The creators of "Beware the Batman" have a strong chance of alienating the die-hard fans of Brace Wayne's alter ego. The new animated show will not follow the traditional storyline accepted by many of the previous incarnations of Dark Knight on TV. The creators of the show have to be very careful to make a show that will be inviting to as many Batman fans as possible.
The Dark Knight Returns
"Beware the Batman" is going to go back to the darker nature of the character which was veered from with the recent "Batman: The Brave and the Bold." This will be inviting to fans of "Batman: The Animated Series," but would not align for the fans of the lighter renditions of the character over the years. As a life-long comic book collector, I have learned that darker characters are often more inviting to older audiences but are not fully understood by a young audience since the youth cannot often relate to the reasons why someone would become grizzled and vengeful.
Joker's Over?
Sam Register is the Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, at Warner Bros. Animation and explained that "We went in deeper into the villain library and pulled out some other villains." According to Register, Warner Bros. did not want another "Joker story." Villains such as Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad, and Magpie will be taking the place of traditional evil-doers like Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, and Riddler. Fans who have not delved into the comics over the years will immediately feel a separation due to the lack of familiarity they have with the new villains.
Robin Rocked
Robin will not be the chosen partner for The Insider on "Beware the Batman." The sidekick role will be taken over by Katana and is the easiest way the show will separate the casual viewer from the life-long fans of the Big Black Bat. Katana is a member of the Outsiders and is a martial arts specialist. The alter ego of Tatsu Yamashiro is not a household name like Robin and could appear as a weakness of the show. Instead, her placement in the show symbolizes how the character of Batman does not have to rely on the norms that we have come to know him through.
Continued Evolution
Fans who have followed Batman know how the character and the characterization of the Batman comics have changed over the years. When he was first introduced, he was a traditional crime fighter that was separated from other comic book heroes due to his reliance on wit, his money, and his athletic ability. When the Adam West TV show became popular, the comics mirrored the Socko!-style of the primetime series. Frank Miller revolutionized the character and made him someone who often crossed the line in "Batman: The Dark Knight." "Beware the Batman" is simply a point in the evolution of the character on TV and should be celebrated by viewers in the same way that fans of the comics have celebrated every variance in print.
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