Batman: The Brave and the Bold Review
Cartoon Network Airs New Cartoon with a DC Comics Favorite
Nov 22, 2008
The world apparently can't have enough Batman movies or cartoons. Cartoon Network has jumped onto this bandwagon and added Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a brand new Batman animated series, to CN's high profile Friday night action block. However, while the other shows in these action-packed two hours -- The Secret Saturdays, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Ben 10: Alien Force -- are somewhat serious with a continual, underlying plot, The Brave and the Bold has neither of these elements.
DC Comics' Series with a Batman Focus
The original DC Comics series The Brave and The Bold featured stories about two-man teams of DC superheroes, such as Batman and Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Powergirl, and Nightwing and Hawkman. This new cartoon series adopted the DC Comics' formula of two-man teams, but it centers around Batman teaming up with different superheroes from the DC Universe.
These superheroes are not from the more famous part of DC's rolodex. The announced superhero partners of the Dark Knight are Plastic Man, Red Tornado, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, and Aquaman. For those hoping to see the Green Lantern, the Flash, or even Superman, they will have to search for reruns of The Justice League.
Batman Blast from the Past
While the animation is rather modern -- especially with the 3D touches -- the art style is right out of the 1960s. Batman is dressed in his blue and grey garb from the silver age of comics, the outlines of the characters and objects have thick, dark lines, and the visors and shades some of the characters wear are large with a distinct 1960s shading on the lenses for glint.
Even the music feels right out of the 1960s, particularly during fight sequences. At these moments, large balloon words depicting "BANG!" and "POW!" would fit in nicely.
A Lighthearted Batman
The Brave and the Bold is a large step away from the dark drama that usually surrounds Batman and his series. There are no dark and twisted criminals like the Scarecrow or flashbacks to the deaths of Bruce Wayne's parents. Instead, Batman is rather witty, lighthearted, and playful. He would fit in well with the crimefighters of Teen Titans. This persona of Batman is perfect for his voice-actor, comedy star Diedrich Bader. But unlike Teen Titans, The Brave and the Bold does not have an underlying story. Each episode is one adventure, one team pairing at a time.
However, because of this lightness, fans looking for another Batman: The Animated Series will be disappointed. Those who simply love Batman and DC Comics will find a fun action cartoon that should be taken as seriously as the Batman v. Alien v. Predator fan flick.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold airs every Friday night on Cartoon Network at 8 p.m. EST.
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