Just Another Batman Blog

  credit: EzzyArtOver on DeviantArt Batman has been featured in several different media over the last 80 years. He's been featured in comics, books, cartoons, live action television, and both live action and animated films. Not all mediums are shared universes, and characters created for one medium dont always cross over into the others. Usually, the characters that never make the cross over are throw-away characters or poorly written stand-ins for existing characters. This is not the case for this villain.  Batman the Animated Series is probably the best animated adaptation of any superhero comic character, from any publisher, and certainly the best Batman adaptation. In 1993, a tie-in animated film was released, The Mask of the Phantasm , which featured a new terrifying, mysterious villain.  Created for the film by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm, The Phantasm has design elements of the classic Death/Grim Reaper complete with skull mask and scythe weapon. Elemen...

Recently, the new Bruce Timm Batman animated series dropped. There is so much to like about this new Batman series. It takes place in a noir setting somewhere in 1930s to 40s America, but without the systemic racism and misogyny. Its packed with Batman Universe easter eggs, like a Killer Croc cameo and a Carrie Kelly appearance. Most of the show seems to be a carefully crafted universe with an adult noir theme. However, one episode stands out as a little off... The first episode introduces this new Gotham City universe. Reeking of corruption, full of intrigue ready to be uncovered by a detective, this Gotham seems to be grounded in a sense of modernity despite its obvious homages to a gritty past. And then... super weapons and overt terrorism? Given the rest of the show's detective noir mystery feel, the first episode is more Batman 60s Camp, than Prohibition-era gangster Batman.  The episode, however, is the premier, and events in this episode set the stage for the rest of the se...

She is DC's Bonnie Parker. She is Gotham's Mallory Knox. She is Mary Brunner in clown makeup, and a murderous Esther Greenwood. Harley Quinn is the most unlikely star of the Batman villains rogues gallery. Considering how mostly male and mostly sexist the comics industry was (and still is, although it has become better) in the 90s, the development of Harley Quinn is pretty interesting. As you scroll down, I have added additional Harley Quinn art, which shows the evolution of the character's costume, from completely covered catsuit, to almost nothing. Pretty indicative of the male dominated industry. Initially, she was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for the Batman Animated Series as a sidekick and foil for the Joker in episode 22 "Joker's Favor". Arleen Sorkin should also get credit for creating Harley Quinn as well, as her blueprint for the character was used by Paul Dini. Harley Quinn initially was supposed to be a one act character. She fits i...