On top of having some of the most famous and critically acclaimed live-action superhero films of all time under his belt, Batman has also starred in some of the most successful and widely praised animated shows based on comics. The most famous, of course, is 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series, which kicked off the DC Animated Universe and brought the legendary Kevin Conroy into the role. Since then, there have been a few more animated shows to star The Dark Knight himself. In the near future, and after uncertain delays due to studio changes, Batman: Caped Crusader will premiere on Amazon, becoming the latest project to bring the world’s greatest detective to television.
Due to the prolific nature of Batman’s animated catalog, there is no doubt that the upcoming show, which will be produced by Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Ed Brubaker (who will also serve as head writer), will need to find a way to earn its place among previous entries. Batman fans have high standards and expectations due to the bar that’s been set by years of excellent Batman adaptations, and to live up to them will require the show to get the core elements right while also offering things viewers have never seen before. With that said, here are a few things Batman: Caped Crusader can do to set itself apart from previous Batman animated shows and be worthy of carrying the torch forward.
The Tone
One of the cornerstones of any good adaptation of Batman is the tonal representation of the character and his surrounding environment. In fact, one might even consider Gotham City and its architecture, lighting, and sound design to be just as much of a character as Bruce Wayne himself. There are so many things to get right about the broader setting of a Batman adaptation, and thankfully, historically Batman has had good luck with shows that have succeeded at this task.
In order to live up to the precedent that’s been set, Batman: Caped Crusader can go a step further in fully embracing the noir genre, which other animated Batman shows have certainly included, but never gone all-in on. Above all else, Batman is a detective, and in the same way that 2022’s The Batman was much more of a neo-noir crime thriller than any previous live-action adaptation, Caped Crusader has the opportunity to deliver a Batman and Gotham City unlike any seen on film before.
With the gifts animation provides creators as far as tone and atmosphere, Bruce Timm and the rest of the team have the opportunity to push the medium to its very limit to utilize color, art direction, and even frame rate options which can help boost the show from a run-of-the-mill program to a visual animated noir masterpiece.
The Psychology
Especially when compared to his contemporaries in pop culture, Batman is a deeply psychological character with many complex components to be dissected. The history and motivations of Bruce Wayne are key to developing the character, and while many have done it their own way, the good thing is, there is really unlimited potential for a new show to come along and do it again uniquely.
At his core, Bruce Wayne is a deeply troubled figure with a past that drives him to have a strict moral code in his crime-fighting. The elements that make up this code and belief have been explored in the past, particularly in beloved animated films like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. What would be great to see in this show is this code and identity of Batman being stretched to its limit and tested in new and interesting ways, putting Bruce in positions the audience has never seen him in before. Fortunately, viewers looking for this type of content should be in luck.
The best news about this series for many Batman fans is that Ed Brubaker, author of stories like Bruce Wayne: Murderer? and its sequel Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, is the head writer of the series. These two tales take an interesting look at Bruce Wayne’s psychology with unique storylines that still stand the test of time to this day. Brubaker is an author who clearly understands this character better than most, and having him at the helm will surely lead to some more complex and in-depth stories about the Dark Knight.
Villains
A story is only ever as good as its villain, and Batman undoubtedly has the most iconic lineup of villains in all of comic books. Whether it’s icons like The Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Bane, or The Riddler, there is always a villain with a unique motivation, power, and personality to take on the World’s Greatest Detective in a challenging way. With so many foes existing in the Batman mythos, there hasn’t always been room to put them all on display in adaptations, and this is where Batman: Caped Crusader can really leave its mark.
Given that this show is supposedly going in a more noir-inspired direction than past animated iterations, there is an opportunity for exploring certain Batman villains that haven’t had as much time in the spotlight yet. There are characters like Hush, who would make for an excellent psychological thriller of a story arc, and Professor Pyg, who could certainly lead to more horror-influenced episodes. The inclusion of foes such as these would give the show a unique reason for viewers to turn in, who perhaps aren’t looking for just another Joker story. Either way, with the talent involved in bringing this show to life, Batman: Caped Crusader is sure to please when it comes to the selection of Batman rogues it chooses to bring to life.
Batman: Caped Crusader is set to premiere on Amazon, with two seasons ordered.