Like any enduring icon, Batman has appeared before us in countless forms. There are Batmans who operate solo and Batmans accompanied by Robins. Some Batmans have been at it for years, while others are novices. We have seen campy Batmans, gritty Batmans, wholesome Batmans, and terrifying Batmans, spanning every possible variation.
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| 'Batman: Caped Crusader' COURTESY OF AMAZON |
The primary goal of any new iteration is to stand out from the rest. Batman: Caped Crusader accomplishes this effortlessly: it presents a noirish animated version set in the 1940s, shortly after the character's original comic debut. The second goal is to convince us that this new version can hold its own.
In this regard, the series has mixed results. With its sleek, straightforward style and consistently moody atmosphere, the Prime Video series is as reliable as Batman's broad shoulders. However, it seldom reaches the level of being truly spectacular.
Recognizing that no one in 2024 needs an introduction to Batman, creator Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) propels the title character straight into the action, only briefly touching on his tragic orphan origins.
This Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) is already a vigilante when we encounter him, though dismissed by both criminals and law enforcement as merely a rumor. Determined to clean up the city, Batman gets involved in a power struggle between rival gangs—only to realize by the end of the premiere that his actions may have worsened the situation, and he cannot afford to fail again. (Tactically, that is; financially and publicly, he remains the unimaginably wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne.)
From there, Caped Crusader's ten half-hour episodes oscillate between serialized crime drama and villain-of-the-week adventures. The former remains relatively grounded, at least by superhero standards. Mob boss Rupert Thorne (Cedric Yarbrough) tightens his grip on Gotham City through a network of ruthless goons, dirty cops, and corrupt politicians (including the slimy district attorney Harvey Dent, played by Diedrich Bader).
Batman evades their clutches while gradually gathering his own allies, with lionhearted police commissioner Jim Gordon (Eric Morgan Stuart) chief among them. Their confrontations unfold in classic car chases, shootouts, and fistfights, with a refreshing lack of convoluted lore or excessive gadgetry.
However, the series truly shines in its episodic adventures, allowing itself to have some fun. Guest stars include fan favorites like Catwoman (Christina Ricci), an insouciant jewel thief flaunting fabulous gowns and enormous hats around Gotham.
The Art Deco-inspired city also accommodates lesser-known characters like Onomatopoeia (Reid Scott), a hitman who narrates his actions with comic book-style bam!s and pow!s.
The series leads Batman into unexpected detours, such as the world of showbiz with a creepy case involving a missing actress, or the supernatural with a lighter episode about a Revolutionary War-era highwayman (Toby Stephens) targeting Gotham’s poor.
("What do ghosts need money for?" Bruce wonders.) Linklater’s Batman takes it all in stride with the pragmatism of someone who has seen enough horror to never be truly shocked anymore.
Perhaps the most astute decision of Caped Crusader is its deliberate separation from other Bat-media. The setting plays a significant role in this distinction. Although the series is executive produced by Matt Reeves (along with Timm, J.J. Abrams, Ed Brubaker, and James Tucker), its post-Depression Gotham is unmistakably different from Reeves’ The Batman or any other recent DC adaptation.
The mythos undergoes both superficial and substantial changes. For instance, Harley Quinn being portrayed as an Asian American woman (voiced by Jamie Chung) is an intriguing but relatively minor detail.
The real twist comes with a brand-new backstory that removes the Joker from her narrative, emphasizes her psychological training, and offers a fresh perspective on a character we thought we already knew.
Elsewhere, Caped Crusader struggles to establish its own gravitas. The hero is most compelling in moments when he seems less heroic: when he resists the idea of therapy; when he inadvertently drives a man already on edge to a breaking point; when he needs to be reminded to focus on the specific individuals he’s dealing with, rather than just his abstract ideals of saving "the city."
(His butler Pennyworth, voiced by Jason Watkins, who is the only one aware of Batman’s true identity, is the one who most often provides these reminders.)
However, these moments are fleeting bursts of intensity in an ongoing drizzle. Most of the time, the show mirrors Batman’s tendency to keep emotions at arm’s length. It is too gloomy to be inviting but too subdued to fully explore the character’s potential for strangeness and darkness.
Caped Crusader does gain depth as its supporting characters come together to form a more cohesive ensemble. Detective Renee Montoya (Michelle C. Bonilla), initially seen by Batman as an "asset" due to her rare integrity, receives a brief romantic subplot that humanizes her more than her determined investigative work ever could.
Public defender Barbara (Krystal Joy Brown) counters Batman’s flair for drama with a refreshing dry wit, while still maintaining her role as the series’ idealistic moral compass. By season’s end, they have formed a loose team, and the idea of another adventure with them feels more compelling.
However, the stakes still seem lower than they should be, mainly because the good guys come off as mere sketches rather than fully developed characters with their own quirks, vulnerabilities, and desires.
One might recall a question posed by one of the Dark Knight’s lesser-known versions to an apparently invincible foe: “Tell me, do you bleed?” Caped Crusader may not be able to show much actual bloodshed due to its TV-14 rating, but it could benefit from revealing a few more of its bruises.
