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What a tribute to our Bats, and all the creators who've contributed to his evolution! ♥

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Legends of the Dark Knight (BTAS)

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HeroesKey

I was waiting for this episode since I knew it was going to be fun. You are right that the kids telling the different stories on Batman is similar to the Gotham Knights movie you watched. The first story is based on the silver age era of Batman from the late 1950's and 1960's where it was a lot more silly and campy. Adam West's Batman is an example of that with Cesar Romero's Joker even being another example of that Joker as he was more of a prankster and not a mob boss like Jack Nicholson's take on the character, which is more like the golden age version of the character from the 1940's when he first debut. And the second one is based on the Dark Knight Returns from Frank Miller's story of the same name of a hypothetical future version of Batman. But I love that this was a tribute to Batman and showcased a few eras of his character. To think, if they did an episode like this now, there would be so much more versions of Batman. And I believe Batman made his first appearance in the comics in 1939, a year after Superman but then got his own comic in 1940. So the World's Finest have been around for a very long time. I can't wait for the next episode though. Should be another fun one! We're so close to ending it and then I assume Batman Beyond is next or the Green Lantern Animated Series if you want to take a quick break on Batman. Either way, I'm hyped!

WerewolfF14

the first story is based on older batman cartoons and 50s comic books. The second story is based on Frank Miller's The Dark Knight returns, which you've watched the 2 part animated movie adaptations of over a year ago at this point. The scenes and dialogue is taken directly from the comic. The female kid is based on Carrie Kelly the Robin from that story and its sequels. The story as you may or may not recall is about an old batman coming out of a forced government retirement of all superheroes (except for superman). During production they decided to ask Frank Miller if it was okay to base part of the episode on his comic and he was very thrilled about the idea. The kid they meet "Joel" talking about liking Batman's rubber suit and muscles is based on director Joel Schumacher, who directed the movies "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin", infamous for including rubber nipples on the batsuits. The episode is titled for the comic series of same which focused on stories' set in batman's earliest years. The concept for the story of kids discussing what they think batman is like was first used in Batman issue 250, which as you vaguely recalled the animated movie "Batman Gotham Knights" would also adapt years after this episode. Bruce Timm has said he was unaware of the issue when came up with the idea of this episode, with it instead being based on thinking about Batman Forever and how many different but valid interpretations of Batman there's been over the years. He was however told about the issue during production which likely led to the inclusion of one of the kids thinking Batman isn't human like there is in the original comic issue.

Brandon Gibbs

Yes Meg the first story you saw was based off of the 50's comics and the classic Batman cartoons. The second was based off of a Batman that I am not a big fan of at all. Guess this was just showing a little tribute to them both. Anyway yes you're gonna LOVE the next episode for sure!😉😂

Chinji

The fruity kid, Joel, is a reference to the director of Batman Forever and B&R, Joel Schumacher, these movies are known for the tight rubber armor suits, the campiness, the batmobile driving up walls and, specially, the incredible flamboyant overtones. Him being inside a "Shoemaker" store is a reference to his surname lmao

Sam

Joel Schumacher was an openly gay director who directed Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. While he was effeminate in real life, the scene came off as a homophobic dig at him. It’s also a tad hypocritical mocking the camp of Schumacher’s Batman movies while also celebrating cheesiness of old silver age comics. Also, the “tight rubber suit” in Batman Forever looks awesome! It’s my favorite Batsuit in live-action. It’s sleek and larger than life. I actually had the good fortunate re-watching Batman Forever in a theater a few weeks ago for Batman Day! I’d love to see you react to the movie and hear your thoughts. Joker’s escapade with giant-sized wasn’t from an old show. It’s entirely original, made for this episode! The man who voiced the Joker actually played Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul. You recognize Carrie and Batman fighting in a mud pit because it’s taken straight out of The Dark Knight Returns. Darkseid voice actor Michael Ironside from Superman: TAS did a great old man Batman. The title “Legends of the Dark Knight” is just a cute nod to the comic, but it’s really a look at the different interpretations of Batman over the years from silly to gritty and ultimately Batman The Animated Series that’s both.

Martin Li

Very memorable episode concept, later redone by the first short in the Gotham Knight collection, 'Have I Got A Story For You'. I actually prefer that one of the two, but one thing this does better is examine two different extremes of levity and seriousness in Batman's long (since 1939) career in comics: The silly pun-laden Silver Age (later re-visited in Brave and the Bold), and the gritty ultra-violent Dark Knight Returns graphic novel with the female Robin, which was actually set in the future. Wonder if they'll do anything special for the 100th anniversary? As the comics code gradually lessened its grip on industry standards, Batman has gone up and down a few times on the seriousness/campy scale of storytelling. I don't think he's quite as big a pop culture cipher as say, the Simpsons, but he's got to be up there. I think the one constant that draws us back to these stories over time is Batman as an altruist, throwing all his considerable resources into fighting the eldest and most powerful enemies of humanity whatever their form. A mortal man who fully appreciates the fragility of life, the importance of family, and the corrosive effects of greed, crime and poverty on a community of any size. Like all the best superheroes, he inspires action for good.