Batman: Caped Crusader HBO Max Series with J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm Producing

[Handman]

‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Animated Series From Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves Set At HBO Max & Cartoon Network​

Batman: Caped Crusader, an animated series from executive producers Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, received a straight to series order from HBO Max and Cartoon Network.
The reimagining of the Batman mythology is produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions and 6th & Idaho and marks Batman: The Animated series producer Timm’s return to Batman in animated episodic series. The Animated SEries. Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC) and Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) and Cartoon Network Studios (CNS), unveiled the series on Wednesday.
“It is always fun to feed the insatiable appetite fans have for all things Batman. Batman: Caped Crusader will entertain first time and die-hard fans alike and, with such an impressive creative team in place, we know we have another future Batman classic in the making,” Ascheim said.

https://deadline.com/2021/05/batman...-hbo-max-cartoon-network-1234759890/#comments

On one hand, the art looks cool, and I like Bruce Timm. On the other, Timm is only half of what made the original series great. On another, can we get a new take on this character rather than rehashing the Animated Series? If it's good, I'm all for it, but I'm tepidly excited.

 

[bionicbob]

No longer airing on HBO MAX, but will be on AMAZON PRIME.

As one would expect, the animation from Bruce Timm and his team looks great. The trailer music is terrible, way too modern.

 

[Zarius]

I think the Catwoman design is amazing, always was my favourite retro look for Selina. Grew up on a lot of those comics.

Not a long of the rest is filling me with confidence, the style looks far too slick

 

[bionicbob]

With the return of Bruce Timm to the Batverse and the show apparently receiving rave reviews, I went into this new series very excited!
I came out very underwhelmed.

To be clear, this is not a continuation in any form of the 1992 iconic animated series. While it shares some of the same creators behind the scenes and some superficial design aesthetics, it is a completely different animal. It is not beholden to the accepted Bat Mythos. The character names may be the same, but their motivations are very different. Thus, due to this Elseworlds' vibe, I am completely indifferent to any of the gender/race swapping. For this world, this story, it is what it is.

It is a full on, mature, noir mystery series set in a very recognizable 1930s-40s era... no computers or cell phones but no zeppelins either. It is 10 episodes, 8 stand alones with a continuing "B" plotline that concludes in the final two episodes. The stories run the gambit from basic Catwoman thievery to the supernatural to.... honestly, I can not even remember now even though I only finished watching a few hours ago.

And that is my main issue, for me, nothing is memorable in this series. The stories are decent but familiar. The voice cast is adequate, but none of the performances stand out. The animation lacks any of the richness, depth or moody style of the original. With the exception of Catwoman, none of the new character designs are exciting or bring anything new to the table.

It is a good series but it is not a "great" one. If you do not normally like Batman or have never read or seen Batman before, I can easily see this being viewed as breakthrough stuff and bold and original... a worthy successor... and all those other glowing review headlines I saw all over the web. But honestly, to me, it was just "Fine".

It I want classic, smart, tragic, emotionally rich Batman I will rewatch the original 90s series.
If I want to rewatch a bold new take I will go with 2004's The Batman or if I want a something simply brilliant and funny, I have 2008's The Brave & The Bold.
But this new offering from Bruce Timm and Matt Reeves, I doubt I will ever rewatch.

 

[Jrzag42]

When was the last time Bruce Timm made something good with Batman?

 

[bionicbob]

When was the last time Bruce Timm made something good with Batman?

I want to clarify, I do not think this show is terrible.

It is just not very memorable for me.

There some nice bits and pieces scattered throughout and the concept is a valid one rich with potential. I just don’t think it achieved that potential or in the end, did anything revolutionary as many of the reviews would lead one to believe.

 

[Zarius]

Yeah, this isn't anything fresh or new. Timm really said everything he needed to say with the DCAU. He doesn't need to keep proving himself.

I enjoyed Catwoman a lot, but the episode relied on what is commonly referred to as an 'Idiot ball', otherwise the episode would have been over in five minutes

 

[bionicbob]

One of the issues I had...

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For eight episodes they portray Harvey Dent as a selfish dyck, and then suddenly when he becomes Two-Face, the audience is supposed to feel sympathy for him? The tragic nature of the character, of many of the villains, that TAS excelled at, is very mishandled for me.

 

[Editzilla]

One of the issues I had...

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For eight episodes they portray Harvey Dent as a selfish dyck, and then suddenly when he becomes Two-Face, the audience is supposed to feel sympathy for him? The tragic nature of the character, of many of the villains, that TAS excelled at, is very mishandled for me.

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Honestly, I thought it was pretty clear halfway through that they were portraying him as someone who was so desperate and pig headed in his quest to fix things that he was more than willing to make a deal with the devil to help Gotham. Was he a bit of an ass, yes but it was less corrupt and more just so focused on his goal, he didn't care what happened to everyone else as a dark mirror to how cold Bruce was in his search for vengeance. (and a bit like Gendo from Evangelion actually)

My biggest issue with the show was honestly the underwhelming Harley adaption, felt like a bit load of nothing.