'Batman: Caped Crusader' strikes a different stylistic tone in new Amazon series

The question that will be debated for fans of animation in the coming weeks is whether Warner Bros. Discovery made a mistake in shopping “Batman: Caped Crusader” to Amazon Prime as opposed to saving it for its own streaming service, Max.

Based on the reimagining of “Batman: The Animated Series,” the Fox show that many view as a seminal iteration of Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s legendary comic book character, definitely, maybe.

Why Warner Bros. would allow a competitor to capitalize on the cred of one of its most popular properties, which begins streaming Aug. 1, is a source of debate (think cost cutting), but in “Caped Crusader” they allow producers Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matte Reeves (current torchbearer for Batman on the silver screen), to take Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego back to his roots.

In the process, they seemingly take the Dark Knight back in time. This vigilante fights crime in an analog world as opposed to a digital one. The gadgets are minimalist and the look is distinctly of the 1940s film noir. But it’s a look that reflects distinctly modern takes on its characters. Take Jim and Barbara Gordon, both of whom are African American. It’s a move that reflects what Reeves did with the character in his first outing with the character in “The Batman” in casting Jeffrey Wright as the crusty lawman .

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Additionally, there is an LGBQT relationship, something presented as the everyday occurrence that it is. The point: Batman has undergone a much needed, and deserved, modernization with respect to societal norms. Call it a correction, given those changes could have been made in the era of the Fox television series, but, you know, nervous network censors, at least with respect to the latter issue.

Some things, however, are universal in this 10-episode run and the fact is Bruce Wayne/Batman remains a tortured soul looking to avenge his parents’ murder in a rather personal way – serving as a vigilante in his hometown of Gotham City, metropolis seething with corruption, who finds himself facing a group of criminals that could be described as eccentric.

By now, after 80 years of mythology, Batman’s rogues’ gallery is well known to fans, but here’s where the “Batman: Caped Crusader” takes risks – much needed ones. The recognizable villains – Catwoman, for instance – are given origin stories that adhere mostly to mythology.

Others such as Harvey Dent possesses a tweaked backstory developed over the course of those 10 episodes.

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Harley Quinn, the most recently created criminal agent of chaos, is given a different background. Notice there’s no mention of Public Enemy No. 1 – The Joker. There exists a reason for that – just as there is one for the way the character is introduced in the first season.

Just as there is a reason Batman is as he is in this version. In past iterations the character at least displayed some degree of warmth toward his butler, Alfred. Here, he is “Pennyworth” and Batman very much treats him as a subordinate and is often cool and dismissive.

The creators take the character back to a point in his life when he was very much a work in progress – in motivation and emotion. It’s a similar but different take on the Batman.

And the good news: the series received a two-season order, so let's see what's in store with The Joker.

George M. Thomas dabbles in sports and pop culture for the Beacon Journal.

Review

Show: “Batman: Caped Crusader”

Cast: Hamish Linklater, Haley Joel Osment, Christina Ricci, Diedrich Bader

Directed by: Various.

Rated: TV-Y7

Grade: B

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Batman: Caped Crusader' strikes a different stylistic tone in new Amazon series