Batman Beyond

Last updated

Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond title card.png
Title card
Also known asBatman of the Future [1]
Genre
Created by
Based on
Batman
by
Written by
Voices of
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes52 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer Jean MacCurdy
Producers
Running time21-22 minutes
44 minutes (2-part episode)
Production companies Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Warner Bros. Television Animation
Original release
Network Kids' WB
ReleaseJanuary 10, 1999 (1999-01-10) 
December 18, 2001 (2001-12-18)
Related

Batman Beyond (titled Batman of the Future in European territories) is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Created and developed by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Alan Burnett and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, [2] the series began airing on January 10, 1999 on Kids' WB, and ended on December 18, 2001. In the United Kingdom, it began airing on September 4, 2000. [3] After 52 episodes spanning three seasons and one direct-to-video feature film, the series was brought to an end in favor of the Justice League animated series. [4] Depicting a teenaged Batman (Terry McGinnis) in a futuristic Gotham City under the tutelage of an elderly Bruce Wayne, Batman Beyond is the third series (chronologically the final series) of the DC Animated Universe, and serves as the sequel to both Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures . [5]

Contents

Though the initial announcement of the series drew mixed reactions, Batman Beyond was well-received and gained a cult following. Despite being conceived as a kid-friendly Batman series by Warner Brothers Animation, it ended up being darker than its predecessor Batman: The Animated Series. [6] [7]

Plot

The story begins in the then-distant year of 2019. An aging Bruce Wayne, despite being in his 50s, continues to fight crime as Batman in a new high-tech Batsuit, although he has increased difficulty in handling criminals he could once subdue with finesse and they are no longer afraid of him as he has lost his mystique. In what was supposed to be a routine mission, the rescue of kidnapped heiress Bunny Vreeland, the daughter of Veronica Vreeland, Batman suffers a mild heart attack and at risk of being beaten to death by one of the kidnappers, is forced to use a gun to fend him off. Despite not killing the man, Bruce is ashamed and, knowing his frailty and fearing that he will eventually succumb to his murderous temptation if he continues his crime-fighting, decides to retire from being Batman for good. By this point in his life, his butler, father figure and close confidant Alfred Pennyworth has died and his close allies Jim Gordon, Leslie Thompkins, Hamilton Hill, Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya, Lucius Fox and Summer Gleeson have all either retired or died of natural causes. His crime-fighting partners Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, and Tim Drake are still alive, but are estranged from him following their retirements from their alter-egos and possible falling outs with him. His rogues' gallery, consisting of Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Man-Bat, Mad Hatter, Bane, Clayface, Catwoman, Ra's al Ghul and his daughter Talia, Phantasm, Ventriloquist, Firefly, Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange, Rupert Thorne, Deadshot, Baby-Doll and Killer Croc are all either in prison, institutionalized, in exile, on the lam, reformed, have disappeared or are dead. He has also severed his ties with Superman and the Justice League.

The story moves ahead 20 years later in Neo-Gotham, a futuristic version of Gotham City, a megalopolis featuring staggering high rises and flying vehicles driven by upper class society. Bruce is now a man in his 70s, living in solitary isolation in Wayne Manor, with no other companion but his guard dog Ace. It is implied by his virtue of continuing to fight crime for as long as possible and ignoring his aging and deteriorating health (he had retained his former partner's costumes) in addition to his obsessiveness that he had suffered a tragic event years prior to his retirement, which is revealed in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker . Terry McGinnis is an athletic 16-year-old high school student and reformed juvenile delinquent with a deeply ingrained sense of personal justice. Living on difficult terms with his divorced father Warren McGinnis, Terry disobeys his curfew one night to meet up with his girlfriend Dana Tan, only to be harassed by a criminal gang called the Jokerz, who have seemingly modeled themselves after the original Batman's archenemy Joker. A high-speed motorcycle chase between him and the Jokerz ends in the grounds of Wayne Manor, where they run into Bruce Wayne. Bruce and Terry fend off the gang side-by-side, but the exertion aggravates Bruce's heart condition. Terry helps him back to the manor and, while exploring the mansion, stumbles upon the entrance to the Batcave and thus discovers Bruce's secrets, only to be chased out by an angered Bruce.

Terry returns home to discover that his father has been murdered, apparently by the vengeful Jokerz. Soon after moving in with his mother Mary and younger brother Matt, he discovers that his father had uncovered the production of illegal chemical weapons by Derek Powers, and that the man actually responsible for his father's murder is Powers' personal assistant/bodyguard Mr. Fixx. Terry goes to Bruce who tells Terry to take the evidence to Barbara Gordon, the current Police Commissioner. After the evidence of the illegal weapon production is forcibly taken from Terry by Derek Powers, Terry subsequently steals the Batsuit, intending to bring Powers to justice. Bruce initially opposes all of Terry's efforts and demands that he return the suit, but Terry convinces Bruce to let him take on the Batman mantle and subsequently defeats Mr. Fixx. During the battle, Powers is exposed to the chemical and forced to flee into hiding to receive treatment, which subsequently mutates him into a radiation-emitting entity, though he uses artificial skin to hide the accident. Realizing that crime and corruption are running rampant in Gotham without Batman's presence, Bruce offers Terry the chance to assume the role of Batman, with Bruce himself mentoring Terry and in addition to working as Bruce's chauffeur and assistant so that Terry can support his family.

The new Batman soon develops his own rogues gallery, such as Powers himself who adopts the name Blight; the seductive shapeshifter Inque; the hypnotist Spellbinder; the sound weaponizer Shriek; the deadly assassin Curaré; the insane terrorist Mad Stan; the cybernetically enhanced African big-game hunter Stalker; nerdy psychokinetic Willie Watt; and a new version of the Royal Flush Gang. Terry often also clashes with some of his mentor's old foes, such as a rejuvenated Mr. Freeze, Bane, who has become a shell of his former self due to his overuse of venom, which is now being used as slap on patches by corrupt athletes, the longevous Ra's al Ghul, and somewhat inevitably, the Joker himself, reborn via a microchip he inserted into the brain of Batman's former partner, Tim Drake.

Terry also makes allies in Neo-Gotham, including computer genius Max Gibson, who discovers Batman's secret identity and becomes his sidekick. Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon, Bruce's former partner Batgirl, also occasionally works with Terry. Though initially unhappy about another person following in Bruce's dangerous footsteps and at first vehemently opposed to his efforts to help, she admits that the city needs Batman, but neither uses the Bat-Signal nor has a very close working relationship with him, unlike her father during Bruce's time as Batman. He also has a brief relationship with Melanie Walker, who was forced to do the bidding of her family, the new Royal Flush Gang, under the codename Ten. Bruce sympathizes with Terry and tells him of his own relationship with Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Terry also later encounters Superman and a future incarnation of the Justice League (Kai-Ro/Green Lantern, Aquagirl, Warhawk and Big Barda) and helps them fight an alien threat, although he does not join the group until years later where he presumably only operates as a part-timer like his mentor.

Voice cast

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 13January 10, 1999 (1999-01-10)May 22, 1999 (1999-05-22)
2 26September 17, 1999 (1999-09-17)May 27, 2000 (2000-05-27)
3 13August 19, 2000 (2000-08-19)December 18, 2001 (2001-12-18)

Crossovers

The third season of Batman Beyond featured the two-part episode "The Call" with (for the first time) a futuristic Justice League, a springboard for the Justice League animated series. The setting and characters of Batman Beyond were also briefly revived in Static Shock during the episode "Future Shock" in which Static is accidentally transported 40 years into the future.

Justice League Unlimited revisited the Batman Beyond world twice in 2005. The first was in "The Once and Future Thing" (Part 2), which featured Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern transported 50 years into the future to stop a time-travelling villain with the help of the future Justice League (Batman II, Static and Warhawk).

The second time was meant to be the de facto series finale for Batman Beyond: the episode "Epilogue" reveals that Bruce Wayne is actually Terry McGinnis's biological father. The story, set 15 years after Batman Beyond, centers on Terry (now in his early 30s) tracking down an elderly Amanda Waller. She explains through flashbacks that, even though she grew to trust and respect Batman, she was aware of him aging, getting slower, and getting weaker, thus accepting the idea of either Bruce retiring or being killed at some point. Finding the idea of a world without Batman unacceptable, Waller used her Project Cadmus connections to gather the technology for "Project Batman Beyond", whose goal was to physically create a new Batman, starting with a secretly collected sample of Bruce Wayne's DNA. Some years after Bruce retired, Waller found a young Neo-Gotham couple—the McGinnises—with psychological profiles nearly identical to those of Bruce's parents, a nanotech solution was injected into Warren McGinnis to rewrite his reproductive material with that of Bruce. The eventual result was his wife Mary McGinnis giving birth to Terry, a child sharing the genetic traits of his mother and Bruce Wayne. When Terry was eight years old, Waller employed an elderly Andrea Beaumont in her Phantasm alias as an assassin to kill Terry's family, hoping the trauma would put him on the path to becoming Batman. However, Beaumont could not commit the act, arguing that she would be doing something against what Bruce stood for. Waller eventually conceded that Beaumont had been right and abolished the project altogether. Eight years afterward, Warren would be murdered because of Derek Powers, and Terry would meet Bruce by happenstance—resulting in Terry becoming Batman's successor. Waller concludes by reminding Terry that he is Bruce's son, not his clone, and that, despite the circumstances of his existence, he still has free will to live out his own life; Although not his clone she later tells Terry how he is not even close to as smart as Bruce Wayne but he does have his heart. Terry comes to terms with his revelations, and continues in being Batman. With a new sense of purpose, Terry plans to propose to Dana, while continuing his life of crimefighting.

Animation

In order to complete the series, Warner Bros. Animation outsourced Batman Beyond to Dong Yang Animation, Koko Enterprises and Seoul Movie (a subsidiary of TMS) in Seoul, South Korea. While the South Korean studios animated the series' episodes, the feature film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker was animated by TMS Entertainment in Tokyo, Japan.

Spin-off

A spin-off from Batman Beyond, an animated series called The Zeta Project , featured a revamped version of the synthoid Zeta from the Batman Beyond episode "Zeta". Batman would guest star in the episode "Shadows". The super villain Stalker was to have appeared in The Zeta Project episode "Taffy Time", but ultimately did not do so. [8] The second-season episode "Ro's Gift" has an appearance by the Brain Trust from the Batman Beyond episode "Mind Games". Terry McGinnis/Batman was originally slated to appear in this episode as well, but was cut since Bruce Timm and company were working on Justice League . [8]

Reception

While the idea of Batman Beyond seemed as if it were "not a proper continuation of the legacy of the Dark Knight", [9] the series received critical acclaim and a cult following after its release. It has been praised for its dark and cyberpunk storytelling. The show was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, two of which it won in 2001 for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and Outstanding Music Direction and Composition. In addition, the show was nominated for five Annie Awards and won two of those nominations in 1999 and 2001. [10] In 2009, IGN.com named Batman Beyond the 40th-best animated television series of all time. [9]

Den of Geek, when listing the best episodes of the series, wrote that "Batman Beyond's first year on the air represents the show at its most realized form. It's the only season of the show that's written at the same level of quality as Batman: The Animated Series. Not to say that later seasons don't have their moments, but it seemed like the writers approached Beyond as a Saturday morning cartoon during seasons two and three, whereas during season one, they most certainly did not." [11] Creator Bruce Timm has stated Batman Beyond is the most uneven series of the main DC Animated Universe shows, particular in regards to the latter two seasons. [12] Greg Weisman commented that while the series was well made, it felt more like a Spider-Man series and much less like Batman. [13]

Home media

VHS

Some episodes of the series were released on VHS from 1999 to 2000, including the series' premiere (as Batman Beyond: The Movie), and select episodes as five VHS volumes containing three episodes per tape (the same contents as the individual DVD volume releases, see below), and the direct-to-video film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (edited version).

Season DVDs

DVD nameRelease dateEpisodesAdditional information
The Complete First SeasonMarch 21, 200613Special features: creators' commentary on two key episodes; Inside Batman Beyond: Meet the Series' Creators; Music of the Knight: Enjoy Score-Only Versions of Key Scenes.
The Complete Second SeasonOctober 24, 200626Special features: creators' commentary on two key episodes; Inside Batman Beyond: The Panel – In-Depth Dialogue with the Show's Creators. DVD art designed by Jesse Stagg at RDI.
The Complete Third SeasonMarch 20, 200713Special features: Inside Batman Beyond; featurettes on four episodes by producers, directors and Will Friedle. DVD art designed by Jesse Stagg at RDI.
The Complete SeriesNovember 23, 201052Special features: creator commentaries, season retrospectives, bonus 9th disc with 95 minutes of new special features, Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics documentary and three all-new, all-revealing featurettes.

Individual DVDs

DVD nameRelease dateEpisodesAdditional information
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
(edited version, 73 min.)
December 12, 20001Commentary by the filmmakers*; behind-the-scenes documentary; deleted scenes; animation tests; music video Crash by Mephisto Odyssey featuring Static X; animated character bios; interactive menus; production notes; trailers; scene access; subtitles: English and French.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
(uncut version, 76 min.)
April 23, 20021Commentary by the filmmakers*; behind-the-scenes documentary; deleted scenes; animation tests; music video Crash by Mephisto Odyssey featuring Static X; animated character bios; interactive menus; production notes; trailers; scene access; subtitles: English and French.
Batman Beyond: The Movie May 18, 19996Compilation of the first six episodes (by production order, not by air date) of the series: "Rebirth " (Parts 1 and 2), "Golem", "Dead Man's Hand", "Meltdown", "The Winning Edge"
Batman Beyond: School Dayz and SpellboundMarch 2, 20046Contains these episodes: S01E04, S01E08, S01E09, S01E10, S01E12 and S02E08, plus all of the episodes as one long movie
Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing InqueMarch 2, 20046

Blu-ray

Batman Beyond was released on Blu-ray on October 29, 2019. The four-disc set includes all 52 episodes and the uncut version of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Forty-one of the episodes and Return of the Joker were remastered. The remaining 11 episodes were an upconversion. [14]

In other media

Comics

Books

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, a novelization of the feature film written by Michael Teitelbaum, was released on November 1, 2000.

Two Batman Beyond books for young readers were released on November 14, 2000: Batman Beyond: New Hero in Town and Batman Beyond: No Place Like Home, followed by two more, released on May 28, 2002: Batman Beyond: Hear No Evil and Batman Beyond: Grounded.

Music

Batman Beyond
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedAugust 31, 1999 (1999-08-31)
Length39:58
Label Rhino Entertainment
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Released on August 31, 1999, the soundtrack to Batman Beyond features many of the same composers who worked on the previous animated Batman shows. The music style is more industrial, with some metal influence, to tie in with the show's futuristic cyberpunk genre.

Batman Beyond
No.TitleComposerLength
1."Batman Beyond (Main Title)"Kristopher Carter1:00
2."Cold vs. Hot"Lolita Ritmanis3:12
3."Terrific Trio vs. Rocketeers"Michael McCuistion1:50
4."Bat-Slapped in Store"Kristopher Carter1:16
5."Farewells"Lolita Ritmanis2:44
6."Batman Defeats Chappell"Kristopher Carter2:14
7."Batman Chases Inque"Kristopher Carter2:43
8."Yachting with the Card Gang"Shirley Walker2:09
9."Batman's First Fight"Michael McCuistion2:57
10."The Legacy Continues"Michael McCuistion1:24
11."Hotel Scuffle"Shirley Walker1:57
12."Trouble in the Museum"Shirley Walker1:46
13."Inque Escapes!"Kristopher Carter1:22
14."Nuclear Lab Destruction"Michael McCuistion1:54
15."Golem Chases Shoppers"Shirley Walker2:00
16."Willie Defeated"Shirley Walker2:37
17."Genetic Theft"Michael McCuistion1:29
18."Joker Chase"Lolita Ritmanis3:08
19."Move to the Groove"Lolita Ritmanis1:16
20."Batman Beyond (End Credits)"Shirley Walker1:00

Toys

in 1999, Hasbro had released a Batman Beyond Toyline with sub-lines, In 2000, Burger King included Batman Beyond toys in their kids' meals.

Films

A direct-to-video feature film, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker , was released on December 12, 2000. The original release was censored for elements of violence and death following the Columbine High School massacre, though a second, uncensored version was later released. Nevertheless, it received critical acclaim for its story, voice acting, animation and score. [16] A second Batman Beyond film, focusing on the origins of Terry McGinnis, multiple clones of Bruce Wayne and the appearance of an elderly Selina Kyle, was planned by Bruce Timm and Glen Murakami, though it was never scripted, as it never went beyond a 45-minute impromptu plotting session between the two. The project was scrapped due to the dark tones and controversies surrounding Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. [17] Despite this, the plot elements were eventually reworked into the second-season finale of Justice League Unlimited titled "Epilogue" (which was intended to be the series finale until the show was renewed for a third and final season) where Terry discovers his genetic origins. Amanda Waller planted Bruce Wayne's DNA into Warren McGinnis through his routine flu shot and later helps create a copy of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle is briefly mentioned in passing.

Among the live action films proposed between the critical failure of Batman & Robin and the reboot of the Batman franchise was Batman Beyond. In August 2000, Warner Bros. announced that it was developing a live-action film adaptation with Boaz Yakin attached to co-write and direct. The TV series' creators, Dini and Alan Burnett, were hired to write a screenplay for the feature film, with Neal Stephenson as consultant. Yakin hoped to cast Clint Eastwood as the retired Batman. [18] [19] By July 2001, a first draft was turned in to the studio, and the writers were waiting to see if a rewrite would be needed. The studio, also exploring other takes of Batman in development [20] eventually placed Batman Beyond on hold in August 2001, but ultimately canceled the proposal. [21] Yakin reportedly wanted the film to be dark, nihilistic, and with swearing and violence, and not the PG-13 film the studio wanted. [19]

In January 2019, rumors began to circulate that Warner Animation Group was developing an animated Batman Beyond film following the critical and commercial success of Sony Pictures Animation's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , [22] but was later reported that no such film was in the works. [23] In the later August interview with DC Universe, Paul Dini revealed that Warner Bros. continues to express interest in a film adaptation but have put emphasis on other projects. [24] Actor Tyler Posey has expressed interest in playing Terry McGinnis in the possible film adaptation. [25] In June 2020, Michael Keaton entered talks to play an elderly Bruce Wayne, reprising his role from Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), in the DCEU film, The Flash , which was set for release in 2023. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Warner Bros. hopes for Keaton to return for multiple DCEU films in a way "akin to the role played by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something of a mentor or guide or even string-puller". [26] Keaton was officially confirmed to return in August of the same year. [27] In December 2022, it was announced that Christina Hodson, writer of The Flash and the cancelled Batgirl film, had been hired to write a script for a live-action Batman Beyond film. The plot would have involved an aged Bruce Wayne, continuing the plot threads from his appearance in The Flash, and would have included the return of Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman. Development on the film was shelved after James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed as co-heads of DC Studios. [28] In January 2023, Gunn and Safran stated that there is potential for a future multiverse project in which they may incorporate Keaton's incarnation of Batman. [29]

In March 2023 it was reported that an animated Batman Beyond film had been put into development, written by Daniel Casey and serving as WB's answer to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. However, the project was put into commission under the leadership of Walter Hamada, who served as DC Films president from 2018 to 2022, and it is currently unknown if it is still happening under Gunn and Safran's direction, though Jeff Sneider of The Hollywood Reporter noted that nobody who was working on the project was told it was cancelled. [30]

Video games

The first appearance of the Terry McGinnis version of Batman in a video game is in the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color video game Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker .

The Batman Beyond Batsuit appears as an alternate costume in Justice League Heroes and as downloadable content in Batman: Arkham City and Injustice: Gods Among Us .

A Batman Beyond DLC was included in the third Lego Batman video game.

A "Batman of the Future" character pack featuring the Terry McGinnis Batman with all its trademark gadgets (such as the flying suit and the ability to turn invisible) and other Batman Beyond-era characters were revealed to be PS3/PS4-exclusive DLC for Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham . [31]

Rocksteady Studios created their own unique take on the Batman Beyond Batsuit for Batman: Arkham Knight as a pre-order bonus along with The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit titled "Gotham's Future Pack".

Batman Beyond appears in the mobile games Teeny Titans! And Teen Titans Go! Figures.

Animation

In April 2014, a Batman Beyond short by Darwyn Cooke premiered at WonderCon. The short, which saw Will Friedle and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles, sees Batman (Terry McGinnis) battle a Batman android (resembling the design from The New Batman Adventures) in the Batcave with help from the elderly Bruce Wayne and the Batmobile (resembling the design from Batman: The Animated Series). Once defeated, Batman and Bruce look out to see and prepare to fight seven additional invading androids resembling the designs from Beware the Batman , The Batman , Batman: The Brave and the Bold , The Dark Knight Returns , Batman (1989 film), Batman (1960s TV series), and the original design by Bill Finger. [32] Though the androids' source is unstated, they are reminiscent of the story arc from Batman: The Animated Series involving the computer program HARDAC.

Batman Beyond is alluded in Teen Titans Go! . In the episode "Sandwich Thief", Robin travels to the future to his father Nightwing's apartment where a poster of the Batman Beyond Batman can be seen, indicating that Nightwing admires this incarnation of Batman.

Related Research Articles

<i>Batman</i> (1989 film) Superhero film by Tim Burton

Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Directed by Tim Burton, it is the first installment of Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series. The film was produced by Jon Peters and Peter Guber and stars Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, and Jack Palance. The film takes place early in the title character's war on crime and depicts his conflict with his archenemy The Joker.

<i>Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker</i> 2000 superhero film by Curt Geda

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a 2000 American direct-to-video superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the third film in the DC Animated Universe and is based on the animated series Batman Beyond while also serving as a continuation of and resolving plot points from The New Batman Adventures. The film features the DC Comics superheroes Batman and Terry McGinnis, as they try to unravel the mysterious return of the former's archenemy, the Joker, preparing a climatic showdown with the villain.

<i>The Batman</i> (TV series) 2004–2008 American television series

The Batman is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Michael Goguen and Duane Capizzi, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the series first aired on Kids' WB on September 11, 2004, then Cartoon Network on April 2, 2005. The show would become exclusive to the former network for its third, fourth, and fifth seasons in early 2006. The Batman won six Daytime Emmy Awards over the course of its run. Many elements from previous Batman storylines were borrowed and adapted, such as those from the comic books, film series and the animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series from the DC Animated Universe, but it remained strictly within its own distinct continuity. Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda served as art director and provided the character designs. The production team altered the appearances of many of the comic books' supervillains for the show, such as the Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and the Riddler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman (Terry McGinnis)</span> Fictional DC comics character

Batman, also known as Batman Beyond after his animated television series to distinguish him from Bruce Wayne, is a superhero appearing in media published by DC Entertainment. The character was created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini and first appeared in the pilot episode of Batman Beyond (1999–2001) set in the DC Animated Universe, voiced by Will Friedle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Animated Universe</span> Shared fictional universe

The DC Animated Universe is a shared universe centered on a group of animated television series based on DC Comics and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It began with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 and ended with Justice League Unlimited in 2006. Animated feature films and shorts, comic books, video games, and other multimedia adaptations are also in the continuity that continued to be released years later.

<i>The New Batman Adventures</i> American animated superhero TV series (1997–1999)

The New Batman Adventures is an American animated superhero television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, which aired on Kids' WB from September 13, 1997 to January 16, 1999. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it is a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), serving as the third season of the show, and the third series in the DC Animated Universe. It was followed by Batman Beyond (1999–2001). The series was revamped from BTAS, replacing its art style with streamlined designs for more consistent animation, and to maintain similarity with the simultaneously running Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), with episodes airing on Kids' WB under the title The New Batman/Superman Adventures.

<i>Batman</i> (franchise) Franchise based on DC Comics character, Batman

The DC Comics character Batman has been adapted into various media including film, radio, television, and video games, as well as numerous merchandising items. The Batman franchise has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batsuit</span> Suit worn by Batman

The Batsuit is the costume of DC Comics's fictional superhero Batman, who appears in their American comic books. The suit has been depicted in various artistic iterations, and the stories themselves have described Batman as modifying the details of his costume from time to time. However, it usually consists of a gray or black body suit, the chest emblazoned with a stylized black bat either with or without a yellow ellipse around it, and blue-black accessories: a wide scalloped cape, gloves with a series of fin-like projections, black or blue trunks, boots, and a close-fitting cowl with ear-like projections to suggest a bat's head; and a yellow or gold utility belt containing a variety of gadgets.

<i>Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker</i> (video game) 2000 video game

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, known as Batman of the Future: Return of the Joker in Europe, is a scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Kemco and released by Ubi Soft for the Game Boy Color, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in 2000 and 2001. The game is based on the film of the same name, which in turn was based on the TV series Batman Beyond. Players act as the new Batman Terry McGinnis, who takes over the position of the retired Bruce Wayne and fights against the Jokerz gang led by the recently revived Joker. Throughout the game, Batman fights the villain's cronies, who steal tech components from various laboratories and corporations in Gotham City. Joker uses them to take control of a missile-shooting satellite, which he plans to destroy the entire city with.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Beaumont</span> Comics character

Andrea Beaumont, also known as the Phantasm, is a fictional DC Comics supervillain and antiheroine created by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, and designed by Bruce Timm. Beaumont first appeared as the main antagonist in the 1993 DC Animated Universe (DCAU) film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, where she was established as the fiancée of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Dana Delany provided the voice work for Andrea and Stacy Keach provided the electronically modified voice of her "Phantasm" alter ego; Keach also provided the voice of Andrea's father, Carl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin in other media</span> Superhero Robin in non-comicbook media

In addition to DC Comics books, the superhero Robin also appears in other media, such as films, television and radio. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damian Wayne are examples of the characters who use the name Robin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman in film</span> Film adaptations of the DC superhero

The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s: Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with the 1989 film Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of Batman Unchained.

Originally created in 1967, the fictional comic book character Barbara Gordon has been adapted into various other forms of media. The character has appeared in both live action and animated television series and films, as well as in video games in her alter-egos as both Batgirl and Oracle!.

<i>Batman Beyond</i> (comics) Title of six DC Comics Series

Batman Beyond is a comic book series featuring the fictional character Terry McGinnis as Batman and based on the animated television series of the same name. It has appeared in various DC Comics publications, including a six-issue miniseries from 1999, a 24-issue series running from 1999 to 2001, the "Hush" arc by DC Comics in 2010, and an eight-issue miniseries in 2011. A short-running series titled Batman Beyond Unlimited was later released, followed by Batman Beyond 2.0 in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Wayne (1989 film series character)</span> 1989 Batman film series character

Bruce Wayne, better known by his vigilante superhero alias Batman, is a fictional character who is featured as the main protagonist in Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series (1989–1997), and later as a supporting character in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film The Flash (2023). Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, he was portrayed by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), before being recast with Val Kilmer and George Clooney in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) respectively.

Bruce Wayne (<i>Dark Knight</i> trilogy) Fictional film character

Bruce Wayne, also known by his vigilante persona Batman, is a fictional character who is the main protagonist in Christopher Nolan's trilogy of superhero films, based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Portrayed by Christian Bale, this version of Batman is arguably explored more in-depth compared to that of the previous film series by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, as the Dark Knight film series provides a full arc for the character and was intended by Nolan to be more realistic than previous portrayals.

<i>Batman: Beyond the White Knight</i> Limited comic book series by Sean Murphy

Batman: Beyond the White Knight is an American comic book published by DC Comics under its Black Label imprint. The eight-issue limited series — written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, lettered by AndWorld Design and colored by Dave Stewart — began its monthly publication on March 29, 2022 and ended on February 14, 2023. It is the sequel to both Batman: White Knight (2017–18) and Batman: Curse of the White Knight (2019–20), and is also the fifth installment in Murphy's self-titled Murphyverse line. It is also an adaptation of the animated television series Batman Beyond (1999–2001), with the plot of the comic book being based on the original premise of the TV show.

References

  1. Warner Bros. Television Animation (July 6, 2008). Batman of the Future Opening / Intro. R.F. Retrieved July 6, 2008 via YouTube.
  2. "A History of Batman on TV". IGN . Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  3. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 114–122. ISBN   978-1476665993.
  4. "News". Comics Continuum. February 9, 2001. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  5. Pereira, Sergio (February 9, 2022). "The Untold Truth Of Batman Beyond". Looper.com.
  6. Batman Beyond: Making of (DVD)
  7. Nolen-Weathington, Eric (June 1, 2004). Modern Masters Volume 3: Bruce Timm. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 67. ISBN   978-1-893905-30-6 . Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "The World's Finest - The Zeta Project". Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  9. 1 2 "40. Batman Beyond". IGN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009.
  10. Awards for Batman Beyond at IMDb OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. "Batman Beyond: The Essential Episodes". January 10, 2020.
  12. Forum post [ dead link ]
  13. "Search Ask Greg". Gargoyles : Station Eight.
  14. "'Batman Beyond' is Finally Getting a Remastered Blu-ray Release This October [Comic-Con 2019]". /Film. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  15. Phares, Heather. "Batman Beyond". AllMusic . Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  16. "Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker". Rotten Tomatoes. December 12, 2000. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
  17. "Epilogue". Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  18. Harris, Dana (August 22, 2000). "There's new 'Batman' in WB's belfry". Variety . Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  19. 1 2 Greenberg, James (May 8, 2005). "Rescuing Batman". Los Angeles Times. p. E-10. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  20. Linder, Brian (July 17, 2001). "Beyond Doubt". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  21. Linder, Brian (August 31, 2001). "Aronofsky's Sci-Fi Epic Postponed". IGN. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  22. Gerber, Jamie (January 30, 2019). "Batman Beyond Animated Movie In Development at Warner Bros". Screen Rant . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  23. Wood, Matt (February 2, 2019). "Sorry, The Batman Beyond Movie Rumor Was Shot Down". CinemaBlend. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  24. Lapin-Bertone, Joshua (August 22, 2019). "BATMAN BEYOND Writer & Director on a Possible Movie". DC Universe . Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  25. "Teen Wolf Star Tyler Posey Wants to Play Batman Beyond". Movies. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  26. Kit, Borys (June 22, 2020). "Micheal Keaton in Talks to Return as Batman for 'Flash' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  27. Breznican, Anthony (August 20, 2020). "Ben Affleck Will Return as Batman in The Flash". Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  28. Nebens, Richard (December 9, 2022). "Michael Keaton's Batman Reboot Reportedly Killed at Warner Bros". The Direct. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  29. Massoto, Erick (January 31, 2023). "James Gunn Says There Are "Possibilities" for Michael Keaton's Batman". Collider. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  30. Hargrave, Sam (March 3, 2023). "Batman Beyond Movie: New Details Revealed (Report)". The Direct. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  31. "The Batman of the Future is coming to LEGO Batman 3 in Europe". VG247.com. September 26, 2014.
  32. McDaniel, Matt (April 18, 2014). "Spot the Easter Eggs in a New Batman Film for His 75th Anniversary". Yahoo! . Retrieved April 20, 2014.

[1]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.
Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, ~~~~

  1. cameronmoviesandtv (November 19, 2022). "Justice League Unlimited – Season 1, Episode 26 – "Epilogue" – The Legacy of Batman and Remembering Kevin Conroy". cameronmoviesandtv. Retrieved April 19, 2024.