Beware The Batman

I just watched the debut of the new CG animated series, Beware The Batman, on Cartoon Network. 

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The look of the characters are very stylized and all of the voice actors are new. I agree that Kevin Conroy is the definitive voice of the modern Batman but that shouldn't mean that he has to do everything that the character is used. Conroy has been used in the 'broad strokes' like major video game releases and animated movies. The TimmVerse is fantastic but even Timm has moved on. I prefer to see some new talent take on the cape and cowl because it's usually a fresh perspective and adds a bit more to the total mythos. Everyone has their favorite version and rightfully so but even your most hated version is someone's favorite.

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Another change is that there's no Robin (Grayson, Drake, Brown, or Wayne) or any usual Bat-Family member but former Batman & The Outsiders college, Katana. She's never been one of my favorite characters (especially the New 52 version) but this could be cool. Of course, I've only seen the first episode but I feel that she'll be more of Cassandra Cain than Katana. 

Goodbye David Niven Alfred and hello Sean Connery Alfred! This version borrows heavily from the Batman: Earth One trade and that's a really good thing. Alfred wants to crack skulls rather than clean silverware... can you blame him? 

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Then there are the villains... who can't have an interesting protagonist without a really really interesting antagonist. Instead of using the same 4-5 classic Bat-Baddies, we get a modern character from Grant Morrison's run, Professor Pyg. The name sounds corny but his actions were far from that in the comic... I mean, he's the guy who cut off the face of The Joker. Pyg was a real highlight of the Grayson/Damian run and just added to the freshness of the new team.

A still from Beware The Batman...

...and a scene from the comics. ewghhhuu!

Not so Terrific at this point...

Although it's only the first episode, there's promise of an expanded DC Universe with the inclusion of Simon Stagg (a Golden Age Metamorpho character) and the modern version of a Mister Terrific-less Michael Holt. Maybe we'll see The Outsiders, the JLA, or maybe even something new... (fanboys will scream in fury at the thought of that!) Beware The Batman isn't going to be Young Justice, Green Lantern, The Tick, Super Friends, or whatever other show you wish would return. If it makes you feel better to watch the series with a frown and your arms crossed, then do it.

Hats off to the creative teams for bringing us another version of the caped crusader... I'll be watching!

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