Batman the Animated Series Episode 10 Two-face

Batman: The Blithe Series inverse a great deal over the class of its four seasons. A true game-changer for animated superheroes, the series still struggled to discover its voice in its early seasons. Sometimes its noirish arroyo to its material seemed to betoken a commitment to attracting an developed audience, but other episodes felt like they were intentionally written for younger children.

Even so, as B:TAS institute its feet, both the show's cast and the way it used that cast inverse significantly. Some characters, like Batman, were destined to remain in the spotlight. However, some of the Caped Crusader's friends and foes savage by the wayside or were relegated to marginal roles.

ten Dr. Leslie Thompkins Vanished Later The Outset Flavor

An sometime friend of Bruce's male parent, Dr. Thomas Wayne, Leslie joined the cast early inB:TAS. I of the simply people who knew Batman's truthful identity, she served equally a mother effigy for Bruce, and regularly patched him upward when he was wounded. While she was a warm presence in the series' commencement season, she vanished after Rupert Thorne threatened her life in "Paging the Offense Doctor."

In later seasons, and in films likeThe Mask of the Phantasm, Leslie'south role of mentor and combat medic was taken over by Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred was a much better-known character, and it must take fabricated sense to streamline the series' storytelling by giving Batman a unmarried parental figure to expect to for communication.

9 Rupert Thorne Was One Of Gotham's Most Powerful Mobsters

Early in the series, Batman fought about as many ordinary criminals as he did supervillains. Crime dominate Rupert Thorne was a regularly featured thespian in Gotham's underworld, never quite operating on Batman'southward level, but too demonstrating how corruption thrived in Gotham. His rackets were relatively straightforward and while he was powerful, he never felt similar a truthful challenge for the Night Knight.

Thorne made his final appearance in the series' second season. By this bespeak, he wasn't an antagonist merely a quickly-eliminated suspect. Batman thought Thorne might take kidnapped his rival law-breaking boss Two-Face in a bid for revenge but the aging gangster was clueless. After a terminal cursory interrogation by the Caped Crusader, Thorne apparently retired to piece of work in his garden.

eight Two-Face Was One Of The Serial' Nigh Important Supervillains, For A Little While

Both Two-Face up and Harvey Dent played important roles early inB:TAS. Harvey was introduced as Gotham's crusading district attorney in the first season and was both Bruce Wayne's close friend and Poison Ivy'southward start victim. Yet, the handsome DA was scarred in the two-parterTwo-Face and his new identity stuck.

While it's unclear why the series abandoned Two-Face up in its second flavour, it at to the lowest degree gave him a solid sendoff. The villain tried to reform via therapy and plastic surgery simply his night half wouldn't allow it. It was a tragic end for a tragic grapheme.

7 Poison Ivy Was Some other Major Villain Who Dwindled Over Time

Dr. Pamela Isley was one of Batman's earliest super-foes inB:TAS. The vivid botanist turned murderous later a new prison in Gotham rendered a rare rose nearly extinct, and she crossed swords with the Caped Crusader almost a dozen times throughout the series. She fifty-fifty became an implied love interest for Harley Quinn.

Different Two-Face, Ivy graduated intoB:TAS'southward semi-sequel,The New Batman Adventures, but only in a small supporting role. She otherwise vanished after the second flavor. She was a dominant presence in the animated serial' get-go two seasons, and the character got to show several facets to her character, so information technology's a shame that her character development didn't get put to farther use.

6 The Joker'southward New Face Wasn't A Hit With Fans

As Batman'south cruelest villain, The Joker played an important role in many episodes ofB:TAS. Withal, he vanished for an extended break after the "Brand 'Em Express mirth" episode in the series' third flavour. When he returned, it was inNew Batman Adventures, and he was sporting a very unlike look.

While the villain still had Mark Hamill's vivid vocalism, his confront was simplified so it was easier to animate. Unfortunately, the new face lost some of the creepy touches fans had grown to love, like his blood-red lips and yellow teeth, and was less expressive. While the Joker appeared in some importantNew Batman Adventures stories, similar "Mad Love," by this betoken he was also in danger of being overshadowed by his sometime sidekick, Harley Quinn.

5 The Mad Hatter Ended Upwardly As A Footnote

Batman's adversary Jervis Tetch started off as a almost pathetic Batman villain whose skill with listen control technology fabricated him a credible threat fifty-fifty as it tempted him to practise terrible things. His early appearances were strong and he managed to steal the testify in his 2nd episode, "Perchance To Dream," Batman's version of Alan Moore's classic Superman story, "The Homo Who Has Everything."

Withal, Tetch's side by side starring appearance as the villain of "The Worry Men" seemed to marker the character's refuse. From that betoken on, he was relegated to cameos and ensemble roles, fifty-fifty becoming a victim in "Make 'Em Express joy."

iv Renee Montoya Didn't Vanish But She Savage Away From The Show's Middle

Officer Renee Montoya was introduced as detective Harvey Bullock's partner, a capable cop and foil to Harvey'due south abrasive personality. In spite of his limitations, Montoya always stuck past Harv, and while she was rarely in the spotlight she managed to capture the titular villains in "Harley and Ivy." However, this marked the character's high bespeak in the series.

While Montoya went on to take over The Question's identity in DC Comics, she became less important in the blithe series. She had a prominent role early in season two's "A Bullet for Bullock," but afterward this bespeak, she had few lines, and really could have been any Gotham PD officer.

3 Killer Croc Vanished Subsequently His Encounter With Bane

Croc started off every bit a credible villain when he showed up gunning for Harvey Bullock in "Vendetta." He was surprisingly cunning and murderously strong, nigh too much for the Dark Knight to handle. By his second advent in "Almost Got 'Em," though, Croc came beyond every bit deadening-witted and acted as the episode's comic relief. Even though this was actually Batman in disguise, stupidity became the character'southward defining feature.

Croc never quite recovered from this blow to his paradigm. His final appearance was in the second season'south "Bane," which introduced the championship graphic symbol to the blithe series. Here, Croc ended upward just being proof of Blight's strength when the new villain beat out Croc unconscious, hoping to frighten Batman.

ii Lucius Fob'south Important Dwindled Subsequently The Get-go Season

Fox pretty much ran Wayne Enterprises while the apparent playboy Bruce Wayne slacked off. Yet, early on on, it was obvious that Lucius and Bruce had a shut relationship. Lucius was i of the only people Bruce trusted and while in many cases his situation would accept been worse if Batman hadn't intervened, theCaped Crusader seemed to blame himself for putting his friend in danger.

Yet, Wayne Enterprises became less of import to the storiesB:TAS was telling. By the 2nd season, Bruce's once-prominent marry was relegated to a groundwork appearance in the Ra's Al Ghul-driven "Avatar."

i Roland Daggett Provided An Early Foil For The Philanthropic Bruce Wayne

Corrupt businessman Roland Daggett had an interesting arc inB:TAS. He created a monster he couldn't control in "Feat of Clay," and lost money throughout the serial. He tried to recoup it via kleptomaniacal deals in stories like "Cat Scratch Fever," and managed to retain control of Daggett Industries, at to the lowest degree until his last appearance, where Batgirl barely managed to salve him from a vengeful Catwoman.

As the series moved abroad from establishing Bruce Wayne'south place in Gotham, characters similar Daggett became less valuable. The series eventually divers itself by focusing on Batman and his super adversaries. Roland Daggett wasn't every bit interesting or powerful as Clayface or Mister Freeze so he cruel by the wayside.

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About The Author

Matthew Woods (61 Manufactures Published)

Matthew is the Lead Lists Editor for CBR. He's a writer, martial artist, comics geek, and MLS-wielding Librarian. He's the author of "The Practical Guide for Librarians: Comic Volume Collections and Programming," a title he only slightly regrets, and co-creator of the webcomics "The Dada Detective," and "Chocolypse Now!" He hails from North Carolina and lives in Spokane, WA with his brilliant married woman and girl. Follow him as <a href="https://twitter.com/Victor_Von"The Stupid Philosopher on Twitter.