10 Best Batman Beyond Episodes

Batman of the Future is returning, but what were the show's best episodes?

By Stacey Henley /

Batman Beyond (or as it was known outside of the US, Batman Of The Future), is not only one of the best Batman TV shows, but one of the best superhero shows period. With a new movie set to come out based in the Batman Beyond universe, many fans have been re-watching the old series once again.

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Set in the future, as the alternative title suggests, Batman Beyond deals with an older Bruce Wayne retiring from his role as the Batman in the opening episode. Soon after, he meets Terry McGinnis, who becomes Wayne’s protege and his new Batman.

There was a healthy mix of monster of the week episodes with new and fantastically over the top villains, as well as longer running arcs with the likes of Derek Powers and Inque. The art-style and music were just as big a part of the experience too, both playing off the often explosive action sequences.

But when it comes to the show's best episodes, narrowing it down to the top 10 was difficult. Taking into account the story, action, dialogue and characters, plus what they revealed about the nature of being Batman, some clear gems emerged.

10. Epilogue (Justice League Unlimited)

Technically it’s not a Batman Beyond episode, obviously, but it does help wrap up the series and is key to any rewatching experience. Therefore, it slips into the list at number 10, but couldn’t really justify a higher placing.

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Batman Beyond’s actual last episode told a great story, but it didn’t offer absolute closure in a way it really deserved. Epilogue solved that and then some, throwing Justice League Unlimited 60 years into the future to reveal key information about Terry, his relationship to Bruce, and the legacy of Batman itself.

It turns out the reason he’s so similar to Bruce is because Cadmus stole Bruce's DNA on Amanda Waller's instruction and ensured it overwrote Warren McGinnis' own, meaning Terry is actually half Bruce Wayne. It highlights the differences between the pair too, with Terry perhaps lacking the original Dark Knight’s detective skills but also being less reliant on complete isolation.

Back in the Justice League’s present, the story highlights the tragic life of one of the lesser appreciated villains, Ace. The point of the story is to show Bruce Wayne’s soft spot, but like all great writing it manages to be much more complex and layered than simple exposition.

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