by Gerry Mulowayi
Batman: Caped Crusader is the latest long-form animated series from DC, marking the first series based on the character since Beware the Batman aired in 2013-2014, over a decade ago. The series premiered on August 1st, 2024, on Amazon Prime, with all 10 episodes released simultaneously. But before diving into the review, let’s explore how this series came to be. Warner Bros., the parent company of DC Comics, wanted a new series set after The New Batman Adventures, which concluded in 1999. That series was itself a continuation of the legendary Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS). Initially, when Warner Bros. approached the original creative team, led by Bruce Timm, they declined, uninterested in creating a follow-up. However, after discussions with other team members, including James Tucker, they reconsidered. They remembered having several story ideas they couldn’t explore due to the dark themes that couldn’t pass censorship at the time. As the project progressed, two big names were attached: Producer J.J. Abrams and Director Matt Reeves.
In the summer of 2021, the series was officially announced, with plans for it to premiere on Cartoon Network and HBO Max. The first season was set to include 10 episodes, featuring some of the best writers in the industry. Ed Brubaker, known for creating The Winter Soldier (and one of my personal favorite writers), initially joined as a freelancer but was later appointed head writer by Bruce Timm. The series continued to attract top talent, including Greg Rucka, Marc Bernardin, Halley Gross, Jase Ricci, Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, and Sean Lee. Just wild! Under the direction of Timm and Brubaker, these writers set out to create a period piece, setting the series in 1940 to distinguish it from its predecessors. They used this era to incorporate film noir pulp detective influences, best represented in Batman’s new design, which takes cues from his first appearance in Detective Comics #27. This approach also extended to the redesign of the villains and their motivations.
Now, onto the review: It’s AMAZING!!! The series has a strong noir cinematic tone and is definitely geared towards adults, with themes of murder, child endangerment, grotesque corruption of civil servants, and the psychological horrors of Gotham City. Hamish Linklater does a great job as Batman/Bruce Wayne. He’s no Kevin Conroy (the one true Batman), but then again, who is? His Bruce Wayne isn’t as warm as the one from BTAS; he’s very cold and struggles, but he doesn’t have to carry the show alone. He’s joined by a stellar cast, including Jason Watkins, Krystal, John DiMaggio, Gary Anthony Williams, Michelle C., Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Bumper Robinson, Tom Kenny, Grey DeLisle, William Salyers, Yuri Lowenthal, Corey Burton, Christina Ricci, Dan Donohue, Mckenna Grace, Minnie Driver, Haley Joel Osment, and Josh Keaton, to name a few.
The first episode is a bit slow, but it sets the table nicely. Yes, it’s the 1940s, but with a twist that is very refreshing. Once you get past that, it’s an amazing ride that ends with a terrifying foreshadowing of what’s to come in the second season, which has just been greenlit. There’s no date yet for its premiere, but I can’t wait! All episodes are now available on Amazon Prime