[7.3/10] I’m inclined to say that there isn’t much to this one. Some Jokerz steal an experimental craft. Batman chases them and has to stop them before its nuclear reactor explodes. Shenanigans ensue. But there’s more going on here, which I appreciate.
For one, as contrived as a trio of Jokerz getting their hands on a top secret government jet-type-thing is, the premise of this one is actually surprisingly well-constructed. There’s a general type of mayhem that would come from random street toughs rumbling around in a machine far beyond their abilities. The nuclear reactor is well set-up and explained and created a solid ticking clock for the episode. Even the government agent working with Terry makes sense since she needs the craft bacn and he pitches himself as someone who can find them since they “think like kids.”
But there’s also subtle strains of character built into all of that mishegoss. For one, I hope we get more of the government agent. Her tough-as-nails military operative routine is a tad stock, but Wendie Malick breathes some life into the character, and her no-nonsense approach and devotion to her job makes her an interesting player.
The same goes for the Jokerz gang. For one thing, it’s interesting to see a little more about how they operate. There is a general brand of casual mayhem, but getting a taste of their random wants and rivalries gives them more dimension than just being a pack of harlequin-themed thugs who act out for no reason.
But beyond that, we even get some central motivation for them, by way of Scab, the member of the gang who takes over the craft. His monologue about not having loyalty to the Jokerz, but hanging with them and commandeering this ship because it gives him power is cliché but nevertheless compelling. There’s a solid question as to why anyone would idolize the Joker or join a gang in his image, but it’s not hard to look at the real world and see groups of people who feel powerless and see Joker as an icon and a way to feel powerful.
The Jokerz are also deepened by the inclusion of the new initiate, who slowly but surely realizes over the course of the episode that the Jokerz are not worth joining. With that, the villain contingent has an arc and isn’t just a random group of trouble-makers necessary for the plot. The fact that the newbie asks questions about hypocrisy or cruelty from his new gang as it happens, and eventually turns on Scab for the greater good, creates a throughline that gives some depth to an otherwise pretty straightforward episode.
That said, there’s definitely something that feels toyetic about this one. I don’t know if D.C. ever released a trio of toy vehicles that would allow kids to recreate this chase in molded plastic, but it seems likely. Still, the animators not only take advantage of the script to design some neat-looking futuristic hovercrafts, but also to show off more of the cool Blade Runner-esque backgrounds in the show. This is a visual showcase sort of episode for the most part, and everything from ship designs to the rival gang members (the T’s -- so amusingly Warriors-esque!) works.
Overall, this is a pretty standard episode of the show, but the creatives add enough depth on the margins to elevate it above that standard.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-05-11T22:20:20Z
[7.3/10] I’m inclined to say that there isn’t much to this one. Some Jokerz steal an experimental craft. Batman chases them and has to stop them before its nuclear reactor explodes. Shenanigans ensue. But there’s more going on here, which I appreciate.
For one, as contrived as a trio of Jokerz getting their hands on a top secret government jet-type-thing is, the premise of this one is actually surprisingly well-constructed. There’s a general type of mayhem that would come from random street toughs rumbling around in a machine far beyond their abilities. The nuclear reactor is well set-up and explained and created a solid ticking clock for the episode. Even the government agent working with Terry makes sense since she needs the craft bacn and he pitches himself as someone who can find them since they “think like kids.”
But there’s also subtle strains of character built into all of that mishegoss. For one, I hope we get more of the government agent. Her tough-as-nails military operative routine is a tad stock, but Wendie Malick breathes some life into the character, and her no-nonsense approach and devotion to her job makes her an interesting player.
The same goes for the Jokerz gang. For one thing, it’s interesting to see a little more about how they operate. There is a general brand of casual mayhem, but getting a taste of their random wants and rivalries gives them more dimension than just being a pack of harlequin-themed thugs who act out for no reason.
But beyond that, we even get some central motivation for them, by way of Scab, the member of the gang who takes over the craft. His monologue about not having loyalty to the Jokerz, but hanging with them and commandeering this ship because it gives him power is cliché but nevertheless compelling. There’s a solid question as to why anyone would idolize the Joker or join a gang in his image, but it’s not hard to look at the real world and see groups of people who feel powerless and see Joker as an icon and a way to feel powerful.
The Jokerz are also deepened by the inclusion of the new initiate, who slowly but surely realizes over the course of the episode that the Jokerz are not worth joining. With that, the villain contingent has an arc and isn’t just a random group of trouble-makers necessary for the plot. The fact that the newbie asks questions about hypocrisy or cruelty from his new gang as it happens, and eventually turns on Scab for the greater good, creates a throughline that gives some depth to an otherwise pretty straightforward episode.
That said, there’s definitely something that feels toyetic about this one. I don’t know if D.C. ever released a trio of toy vehicles that would allow kids to recreate this chase in molded plastic, but it seems likely. Still, the animators not only take advantage of the script to design some neat-looking futuristic hovercrafts, but also to show off more of the cool Blade Runner-esque backgrounds in the show. This is a visual showcase sort of episode for the most part, and everything from ship designs to the rival gang members (the T’s -- so amusingly Warriors-esque!) works.
Overall, this is a pretty standard episode of the show, but the creatives add enough depth on the margins to elevate it above that standard.