Batman: Bad Blood is a 2016 direct-to-video animated superhero film which is part of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. It serves as a sequel to the 2015 film Batman vs. Robin. The film was released on January 20, 2016 for iTunes and the Google Play Store. The DVD and Blu-ray versions will be released on February 2, 2016.
Jason O'Mara, Sean Maher and Stuart Allan will reprise their roles from the previous films with Morena Baccarin returning from Son of Batman as Talia al Ghul.
Cast:
Jason O'Mara – Bruce Wayne / Batman
Yvonne Strahovski – Kate Kane / Batwoman
Stuart Allan – Damian Wayne / Robin
Sean Maher – Dick Grayson / Nightwing / Batman II
Morena Baccarin – Talia al Ghul
Steve Blum – Black Mask, Firefly
Gaius Charles – Luke Fox / Batwing
John DiMaggio – Blockbuster, Tusk
Robin Atkin Downes – Jervis Tetch / Mad Hatter
James Garrett – Alfred Pennyworth
Ernie Hudson – Lucius Fox
Vanessa Marshall – Renee Montoya
Matthew Mercer – Hellhound
Geoff Pierson – Colonel Jacob Kane
Jason Spisak – Noah Kuttler / Calculator, Killer Moth
Bruce Thomas – Commissioner Gordon
Kari Wahlgren – Kori
Travis Willingham – Heretic
Plot: (FULL Spoilers)
Batwoman intercepts a group of criminals in Gotham that include Electrocutioner, Blockbuster,Firefly, Killer Moth, and others. When a fight ensues, Batmansoon arrives. They are confronted by the apparent leader of the criminals, a man called the Heretic, who reminds Batman of his vision of Damian Wayne as Batman. Heretic detonates explosives planted within the facility. Batman flings Batwoman to safety and apparently perishes in the explosion.
Weeks pass. Both Batman and Bruce Wayne's disappearances have not gone unnoticed - Alfred takes up the guise of Wayne in electronic communications using gadgets in the Batcave to maintain appearances, while sending out a distress signal to Dick Grayson. Meanwhile, Damian Wayne watches a news report of Batman's disappearance and sets out to return to Gotham.
One night, Batman, wearing a different Bat emblem, apparently resurfaces and is quickly noticed by Katherine Kane. Both Batwoman and Robin intercept Batman and quickly deduce that it is Grayson wearing an old version of the Batsuit. They begin their own investigations into the Heretic, unconvinced that Bruce is truly dead. Soon the Heretic and his henchmen attack Wayne Enterprises, forcing Lucius Fox to open the way into the vault by threatening his son Luke Fox, a soldier recently returned from Afghanistan. Though Grayson and Damian quickly arrive, they are unable to prevent the Heretic from escaping with Wayne technology, and Lucius Fox is seriously injured.
Heretic returns to his headquarters, where it is revealed that he is working for Talia al Ghul. They have Bruce Wayne captured, and the Mad Hatter is slowly brainwashing him. The Heretic, apparently obsessed with Damian Wayne, then breaks into the Batcave and kidnaps him. He explains that he is a clone of Damian, and he wishes to have Damian's memories and personality implanted within his own brain. Talia then arrives and shoots Heretic dead for his disobedience. Grayson and Batwoman then arrive, having located Damian through a tracker in his costume. They are quickly joined by Luke Fox, clad in an advanced combat exosuit and styling himself as Batwing. The three rescue Bruce and Damian, but Talia and her henchmen escape.
Weeks pass and Bruce seems to have recovered from the ordeal, though he remains adamant that Katherine and Luke not be involved, insisting that their heroics remain within the "family". Meanwhile, Katherine is suddenly attacked by her father. After disabling him, she discovers he had been brainwashed. She brings this to the attention of Grayson, Damian, and Luke. Dick immediately concludes that Bruce is still under the effects of Mad Hatter's mind control, though Damian is unconvinced. Luke reveals that the League of Assassins are planning to brainwash a number of world leaders at a tech summit held by Bruce Wayne.
As the brainwashing is taking place, Nightwing, Robin, Batwoman, and Batwing arrive and fight Talia and her henchmen. During the fight, Mad Hatter is killed, thus stopping the mind control from undergoing to completion. Bruce, under the effects of the brainwashing, is made to fight Nightwing and defeats him. Talia then orders him to shoot Grayson dead, but Bruce is able to resist the effects of the mind control and disobey. Incensed, Talia escapes into her auto pilot vessel only to be met by Onyx who causes the flying freighter to crash and leaving their fates unknown. The "Bat family" then return to the Batcave to plan their next move. Nightwing explains that none of the Mad Hatter's programming can function without his being around to activate it.
The Bat skylight shines in Gotham City where Batwoman, Nightwing, Batwing assemble to meet Batman and Robin on top of the police station where they see Penguin escaping cops by car. The entire group fires their grappling guns as they begin pursuit of the rogue.
Elsewhere on a nearby building, Batgirl observes the group launch their chase and fires her grappling gun to join the pursuit.
The Verdict:
This isn't going to be a long review, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet as what you've come to expect from these quickie reviews.
This DC Direct animated feature is set in the same universe as Son of Batman and Batman vs. Robin, featuring the animated debuts of Batwoman and Batwing. It also serves as the first time that Renee Montoya has been properly represented in one of these DC Direct animated films since Batman: The Animated Series. This version of the character is the up-to-date re-imagining of the character as the lesbian girlfriend of Batwoman from the New 52 continuity of DC Comics. Given the mature audience that these films have been aimed towards, I'm not surprised to see Batwoman introduced into this continuity. I was more surprised that they introduced the Bat-Family as a whole here instead of the sticking with the tired and true formula of Batman, Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl. Seeing Batwing here was even a bigger surprise as I didn't know that character had enough of an audience (I don't mind him TBH) to warrant an animated appearance. At least they went with the newest version instead of the one that was an African Ironman/Black Panther hybrid without any money at his disposal.
I honestly haven't had a chance to read Batwoman's comics since the early days of the New 52 reboot, but it was a joy to see her in action in this film. She's one of the only homosexual superheroes who didn't have their sexual orientations altered just to be "politically correct" with modern readers and the film didn't go out of it's way to throw that her orientation into your face either. Her role in this film was done tastefully and didn't feel forced in the slightest.
In both cases, Batwoman and Batwing being in this film is HUGE in terms of comic book news. Batwing is the first African-American Batman and Batwoman is first, if only, lesbian Batman affiliation. I know that Catwoman is bisexual now in the current continuity, but as far as I know, Batwoman is the only lesbian Batman affiliate that I'm aware of and I apologize if I'm wrong.
Bigger and better representation in fantasy mediums is always a good thing and it's great that it didn't feel forced like mentioned earlier. You don't want to do multicultural diversity and make it come off awkward and VERY forced like oh I don't know... Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
I kinda wish that the film spent a little more time detailing Damian's reclusive training with the monks, but I appreciated the time that Damian and Dick spent bonding as the substitution Batman and Robin. It was a nice nod back to the Knightfall era of DC Comics and even the modern comics during the period where everyone thought Bruce Wayne died at the hands of Darkseid's Omega Sanctum. Call me nuts, but I really wish that DC Comics would have more faith in Dick Grayson officially taking over the mantle of Batman from Bruce instead of these quick fixes, much like how Jim Gordon has done in the current continuity.
I'm surprised no one didn't notice a difference in Batman's stature and voice while Nightwing was filling in for Bruce. To say that Talia held Bruce Wayne hostage and under her control for so long, what was stopping the League of Assassins from informing all of Batman's rogues gallery of his secret identity? That would have made a lot of the leg work to her master plan a little more easier if she was looking to get rid of the Bat-Family for good. It made even less sense when she still had Bruce under her control and she didn't do anything about Batwing and Batwoman (outside of brainwashing her father) despite the fact that Bruce could have relayed ALL of this information to her concerning their real identities and where to find them.
Another thing that bothered me that they continued the trend from all three films to date whereas Nightwing gets the holy hell beat out of him. This time, Batman breaks his arm while still under the influence of Talia and comes dangerously close to even killing him. C'mon, can Nightwing hold his own against ANYONE in these films? Robin seems to do just fine against anyone no matter what the size or skill difference with the only major advantage against his opponents here is his superior training from the League of Assassins. Robin is as overpowered as John Cena or even Bumblebee in the Transformers live-action films.
(Laughs) I bet Batman is going to have plenty of nightmares about snapping back to his senses and having a gun his hands for sure.
Buy It, Rent It, or Don't Bother?
Much like all of these DC Direct animated films, I highly suggest renting it first, but if you're a hardcore DC Comics - especially Batman - fan then I don't see any harm in picking this up for your collection. Batwoman and Batwing's animated debuts are definitely worth the watch alone while the narrative continues to add to the universe that was started in Son of Batman and continued through Batman vs. Robin to this film.
Post a Comment