Welcome back, DKN readers. Our celebration of Batman’s 75th Anniversary continues as we pick the Top 5 episodes of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. I can’t speak for our other staffers, but one thing was for certain when it came time to pick my personal favorites: it was more difficult than I thought because the amount of classics this series put forth rivaled the mighty Batman: The Animated Series. Sure, it’s much different in tone, but the sheer quality speaks for itself. I admit that I wasn’t overly fond of the first four episodes, but it’s a good thing I stuck with it because I would have missed out on something truly special.
On that note, I feel that a lot of folks didn’t give this show a chance. While many people prefer a darker Batman (as do I), they feel that’s the only way he should ever be portrayed. Some even think the comics were always dark – for decades they were anything but. Those who stuck around were treated to a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Silver Age of Comics, with a dash of the Adam West TV show. In fact, Batman himself often felt like he had a serious demeanor to me – it’s the rest of the world that was lighter in tone.
If you were willing to accept the show’s humor, you would see how many great stories were told that were chock full of high fantasy (Batman explored the universe and alternate dimensions, time travelled, etc.) and actually worked well. Although Batman’s familiar cast of sidekicks and villains showed up from time to time, this series featured just as many, if not more, guests from the DC Universe than even Justice League Unlimited. And how can you not love Diedrich Bader as Batman? Sometimes if I read a comic book too soon after watching Batman: The Brave and the Bold, I hear his voice instead of Kevin Conroy’s.
Without further delay, here are our top picks:
5. EMPEROR JOKER!
While not an adaptation of the comic book arc of the same name, it did take some inspiration from it. Long story short, this episode sees the Joker become infused with Bat-Mite’s powers. He goes on a magical crime spree that was as wild as standards and practices would allow – and within the confines of the show’s tone, of course. They actually got away with Joker killing Batman, only to resurrect him to keep killing him over and over again in flamboyant fashion. The Caped Crusader obviously overcomes the Ace of Knaves, though we can’t forget about Bat-Mite himself. What could have been a disaster, use of the campy character often resulted in some of the best episodes of the entire series. Another episode with him is on our list and several more nearly made the cut.
4. THE SUPER-BATMAN OF PLANET X!
This episode features some of this series’ zany adventuring at its best: Batman finds himself on the planet of Zur-En-Arrh and meets their Batman. This brightly colored hero was voiced by none other than Kevin Conroy. That’s right: you get Bader and Conroy as two different Batmen in one episode! Not only that, the atmospheric composition of this alien world gives Earth’s Batman superpowers. Another treat is the villain of the piece, Rohtul, voiced by Clancy Brown (yes, that’s “Luthor” backwards).
3. THE KNIGHTS OF TOMORROW!
Oh, how I love this one. This episode explores a possible future in which Dick Grayson prowls the night as Batman and Damian Wayne joins him as Robin. I’m such a sucker for legacy Batmen and, if you are too, you’ll love this one as well. The Damian featured isn’t quite the one from the comics; he’s actually the son of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle/ Catwoman. It’s kind of a mish-mash of Grant Morrison’s material and the Huntress stuff that Paul Levitz wrote before Crisis on Infinite Earths. Don’t blink toward the end of the episode, for you will miss cameos from Black Glove villains and an adult Damian who takes on the mantle as Batman, complete with his own Robin.
2. MITEFALL!
It’s kind of hard to wonder how the series finale got so out of control, yet was so incredible. To sum up what happened here, Bat-Mite yearns for the return of a darker, more dramatic show and aims to get The Brave and the Bold cancelled (ironically, we did get a darker, more dramatic show in Beware The Batman and many fans rejected it). He tries to make the product so odious that nobody will want to tune in, causing much hilarity. I couldn’t help but love all the jabs the producers took at toy companies about how they try to shoehorn their products into a show (I’m looking in your direction, Ultimate Spider-Man), as well as the many hideous and colorful Batman costumes that you see only on store shelves. It’s also hard not to be touched by the closing moments.
1. CHILL OF THE NIGHT!
This was probably the darkest episode of the entire series and is often touted as its best. It sees Batman finally uncover the identity of his parents’ killer and pursue him, while The Phantom Stranger and The Spectre make a wager over his fate. Taking inspiration from a Silver Age story and Batman: Year Two, this might be one of the best episodes of any Batman series. Let’s not forget to mention some of those notable guest stars: Kevin Conroy as Phantom Stranger; Mark Hamill as The Spectre; and Adam West and Julie Newmar as Thomas and Martha Wayne, respectively. One more thing worth pointing out is that Mr. Freeze puts in an appearance. That’s the fourth time an episode featuring him has made one of our lists and the third time he’s topped one!
Do you agree with our list? Did any of your favorites not make the cut?
