Amazon Prime Batman: Caped Crusader (1 Viewer)

[Adam Lenhardt]

The new animated Batman series from Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Ed Brubaker that David Zaslav infamously tried to shelve for a tax write-off premiered today on Prime Video.

The style is very similar to "Batman: The Animated Series", probably the most similar to that series of everything that has come sense. But whereas that series had a sort of retro-futurism that combined elements of the past and future, this series full commits to the 1940s setting and all of the shots are clearly inspired by the film noirs of that period. Batman's costume looks like a cross between the early Bob Kane-drawn comics and Lewis Wilson's costume from the 1943 Columbia Pictures serial.

The time period features all of the misogyny you'd expect of the time period, but oddly none of the racism. This version of Commissioner Gordon is black, and his daughter Barbara (here, a feisty public defender) is biracial. A number of other important characters are reimagined in ways large and small.

At the start of the series, Batman is focused on taking down prohibition-era mobsters in a Gotham that feels very much like any other late Depression-era American city. But when Oswalda Cobblepot decides to branch out from her lounge act and casino boat into organized crime, she opens up the flood gates for freaks and monsters.

Hamish Linklater is well cast as the new Bruce Wayne/Batman. His Batman sounds very much like Kevin Conroy's, while his Bruce is different but no less distinct.

Two episodes in, and I'm enjoying it. There's just enough different that I can't assume that things will play out as I might expect them to.

 

[TravisR]

The new animated Batman series from Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Ed Brubaker that David Zaslav infamously tried to shelve for a tax write-off premiered today on Prime Video.

Pretty much every word in that sentence makes me wanna see this. Timm, Abrams and Reeves are well known but for those unaware, Brubaker is one of the greatest writers in comics history.

 

[Sam Favate]

Looking forward to this. The reviews have been terrific.

 

[Matt Hough]

I plan to start on it today, too. Looking forward to it.

 

[David_B_K]

Watched the trailer last night. I'm going to watch the actual show tonight. The original Batman Animated Series is my favorite depiction of Batman and his world outside the comic books. This looks quite promising.

 

[Matt Hough]

I watched the first episode. Enjoyable and atmospheric; well done all around. As for Oswalda, I don't really understand the need for the reimagining of a villain. If you want a female villain and you're not satisfied with the rogues' gallery already in existence, CREATE A NEW CHARACTER. I just don't see the need to undo decades of already established lore.

 

[dana martin]

I watched the first episode. Enjoyable and atmospheric; well done all around. As for Oswalda, I don't really understand the need for the reimagining of a villain. If you want a female villain and you're not satisfied with the rogues' gallery already in existence, CREATE A NEW CHARACTER. I just don't see the need to undo decades of already established lore.

I had a similar opinion about Penguin, not like they haven't introduced a new female villain on any of the Animated versions. Harlequin started on TAS, and went on to become one of the biggest additions to the DC canon.

That minor quibble aside, this is beautifully designed, and agree with the costume design reminiscent of the Columbia Serials. Only better written and executed.

There were rumors or discussions that at one time Welles was interested in doing a Batman film in 1940's. I think this was before the serials, i imagine that this is as close to the Noirish element that he would have created. Go past the first two episodes. Pace yourself, and enjoy.

So far my favorite episode is the one involving Basil Karlo/Clayface, the homages and set pieces in that one alone is an outstanding. Any classic film lover is just going to enjoy it. Right down to the Lon Chaney Sr. London After Midnight cameo. Excellently executed and fits in with the story.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I watched the first episode. Enjoyable and atmospheric; well done all around. As for Oswalda, I don't really understand the need for the reimagining of a villain. If you want a female villain and you're not satisfied with the rogues' gallery already in existence, CREATE A NEW CHARACTER. I just don't see the need to undo decades of already established lore.

I think there's a few factors at play here:

1. Timm has already done the classic version of the Penguin in his earlier series, and wanted to try something different.
2. The theatrical nature of the Penguin worked fine in camp versions of Batman like the Adam West series, but is harder to justify in the noir world of this series. Making the Penguin a lounge act and the Iceberg Lounge a sort of cabaret style venue provides an in-story explanation for the theatricality.
3. This is essentially an elseworlds story that goes back to the beginning of the Batman lore with fresh eyes. Given that, I don't think any of the decades of already established lore necessarily play into this, unless and until they choose to make them play into here.

I had a similar opinion about Penguin, not like they haven't introduced a new female villain on any of the Animated versions. Harlequin started on TAS, and went on to become one of the biggest additions to the DC canon.

Even though Harley isn't gender bent here, she is a very different take on the character than B:TAS. Aside from being Asian, her daytime persona as a respected psychologist is the playful and funny persona while her Harley Quinn persona is deadly serious.

So far my favorite episode is the one involving Basil Karlof/Clayface, the homages and set pieces in that one alone is an outstanding. Any classic film lover is just going to enjoy it. Right down to the Lon Chaney Sr. London After Midnight cameo. Excellently executed and fits in with the story.

That was well done, for sure, but so far my favorite episode is Catwoman's in episode 3. I really enjoyed how they re-envisioned Selina Kyle as Bruce through a funhouse mirror: Both the offspring of a wealthy Gotham family, both without their parents, and both living with the domestic staff who helped raise them. Selina is very aware of the parallels, and crafts her Catwoman persona in direct response to the news coverage of "the Bat-Man". But all the parallels are superficial: Bruce inherited his family's fortune intact while Selina is broke after her father's crimes squandered it; Bruce's parents were murdered, while Selina's father is in prison for white collar crime; Alfred loves Bruce like a son, while Selina's maid is openly disdainful of her; and while Batman is the real person and Bruce Wayne is the disguise, Selina Kyle is the real person and Catwoman is the disguise. I enjoyed Christina Ricci's playful take on the character too.

 

[TonyD]

After the first three this show loses me.
The score is terrible, like a low budget Danny Elfman.


Everytime he calls Alfred - Pennyworth it’s so disrespectful and downright mean.

This series is off and disappointin.
Not surprised they only released the first three eps for early reviews.

 

[Sam Favate]

I watched the first two and I really like them. The atmosphere, the setting, the visuals are all pretty much perfect. It’s a film noir Batman. (The gloves are a really nice touch.) Yeah, the big gender switch is pushing it, but she’s a classic ruthless noir villain. I can’t wait to see the rest, and I hope this gets a blu-ray release.

 

[DaveF]

I watched the first episode and it was solid. I can’t say I was blown away, but it was wholly enjoyable and expect to watch the season as I have time.