy turn corporate evildoers into trees.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Poison Ivy, Alfred, Maggie Page
Review: Decent episode although Poison Ivy comes up with the most farfetched plans to eliminate people who damage the environment. Haha, what next, force people to recycle at gun point? That sounds absurd, but so is this episode. On the upside, the artwork for the backgrounds is very pretty.
Random Comments:
- the first and only appearance of Maggie Page
- Since when did Alfred had a love interest?
30. Perchance To Dream
Basic Premise: Bruce Wayne finds himself in a world where everything is perfect: his parents are alive and he is engaged to Selina Kyle.
Featuring:Batman/Bruce Wayne, Mad Hatter, Alfred, Leslie Thompkins, Thomas & Martha Wayne, Selina Kyle
Memorable Lines:
Review: Philosophical/psychological, immensely important and memorable episode that examines Bruce Wayne's inner psyche. I'm surprised that a children's cartoon actually has so much meaning, none of the usual dumbing down. Not a moment is wasted in this episode! Every scene is just begging for analysis. For instance, Bruce Wayne distinguishes himself from the ordinary person in that he refuses to live in a dream world, even when he has all that he could possibly want. Anyone else would have been content and not stop to think about the logic of such a wish fulfilment. At the same time, his reasoning skills are also his downfall. He cannot be quite happy or content exactly due to his skeptical nature. Bruce Wayne cannot live with just the way things are; he has to question his surroundings.
Random Comments:
- I wonder if this is indeed Bruce Wayne's vision of his perfect life and not the Mad Hatter's. I mean, he seems bored at work. Could Bruce Wayne actually like being Batman (not that he would ever admit it)?
- If the Mad Hatter really wanted to make Bruce Wayne happy, then Batman shouldn't exist... should he? That might be a flaw in Mad Hatter's reasoning. After all, Bruce Wayne would not let crime go unpunished or let others do the work for him.
- Bruce Wayne explaining about reading in dreams: Nice work, detective!
- The Mad Hatter still blames Batman for ruining his life. Aye, he will never learn.
- The state in which you are aware that you are in a dream is called lucid dreaming.
Basic Premise: The Interrogator Wormwood tries to obtain Batman's cape and cowl.
Featuring: Batman, Wormwood, Jozek, Commissioner Gordon
Review: Fun episode in which Wormwood tries to corner Batman in his traps. For such a bright person, Wormwood doesn't quite understand that he is no match for Batman, who is always one step ahead of Wormwood. The villain himself seems like a wannabe in comparison to the Riddler.
Memorable Lines:
Random Comments:
- How does Batman change voices to perfectly match his disguises?
32. Robin's Reckoning (Part one) and 37. Robin's Reckoning (Part Two)
Basic Premise: Years after his parents' death, Robin goes after the person responsible.
Featuring: Flying Graysons, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Tony Zucco
Review: So important the story has to be told in two episodes. Not my favorites, though. The Graysons' deaths are poignant and it's touching that Bruce Wayne would offer to take a young kid in, but it's just that Robin is a very annoying character in general, and that Tony Zucco is a two-bit crook. Part One deals with Dick's past before Bruce becomes his guardian and Part Two is mainly action.
33. The Laughing Fish
Basic Premise: The Joker demands that he receive a copyright for fish with his likeness.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Joker, Harley Quinn, Bullock, Francis, Commissoner Gordon
Memorable Lines:
Batman: Normal criminals usually have logical motives, but the Joker's insane schemes make sense to him alone.
Francis: No one can copyright fish. They're natural resource!
Harley:(in the commerical) They're finny and funny and oh so delish! They're joyful and jolly Joker fish!
Bullock: (referring to Joker) Come on! He was a demented, abusive, psychotic maniac.
Review: My favorite episode thus far! This time, the Joker's weird scheme translates to an entertaining episode, unlike others that are great in theory but end up dull, such as Joker's Favor and Make 'Em Laugh. The commercial for Joker fish is a riot with Joker forcing Harley Quinn to eat the fish and the henchmen dressed up as children. The dialogue is great, Batman's detective skills are impeccable, and the action sequences are thrilling! I think this is the only episode where Batman rides a giant shark!
Random Comments:
- Paul Dini and crew did an impressive job of adapting the comic book story.
- I think the mechanical shark in Jaws was named "Bruce."
34. Night Of The Ninja
Basic Premise: Bruce Wayne must face the only adversary that could defeat him time after time.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Dick Grayson, Alfred, Kyodai Ken/Ninja, Yoru Sensei, Summer Gleeson
Memorable Lines:
Review: Episode that deals with a very important part of Bruce Wayne's past. It explains why Bruce Wayne is so obsessive over winning the victory over the criminals of Gotham. It is also prophetic, for Batman's obsession is his greatest flaw as well, as exemplified in Batman Beyond, where an aging Bruce is reluctant to let anyone else don the Batman cape. Even Robin, who would have been a worthy successor, cannot measure up to Bruce Wayne's real or imagined excellence in crime-fighting. Robin provides some humor in this episode.
Random Comments:
- This version of Bruce Wayne's training in Japan differs from the one presented in "Batman Begins." According to the movie, Ra's Al Ghul served as Batman's mentor in martial arts and overcoming his fears.
36. The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne
Basic Premise: Hugo Strange attempts to auction off Batman's identity to 3 rogue gallery villains.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson/Robin, Alfred, Judge Vargas, Commissoner Gordon, Dr. Hugo Strange Two-Face, Penguin, The Joker
Review: Decent, entertaining episode. I bet he could do something better with Batman's identity than just auction it off to rogue gallery victims. I mean, imagine the reaction of the public once they figure out that playboy millionaire Bruce Wayne is Batman. It is a shame that the episode never explains Hugo Strange's motivation for doing what he does.
39. If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?
Basic Premise: Edward Nygma becomes the Riddler.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Dick Grayson, Edward Nygma/Riddler, Dan Mockridge
Review: The origin story to the Riddler is rather weak, especially compared with the likes of The Clock King, Mad As A Hatter, and Heart of Ice. You would think that a man of Nygma's genius would find something better to do than don a silly green costume in response to a person like Dan Mockridge, who is not as intelligent. THe game that Nygma invents is actually quite dull, one of those frustrating educational types of games with lousy graphics that children bore of quickly, never mind a young adult like Dick Grayson. What saves this episode from becoming too mediocre is when Batman and Robin are trapped in the maze. It makes for some thrilling action sequences and some surreal, inventive images, like the giant hand of fate sweeping up those who go through the wrong doorway.
Random Comments:
- Edward Nygma = Enigma, I didn't catch that
- the puzzles are far more clever than those in Riddler's Reform
- When Dan Mockridge taunts Nygma by asking, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich," Nygma could have easily made a comeback. Intelligent people don't necessarily make the most money in their careers. Strangely, the value of something sometimes doesn't figure in the costs. For example, diamonds are expensive, but they are relatively useless compared to writing instruments, so why don't pencils and pens cost more than diamonds? Professors are probably more intelligent than movie stars. However, they don't make more money. Of course, Dan Mockridge could have meant that smart people know how to get rich, and then my argument would have been void.
Basic Premise: Joker goes after the casino that used his name and face as its theme.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, The Joker
Memorable Lines:
Review: The animation keeps this episode from being more than just decent. I swear, certain body parts keeps expanding and shrinking for no reason. The most flagrant example is The Joker's eye makeup, which gets usually large at times. As for the plot, the Joker is up to his usual outrageous tricks and Batman's detective skills are as sharp as ever. The most interesting part is Bruce Wayne interacting with the Joker without the Joker being aware that he is talking to his greatest foe.
Random Comments:
- The giant Joker spinning head that laughs is annoying! 43. Day of The Samurai
Basic Premise: Something utterly ridiculous that involves the palm of death or something of the like
Featuring: Bruce Wayne/Batman, Alfred, Kyodai Ken, Yoru Sensei, the kidnapped girl
Review: Kyodai Ken makes his second appearance in a disappointing episode that could have been great had the plot not suffered from much silliness. What kind of idiot would put the instructions to this one touch that instantly kills the opponent up on a mountain top? 46. Almost Got 'Im
Basic Premise: Over a game of cards, the villains exchange tales of how they almost caught the caped crusader.
Featuring: Catwoman, Croc, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Batman, Commissoner Gordon
Review: An episode where the rogue gallery comes together is always fun. Among the highlights are Two-Face and Poison Ivy making a reference to their past relationship, and Batman being tied to a coin of enormous proportions.
Random Comments:
- How does Batman imitate voices so perfectly in his disguises?
47. Birds of A Feather
Basic Premise: Veronica Vreeland decides to create a stir by inviting the reformed Penguin to one of her parties.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Penguin, Commissoner Gordon, Veronica Vreeland
Review: Sort of annoying Penguin episode that serves well as a critique of upper Gotham society. Socialites are so bored with their lives they unintentionally cause trouble. Batman lets his Bruce Wayne persona slip a bit with the end result that the millionaire playboy appears more distant than usual and a bit moody.
48. What Is Reality
Basic Premise: Batman has to save Commissoner Gordon, who is trapped inside the Riddler's virtual reality machine.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Robin/Dick Grayson, Commissioner Gordon, Riddler/Edward Nygma
Review: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich part II with more tricky riddles. The only difference is the virtual reality angle.
50. Off Balance
Basic Premise:
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Talia, Count Vertigo, Alfred, Commissoner Gordon Ras Al Ghul
Review: Hello, hello I'm at a place called Vertigo... okay, bad joke. This episode resembles an old spy movie. I wonder why Batman didn't try to rip off Vertigo's eye patch.
Basic Premise: title is self-explanatory
Featuring: Batman, Sid the Squid, Rupert Thorne, Joker, Harley Quinn, Bullock
Review: The title got me a bit worried that this would be super lame, but this is actually a superb episode. The whole time you know that Batman couldn't possibly be dead. His real death would be much more extravagant and he wouldn't be so silly as to die accidentally after encountering such a pathetic, cowardly criminal wannabe, who for a while, lives the dream of killing Batman. Suddenly, he has prestige in the criminal world and what is more compelling is that he is far from a criminal mastermind.
Even the Joker, Batman's greatest nemesis is incapable of dispatching Batman, despite his myriad schemes, and it turns out he doesn't want Batman dead after all. With Batman, he has a challenge, the thrill of battling a worthy adversary. The police are too weak to be a match for The Joker and his life would quickly be dull.
60. His Silicon Soul
Basic Premise: Batman has a robot duplicate.
Featuring: Batman/Bruce Wayne, Bat Duplicate, Alfred, H.A.R.D.A.C., Karl Rossum
Review: Creepy with elements of sci-fi and the Twilight Zone
Basic Premise:
Featuring: Batman, Alfred, Ventriloquist/Scarface, Rhino
Review: Noirish and creepy. If Batman didn't mention that the Ventriloquist suffered from multiple personality disorder, I would have thought that Scarface was a separate entity. The Ventriloquist is that good. This episode confused me as a child and I thought Scarface was real, despite the impausibiliity of such a fact, even in the Batman universe. Maybe somebody's soul transferred to the dummy or a powerful magician casted a spell to make Scarface talk? The Ventriloquist suffering from a mental disorder gives the writers plenty of material to work with, since multiple personalities could be a result of child abuse. What a missed opportunity! BTAS never delves into the Ventriloquist's past that led to the creation of Scarface.
Random:
- Such violence, especially at the beginning and the end! How did it slip past the censors?
6. The Underdwellers
7. P.O.V
8. The Forgotten
9. Be A Clown
10. Two Face
11. It's Never Too Late
12. I've Got Batman in the Basement
13. The Cat and the Claw (Parts I and II)
14. Heart of Ice
15. See No Evil
Joker: Well, look at the size of that cake, man! She can't open the door and push it in all by herself! Think!
Mad Hatter: I was willing to give you whatever life you wanted, just to keep you out of mine!
31. The Cape and the Cowl Conspiracy
Batman(reading note): "Where iron horses go to rot and children toot their horns a lot, a damsels pleas shall come to naught."
Gordon: Do you know what it means?
Batman: Don't you?
Fisherman #1: Okay, let's see what we got! Eww... It's impossible!
Fisherman #2: I'm gonna be sick.
Fisherman #1: All of them. . . with the Joker's face!
Joker: But they share my unique face! Colonel What's-His-Name has chickens, and they don't even have mustaches!
Harley: Yeah. . . I'm really gonna miss him!
Alfred: He never admits fear, Master Dick. Haven't you learned that by now?
40. Joker's Wild
Bruce: All those horrible faces grinning at me. That would do things to my mind after awhile. (referring to the Joker-themed casino)
Joker: Who says you have one?
Bruce: Yeah, I'd be ready for the laughing academy if I had to stare at that ugly clown all day.
51. The Man Who Killed Batman
64. Read My Lips