By Jamie Miller
Batman is often regarded as one of the most iconic superheroes, in fiction right up there with Spider-Man and Superman. Well known for his grim demeanor, tragic backstory and catchy nicknames, this hero has been revived so many times. This time he’s coming back in a new animated streaming show on Amazon Prime.
“Batman: Caped Crusader,” which premiered on Aug. 1, tells the familiar tale of Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, who, as far as the citizens of Gotham know, is little more than a rich, shallow playboy rather unaffected by witnessing the murder of his parents when he was a boy. However, when night falls he sheds his Wayne identity and becomes the Batman, a dark grim hero of the night who wages a one man war on crime and in Gotham City crime is not hard to find. However crime in Gotham is changing, evolving and all too soon the mob will be the least of Batman’s problems.
The series stars the voice of Hamish Linklater, known for roles in the likes of “Midnight Mass” and “Legion” as the voice of Batman. Jason Watkins is known for roles such as “Being Human” and “The Crown” as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler, father figure and most trusted confidant. Krystal Joy Brown, known for appearing in the likes of “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” and “Final Space” lends her voice to Barbara Gordon, reimagined as a Gotham City public defender causing friction with her father. Eric Morgan Stuart, known for lending his voice to works such as “Fallout 4” and “Prototype 2” lends his voice this time to Jim Gordon, the Gotham City police commissioner and at times reluctant ally of Batman. Diedrich Bader, perhaps known best for voicing Batman himself in other adaptations, namely in “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” provides the voice of one Harvey Dent, good friend of Wayne, the Gotham City District Attorney and mayoral hopeful slowly being corrupted by the city and unable to see the tragedy lying on his horizon. Tom Kenny, best known for voicing SpongeBob in “SpongeBob SquarePants” voices Firebug, a criminal with a bad case of pyromania and a compulsion to burn down any building he possibly can. Christina Ricci, known for roles in the likes of “Casper” and “The Addams Family” provides the role of Catwoman, a spoiled once rich now broke heiress and kleptomaniac who takes inspiration from Batman to become a flamboyant jewel thief. Minnie Driver, known for roles in such works as “Good Will Hunting” and “GoldenEye” stars as the Penguin, gender bent for this series, but two times as corrupt and savage as other incarnations, with a disturbing bloodlust and sadism to her. Michelle C. Bonilla, known for parts in works such as “Star Wars: The Old Republic” and “For All Mankind” provides the voice of Renee Montoya, one of the last honest cops in the city often looked down upon by her fellow officers due to her gender. Jamie Chung, who had roles in the likes of “Big Hero 6” and “Once Upon a Time” provides the voice of Harley Quinn who in this adaptation works as a therapist but by night operates as a kind of brutal vigilante against Gothams elite.
Now what to say of this show? Well, I love the aesthetic, the 1940’s look worked well and is indicative of the animated series from the 90’s which makers since Bruce Timm who worked on that show did so on this one also. The new takes on characters are also interesting. Their takes on Penguin, Barbara Gordon and Quinn worked well and were interesting. Though others I feel didn’t work quite so well, Dent’s writing seeming a bit off putting with his storyline a bit rushed, one minute your supposed to see him as a slimy jerk but considering the tragedy of his character that is by design a bad move and so they try on the 11th hour to redeem him but it’s just too rushed. The way Batman is written is also a bit off. They write him as a bit too much of a jerk even to his allies, which is not a good look for your protagonist. That’s another issue, of all the characters with new interpretations or development Batman is not one of them. He doesn’t talk all that much, which while adding to his overall mystery and inherent badassness, comes at the cost of character development or work. Much like with Dent, they quickly try to shove some in at the 11th hour which doesn’t quite work. Regardless, it is a decent show and this is only the first season. If “Star Trek: The Next Generation ” taught me anything, it’s that the first season is always rough. I give this show about five and a half torches out of 10.
