BATTASS: The Batman The Animated Series Show Podcast · The Pensky File

Return of the Joker

November 2, 2023·1 hr 29 min·5 clips

Clay and Sean argue whether Return of the Joker rivals Mask of the Phantasm as the best Batman movie.

Clay McCormick and Sean Murphy, hosts of the Bat-Ass podcast, review the direct-to-video film *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker*. The episode centers on the film's quality, its connection to *Batman: The Animated Series*, and its place within the *Batman Beyond* series. McCormick and Murphy are comic creators themselves, with Murphy discussing the success of his *Zorro* Kickstarter and McCormick's editorial role. The hosts note the film's creative team includes director Kurt Gaeta, writer Paul Dini, and producers Bruce Timm and Glenn Murakami. The plot involves the Joker's return in the future, which is explained through a flashback revealing Tim Drake was kidnapped and implanted with a Joker microchip. They highlight the film's high-quality animation, particularly a chase scene and a sequence where a space laser cuts through Gotham. Murphy points out he drew inspiration from the microchip concept for his *White Knight* comic series. A significant flashback reveals the Joker learned Batman's secret identity and turned Tim Drake into "Joker Jr.," culminating in the Joker's death. The hosts discuss the film's "uncut" version, which differs from an edited release, notably in how the Joker is electrocuted. They mention a red herring villain voiced by Mark Hamill and the creative fight scenes, especially against the female Dee Dee twins where Batman uses indirect tactics. Terry McGinnis defeats the Joker by outwitting him with taunts, a contrast to Bruce Wayne's style. McCormick finds Terry's voice performance during the final confrontation too high-pitched and unconvincing. They agree the film's strongest elements are the flashback and the exploration of the original Bat-family's trauma, which overshadows Terry's own character arc. The hosts note the film was originally planned for theaters and that a sequel was canceled, with its ideas later used in the *Justice League Unlimited* episode "Epilogue." They recount a personal anecdote about Murphy illegally accessing a room in college to screen a bootleg copy of the film for a group. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending critique with personal anecdotes and industry insights. Listeners who are fans of *Batman: The Animated Series* and appreciate deep dives into animation quality and story structure will enjoy this episode. Those seeking a review focused solely on *Batman Beyond* or who dislike tangential personal stories might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A dark Batman Beyond chapter gets a blunt, funny unpacking.

The discussion treats Return of the Joker as the Batman Beyond chapter that finally earns its darkness. Clay McCormick and Sean Murphy stay loose and bantering, yet they keep circling back to the same point: the story works because it commits fully to the dark turn, and that…

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Why you'd press play

If you want the Batman Beyond story that actually earns its darkness.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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