I have to admit that while Batman is easily my favorite superhero I haven’t read many of his adventures since the New52 began. What I have read I’ve very much enjoyed, and these DC Animated features are a great way to fill in some gaps. Batman: Bad Blood is no different. Serving as a sequel to last year’s Batman vs. Robin, Bad Blood tells an exciting story while introducing new characters to the DC animated universe.
The movie starts off with a bunch of D-list supervillains attempting to steal a weapons shipment when a shadowy figure appears. Batwoman, a relatively new vigilante on the scene, tries to take them out when Batman shows up. The pair take on the villains and are doing quite a good job when their leader shows up. The mysterious Heretic detonates explosives hidden about the facility, Batman pushes Batwoman to safety and seemingly perishes in the explosion. The rest of the Bat-family have to fill in, and Nightwing puts on the Bat-suit attempting to replace his mentor.
Unconvinced that Batman is actually dead Batwoman, Nightwing, and Robin join forces to discover who is really behind his disappearance and are soon joined by Luke Fox, AKA Batwing. The real mastermind behind everything is a familiar face, and she’s planning to brainwash a number of world leaders at a tech summit presented by Bruce Wayne. Can our replacement heroes stop her in time without the help of the Dark Knight?
I am really enjoying these direct-to-video animated features from DC, especially the animation style they’re going with. Bad Blood wastes no time, jumping right into the action that keeps going almost it’s entire 72-minute run-time. Though some of the dialog is a bit cheesy, it is a cartoon after all, Bad Blood is a mostly well-written pot-boiler with enough character development to give the viewer a breather from the fighting and explosions every now and then, and there are quite a few twists to keep you on your toes. All of the main characters are given equal screen-time and distinct voices, and Batwoman is a welcome addition to the ever-growing Bat-family. There’s even a surprise waiting after the credits that will have many fans cheering. Batman: Bad Blood is a treat for fans of the character, with plenty of action and strong character moments to keep the viewer interested until the end.
Batman: Bad Blood is available now on iTunes and the Google Play Store, and hits DVD and Blu-Ray on February 2nd.