DVD Reviews

Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Season Two Part One – DVD Review

By Patrick Luce Aug 28, 2011, 17:24 GMT

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Batman: The Brave and The Bold returns to DVD with a 12 episode collection of Season Two of the hit series that airs on Cartoon Network. Bat fans no doubt will be disappointed that the entire second season couldn’t be released in one set, but the show is worth getting it any way you can.

After a somewhat darker animated take on the character in Batman: The Animated Series and a brooding take in the Justice League series, Batman: The Brave and The Bold takes the character and interjects some fun into the series – while keeping the caped crusader a serious crime fighter.

The show reflects a funky retro vibe (which is illustrated with one of the best opening themes ever to a superhero show), and Batman teaming up with a variety of DC Comics’ superheroes to take down an even wider variety of the publisher’s super villains.

This collection sees Batman (voiced by Diedrich Bader) teaming up with Plastic Man, Challengers of the Unknown, Blue Beetle, Green Lantern Corps, Captain Marvel, Green Arrow, Guy Gardner, Huntress, and Aquaman. The episodes see the superheroes teaming up to take down a variety of bad guys ranging from top tier DC villains like The Joker, Black Manta and Mongul to some of the comics lesser known characters like Fisherman and Kite Man.

There is also a great episode which focuses on the sidekicks as Robin, Speedy and Aqualad are trained in the Batcave and go on to face off against Ra's al Ghul and his daughter Talia al Ghul.

The series follows an established pattern of blending action with a heavy dose of comedy - which will easily remind of the classic Batman series with Adam West and Burt Ward. It also features a slick animation style with lots of color. The animation style and use of color further separates it from Batman’s other great animation series and its use of dark shadow and noir flair.

The blend of action and comedy also make the series enjoyable for the kids and the adults. The creators of the series go above and beyond to make sure the dry wit of Batman and quick one-liners will get a chuckle from the parents while the kids enjoy the classic bat-action that the character is known for.

While the series is one of the greatest takes on the Batman franchise and features a ton of characters from the comics, the splitting up of the season into different releases continues to be a disappointment to fans. Furthermore, a lack of any real special features may be a disappointment to the comic fans who enjoy the series for its geek value.

Visit the DVD database for more information.