‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Review – The Animated Antidote To Superhero Fatigue

The art of the superhero animated series is one that has lent itself greatly to various popular characters within the genre, though perhaps none as much so as Batman.

With multiple examples of the phenomenon under his belt, as well as the infamously excellent Mask of the Phantasm film in the same vein, the Dark Knight has plenty of work in his repertoire to boast; in retrospect it seems like there’s something new in the mix every single time, going back 20 or more years.

That’s one of the many things that makes Caped Crusader, Amazon’s newest entry in the Batman animated fold, so impressive. The show, sold as a spiritual revival of sorts of the “OG” Batman animated series, continues to push the formula, hitting no-joke fastballs over the dark Gotham skyline with ease.

The only real constant here is the art style, though there’s marginal improvement to be found here, too. Caped Crusader certainly looks reminiscent of, and exudes reverence for, an older age of cartoons. Character designs are structured around dominant physical features; movements are exaggerated, sudden, and quick. Simplicity is the name of the game in every regard, and it’s wonderfully easy on the eyes.

Yet there is a sneaky complexity to the whole thing. You’d be remiss not to notice more than a few impressive details layered into this deceivingly basic visual palette, in addition to a striking array of moody colors and flickering lights. The show just looks phenomenal, and the creators behind it use both the free space and restrictions to their advantage.

Deeper than the cosmetics, this is a well-structured endeavor on the storytelling side of things as well. One of the very first scenes in the show sees Bruce and Alfred standing side-by-side staring at a carefully crafted display of information, trying to break down a string of crimes and find a way to figure the whole thing out for the better. Bruce is angry, and a tad bitter; Alfred, of course, is the opposite, toeing the line between annoyance and influence as he picks Bruce’s mind on the situation. It’s brilliant and classic right off the rip, and it should settle viewers immediately by providing the realization that they’re in good hands.

From there, this is a somewhat grounded, unashamedly hammy roundabout of all things Batman. We’re treated to villains common and uncommon, and where things are usually expected to go one way, they’re taken another. In that way, there are a few routes taken here that not every fan will want to follow. That’ll be your decision as the viewer, in the end, but it’s hard to deny either way that every choice feels intentional here, in the least.

The team behind Caped Crusader have methodically webbed their Gotham together in that way, sticking to every single one of their guns to a painstaking degree. It’s one of those “you gotta respect it” scenarios. These days, especially in the superhero entertainment space, it’s much better that artists feel comfortable enough to take genuine risks, whether or not they all pay off in the end. It’s better to fall off the edge than not even try to get to the other side.

Thankfully though, in the case of Caped Crusader, the landing sticks gracefully. The cherry on top is a magnificent cast, brought home by a marvelous double-edged turn from Hamish Linklater as Bruce/Batman. He nails the dichotomy, and following his lead, everyone else falls into place exactly where they should.

This one is hard to deny, and it’d be pointless to even try. It may not shock you, or change your perspective on the genre, but Batman: Caped Crusader shines like a full moon over the seedy streets of a broken city. It exposes everything wrong with the genre it sets out to perfect, doing so in a 10-episode stretch that should go on to inherit immortality from the memorable animated efforts that came before it. Pour a bowl of cereal, sit cross-legged on your couch, and watch this awesome new Batman cartoon. What more could you ask for?

Batman: Caped Crusader will debut on Prime Video on August 1, 2024.