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Category:    Home > Reviews > Animation > Action > Superhero > CGI > TV > Beware The Batman: Season One, Part 2: Dark Justice (2014/DC Comics/Warner Blu-ray)

Beware The Batman: Season One, Part 2: Dark Justice (2014/DC Comics/Warner Blu-ray)

Picture: B+ Sound: B Extras: D Episodes: B-



Beware the Batman was an oddball CGI animated series premiering on Cartoon Network in the summer of 2013, but was pulled after only 10 episodes. There was never much explanation as to why it was pulled, but seemingly due to make room for other superhero series.

The series follows Batman in his early years as he is developing his skills, fighting organized crime, and continuing to battle demons of his past. His butler and trusted friend Alfred Pennyworth (JB Blanc) is by his side; training him to become a proficient fighter and better man. Alfred's goddaughter Tatsu Yamashiro (Sumalee Montano) joins Alfred as Batman's bodyguard; bringing with her, her skills at a martial artist and master swordsman.

This Blu-ray set entitled Dark Justice contains the last 13 episodes of the 26 episode series run; the first set entitled Shadows of Gotham. As previously mentioned the series is presented in a CGI 3D animation style. Whereas Batman, Alfred, and other peripheral characters are very sleek and streamline in style, the villains are purposefully over the top.

Batman (voiced by Anthony Ruivivar) is not quite a novice crime fighter, nor a seasoned veteran; but rather a well-trained, masked vigilante trying to get a grip on his persona and crime ridden Gotham. Though Tatsu is Bruce Wayne's 'bodyguard,' she concurrently is the stand-in 'Robin' character, acting as Batman's more than effective sidekick. The villains are not your familiars like Two Face, the Joker, or Catwoman; but rather oddball characters like Magpie and Lady Shiva.

I'm not sure as to why the series was canceled so abruptly as the series is similar to that of Batman: The Animated Series (reviewed elsewhere on this site) without being a direct carbon copy. Takes risk with the CGI animation that whereas not perfect, is admirable. The same goes for the choice of using more oddball characters and not following the exact established mythos.

We may never have the answer but the series is worth a look.

The technical features of Beware the Batman: Dark Justice: Season One, Part Two are similar to those of the previous Blu-ray set. The picture again is presented in a 1080p 1.78 X 1 digital high definition image that boasts a bold color palette and clean, crisp 3D CGI animation. Overall, the picture quality is very good with only slight issues. The sound does not quite live up to the picture in its DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) lossless 2.0 Stereo track, but gets the job done. The track remains nicely prioritized, without distortion. Dialogue comes through nicely, but surrounding action to give the series better atmosphere could still use some work.

There are no extras to comment on.



- Michael P. Dougherty II


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