Animated Series

Episode #013 – The Cat and the Claw: Part 1
Original Airdate – September 5th, 1992 – Series Premiere (Batman: The Animated Series)

In the midst of Catwoman being attracted to Batman, and Bruce to her alter-ego, Selina Kyle, Catwoman discovers evidence of a military facility inside a mountain on a future resort site. As it turns out, the cartel involved is fronting for an international terrorist group headed by Red Claw, a mysterious female terrorist.

Media by Borg4of3
Review by Robin III

Credits
Story by S.C. Derek & L. Bright
Written by J. Dennis & R. Mueller
Directed by K. Altieri
Supervising Composer Shirley Walker
Music Composed by Shirley Walker, Harvey Cohen, Wayne Coster
Animation Services by Sunrise

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon
Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoman / Selina Kyle
Herb Edelman as Stern
Kate Mulgrew as Red Claw
Mary McDonald Lewis as Maven
Neil Ross as Additional Voice
Frank Welker as Additional Voice

Video

Screen Grabs

Pans

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Quotes

SELINA: Please understand it’s purely for the animals Mr. Wayne. You’re off the hook.
BRUCE: But you’re not.
SELINA: I beg your pardon?
BRUCE PAUSES AND BLUSHES.
BRUCE: You bought a date and I’m honor bound a-and delighted to deliver. I warn you, I’m not a man who gives up easily.
SELINA: Alright, lunch then.
MACHINE GUN SHOTS ARE HEARD FROM OUTSIDE.
MAVEN: I wonder what’s going on?
SHE TURNS AROUND AND BRUCE IS GONE.
MAVEN: Oh! Where’d he go?
—
MAVEN: Aren’t you even a little excited about your date? I mean, Bruce Wayne is tall, dark and disgustingly rich!
SELINA: I’d rather it were Batman. You should have seen him, Maven. He had the eyes of a lion.
THE BUZZER SOUNDS.
MAVEN: Yes?
DOORMAN: A Mister Bruce Wayne is on his way up.
SELINA: Here we go.
MAVEN: Come on, Selina. At least he’s a good connection. You might be able to use him.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
SELINA: Yes, I know. I suppose you’re right. Still I wish it were Batman standing behind this door.
SELINA OPENS THE DOOR AND BRUCE WAYNE IS STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE.
—
SELINA: Ohh. I’m afraid I’m not going to be very good company.
BRUCE: Is there anything I can do?
SELINA: Not really. Unless you can get me a meeting with the chairman of Multigon International.
BRUCE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS.
BRUCE: What time’s good for you?
SELINA: Hey, I’m starting to like this guy.
—
STERN: Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve given you all the time I can spare.
SELINA: You’ll find more time for me, Mr. Stern. Before I’m through I’ll have every environmental group and animal rights activist breathing down your neck. They’ll be looking at you and your project so closely, you’ll feel like a bug in a bell-jar.
SELINA MARCHES OFF. BRUCE FOLLOWS HER AND WAVES TO STERN.
BRUCE: Have a nice day!
—
BATMAN PULLS CATWOMAN AWAY FROM HER KISS.
CATWOMAN: That was for saving my cat.
BATMAN: Is that all it was for?
CATWOMAN: Maybe not. . .
—
CATWOMAN: Never trifle with the affections of a woman. Until next time.
BATMAN: And there will be a next time.

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Review:

This episode was good, but it should have ended as a one parter, or just lost the terrorism / animal reserve aspect and kept to Batman and Catwoman toying with each other on jewel heists. The Redclaw part of the episode was okay, but it should have been saved for a later time when Batman and Catwoman had already met on different terms.

The animation was great, especially the quick running used a lot at the beginning in the Batman / Catwoman chase scene, and the falling animation used at the end of the episode. There was also some humorous moments, and some nicely done music (Catwoman’s theme, Batman’s theme when catching Catwoman from falling).

Overall, this wasn’t the most amazing of all episodes, but it wasn’t bad.

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Episode #021 – Feat of Clay: Part 2
Original Airdate – September 9th, 1992

Clayface learns that Daggett is going to appear on TV to hype his new product, the same chemical that was his downfall, as a skin conditioner. Clayface takes the disguise of a woman and joins the audience of Summer Gleeson’s show. Batman is there, however, and a free-for-all in the Galaxy Broadcasting Building results.

Media by Borg4of3
Review by Robin III

Credits
Story Marv Wolfman & Michael Reaves
Teleplay Michael Reaves
Directed by Kevin Altieri
Music by Shirley Walker
Animation Services by Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., LTD.

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth
Ed Asner as Roland Daggett
Ed Begley Jr. as Germs
Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
Dick Gautier as Teddy
Ron Perlman as Matt Hagen / Clayface
Brock Peters as Lucius Fox

Screen Grabs
     
     
     
     
     

Pans
    
  

Quotes

GERMS: [Gasps] Let me out of here! All these viruses and bacteria– I could be infected!
BATMAN: I know. Now… The man who impersonated Bruce Wayne– I want his name.
GERMS: I– I– I don’t know who, uh–
BATMAN PICKS UP A BEAKER.
BATMAN: Hmm… Crimson Fever. Lousy way to go.
BATMAN PLACES THE BEAKER ON A SHELF ABOUT GERMS.
BATMAN: The name!
GERMS: Okay, okay it was Hagen– Matt Hagen, the movie actor.
BATMAN PUNCHES THE WALL, CAUSING THE BEAKER TO INCH TOWARDS GERMS.
GERMS: I swear!
BATMAN: Then how did he fool Fox? He’s good, but no actor, no make-up, is that good.
GERMS: I– I don’t know.
BATMAN PUNCHES THE WALL AGAIN; THE BEAKER MOVES CLOSER.
GERMS: Oh, you’re crazy!
BATMAN: Last chance. Talk!
GERMS: All right! He had something, something nobody else had. He could–
CLAYFACE (as officer): Nice going, Batman, but I’ll take it from here.
BATMAN HITS THE WALL ONE LAST TIME. THE BEAKER FALLS AND BATMAN CATCHES IT RIGHT OVER GERMS’ HEAD. THE LABEL ON THE BEAKER READS “SEAWATER FOR ANALYSIS”.
—
WOMAN: I’d like to ask Mr. Daggett about the rumors I’ve heard. I hear he’s selling Renuyu through direct marketing because stores won’t carry it due to it’s harmful side effects.
DAGGETT: Well, that’s, uh, absolutely untrue.
WOMAN: What about the addictive properties of Renuyu, Mr. Daggett? Once you’re hooked, you can’t stop using it without horrible pain.
DAGGETT: No! I mean… That’s just not so!
WOMAN: Why don’t you show them what an overdose can do, Daggett? Why don’t you tell them about me?!
THE WOMAN TRANSFORMS INTO CLAYFACE.
—
BATMAN: I wouldn’t be surprised if the body they took to the morgue was only a shell. Don’t forget– First and foremost, Hagen was an actor. He said it himself, Alfred. He called it a scene. Maybe the greatest scene of his career.
TEDDY: See ya ’round, Matt.
BATMAN: A death scene so real it fooled us all.
CLAYFACE (as woman): Ha ha ha!

Review:

This episode has to be one of the classic Animated Series episodes. It if often underrated and forgotten. It combines Batman’s fighting, detective, fear and knowledge skills and puts them all together to make an outstanding piece of work.

This episode also features Batman’s second best interrogation scene, with Germs in the hospital. Batman uses a vial of crimson fever to scare the info out of Germs, but while the virus-fearing Germs is scarred out of his mind, the viewer discovers that the vial contains mere seawater.

Also, Batman uses his ‘powers’ as a psychiatrist to defeat Clayface in an excellent scene during the finale of the episode. This is then followed up with what I call a “traditional Batman ending” where the story is over, but the viewer knows there is going to be more. This time, Batman deduces that Clayface must still be alive, and he is shown to be in the body of a young woman.

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Episode #020 – Feat of Clay: Part 1
Original Airdate – September 8th, 1992

Matt Hagen, a popular actor is addicted to a strange chemical formula developed by Roland Daggett’s labs. This chemical gives him the ability to alter his facial features without makeup, keeping his looks so that his public doesn’t know he was horribly disfigured in an accident years ago. But in return for the stuff, Daggett has him play ‘roles’ that aren’t entirely legal. After a disagreement, Hagen is doused in the formula, becoming the deadly shape-shifter, Clayface.

Media by Borg4of3
Review by Robin III

Credits
Story Marv Wolfman & Michael Reaves
Teleplay Marv Wolfman
Directed by Dick Sebast
Supervising Composer Shirley Walker
Music Composed by Jeff Atmajian, Carl Johnson
Animation Services by Akom Production Co.

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth
Ed Asner as Roland Daggett
Ed Begley Jr. as Germs
Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
Dick Gautier as Teddy
Ron Perlman as Matt Hagen / Clayface
Brock Peters as Lucius Fox
Scott Valentine as Bell

Screen Grabs
     
     
     
     
     

Pans
     

Quotes

BELL: Let’s finish this fast, before we have the law on our necks.
BATMAN (off screen): Too late, dirtbags.
BELL: Huh? Who said that?
BATMAN SLIDES DOWN HE ROPE UPSIDE DOWN AND WRAPPED IN HIS CAPE.
BELL: The Batman! Not him!
—
HAGEN (as Bruce Wayne): I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Wayne… Bruce Wayne.
—
BATMAN: Listen up, Scum Wad, ’cause I’m only going to ask you once.
BELL: Ahh!
BATMAN: Who was Lucius Fox meeting at the tram?
BELL: Wayne! Bruce Wayne!
BATMAN: You lying sleaze! You want to rethink that answer?
BATMAN DIPS THE BATWING’S FRONT AND BELL INTO GOTHAM BAY.
BELL: Ohh, no! Okay, okay, it wasn’t Wayne!

Review:

A poorer first part of Clayface’s origin is made up for in the second episode. The main highlight of this episode is Batman’s interrogation of Raymond Bell in the Batwing. Although the animation is not extremely well done, it is the best Batman interrogation scene ever.

This episode also brings Clayface’s origin to new levels, with Hagen being a disfigured movie actor who is the victim of thugs rather than a pretty boy jumping into a mystical pool in the comics. This Clayface is worthy of the Batman rogues gallery.

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Episode #014 – Heart of Ice
Original Airdate – September 7th, 1992

Mr. Freeze, thirsting for revenge against the sleazy CEO who destroyed his life, begins to steal various equipment from GothCorp. Batman’s sympathy is with Freeze, but first he has to stop him from using the equipment to destroy a building filled with innocent people in order to carry out his vendetta.

Media by Bird Boy, James Harvey
Review by Robin III

Credits
Written by Paul Dini
Directed by Bruce W. Timm
Supervising Composer Shirley Walker
Music Composed by Todd Hayen
Animation Services by Spectrum Animation Studio

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth
Michael Ansara as Mr Freeze / Victor Fries
Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
Mark Hamill as Ferris Boyle
Michael Bell as Additional Voice
Robert David Hall as Additional Voice
John Mariano as Additional Voice

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Pans
    

Quotes

MR FREEZE: This is how I’ll always remember you— surrounded by winter, forever young, forever beautiful. Rest well, my love. The monster who took you from me will soon learn that revenge is a dish… Best served cold.
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BATMAN: My God.
MR FREEZE: Yes, it would move me to tears if I still had tears to shed.
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MR FREEZE: Think of it— To never again walk upon a summer’s day with a hot wind in your face and a warm hand to hold. Oh, yes, I’d kill for that.
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MR FREEZE: You beg? In my nightmares I see my Nora behind the glass, begging to me with frozen eyes. How I’ve longed to see that look frozen on you.
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BATMAN: A year ago, Ferris Boyle interrupted an experiment and in the process destroyed two lives. Here’s the evidence. Good night, humanitarian.
—
MR FREEZE: I failed you. I wish there were another way for me to say it. I cannot. I can only beg your forgiveness and pray you hear me somehow, someplace… Someplace where a warm hand waits for mine.

Review:

Extremely nice animation and writing in this episode. The only flaws were in the coloring, where Batman’s symbol was inverted (the bat yellow, the symbol black). It isn’t enough to bother anyone though.

This episode represents Freeze the way he was meant to be. A tragic villain, who in his own mind is a hero. He doesn’t see the error in his ways, and his lack of emotion makes for an excellent character.

More episodes should have been done this way, with Batman using his detective and athletic skills, and a back story behind the whole plot.

Note: This is my favorite B:TAS episode – James Harvey
Note: I don’t think we care, Jim. – Bird Boy

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Episode #011 – It’s Never Too Late
Original Airdate – September 10th, 1992

An aging mob boss, Arnold Stromwell, is about to be rubbed out by a rival boss, Rupert Thorne. Batman saves Stromwell from Thorne’s men and must keep the crime boss one step ahead of his enemies.

Media by Bird Boy
Review by Robin III

Credits
Story by Tom Ruegger
Teleplay by Garin Wolf
Directed by Boyd Kirkland
Supervising Composer Shirley Walker
Music Composed by Lolita Ritmanis
Animation Services by Spectrum Animation Studio

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Robert Costanzo as Detective Harvey Bullock
Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon
Townsend Coleman as Chick
Paul Dooley as Father Michael
Jeff Doucette as Gabe
Linda Gar as Constance Blaine
Katherine Helmond as Connie
Peter Jason as Mason
Alan Roberts as Young Arnie
Eugene Roche as Arnold Stromwell
John Vernon as Rupert Thorne
Josh Weiner as Michael

Screen Grabs
     
     
     
     
     

Pans
   

Quotes

STROMWELL: You! What are you doing?
BATMAN: Saving your hide.
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GORDON: What are you looking at?
BULLOCK: Your hair. It looked better on TV.
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FIREMAN: There’s no evidence there was anyone inside.
BUM: There was somebody in there! Batman saved his butt! I’ve seen it, man! He was just leapin’ on the rooftops carryin’ somebody on his shoulders! I seen it! Like a dark angel snatchin’ the guy from the fires of Hades, man!
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STROMWELL: What is this place?
BATMAN: A drug rehab center.
STROMWELL: No! I ain’t going in! Your ten cent tour of the city is over!
BATMAN PUNCHES THE WALL IN FRONT OF STROMWELL
STROMWELL: So, what could it hurt? One little look, right?

Review:

A very well done gangster episode with no need for super villains. At times, it get a bit slow with Arnold Stromwell’s past being shown twice, but the second time with about 5 seconds of new footage slowed down to make it more dramatic.

A plus in the episode is Batman’s actions to get a criminal out of crime without resorting to violence and throwing the guy in jail. Batman talks things out with Stromwell, and at the same time, the action takes place with Thorne’s gang. The general story was a bit weak, but the tone of a gangster story was just right.

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