Batman wings into an exciting new era, teaming with a mighty honor roll of DC Comics Super Heroes in the debut season of the smart, hip TV series! This exciting 2-Disc, 26-Episode Collection features Batman and allies Aquaman, Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Robin, Wildcat, Deadman, Plastic Man, Red Tornado, Bronze Tiger, Dr. Fate and The Atom fighting foes from mad scientists to intergalactic crooks, from power-mad dictators to out-of-control teenagers teenagers in High Definition 1080p! He even partners with another legendary detective: Sherlock Holmes! In this cool, cutting-edge and often funny series, bringing back old-school comic book styling and dry wit to crimefighting, Batman faces any peril — including other heroes stealing the show — in his relentless pursuit of justice.
Braver. Bolder. Season two of Batman: The Brave and the Bold delivers more of the action you want, as the caped crusader continues to team up with heroes from across the DC Universe in this latest interpretation of the classic Batman franchise from Warner Bros. Animation. Featuring nonstop adventure with a touch of comic relief, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others uphold justice alongside Batman. Though still based in Gotham, Batman frequently finds himself outside city limits, facing situations that are both unfamiliar and exhilarating. With formidable foes at every turn, Batman must still rely on his stealth, resourcefulness and limitless supply of cool gadgets to bring justice home. With more action-packed antics and characters like Firestorm and Metal Men, season two features the voices of guest stars Julie Newmar (Batman), Adam West (Batman), Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Batman), Paul Reubens (Pee-wee’s Playhouse) and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris).
Join the Caped Crusader and a wealth of DC’s finest as they team up to battle injustice in the third and final season of this cutting-edge series! Evil never sleeps in these diabolical schemes plotted by the world’s most infamous criminals including the Joker, Lex Luthor, Equinox and Ra’s Al Ghul! Thankfully, Batman and his many allies, including Superman, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Wonder Woman, are always up for the challenge! Circle this globe and others, and even travel through time in these 13 action-packed, fun-filled episodes!
Note: Seasons One, Two, and Three of Batman: The Brave and The Bold are sold individually. The grouping of these releases together is only for the purposes of this review.
For thoughts on Batman: The Brave and The Bold, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Batman: The Brave and The Bold honestly looks pretty spectacular on Blu-Ray with its 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The first two seasons consist of 26 episodes each outing and are given two discs, while the third season decreases to 13 episodes on a single disc. Even with so many episodes packed on a disc, there is never a sense that the disc is straining to hold everything as compression artifacts are a rare sight. If you only ever saw this show during its original broadcast, you will be shocked by the jump in quality. While the streaming version is also a good option, these Blu-Ray discs help clean up the image even further by eliminating any unwanted compression artifacts or digital nuisances of that nature.
Colors are delightfully vibrant and bold throughout the entire run. The animation style lends itself to resolute character outlines brought to life with thick lines, along with some very imaginative backgrounds that look wonderful in high definition. Black levels run very deep with no crush detected. There is the occasional jagged line or background banding, but overall deficiencies in the transfer are kept to a minimum. There is no visible damage or dirt that was spotted while checking out these episodes. Everything looks crystal clear for a favorable viewing experience. This presentation treats the series with respect.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray set comes with a dynamic DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track for the three seasons that serves the show well. The show employs some playful environmental effects that render well in the stereo mix. Dialogue is given prominence in the track with a crisp, clear presentation in the center speaker that holds firm even when different environments are being engaged. Music is incredibly bombastic without drowning out other important elements. Sound effects from action scenes and other kinetic moments provide a nice punch in the low end that is appreciated. This is the type of presentation that you would hope for with a show such as this one. This release comes with optional English SDH subtitles.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on these discs.
Final Thoughts
Batman: The Brave and The Bold is one of the takes on the Caped Crusader that received the most backlash as viewers quickly dwindled and the show was shuttered after only three seasons. This is quite a shame as this more lighthearted take on the character offered a different perspective on the character that could easily coexist with another darker take. This series is quite a bit of fun as you get to see this beloved character team up with some unexpected heroes who are not covered as thoroughly in the mainstream, not to mention numerous deep-cut villains to delight in. The Blu-Ray sets of the three seasons that make up the complete run from Warner Archive deliver in the A/V department but do not bring along any supplemental features. Batman fans with an open mind should give this a shot. Recommended
Batman: The Brave and The Bold: The Complete First Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Batman: The Brave and The Bold: The Complete Second Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Batman: The Brave and The Bold: The Complete Third Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.