Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 2

Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 2 Review

I'm sort of working my way backwards through the Batman TAS collection. I started with Vol.4, then 3, and I recently got Vol. 2 for my birthday. So far, this is the best volume.

What can I add to the praises of this show that has not already been said? The animation, voice acting, and storylines are, of course, amazing. We get 28 great epidsodes of the series in this volume. Some of my favorites include: "Almost Got 'Im," "The Man Who Killed Batman," "Zatanna," and "Joker's Wild." Batman goes up against villains like The Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Clayface, The Riddler, The Penguin, Catwoman, and several others. Robin/Dick Grayson also makes a few appearances and we get to see his origin story. There's also a hint of Batgirl.

The special features are really good in this volume. There are commentaries on the episodes "Robin's Reckoning, Part 1," "Heart of Steel, Part 2," "Almost Got 'Im," and "Harley and Ivy." There are three featurettes: "Robin Rising," "Gotham's Guardians," and "Voices of the Knight." I found them all very interesting, especially getting to see the voices behind the characters.

This is another great edition from Warner Brothers and DC Comics. I'm looking forward to completing my set with Volume 1.

Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 2 Feature

• BATMAN-ANIMATED SERIES

Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 2 Overview

Fight crime day and night alongside the Dark Knight with this deluxe 4-disc set packed with 28 heroic adventures from the acclaimed series! Filled with gripping plots, multidimensional characters and superb voice talent, this Emmy-winning series has defined Batman for legions of fans. Enjoy amazing encounters with Catwoman, duels with the Penguin, contests with the Riddler and of course, battles of wit with the Joker - plus Exclusive Extras from the minds that conceived this cutting-edge version of the classic hero! Grab your cape and swing into action with this quintessential Batman compilation!

Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 2 Specifications

The early-'90s Batman series was probably the best animated superhero show ever, mixing stylish animation with a dark tone appropriate for the Dark Knight. The second volume, comprising four discs of 28 episodes and vastly preferable to the many single-disc releases, features familiar characters the Joker, Catwoman, the Penguin, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, as well as the first appearances of the Riddler, and Ra's Al Ghul and Talia. The episodes are highlighted by the Emmy-winning two-parter "Robin's Reckoning," which recounts the origin of the Boy Wonder and his chance for revenge years later. In "Perchance to Dream," Bruce Wayne finds his parents alive and another Batman patrolling Gotham City, the two-part "Something" pits Batman against Miyazaki-styled robots, and Batman revisits the samurai training of his past in "Night of the Ninja" and "Day of the Samurai." Give the series credit for not talking down to kids--Japanese characters spoke in Japanese with English subtitles, and one episode, "Almost Got 'Im," was styled after a '50s black-and-white variety show. It employed smart humor and characterization even to the point where it could let villains carry an episode. Certain stories were based on comic books, and the series involved comics veterans such as Denny O'Neil and Len Wein. Also camp-master Adam West appears as the voice of the Grey Ghost. --David Horiuchi

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