Beware the Batman

So, like every Batman series that has come out since the '92 Dini-verse, 'fans' have come out of the woodwork to tell everyone how terrible this show is. Between the CGI, the lack of known villains, the different take on Alfred... It's horrible just like The Batman & The Brave and the Bold.

Except, it's not...

The animation is fine. It's not the Dini version, nor the CGI Dini version (aka, Green Lantern), and it's not the hammy tB&tB, nor is it the overstylized 'The Batman' animation. It's its own thing, and it grows on you.

The characters were a little bit more difficult to swallow, especially the elder statesman major domo Alfred. However, in both the comics and the Batman: the Animated Series, they have toyed with the idea of Alfred being former MI-6, so, it's hardly out of canon. It is an interesting take, and one not fully explored before.

Using Katana as a partner did put me off at first, but as the stories have progressed, it makes it seem that they're aiming at assembling the Outsiders, a team thus far never brought together on the big or small screen. Again, the writers are thinking outside of the box, so kudos to them!

The final bit that is putting off a lot of 'fans', is the rogue's gallery. No Joker, no Riddler, no Catwoman. Instead, we're getting a "Who's Who" of "Who in the heck is that?" They've dug deep into the DC vaults for some D-listers to use as the bad guys, characters that I, as a reader of the DCU for my entire life have to go look up--and it works. There's no expectation of how the characters are supposed to act, the characters just 'are'. They can be written in any way the writers wish, which is a GREAT strength of the show.

In summation, if you're expecting any of the previous Batman incarnations, you'll be disappointed. If you are looking for something that is actually reasonably fresh, and can surprise you, then by all means, tune in!

Oh, and don't judge by a single episode or two... as of this writing, the show is a whole six episodes in, and it has be hooked. Hopefully, only better things to come!

Lets start with what we know.

This was the first Batman series using 100% computer generated graphics. At the time, DC claimed that they had solved the problem of "textureless plasticy" characters.

Turns out they were wrong. The series bombed and if you do the research you will see that the timeslot was changed to a new slot so obscure that, as one reviewer wrote at the time, said "it was almost as though they wanted as few children as possible to see it."

What we also know is that, after its demise, the show has become a cult hit of sorts. This is because, as strange as the animation is, the writing and script were first-rate. Novel, original clever. Lots of WOW factor.

And the voice actors? Brilliant.

As I said, a hard show to review.

Beware the Batman is Batman done with computer animation. And there's no Joker, no Riddler, no Bane, no Catwoman, no - significant villains here to be found in this show. However it does bring to light some lesser known Batman villains like Dr Pyg, Toad, Anarchy and it ACTUALLY does have Ra's al Ghul. However the writing doesn't compare to the well-rounded and thought-out dialogue of The Animated Series and the animation is stuck between deciding whether it wants to be like Green Lantern: The Animated Series or something else not Bruce Timm related.

Beware means well in using lesser Batman villains in place of crooks like The Joker, but they're just there to serve singular episodes and that's it; they don't leave any particular impact on Batman in the series and Batman's character doesn't respect the Batman we know to look like: this one has character-design similar to Green Lantern:T.A.S. but rips off the bat-suit from Batman Begins.

The good: this series has some good fight sequences and Batman is still badass as per his status-quo. And the voice-acting is not too shabby.

The bad: doesn't do anything special with its more niche rogue-gallery. It's a gimmick that doesn't really pay off.

The so-so: the animation itself doesn't respect the aesthetic demands of a character with the cultural caliber of Batman.

Good, but not all that amazing.

Being the only Batman series set in CGI and having a much darker tone, Beware the Batman sticks out among the post-Batman Beyond series which were both more lighthearted and in traditional animation. The mystery to me is why this only ran for one season of 26 episodes, because this was the best of the bunch.

The series presents some different takes on well known characters like Alfred and Barbera Gordon, and while some Batman purists may find that objectionable I thought it added another layer to Alfred especially, because while he is enjoyable as Bruce's butler he shines as an interesting character here with a pretty wild past.

And we see villains here I don't think have been in any other Batman series, like the chaos loving Anarky who got under my skin several times, because while the Joker has a certain morbid humour to his character Anarky was a madman all the way through with an overly creepy voice performance by Wallace Langham.

Aside from him we have a few other new characters I've not seen like Magpie, Professor Pyg and Toad and a few from the more known rogues gallery like Killer Croc, Ra's Al Ghoul, and almost Two-Face who I guess we could have seen if the show wasn't cancelled like som many good shows are, ending on a cliffhanger.

Check it out, it's a good show that needs more attention.

Taking all Batman animated shows, there wasn't any that was actually bad. Yes, The Batman from 2004-2008 was not that good in animation and design but in all was a nice show. So when I saw this going full CGI, and some of the design paths they optioned, I thought this will probably be the first bad animated series about Dark Knight. I was wrong.

I was wrong and I was wrong in the worst way possible because I thought it would be bad based only on animation method and presentation that I actually forgot that Batman's quality, and most of DC stuff generally, isn't actually based in perfect visual design but in characters, stories and the way they are told.

So yeah, it's CGI, and yeah, Batman's cowl and profile looks weird and too much stylized, but that's about bad as it goes. CGI itself is in fact really good, animations and all. It' kinda videogamey, but in a good way. It feels pretty damn fresh. Sure, it could be a bit more detailed and with more filters and effects, and if somehow we ever get the second season (probably never) that would probably be updated. I would really like that DC tries this method again because there is some pretty solid stuff that you can do this way, just need a bit more polish, but they were on a right track.

But I understand that this CGI just wasn't some people's cup of tea. Beside that, overall Batman quality is still there with acting, stories and characters.

Though I guess there are some novelties and oddities around those characters. Whole thing looks a bit more influenced by Batman: Earth One graphic novel than standard Batman comic run. For example, Alfred is a tough ex MI6 agent, not a washed out stage actor and your classical "jeeves" butler. Prof. Pyg is also wildly different as he is not a rambling homicidal psychopath but a gentleman eco-terrorist that loves animals. There are more and some characters are the same as always, some are not. But all in all they are interesting. If I could pick one odd out it would probably be Anarky. He acts too much as provocateur and Joker-like instigator and I personally didn't find that much interesting. Then again, in contrast, Katana was a very interesting, but good, choice for a Batman sidekick.

Directing was pretty good, though "virtual cameras" were sometimes a bit stiff, pan-shots mostly. Voices were cool and music are overall great.

Stories are mostly connected and well thought out, which in turn makes them interesting and engaging for the audience.

Now, this show had a pretty rough season one as far as TV goes. Not even half season and it was dumped into 3AM slot, which is basically bullet in the head, execution style from Cartoon Network that was on. The show itself was mostly kid friendly in the sense that there was no blood and death, but in essence was a bit dark for younger kids. So I guess that didn't help as well. There is still time to get one more season if DC sort their stuff up internally, but it's mid 2015, no one mentioned anything and it's probably canned for good. TAS, The Batman and Brave and the Bold all got at least few seasons of some truly premium Batman goodness, it's a shame that Beware the Batman didn't got the same chance as those previous shows.