Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:16

Episode Title: “Night of the Huntress!”

Original Air Date: May 8, 2009

Last week we were “treated” to a Sherlock Holmes story, this week we are taken on a brief foray into Camp. Camp has been a solid part of the Batman mythos ever since Adam West donned the cowl in 1966, this week we get to see what kind of camp The Brave and the Bold’s Batman can serve up (one would hope with a side of cheese)

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Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E10

Episode Title: “The Eyes of Despero!”

Original Air Date: February 6, 2009

In this series we usually get to see an interesting team-up between Batman and another hero, but occasionally Batman seems like a tacked on guest in his own series. This episode is one of the latter feeling like a Green Lantern Corps adventure, that just happens to have Batman in it. Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E10

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E08

Title: “Fall of the Blue Beetle!”

Original Air Date: January 23, 2009

In my review of the first episode I expressed a desire to have the Ted Kord incarnation of the Blue Beetle in this series rather than Jaime Reyes, and in this episode my request was granted in the form of extensive flashback sequences. One of the key differences between DC and Marvel comics is the presence of many legacy characters with the hero’s mantle being passed down through generations, and this episode is a nice foray into that concepts for viewers who may be unfamiliar with that tradition. Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E08

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E07

Episode Title: “Dawn of the Dead Man!”

Original Air Date: January 16, 2009

This series has been on a roll offering us sharp juxtaposition of settings within the DC comics universe, and this episode continues that trend by starting with a post apocalyptic world, and then taking us to a ghost story set in London. Sometimes this technique makes for a rich, intriguing experience, and sometimes it feels disjointed. I fear that this episode is closer to the latter than the former. Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E07

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E06

Episode Title: Enter the Outsiders!

Original Airdate: January 9, 2009

Batman has been in the pages of DC comics from the earliest days of the golden age to the present, and had a key role in every phase including the flood of new characters in the early 80’s created to capture the Superfriends crowd. This episode finds an intriguing way to combine one of the golden oldies with a group of teens from the far out 80’s phase, and seems perfectly in place in the first decade of our current millennium.  Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E06

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:05

Episode Title: Day of the Dark Knight!

Original Airdate: January 2, 2009

One wonderful aspect of the world of comics is the vast tapestry of worlds and genres that can be intertwined. This episode takes us to an oft overlooked corner of the DCU, the medieval realm of knights and wizards and the mythology of Arthurian legends. Additionally, I am always thrilled when I see an appearance of Jack Kirby’s Etrigan the Demon in a story in any medium. Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:05

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E04

Episode Title: “Invasion of the Secret Santas”

Original Air Date: Decenber 12, 2008

Most series produce a Holliday special to help embrace the sentiments of the season around Christmas time. This episode is the Christmas entry of Batman B n’ B, and as it happened so early in the first season, there was no guarantee that the creators would ever get another chance, so they pulled out all the stops here and tried to really make it count.

In the teaser we have the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle teamed up with Batman to battle against one of the more ridiculous villains from the comic books, Sportsmaster, in a bowling alley. After a bit of humor involving Reyes talking to his symbiotic suit, Beetle and the Bat easily apprehend the bad guy. After the situation is resolved, Beetle invites Bats to Christmas dinner, but Batman has to decline because “crime doesn’t take a Holliday”. Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S01 E04

Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:03

Episode title: Evil Under the Sea!

Original air date: December 5, 2008

Every great series has a lasting impact for years after its initial run is completed. Batman B ’n B has a few, not the least of which is the resurgence of Aquaman’s popularity amongst casual fans. That feat wasn’t accomplished in a single episode, but this is the episode that got the ball rolling.

The teaser drops us into a scenario with Felix Faust attempting to open Pandora’s box with Batman looking on. Batman engages Faust in a battle of “sorcery” which shows Bats to possess magical abilities greater than that of Faust. After Felix is defeated, and Pandora’s box is secure, it is revealed that the source of Batman’s “magic” is the diminutive hero the Atom.

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Batman: The Brave and The Bold S:01 E:02

Episode title: Terror on Dinosaur Island!

Original air date: November 21, 2008

This is the second episode, and as such it has the daunting task of convincing the viewer to be compelled to return on a weekly basis rather than simply tuning in due to mild curiosity or lack of something better to watch. I always feel like the third episode is the make or break point for a new series, and episode 2 to is a great opportunity to swing for the fences with little risk. Perhaps in this instance we have a home run.
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Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:01

Episode title: The Rise of the Blue beetle 

Original air date: November 14, 2008 

This is the first episode of the series, and as such it is tasked with establishing a relationship with the viewer. Too often series try to throw an excessive number of elements into a pilot, and I am impressed with the restraint of the creators in avoiding that trap with this one. I am, however, a bit puzzled by the direction this episode went. The teaser consists of Green Arrow and Batman in an elaborate trap constructed by the Clock King. Of course the good guys escape, but the significant moment of the sequence occurs when Batman says via voice over that even though the heroes bicker with one another, the truth is that they make each other better (paraphrased). This statement does establish the central theme of all the adventures that will follow over the three season’s of the series.
Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold S:01 E:01