Many die-hard fans consider the animated world of Batman to be a flawless representation of the Dark Knight. Despite being aimed towards children, the majority of the animation content is rather sophisticated, and there are some complicated concepts mixed in. With some of these complex themes coupled with engaging narrative, ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ in particular stole the show.
The story didn’t pull any punches at points, and some fairly nasty themes made it past the editor’s table. While many appreciate the film’s aesthetic quality and somber themes appropriate for the caped crusader, there are a few memorable scenes that fans remember for their shock value. We’ve selected some of these tragic and mature moments that have left a mark on the fans in this video!
Joker Tortures Robin – Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
The terrible torture that Robin suffered at the hands of the Joker is one of the first things that comes to mind. In ‘Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker,’ the action occurs as part of a flashback, and it appears that the maniacal Clown Prince of Crime has returned from the grave. Terry McGinnis is the new Batman, and the plot is set in 21st-century Gotham City.
He is mentored by an older Bruce Wayne, and one day he stops a group of Jokerz from stealing a system scanner from Gotham shipping. Their boss turns out to be Joker himself, and it is soon confirmed that this is the real Joker, who was presumed dead a few years ago. Terry goes to discuss the seriousness of the situation with Barbara Gordon, who warns him about the most dangerous criminal ever.
Meanwhile, Bruce matches the voice with old records and realizes that Joker is indeed back. However, he seems to be reluctant to share more with Terry regarding his fights with the real Joker back in the day. He even asks Terry to give up the Batsuit, and Bruce seems eager to get him off the case.
Later, Terry hears about the tragedies that occurred some years ago from Barbara Gordon. Robin was on patrol when he was kidnapped and taken to the Joker by Harley Quinn. Tim had been missing for three weeks when Batman and Batgirl discovered him in the confines of the Arkham Asylum.
He was tortured so terribly that the poor guy was brainwashed and drugged. The Joker almost turned Robin into a mini version of himself, and made him reveal the real identity of Batman. An infuriated Batman attacks the Joker, but he makes a deranged Robin point a gun at the Dark Knight. Luckily, Robin had some sanity left in him and he shot Joker instead. Bruce was so battered by this torturous experience that he swore to never endanger another young life for his cause.
Back to the present day, Terry is not ready to give up on the mystery. After some twisted turn of events, he learns that the Joker implanted a DNA microchip in Tim so that he could live on in his body. Tim did not have the slightest idea that he was being used, and Terry damages the micro chip to bring Tim back to his original self. This heavy and emotional narrative ends with Bruce finally getting over his problems and visiting Tim in the hospital.
Terry realizes the responsibilities of the caped crusader and decides to be a better Batman in the future! It might be just a part of the story, but the sheer brutality that changed Tim into something else was a shocking sight for adults. This storyline certainly takes the Joker’s sadistic and vengeful bend of mind to the next level!
Staying with Ace – Epilogue – Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond
This episode of ‘Justice League Unlimited’ not only reveals Terry’s true origin but also leaves viewers with some extremely distressing scenes. Terry storms Amanda Waller’s residence, who is now aged, at the start of the episode.
He’s visibly upset, and he’s in desperate need of answers. He found out sometime earlier that he was Bruce’s genetic son, and he was furious at Bruce for keeping it a secret. His whole life seemed to be one big lie cooked up by Bruce, and Warren McGinnis was apparently not his real father. Now, he demands answers from Amanda Waller, who tells him a shocking story.
Back in the day, Ace became a serious threat when she evolved her powers from causing hallucinations to being able to alter reality. She created her own Royal Flush Gang, and Amanda Waller warned Batman that Ace was about to die from a brain aneurysm. Her death would result in massive destruction and loss of life, and thus, a special weapon had to be fashioned to kill her and stop the mayhem.
Batman offered to use the weapon, but Ace knew he had no intention of murdering her due to her mind-reading powers. Instead, he asked her to undo the modifications, and The Dark Knight seemed to empathize with her because of their shared childhood. Ace knew that she would die, and she simply wanted Batman to stay with her during her last moments.
He honored her request, and after her death, the world returned to normal. This also alerted Amanda Waller to the compassionate side of the caped crusader. She went on to become an ally and realized that the world would need another Batman after this one was too old or dead. This is when she obtained Batman’s DNA, and unknown to him, Warren’s reproductive DNA was overwritten by Batman’s.
Terry was born a year later to Mary and Warren, but genetically he was Batman’s son. Amanda Waller even had plans of killing Terry’s parents but decided to spare them. But as luck would have it, Terry’s father was killed later, and he had a similar life trajectory as Bruce Wane.
After learning about the whole incident, Terry reconciles with Bruce and we see them enjoying a nice father-son moment! While this was a heart-warming story as a whole, the tragic end to Ace while Batman gave her company made many fans tear up!
Mister Freeze Origin – Heart of Ice – Batman: The Animated Series
A series of unexplained heists have occurred at various GothCorp offices, all of which were carried out with the use of a freeze gun. This weapon can produce a powerful cold wave capable of forming sheets of ice and snow. When Batman becomes involved in the investigation, he discovers that the bigger version of this freeze cannon has the potential to freeze an entire city.
He guesses the next target of the thief and goes on to apprehend the gang. Their leader calls himself Mr. Freeze and he even freezes Batman with a hit from his freeze gun. He realizes that the man behind all this must be someone with a grudge against GothCorp. It turns out that there was a disgruntled researcher who died in a laboratory accident.
On further investigation, Batman discovers that the story fed to him was completely false. The so-called researcher was a man named Victor Fries and he put his terminally ill wife in cryogenic stasis to buy himself some time to find a cure for her. However, since he used company equipment without proper authorization, his funding was snipped, and his wife was allowed to die as he watched helplessly.
Mr. Ice comes and shoots Batman with a shot from his freeze pistol just as Batman finds the terrible backstory of Victor Fries a.k.a. Mr. Freeze. He says that he could only exist in a sub-zero suit after the disaster, and he keeps Batman as his half-frozen prisoner. The Dark Knight tries to reason with him, but Mr. Freeze is determined to get his revenge.
When Batman finally manages to break free and confronts him, he has already gotten to Mr. Boyle, the man he wanted to punish all along. Just as Mr. Freeze is about to freeze Boyle completely, Batman pours hot soup on his helmet, and the temperature difference cracks the helmet open.
Mr. Freeze is paralyzed once his suit is compromised, but Batman assures him that justice will be served. He hands over the videotape with the evidence that shows Boyle killing Mr. Freeze’s wife, and we see the tragic villain in Arkham, begging his wife to forgive him for failing to avenge her death! Not all villains we come across were baddies by choice, and Mr. Freeze was a great example of someone who was simply a victim of circumstances!
Barbara Gordon’s Death – Over The Edge – The New Batman Adventures
This episode of ‘The New Batman Adventures’ starts out with a nightmare. The Batcave is being raided by the cops, and Batman and Robin are on the run. Nightwing saves them, and Batman begins to explain how the madness occurred! It all began when Batman, Batgirl, and Robin went up against Scarecrow and his crew.
Batgirl chased him to the ledge of a skyscraper, and she fell to the street below. A twisted stroke of fate made her fall on a police car, and Commissioner Gordon was inside. He is shocked to find that Barbara Gordon is Batgirl, and it is too late because she succumbs to her injuries. Batman took care of the Scarecrow threat, but Gordon was in no mood to listen to his logic. He blamed the Dark Knight for his daughter’s demise, and he even tried to arrest Batman.
When Nightwing and Alfred are apprehended, the situation becomes even worse. Tim offers that Batman do something to help them, but Batman declines. Commissioner Gordon, he feels, will not stop until Batman is apprehended and Tim is ordered to leave Gotham. You’re in for some dramatic turns, one of the most stunning of which is learning that Bane was working with Gordon to get to Batman.
Batman defeats Bane in a brutal fight, and also rescues Gordon who had been kicked off a rooftop by his ally! Suddenly, it all changes to Barbara waking up screaming. She was having nightmares about the whole thing after the Scarecrow’s toxins affected her.
She realizes that her deepest fear is her father not knowing anything about her alter-ego and decides to tell him everything! However, she has a change of heart when she realizes that Gordon is a supportive father who believes in his daughter no matter what! Even though Barbara doesn’t actually die in the episode, many of us had a tough time digesting the first half of the episode until the final twist was revealed!
Abuse Of Harley Quinn – Mad Love – The New Batman Adventures
The origin story of Harley Quinn is told in this episode, which is well-known among Batman fans. Commissioner Gordon begins by heading to the dentist for a normal checkup. The Joker and Harley Quinn have him cornered, but Batman comes just in time to free him. The Joker and Harley barely make it out alive, and the former is outraged at the plan’s failure.
When Harley attempts to cheer him up, he spits her out into the streets with a vengeance. Harley is devastated by the state of her relationship with the Joker, and she takes a walk down memory lane, recalling the events that brought them together.
She used to work as a doctor in Arkham Asylum, and she was treated as someone vastly knowledgeable in dealing with the criminally insane. When Joker was brought in, she was intrigued to learn more about the criminal mastermind. But she also started developing strong feelings for him, and she could sense similar interests from him as well.
Joker turned out to be a fragile man, contrary to her expectations. Harley grew to sympathize with him over time, and her feelings for him morphed into insane love. She was concerned about Joker’s safety when he fled from his captivity. When Batman brought in a bloodied and bruised Joker a few days later, her suspicions were confirmed.
She wanted to avenge the pitiful condition of her lover and turned to her new identity as Harley Quinn. They lay an elaborate trap for Batman, and lead him to think that Harley is going to trade Joker’s secret plans in return for her own safety. The caped crusader is captured and chained to a tank filled with piranhas.
It is revealed that Harley has turned a blind eye to the evils of Joker, and she had believed his lies all along. He was not being vulnerable, but simply trying to lure her to free himself. When Batman brings it out for her, Harley is in a dilemma and the Joker gets news of the proceedings. He is furious that she is robbing him of the chance to kill Batman, and she realizes that Batman might be right about the Joker’s selfish nature. Ultimately when she is brought to the Arkham facility, her resolve breaks after finding a flower on her bed and a note from the Joker.
Harley is nearly in a trance throughout the movie, and you can’t help but feel terrible for her. She is treated like trash, but something about the insane, vicious person attracts to her so strongly that she is willing to sacrifice everything for him!
The Life & Death Of Annie – Growing Pains – The New Batman Adventures
Robin saves a vulnerable girl from a vicious street gang, but she appears befuddled and goes away. Meanwhile, a new menace has emerged in Gotham City: a superhuman criminal whose abilities are most likely medically induced. Tim is still smitten with the girl, and when he sees her at a signal, he chases her down in his Robin costume.
When confronted, she reveals that someone is chasing her, and Robin promises to protect her. She cannot even remember her own name, and Robin decides to name her Annie. Suddenly, the superhuman, giant man comes out of the shadows and claims to be her father.
Robin is no match for his incredible strength, and luckily for him, Batman comes to his rescue. However, the man gets away and he takes Annie along with him. Robin is determined to find the girl, and he wanders around searching for her.
When she is discovered again, his diligent quest bears rewards. Annie is moved by his concern and love for her, but she is unable to recall anything about herself. She does, however, identify a familiar location, and Robin drives her to a beach with a lighthouse perched on a cliff. Meanwhile, Batman has discovered the true identity of this new criminal, and the results have surprised him.
He is none other than Clayface, and we soon learn more about Annie and her tragic past. She was created by Clayface to keep an eye on Gotham and report back to him. She is merely a part of Clayface, after he was exposed to the chemicals that fused his flesh back together. Robin believes that Annie can be saved, but Clayface thinks otherwise.
When he tries to kill Robin, Annie runs into him and gets reabsorbed into his body. It was tough for the young fans to witness a heartbroken Robin. Batman tried to make him understand that at times there are no happy endings, but he is simply dejected at the loss. His only consolation is that Clayface is finally arrested and charged for his crimes!
Life Without Batman [Suicidal Bruce Wayne] – Perchance to Dream – Batman: The Animated Series
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For Batman, it’s just another day in Gotham City, and he’s following some criminals into a warehouse. He is knocked unconscious unexpectedly, and when he awakens, his entire world has altered. Alfred appears to be ignorant that Bruce Wayne is Batman, and the fact that Thomas and Martha Wayne are still alive is even more surprising.
Bruce is utterly confused and it worsens when he finds that the secret entrance to the Batcave is missing. He tries to find out more about his life, and learns that he leads Wayne Enterprises after his father’s retirement. Bruce is confused with his memories as Batman, but everything points to the fact that he never had such an alter-ego.
In fact, he even watches Batman in action, and he is told that the caped crusader has been working as a hero in Gotham City for a while now. He goes to seek therapy, and his therapist suggests that he is simply identifying with Batman because he has a lack of real accomplishment.
Bruce adjusts to his new life, but there is more turmoil on the horizon. When he attempts to read something, the words become jumbled. After eluding the cops, he approaches Batman, and it appears like Bruce has achieved a breakthrough. He realizes that he is simply dreaming and the right side of the brain which is used to read, doesn’t work while someone is in a dream.
Batman turns out to be the Mad Hatter, and a shocking twist reveals that all of this was simply a part of a dream world constructed by the real Mad Hatter. Bruce jumps to his death because it seems like the only way to get out of this world. He wakes up in the real world in a room with Mad Hatter, and there is a mind-control device on his head. It doesn’t take long for the Dark Knight to take down the thugs and Mad Hatter is taken into custody!
A program with a children’s target audience has the audacity to portray a suicidal Bruce Wayne! Although it was set in a fantasy world, the notion was startlingly cruel to young admirers.
“WHY COULDN’T YOU SAVE ME?!” (TWO-FACE, PART 2)
Harvey Dent has already been scarred by a tragic event that has severely deformed one side of his face. He’s also surrendered to his insane alter ego, a vicious maniac seeking vengeance. He goes by the moniker Two-Face, and he decides the destiny of his victims by flipping a coin. Harvey happened to be one of Bruce’s best friends, and the turn of events caused him to experience traumatic nightmares.
He has visions of Harvey and his parents blamed him for failing to do something about Harvey’s condition. Batman makes repeated attempts to appeal to the human side of Two-Face, but their initial encounters are marred with violent attacks on the protector of Gotham City. He is left with a broken rib and Harvey storms off to meet the love of his life, Grace.
She persuades him of his achievements and begs him to accept his human side. Two-Face had taken certain files containing information on the sleazy Thorne’s corruption. All of a sudden, he attacks with his thugs, and Two-Face has to fight back. Batman joins the fight, but he can barely do much with his broken rib. Meanwhile, Thorne is pinned down, and Two-Face attempts a coin toss to determine his fate.
Batman throws a crate and makes him lose the coin mid-air, and Two-Face erupts in a tantrum of rage. Grace tries to comfort him, and Batman assures Commissioner Gordon that there is still hope for Dent. In an adorable end to the episode, Batman does a coin toss wishing his old friend to be back, and he wins!
This episode was painful for the audience since they realized that even Batman may fail to save his best buddy! Furthermore, it was difficult to witness him go through the anguish of hating himself. It was another mature concept that was cleverly disguised within apparently simple storytelling.
“WHY COULDN’T YOU JUST LET ME MAKE-BELIEVE?!” (BABY DOLL)
Because of the titular protagonist, ‘Baby Doll’ is arguably one of the most devastating episodes in ‘Batman: The Animated Series.’ Mary Louise Dahl was her true name, and she was an actor. She had a rare ailment called systemic hypoplasia, which prevented her from ageing and caused her to retain her youthful appearance.
She was famous after playing a role in a TV sitcom and her character was that of a three-year-old even though she was twenty. Slowly the popularity weaned out, and the producers brought in a new character in the show. She was jealous of this new addition, and eventually she quit the show.
She tried her hand at proper dramatic acting, but her performance in Macbeth had poor reviews. Even her old show turned her down when she wanted to make a return, and slowly, she couldn’t find a single job to keep going. This depressing phase of her life changed her into a vengeful lady. She hired thugs to kidnap the original cast of the show so that she could get her revenge on the people who stole her limelight.
The anomalies were quickly apparent to Batman as he investigated the case of actor kidnapping. He set up a trap for Baby Doll and forced Robin to dress up as her rival. They let the prisoners go, and Batman pursued her into a Fun House full of mirrors. She was heartbroken to see her reflection in these mirrors, and she realized that she couldn’t be perceived as a normal adult. She seems to have made peace with her fate and she doesn’t resent when Batman arrives.
The caped crusader realizes that she is merely a misunderstood young lady, and tries to comfort her. This episode was a hard-hitting reminder of how social outcasts struggle to maintain their sanity. Mary had a deformity that pushed her to the brink of committing certain crimes that she never would have. To see her being comforted by Batman in the final scene was an emotional moment because you realize that even the Dark Knight never had a normal childhood!
THE FLYING GRAYSONS FALL (ROBIN’S RECKONING, PART 1)
We had no clue that an episode that started off so innocently would end up being such a tearjerker. It begins with Batman and Robin apprehending a group of mobsters who were attempting to extort money from an architect. They learn their boss’s name is Billy Marin, and Batman orders Robin to stay away from the investigation.
Robin is annoyed by this treatment and researches more about Billy Marin. He is shocked to find that Billy Marin is an alias for Tony Zucco, the man responsible for killing his parents many years ago. When Dick Grayson was a child, he worked in a circus with his parents. A young Tony Zucco wanted to extort money from the ringmaster, who refused the offer.
Tony threatened him with dire consequences, and true to his promise, he cut a trapeze rope that was used in the act. Dick’s parents performed in the trapeze act, and before Dick had a chance to warn them, they fell to their deaths. The Graysons were so skilled that they did not even have a protective net, and with the rope cut off, they did not stand a chance.
Dick recognized Tony as the perpetrator, and Jim Gordon felt he was a critical witness who would be jeopardized. Bruce felt sorry for Dick Grayson, an orphan, and took him under his wing. Robin is now filled with hatred and a desire for vengeance. He wants to get to Tony Zucco, and he is mad at Batman for robbing him of the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Batman is simply concerned about his well-being and he knows how dangerous Tony can be! However, when Robin finally gets Tony, better sense prevails and he hands him over to the police. This episode was a shocking glimpse into the tragic past of Dick Grayson. The poor boy lost his parents in a planned murder and he had to witness such morbid deaths at such a tender age!
We all know that Batman’s world isn’t built of sweets and roses, yet such gloomy themes were difficult for young audiences to accept. These are the moments, though, that made the animation content appealing to an older audience and established it as a timeless masterpiece!