If the second volume of Batman: The Animated Series was about
building the foundations of the Batman mythos, then the third volume is all
about the pay off. We've seen Barbara Gordon being introduced in the second
volume's two parter "Heart Of Steel", and we've been given a look--a foreshadowing,
if you will--of the superheroine that Barbara will one day become. Well, in
"Shadow Of The Bat", a two-part episode where Barbara makes her glorious debut
as Batgirl, that day has arrived. And where "Off Balance" first introduced us to
the lovely yet lethal Talia, with her mysterious father Ra's Al Ghul making a
cameo at the end, this box set's "The Demon's Quest" has the enigmatic man known
in the underworld as The Demon's Head finally taking center stage.
Harley Quinn returns in "Harlequinade", where Batman and Robin spring her from
jail to help them track down her beau, the Joker, who has stolen an atom bomb.
In "Harley's Holiday" Harley is released from Arkham Asylum and tries to lead
the law-abiding life--with disastrous results--in an episode that sometimes goes
way over the top, but is still very funny nonetheless. Another villain who
apparently goes straight is The Riddler, who has signed a deal with a toy
company for the use of his image upon his release in "Riddler's Reform". In
"House And Garden" Poison Ivy also seemingly has forsaken crime by settling
down in the suburbs with a husband and kids. In "Catwalk", Selina Kyle comes out
of retirement as Catwoman for a lucrative heist, only to wind up being framed.
In "Deep Freeze", Mr. Freeze makes a daring break out from prison-until Batman
realizes that Freeze was in fact abducted against his will.
In "Trial", the inmates have taken over Arkham Asylum and put Batman on trial
for his life, in an episode that makes great use of Batman's rogue's gallery.
Long time Batman-hater Detective Harvey Bullock's life is in danger from an
unknown stalker in "A Bullet For Bullock". In "Sideshow", Killer Croc, on the
lam from Batman in the wilderness, winds up in an unusual place where he is
finally accepted for who he is in this touching episode. The remnants of the
master computer Hardac return in "His Silicon Soul". And in "Read My Lips",
Batman encounters a most unusual new villain in the form of Scarface. "Bane"
introduces the infamous Bat-Back Breaker from the comics. And Batman faces
another strange villain--one with a creepy fondness for an old TV show--in "Babydoll".
Alfred's past, before he became a butler for the Wayne family, is revealed in
the excellent "The Lion And The Unicorn." And Batgirl forms an unlikely
partnership with Catwoman in the superb "Batgirl Returns".
The extras on this set include "Gotham's New Knight", a brief look at the
creation of Batgirl for the Animated Series that features interviews with the
BTAS creative team, as well as artist Alex Ross. There are also audio
commentaries on "Read My Lips" and "Harlequinade", as well as a video commentary
(where you actually see the people who are speaking) on "House And Garden".
Several of the episodes in the third volume have opening titles from "The
Adventures Of Batman & Robin", which is the sequel series that followed BTAS.
One hopes that this series will soon be released to DVD in it's entirety as
well, because you can never get too much of the Caped Crusader.
--SF
Main Review Page | Animated Film Reviews |Email Me |Buy This DVD Right Here!
