REVIEWS

Episode #53 - The Batman/Superman Story - Fifth Season Premiere Original Airdate - September 22nd, 2007 Lex Luthor joins forces with Gotham City's rogues gallery to finally defeat the Man of Steel -- but he doesn't count on Batman and Robin coming to the rescue. Review by The Penguin Media provided by Warner Bros. Animation Credits Written by Alan Burnett Directed by Vinton Heuck Music by Thomas Chase Jones Animation by Moi Animation Voices Rino Romano as The Batman/Bruce Wayne Evan Sabara as Robin/Dick Grayson George Newbern as Clark Kent/Superman Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor Dana Delany as Lois Lane Louis Gossett Jr. as Lucius Fox Lex Lang as Clayface/Metallo James Remar as Black Mask Gwendoline Yeo as Mercy Jack DeSena as Jimmy Olsen Video Screen Grabs Review "I prefer to work alone." "So did I, once. But I found out you never know when you might need a friend." And here is it! After Martian Manhunter and the Justice League in last season's finale, we get the debut of 'The Batman' Superman and his Metropolis friends and foes. When it was initially reported that George Newburn, Dana Delaney and Clancy Brown were returning to voice Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor again, I didn't know what to think. It was important to me that the new version of Batman and the characters that share his universe be able to establish their own identity. Upon seeing just the first part, I was no longer concerned. The characters looked different of course (I think I found Bruce's old chin) and the performances of the 'big three' stand on their own. The history the voices have is actually reassuring, hearing something familiar amid something new. I was surprised to find myself a big fan of the call. Obviously they all fit the roles perfectly (as they did the first time), but I never felt like I was just hearing the old voices coming out of new designs. One of the more subtle changes is the apparent retirement of Mayor Grange and the election of Mayor Hill. When you think about it, it's not very surprising that in the wake of something as life changing as an alien invasion that a change in city leadership would occur. That's the kind of thing that would cause someone as old as Marion Grange to retire from public service and I'd prefer that scenario to Grange being defeated. Hopefully Adam West will return someday and provide a little bit of closure to a minor character I rather enjoyed having around. Brown's Luthor is just as evil as ever with his recruitment of various Gotham rogues to carry out his plan when Metallo didn't quite work out. After their issues with identity, Batman and Superman seem ready to work together, but then again, maybe not. "At first I wanted you destroyed, but then… …I wanted to control you myself." Just like the episode, this review is 'to be continued...' [ Back to Reviews ]

 

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