Batman The Animated Series, Vol. 3 is a four-disc box set that collects the final 28 episodes of the show and is an absolute must have for collectors and fans.
The box set features 10 hours worth of episodes and, thanks to appearances by Ra's Al Ghul, even ties in nicely with the current theatrical release of Batman Begins.
The set also gives us the first episodes that introduced the animated version of Batgirl. Of course, there are also appearances from some of the stars of Batman’s Rogue Gallery – including The Joker, Scarface, The Penguin, Catwoman, and Bane. Each disc has about seven episodes that can be played individually or with a “play all” option.
Batman The Animated Series broke new ground for the character and blended the gritty feel of the comic with a dark style of animation and music. It explored different aspects of the character that had not been brought out in other animated series - such as the early Superfriends show. The series also gave the cartoon enough action and good storylines so that adults could enjoy the show just as much as kids.
Everything about the series fit the character perfect. Batman, voiced by Kevin Conroy, had a dry wit, an intimidating presence and seemed larger than life. To match the hero, Batman’s villains also seemed like they jumped straight from the comic and onto the screen. From Joker to Clayface, all the bad guys seemed like perfect opponents for the animated Batman.
Batman The Animated Series, Vol. 3 captures some of the best episodes of the series including the two-part “Shadow of the Bat” story and the two-part “The Demon’s Quest.”
Vol. 3 ties into Batman Begins with appearances by Ra’s Al Ghul
In “Shadow of the Bat,” Batman is forced to prove Commissioner Gordon’s innocence after he is set up and thrown in jail. It also served as the introduction of Batgirl – who was a nice blend of the comic version of the character and some of what had come before in past television series.
“The Demon’s Quest,” featured Batman matching wits against his greatest villain Ra’s Al Ghul. It is somewhat darker and slower than some of the other episodes, but has enough action in it to fit with the series.
Other great episodes in the collection include “Deep Freeze,” which features Mr. Freeze, “Harley’s Holiday,” and “Bane,” featuring the man who broke Batman’s back in the comics. The set also features some episodes that were lacking, such as “Baby Doll,” but for the most part they all are entertaining.
Along with the 28 episodes, the set comes with special features that include Gotham’s New Knight, and commentary on three of the episodes – “Harlequinade,” “Read My Lips,” and “House and Garden.”
Vol. 3 introduces the animated version of Batgirl
The Gotham’s New Knight is a look at the creation of the Batgirl character, and how the show evolved her from her early stages to how she would look in later series. It features interviews with series producer Bruce Timm, writer Paul Dini, and comic artist Alex Ross.
Batman The Animated Series was a groundbreaking step in animation and took great strides in developing the character and the other heroes and villains that make up his world. The series was an instant favorite with both animation and comic fans.
The four-disc box set is the perfect collection for any fan of the show and I highly recommend it. With Batman Begins in the theater now, the set is coming out at the perfect time, and presents a different look at the Dark Knight and some of the villains that are currently on the big screen.
'Batman The Animated Series, Vol.3' is available at Amazon , and at present only the Region 1 import is available at AmazonUK .
Visit the DVD's database for more information.
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