Beware The Batman is another rebooting of a beloved and established character. Instead of going forward with a unified universe building on the Green Lantern animated series Warner Brothers and Cartoon Network instead cancel that show and reboot Batman. Only this time there’s a few differences to what longtime fans are used to. This might not be a bad thing, but the way the show was apparently cancelled (no official word yet, but the whole of the series/season has yet to air) and no plans for more shows from any other DC characters gives me little faith in the people running things over at Warner Brothers.
Are the changes at least in keeping with Batman? Well, sort of. What we get is Batman’s early adventures. This means we aren’t getting a lot of familiar villains, instead focusing on Batman and his growth as a crime fighter. Because he needs a sidekick, and there’s a new direction going on here, we don’t get Robin, instead we get Katana. In Beware The Batman she already has a past, one that has Alfred hiring her to help protect Bruce Wayne.
I don’t have a problem with going back to the early days of Batman’s career as long as it points towards something. As it is, I don’t see Beware The Batman, even if it were to be successful and last several seasons, tie in to, or lead to, other DC-based animated series starring other characters such as Superman or Wonder Woman. Heck, I don’t have a problem with a focus on many of the lesser known villains. I had to look a few of them up myself.
As for the art style, I can take it or leave it. It’s not great, but it’s not bad. I understand the show was going for a certain type of look, and I’m alright with that. It sort of goes with the whole shift in focus with the early days of Batman’s career.
With these 14 episodes we have half of what should be the first of several seasons. We’ll see. And there are no special features. This is why Batman: The Brave And The Bold was cancelled?