What do Batman and the X-Men, despite coming from opposite sides of two competing companies, have in common? Both had landmark animated shows come out in the 90s that changed the face of superhero cartoons forever, both were given new cartoons in the 2020s based around those shows (though the connection is only spiritual in Batman’s corner), and both launched with two-season orders. Also, both took too darn long to get those second seasons done.
I saw a complaint from a TV producer this morning that said without the rigid calendar schedule of a TV season and pressure to fulfill promises to advertisers, the streaming business tends to “slack off” and get things done whenever they’re done. Maybe that’s the problem, maybe it isn’t. What we do know is on the first day of July you’ll get to see the return of X-Men 97. On the last day of July you’ll get to see the return of Batman: Caped Crusader. Fair?
The website IGN was given an exclusive on the show’s second season and posted the information yesterday. Batman (Hamish Linklater), Alfred (Jason Watkins), Barbara Gordon (Krystal Joy Brown), Commissioner Jim Gordon (Eric Morgan Stuart), Harley Quinn/Harleen Quinzel (Jamie Chung), Renee Montoya (Michelle C. Bonilla) and Lucius Fox (Bumper Robinson) will all return, but they’ll be joined by some newcomers.
The one we knew about already was Joker because he was teased in the previous season’s closing scene. But according to the show’s team we’ll also see the Caped Crusader versions of The Riddler, The Scarecrow and The Mad Hatter. That latter Hatter will be a gender-flipped version, like what was done to The Penguin last season. Also, Bruce Timm’s gonna flatter himself by adding Roxy Rocket, his own character created for The New Batman Adventures in 1997.
One more surprise: we could be getting Robin, but not the one you’re thinking of. Carrie Kelley, the Robin from The Dark Knight Returns, has been confirmed to be showing up. However what was NOT confirmed was if she’d be playing the same role in Batman’s life.
Batman: Caped Crusader is produced by Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves. The second season premieres all ten episodes on Amazon Prime July 31.
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