This is a relatively radical spin on the Batman continuity.
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"Batman: The Animated Series" and "Batman: Gotham Knights" drew great numbers when they first aired on TV, but Warner´s animation executives worried about how "mature" the series were. They skewed "old" for cartoons, so they asked the shows´ producers to create a new animated Batman. The producers came up with "Batman Beyond", which is set at a time when Bruce Wayne is a very old senior citizen with severe heart problems. Bruce Wayne retires as Batman, but a chance encounter with a young man whose father is murdered leads to a new hero wearing the mantle of Gotham´s defender.
This is a relatively radical spin on the Batman continuity. In the comics, one of the Robins died, and one of the Robins grew up to become Nightwing. Even though Bane almost killed him, no one really replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman. "Batman Beyond" leaps to the realistically inevitable--even if Batman´s enemies can´t take him down, natural causes will.
Terry McGuinness´s father is killed by Derek Powers´s thugs. Powers wants complete control of Wayne-Powers Enterprises, but Bruce Wayne is doing his stubborn best to keep his father´s company from becoming an organization involved in illegal and immoral activities. Eventually, Powers dips his fingers in too many predicaments, and he literally turns into a radioactive monster. This power struggle between two Batmans and Powers escalates the violence plaguing Gotham City.
There are a couple of nods to the previous series. Bruce Wayne´s hovercar looks like an upside-down version of his old Batmobile. Mr. Freeze returns; we find out what happens after his whole body dies, leaving only his head, in "Batman: Gotham Knights". One of the new villains, a magma-man of sorts, resembles Clayface. Barbara Gordon is the new police commissioner, though she is less lenient with Batman than her father was since crime really hasn´t lessened despite Bruce Wayne and Terry McGuinness´s efforts.
Perhaps the biggest departure from Batman´s established lore is the "look" of things. Futurism has little to do with this departure. Rather, the Batsuit, the Batmobile/Batplane, the Batarangs, etc. don´t look like Batman´s toys at all. Red and black is a good color combo, but shouldn´t Batman´s logo be a black bat on a yellow oval? Argh.
Since "Batman Beyond" is a continuation of what was started by "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Batman: Gotham Knights", it retains a sensibility and style that is welcome and familiar. It does not have the ADD style, headache-inducing garishness of the recent "The Batman", a series filled with too-rapid edits, stupid storylines, and ugly artwork. "Batman Beyond" is 60/40 in terms of watchability; some outings are cool, but some outings are boring. However, it´s never offensive the way that "The Batman" is.
"Batman Beyond: Season One" has thirteen episodes on two discs.
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[release]18774[/release]