Batman: The Animated Series - Tales of the Dark Knight

I remember when Warner Bros. decided to release episodes from the now legendary Batman: The Animated Series. The series caught on fire when it first made its debut in 1992 and fans wanted to own a piece of it; however, I don't think Warner Bros. was convinced enough. Instead of doing one big boxed set release, a series of four episodes per DVD was the way to really gauge whether or not it was worth the time and effort to put it all out in one package. Batman: The Animated Series – Tales of the Dark Knight is the second DVD that collects the next four episodes of this legendary series, as distributed by Warner Bros.

"The Underdwellers" takes Batman through a series of bizarre robberies committed by a band of poverty-stricken children in an Oliver Twist-like tale. They are all outcasts who have been raised to do the bidding of the one who took care of them, the Sewer King.

Officer Wilkes, Officer Montoya and Detective Bullock are put under questioning after a police operation gets botched. They each have to tell their tale to their superiors of what happened that night in "P.O.V.", a Rashomon-inspired episode.

Bruce Wayne discovers that the homeless people and volunteers from a community center are disappearing. Trying to figure out what is going on, Bruce disguises himself as a homeless person. He is knocked unconscious by some thugs only to wake up with in a penitentiary run by the wicked Boss Biggis in the middle of nowhere. Even worse, Bruce has amnesia. It's an interesting look to see an episode dedicated solely on Bruce in "The Forgotten".

Mayor Hill's son, Jordan, feels neglected by his father who never has time to spend with him, even on his own birthday. The Joker sees an opportunity to ruin the good Mayor's shindig and disguises himself as Jekko the Clown, the entertainment for Jordan's party. Jordan is fascinated with Jekko and runs away with him not realizing who he really is. Will Batman be able to save Jordan from the Joker in "Be a Clown?"

These earlier episodes didn't feature as many of Batman's colourful cast of villains, opting more for the grittiness and realistic nature of Gotham City's criminals. And there are certainly a lot of them to contend with as they come in all shapes and sizes. The producers wanted to show that there is more to Batman's quest than apprehending crazed lunatics. Even the lowest of thugs is a big threat to its citizens.

Social issues also become more poignant throughout this series. Both "The Underdwellers" and "The Forgotten" address the issues of poverty and homelessness, things that both Batman and Bruce Wayne have a harder eliminating than dealing with the likes of the Joker or the Penguin. The producers remind people that the real crime always doesn't have to have flamboyancy surrounding them. The little, almost forgotten things that slip through society's cracks is just as equally important.

I really love the animation as it hearkens back to the old 1940s Superman cartoon. The animation is drawn on dark coloured paper to inject the feeling that Gotham City is always surrounding in this perpetual darkness even during the day. There is also a lot of weight given to the characters making them feel even more solid than they appear. This, of course, lends to the fact that some of the movements appear to be a bit more clunky and bulky.

I cannot praise the voice acting enough because it really helps the viewers engage in this surreal yet realistic world. I sound like a broken record when I say this but Kevin Conroy is one of the main reasons why this series works very well. His Batman is not over the top at all and can be downright scary at at times. In contrast, his Bruce Wayne is distinct in his whimsical nature to distinguish the two. The other star of this series is Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. Who would have thought that Mark Hamill, famous for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, steals the show as the Joker every time he is on the screen? As Conroy has given the definitive version of Batman, Hamill does the same with the Joker.

Batman: The Animated Series – Tales of the Dark Knight is not a bad DVD collection but it is a sparse one. This is really only a sampling of this great series and those who purchase it will wonder where all the colourful villains are in this set. Out of the four episodes, only one features a recognizable Batman foe. To the casual fan, this might actually be a boring set. Then again what would I know? I'm not the casual fan at all. I'm as hardcore as one can get.


Also Included:

•
The Line Up

•
Voices of Gotham City

•
Episode introductions by producer/director Bruce Timm


______________________________________________________________


Related Reviews
from the Timmverse

•
Television Series:
Batman: The Animated Series: Volume 1 || Volume 2 || Volume 3 || Volume 4  ||  The Legend Begins
The Adventures of Batman and Robin: Robin's Reckoning
Superman: The Animated Series: Volume 1 || Volume 2 || Volume 3 || A Little Piece of Home
Batman Beyond: Season One || Season Two || Season Three || Batman Beyond
Justice League: Season One || Season Two || Justice On Trial || Paradise Lost || The Brave and the Bold
Justice League Unlimited: Season One || Season Two


•
Movies:
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm || Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero || Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman || The Batman Superman Movie || Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker || Justice League: Secret Origins || Justice League: Starcrossed The Movie || Superman: Brainiac Attacks || Superman: The Last Son of Krypton


•
Books:
Batman Animated: The Book


Pre-Timmverse days

•
Television Series:
Challenge of the Superfriends: The First Season || Attack of the Legion of Doom
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show: The Complete Series