Watch Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond was a spin-off show from the original Batman animated series that aired on The WB from 1999-2001. It was set in a futuristic Gotham City, over 40 years after the original show, and featured a new young Batman by the name of Terry McGinnis, voiced by Will Friedle.

Terry was a high school student who stumbled upon the Batcave and discovered Bruce Wayne's secret identity as the original Dark Knight. Bruce, voiced by Kevin Conroy, was initially resistant to Terry taking up the cowl, but after seeing his potential and determination, he became Terry's mentor and helped him develop his skills and gadgets.

One of the standout characters in the show was Max Gibson, voiced by Cree Summer. Max was Terry's best friend and was a tech-savvy whiz kid who often assisted him on his missions as Batman. The show also featured a number of other recurring characters, such as Terry's younger brother Matt, voiced by Ryan O'Donohue, and Dana Tan, Terry's love interest, voiced by Lauren Tom.

A key component of the show was the futuristic setting, which allowed for some creative new interpretations of classic Batman characters, as well as the introduction of a number of new ones. For example, the Joker was replaced by a new villain called the Jokerz, who were a gang of thrill-seeking teenagers who modeled themselves after the infamous clown prince of crime.

Another interesting addition to the show was the inclusion of a new character called Barbara Gordon, voiced by Angie Harmon. Barbara was now the Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, taking over from her father Jim Gordon, and acted as a mentor to Terry in his more civilian pursuits.

Despite being set in a new timeline, the show still managed to pay homage to its predecessor in a number of ways. For example, the original Batman voice actor, Kevin Conroy, returned to voice an older Bruce Wayne, while other iconic characters such as Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze also made appearances throughout the series, albeit in new forms.

One unique thing about the show was its use of animation. While it was still technically an animated series, the show utilized a blend of traditional and computer animation to create a distinctive look that set it apart from other animated shows of the time.

In addition to the main cast, the show also featured a number of notable guest stars. For example, Rachael Leigh Cook played the villainous Ink, a woman with the ability to manipulate tattoos on her body to create objects and creatures, while Seth Green played the Jokerz gang leader, Nelson Nash.

The show also tackled some mature themes that were not typically seen in other animated shows of the time. For example, the episode "The Call" dealt with Terry's struggle to balance his life as Batman with his responsibilities to his family and friends, while the episode "Shriek" focused on the dangers of addiction to technology.

Overall, Batman Beyond was a unique take on the Batman mythos that managed to honor its predecessor while also carving out a distinct identity of its own. Its blend of futuristic elements, new characters, and mature themes made it a standout show for fans of the Dark Knight.

Batman Beyond is a series that ran for 4 seasons (120 episodes) between January 10, 1999 and on The WB