Batman: The Caped Crusader's journey to the screen is almost as fascinating as that of its titular hero. A collaboration between DCAU architect Bruce Timm, The Batman director Matt Reeves and JJ Abrams, the series was initially set to air on both Cartoon Network and what was then called HBO Max as the potential crown jewel of a robust new animated series. Then the WB/Discovery merger happened and much of the proposed lineup disappeared, including the Caped Crusader.

Thankfully, the series wasn't written off for a tax write-off like so many other new WB properties; but instead was sold to Prime Video, with the first of at least two seasons now arriving over three years after the initial announcement. And on a personal note, as a huge fan of Batman: The Animated Series and the DCAU in general, I've been looking forward to this since the initial announcement.

Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. Because as much as I think Batman is overexposed as a character these days, the Caped Crusader revives the mythology with a sleek film noir look, a fresh voice cast of talented character actors and voiceover veterans, and bold new takes on beloved characters to help make this happen over. 80-year-old properties feel brand new again in much the same way that Batman: The Animated Series did in the 90s. How did they remove it? Let's discuss.

In a fictional version of the 1940s, Gotham City is the last place anyone wants to be. The working class is struggling to get by, the streets are ruled by organized crime, and even much of the police cannot be trusted to protect the citizens; more often than not working alongside mob bosses. As more and more crazed criminals hit the scene against the backdrop of an upcoming mayoral election, the only ones willing to do what's right are a handful of cops and public defenders who still believe the system can be changed and a mysterious masked vigilante who some still don't t believe is really famous as Batman.