Batman: The Animated Series It may be an esteemed cartoon, but not every line of dialogue from the acclaimed show has aged gracefully in a modern light. Considered by many to be the definitive Batman continuity, Batman: The Animated Series has an established reputation as one of the greatest animated superhero series ever created. However, there are some little old things about Batman: The Animated Seriesespecially when it comes to dialogue.
There are a few different reasons for some of the dialogue in Batman: The Animated SeriesThe worst episodes don’t meet modern standards. In many cases, ’90s writing bodes ill for later real-life events that would make the lines awkward, if not downright offensive. Other times, events in the DCAU chronology itself are to blame for the instantaneous aging of certain quotes.
10
“Hey! Did I hit your kids?”
Joker, old wounds
The new adventures of Batman caught where the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series left aside, new character designs, an old story, and new redesigns for many of Gotham’s villains. However, the sequel series unfortunately retained some of the original’s slightly aged dialogue in episodes like Old Wounds. This episode detailed the original Robin’s separation from leadership of Batman, becoming the vigilante Nightwing.
In a throwaway line, Joker comedically berates Batman for attacking his ravenous hyenas, referring to them as his “children” before pointedly remembering that he regularly beats up Batman’s teenage companions. This scary phrase is far from child-friendly, normalizing abuse in the context of a children’s cartoon. But what really ages so poorly is the continued popularity of the Jason Todd storyline, which the DCAU wisely chose not to adapt, in which the Joker beats Robin to death with a crowbar.
9
“Wrrraarrraak!”
The Penguin, I have Batman in my basement
I have Batman in my basement is widely considered one of the weakest episodes of the entire series, and for good reason. The story revolves around two amateur child detectives who somehow manage to rescue Batman in a case against the Penguin. The first appearance of the classic Batman villain in the series, I have Batman in my basement instantly ensures that the Penguin is far from the threat he deserves to be by being thwarted by literal children.
The kids discover the Penguin’s schemes by tracking his pet vulture to his lair, where the Penguin appears on screen for the first time. His first line is a ridiculous bird cry meant to get his pet’s attention, ensuring the supposed criminal mastermind is far from intimidating the second he appears on screen. Considering how intimidating Oz Cobb is portrayed in the HBO series The Penguin, It’s sad to see how much Batman’s most iconic series treats him like a joke.
8
“And people wonder why no one takes Britain seriously.”
Red Claw, The Lion and the Unicorn
Another of the most forgotten Batman: The Animated Series episodes, and for good reason, The Lion and the Unicorn it was actually the last episode of the entire show to air. The adventure focuses on Alfred returning to England to help his “cousin” Fredrick with a generic Eastern European spy villain known as Red Claw. At one point, Red Claw injects Alfred with a truth serum, hoping to get some sensitive intelligence out of him. To avoid spilling the beans, Alfred recites lines of English poetry before launching into pure jargon.
Angered by the attempt, Red Claw notes that Alfred’s speech is the reason Britain is no longer taken seriously. Interestingly, it’s safe to say that Britain is taken much less seriously in American culture today than it was when Batman: The Animated Series came out first. Although England used to be a symbol of class and high society in American media, Red Claw may, strangely enough, have a point.
7
“When you taste prison food, you’ll wish you ate it.”
Batman, the forgotten
Sometimes, Batman: The Animated Series would clumsily attempt to cover some heavy subjects, ranging from child abuse to poverty. The topic of the day for the episode The Forgotten it’s slavery and homelessness, with Bruce Wayne forced into servitude after losing his memory. Surprisingly, the young age line associated with this episode has nothing to do with its sensitive subject matter.
Instead, the line refers to the eating habits of forgettable antagonist Boss Biggis, a comically overweight slave driver whose diet is used as a source of humor. When he finally wakes up and takes down Boss Biggis, Batman takes the time to mock his size, suggesting that he won’t be a fan of the prison food. Even if it’s for a despicable villain, a little body shaming goes a long way toward aging, even on a prestige show like Batman: The Animated Series.
6
“Nasty wound you have there, kitten. Will you lick it and make it all better?
Dr. Milo, cat scratch fever
Although it was ostensibly rated for children to watch Batman: The Animated Series would occasionally veer into some uncomfortably sexual territory for its supposed target audience. A great example of this is the episode centered on Catwoman Cat scratch fever. Here is the first appearance of the rare villain and genius genetic bioengineer, Dr. Milo, who injects Catwoman’s pet cat, Isis, with a deadly contagious poison.
Catwoman’s presence invites some strangely graphic readings from Dr. Milo, who teases “Bad wound you have there, Pussycat. Will you lick it and make it all better?“. The creepy lewdness with which Dr. Milo delivers this line is not a good look for the supposedly kid-friendly cartoon, inviting some nasty innuendo. It’s a shame Catwoman can’t exist in stories like this episode or movies like Batman Returns without suffering so many “kitty” comments.
5
“It appears that a stock market collapse is now imminent.”
Summer Gleeson, the last laugh
The last laugh It’s a great episode that showcases one of Joker’s most damaging schemes in the entire series. Batman: The Animated Series. Creating a massive ship complete with an android pilot, Captain Clown, the Joker sends a massive amount of his signature venom drifting across Gotham City, predominantly affecting its wealthy elite. Due to his new madness, Gotham City’s largest corporate interests quickly begin to sink the economy thanks to their control of capital.
Reporting on the situation, reporter Summer Gleeson comments on the imminent collapse of the stock market. It wouldn’t be long before the last episode of Batman: The Animated Series it aired that the stock market actually collapsed in the 2008 financial crisis. With that knowledge in mind, hearing that line again is almost shuddering, even if the show’s writers could never have predicted it.
4
“Children and guns don’t mix. Always.”
Batman, the nether dwellers
The 2008 financial crisis would not be the only real-life event that caused a Batman: The Animated Series line to age poorly. In one of the most infamous and poorly rated episodes, The Underground Dwellers, Batman encounters a unique villain hiding in the sewers who forces children to do his criminal bidding. In a chilling and sobering line, Batman disarms the little minions of some firearms, making an encouraging statement about how children and guns don’t mix, no matter the circumstances.
Unfortunately, it has become evident that Batman’s words are somewhat controversial in the modern day. Since Batman: The Animated Series came out, a tragic epidemic of gun violence has gripped the country, especially in schools, retroactively making Batman’s accusation of children and guns a shockingly fine line. In many ways, Batman: The Animated Series It has aged very well, but in the case of this particular line it stands out as a product of its time.
3
“I saw how you treat your prisoners. Forgotten and scared, without hope or compassion.”
Batman, Lockdown
Batman: The Animated Series did a great job of showing Batman’s more sensitive side, taking the time to congratulate and help rehabilitate villains where he can, rather than just locking them up and forgetting about them. Examples of this behavior include Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and Catwoman. However, in one episode, Batman comes across a copycat vigilante who calls himself Lock-Up, a former head of security at Arkham Asylum with a nasty penchant for abusing inmates.
With Lock-Up as a counterpoint, Batman is able to make some prescient statements about compassion for prisoners, emphasizing redemption over pure punitive action whenever possible. Once again, the ’90s series produces a quote that flies in the face of the problems plaguing modern-day society, with the cruel prison-industrial pipeline only getting worse since the series aired. If only Batman’s words had as much effect in real life as they do in the DCAU.
2
“What are you doing tonight?”
Batman, Torch Song
Torch Song is the episode that introduces Firefly into the rogues gallery The new adventures of Batman. A former pyrotechnic technician and ex-boyfriend of a popular musician, Firefly is a relatively C-list villain in the grand scheme of the show. Its signature episode is mired in some questionable treatment of female characters, culminating in an ominous foreshadowing of series producer Bruce Timm’s strange obsession with a certain Batman novel.
At one point, Batman asks Batgirl what she’s “doing tonight,” only for her to respond with a classic Batman line. Pinky and the Brain. Even though it’s a lighthearted, off-the-cuff remark, Batman jokingly proposing to Batgirl on a date night is a chilling preview of Bruce Timm’s later romantic pairing between the two in the controversial animated film, Batman: The Killing Joke. This unfortunate premonition was an ominous omen of the strange DCAU stories to come.
1
“Oh, honey, you are the best! The ultimate thrill. The final feat. Me and you. Yeah yeah! YES!”
Roxy Rocket, the ultimate thrill
By far the boldest line in both The new adventures of Batman or Batman: The Animated Series occurs in the first episode, The ultimate thrill. The story follows Batman in pursuit of an impulsive, adrenaline-addicted criminal, Roxy Rocket, a former stuntwoman whose taste for danger leads her to seek greater and greater thrills, culminating in a chase with Batman. Strapping herself to a rocket, Roxy forces Batman on a dangerous journey for her own pleasure.
The voice acting for Roxy Rocket’s final feat borders on R-rating, screaming with perverse glee as the rocket takes off. It’s hard to believe the producers got away with the blatant sexual imagery in this scene, which was rendered somewhat tasteless on rewatch by wild reading. Looking back at the show’s legacy, Roxy Rocket’s infamous line is one of the poorest people’s dialogues in Batman: The Animated Series.
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