33 Years Ago on This Day, the History of Batman Was Completely Changed

Every now and then, something happens to rock society’s perception of beloved characters, such as Batman. Sometimes these changes are only obvious in hindsight, though there’s something spectacular about realizing we witnessed them firsthand. Enter Batman: The Animated Series (Batman TAS). Batman TAS first aired on September 5, 1992, making it 33 years old this year. This show changed the name of the game, defining the modern Batman tone, elevating the Batman Rogues’ gallery, and kickstarting the DC Animated Universe. This series did it all, and then some; it’s no wonder Batman TAS has a way of sticking in our memories.

Batman TAS had a solid run, to say the least. The original series ran from 1992 to 1995, but would spin off into half a dozen other series, including Justice League, The New Batman Adventures, and Batman Beyond. All things said and done, the first series collected a total of 85 episodes, but more importantly, it starred many iconic voices, including Keven Conroy (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Mark Hamill (The Joker), Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Alfred Pennyworth), and countless others.

The First Memorable Episode

The very first episode to air was, interestingly enough, a two-parter, “The Cat and the Claw”. In case that title didn’t give it away, the first (aired) episode dove straight into the introduction of Catwoman. It’s worth noting that the two-parter was originally intended to be the 15th and 16th episodes of the series, so a changeup obviously occurred.

“The Cat and the Claw” puts Batman and Catwoman against each other, both in costume and as their alter egos. In other words, it’s the perfect introduction to their dynamic: the cat-burglar and the vigilante.

Elevating the Rogues’ Gallery

We have Batman TAS to thank for the dramatic retelling of many Batman villains. The series introduced the tragic version of Mr. Freeze, portraying a man determined to protect his love at all costs, courtesy of “Heart of Ice.” Mr. Freeze isn’t the only villain to get this treatment, though his changes are perhaps the most drastic. Batman TAS likewise gave much more depth to classic Batman villains Two-Face, The Riddler, Scarecrow, and Clayface, providing them with richer and more nuanced backstories.

Let us not forget The Joker, who made massive waves in Batman TAS. Thanks to Batman TAS, Mark Hamill is (and always will be) the voice of The Joker. End of story. He gained that theatrical flair and menace. Plus, it isn’t every day one gets to see the Joker running in fear from the IRS.

Introducing New Characters

As if updating iconic characters wasn’t enough, Batman TAS also added to the roster. The biggest standout newcomer had to be that of Harley Quinn. She made her debut in “Joker’s Favor,” serving as the Joker’s sidekick. Fun fact: Harley was originally meant to be a one-off character, but her story quickly evolved past that. She became his henchwoman and girlfriend, making her way into DC Comics, where she got a much more complex backstory and future.

Naturally, Batman TAS introduced many more characters beyond Harley Quinn; Renee Montoya likewise made her debut in Batman TAS. She would later make her way into The New Batman Adventures. Her appearance left a mark on franchises like the Birds of Prey.

Other notable introductions include Phantasm, Condiment King (yes, really), Nora Fries, Kyodai Ken, Summer Gleeson, Veronica Vreeland, Baby Doll, Lock-Up, and The Sewer King.

Redefining the Batman & Bruce Wayne Relationship

Finally, Batman TAS helped redefine the classic hero himself. With Kevin Conroy at the helm, fans saw a slightly different take on the hero. Conroy iconically established two takes on the hero: a vigilante voice and an alias version. In other words, he utilized a gruff and slightly deeper voice for Batman, but allowed Bruce Wayne to have a lighter and warmer take. It may sound obvious in hindsight, but this changeup became the norm going forward.

Adding layers to Batman’s voice was just the beginning, as Bruce Wayne and Batman were treated as more than two halves of the same whole. Bruce Wayne had vulnerability and complexity. He worried about Dick Grayson, debated about his treatment of villains, and struggled with his own personal trauma. Batman was compassionate as well as determined, offering empathy to villains as needed.

Batman TAS took a fantastic character and concept and somehow made it better. It took a hero and made him complex, human, and compelling. However, Batman TAS wasn’t content to stop there, offering the same treatment to secondary characters and villains within the world, giving fans even more reason to fall in love with Batman’s adventures.

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