5 Reasons Why You Should Rewatch Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond may be a show of the past, but it still reminds us why it's the future.
First airing in 1999, Batman Beyond introduced viewers to a Gotham City forty years older from the one in Batman: The Animated Series, bringing a classic blend of Cyber-Punk and neo-noir characteristics with it. The series begins with a now-retired Bruce Wayne reluctantly taking on a troubled teenager - Terry McGinnis - as the new Batman, in an attempt to protect neo-Gotham from a persistent surge in crime.
While Batman Beyond was certainly more distant from a conventional Batman than its predecessors, the series proved time and again that it was the evolution of the Batman tale, rather than a deviation of it. The introduction of a vibrant and clever rogues gallery, its appreciation for problems of today's youth, and a sobering perspective of time propel the show into greatness.
And now, with the announcement of a Blu-ray re-release at SDCC 2019 - as well as the possibility of a fourth season - it is time to look back at the Batman of tomorrow.
5. Teenage Batman
Long before an Aquaman film made over a billion dollars and Iron Man was a household name, Batman and Spider-Man had long been competing against each other to be the public's favourite. Batman captivated many with his Gothic and haunting detective stories, while Spider-Man was enamoured for the struggles he faced as a teenager. At last, Batman Beyond birthed Terry McGinnis, a seventeen year old boy troubled by his parents' divorce and life in the city.
Terry immediately broke the status quo of Batman by bringing a level of teen-angst - even being a part of a city gang before the beginning of the show - as well as coming from a less than privileged upbringing. No time is wasted in separating Terry from Bruce, with Terry attempting to balance his role as the caped-crusader with his family and social life, instead of being consumed by his responsibility as Batman in the same way as Bruce was.
The result of this Spider-Man/Batman chimera is the perfect blend of neo-noir detective thrills, and classic coming-of-age vibes that are still totally schway.