Once again, with care, DC Comics has taken a Batman tale from the comics and transformed it into an animated movie worth watching.
Following in the cartoon boot-steps of such movies as “Batman and Son” (based on comics from Grant Morrison) and “Batman vs. Robin” (based on Scott Snyder’s Night of the Owls storyline), “Batman: Bad Blood” succeeds in being the best Batman animated movie yet. And that’s with Batman often being off-camera in this new story.
“Bad Blood” leans heavily on Batman’s supporting cast to provide the action and tell a tale based loosely on the fairly recent Batman comic-book “event” Battle for the Cowl, as well as moments inspired from Morrison’s Batman Inc. run.
Besides the anticipated Bat-helpers, Nightwing and Robin, we also see Batwoman and Batwing in action. When Bruce Wayne disappears, Nightwing (Dick Grayson) — forced to take on the mantle of Batman — teams with Robin (Damien Wayne) to try to stop Robin’s mother, Talia al Ghul (who is never up to anything good).
Another comics-sprung surprise is the presence of the Heretic, a fully grown, genetically enhanced clone of Damien who is pure evil — and under the control of Talia.
These animated films — which aren’t complete adaptations — balance elements from the comics storylines with enough new material that they don’t feel like beat-for-beat repeats.
What especially sets this movie apart from previous DC straight-to-video animated works is “Bad Blood’s” full embrace of exploring how to deploy Batman’s large supporting cast. Even when Bruce Wayne does eventually return (it is a Batman movie, after all), Nightwing more than holds his own as a leader, making executive decisions (like including Batwoman in on the Bat-family secrets) that Bruce Wayne wouldn’t make.
And Batwoman is the wild card here. She puts a Bat symbol on her chest out of respect for Batman, but she doesn’t consider herself accountable to his rules (which is why she isn’t afraid to bring a gun to her crimefighting nights).
Then there’s Luke Fox, who stumbles into the Batwing armor after his father, Lucius, is temporarily taken out of the equation and can’t help the Bat-crew. Batwoman and Batwing, who join the team by default, prove themselves invaluable to the mission of saving the one true Batman — hopefully earning a permanent spot on the team in future Batman animated movies.
“Bad Blood,” which does not shy away from Batwoman’s dark back-story or her homosexuality, is rated PG-13. And given all the bullets, katana blades and martial arts, that rating is pushed to its edge.
As for the deft voicework: Kevin Conroy is not voicing Batman this time, but Jason O’Mara continues to be the next best thing.
These Batman animated films continue to improve. “Bad Blood” deserves credit for raising the bar yet higher.