The Best & Worst Portrayals Of Batman On TV
One of DC Comics' most used characters in the media is, without a doubt, Batman, who has jumped from page to screen in various iterations for over 20 years. Whether it be in animation or live-action, the Caped Crusader has a long history of film franchises as well as TV shows that continues to extend the massive popularity of this DC legend.
Recently, FOX's Batman prequel drama Gotham came to its end, completing the origin stories of Bruce Wayne, James Gordon, and the city's many iconic super-villains. Because of that, it's time to go through the best as well as the worst takes on the Dark Knight on television throughout the years. Be aware that this will focus on live-action as well as animated versions of the famous detective.
10 BEST: The Batman (2004-2008)
Before Matt Reeves had his upcoming Batman film be titled The Batman, there was the animated series of the same name that started in fall 2004. Starring Rino Romano lending his voice to the legend, the series ran for five seasons on The WB that later became The CW. That may, in fact, be the only time that Batman has ever been on The CW, making that a hard blow for Arrowverse viewers.
Given that so more TV takes came after The Batman ended, Romano's work for the character doesn't always get properly recognized. While not as broody as some of the versions we got before and after, Romano definitely earns a spot here. Though the show was devoted to young viewers, Romano had that great balance of intimidating while being one of the kid-friendlier interpretations of Gotham City's guardian angel.
9 WORST: Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-2011)
Following the end of The Batman, Cartoon Network brought us Batman: The Brave and the Bold that ran for three seasons. This time it was Diedrich Bader's turn to step into the animated Bat-cowl. But, unlike The Batman, this version shifted to portraying our hero as more comedic rather than his standard darker side.
Given that The Brave and the Bold were aimed towards a younger audience, it is understandable why Bader had the direction that he took. But in the long run, Batman has always been one of DC's most intimidating superheroes. It's all up to each individual of what they prefer with their Batman, but for those of us who dig the broodier versions, may agree with this.
8 BEST: Young Justice (2010- )
While he may have had his start in the DC animated movie Batman: Under the Red Hood, Bruce Greenwood didn't stop there as he went on to join the Young Justice franchise starting in 2010. That doesn't change the fact that Greenwood nails it every time the Dark Knight is on screen, which continues even today through Young Justice: Outsiders.
If you need to be reminded of how calculated and imposing Bruce can be, Greenwood's version will help with that with just a few words. In many ways, this version lives up to the definition of no-nonsense and that's only one of the reasons why he belongs here.
7 WORST: Beware the Batman (2013-2014)
After The Brave and the Bold's conclusion in 2011, it wasn't until 2013 that Cartoon Network brought the character back for his latest portrayal in the form of Beware the Batman. Being voiced by Anthony Ruivivar, this was the first time we saw a Caped Crusader done in CG-animation. Unlike its predecessor, the show only lasted for one season that would have a complicated airing by being moved to Adult Swim after Cartoon Network pulled the remaining episodes off air.
While Ruivivar's voice work isn't bad per se, it's the CG-animation that becomes the ultimate distraction in the end. Despite cartoons like the Star Wars shows mastering that visualization, for someone like Batman: that can be a tougher sell. In the long run, it undersells some of the show's story-telling and voice work.
6 BEST: Batman '66 (1966-1968)
The small screen's very first version of Bruce Wayne and his crime-fighting alter ego was through the late Adam West in Batman (a.k.a. Batman '66.) While being on the super-campy side, it's still one of the most iconic runs for our hero on television that would be resurrected through limited comics as well as animated films.
Even if you prefer the ultra-dark Dark Knight that we see today, watch just one episode with West and his charisma will hook you in. This was before the time we live in now where most takes of Batman is extremely grim. At the end of the day, what is genius with superheroes is that there will always be enough versions of them that any reader or viewer can personally connect to.
5 WORST: Justice League Action (2016-2018)
This may be a bit controversial to some fans, given that it's the great Kevin Conroy this revolves around. But similarly to Beware the Batman, it's the visuals in Justice League Action that undermine the performance that Conroy delivers through his voice work. It's understandable that Cartoon Network wants its properties to be suitable for a kid audience.
But what was always terrific with some of the earlier DC animated shows was that the creators made it appealing for children as well as adults. But in recent years, Cartoon Network's DC programming has shifted away from that balance with shows like Teen Titans Go! and Justice League Action. Despite Conroy being behind the cowl here, this is where the Justice League Action version of Batman sadly has to land.
4 BEST: Gotham (2014-2019)
Gotham may have only featured David Mazouz as the Caped Crusader for less than 25 seconds in the series finale, but the FOX version deserves to be recognized here. For 5 years, the Bruno Heller-created drama took liberties with the telling of Bruce's story and how he would become the icon that he is today.
Say what you will about the Elseworlds aspect of their storytelling, it doesn't take away from Mazouz's outstanding work as Bruce. Throughout the seasons, this young actor, masterfully, made it believable how one of DC's famous orphans would one day become the hero that Gotham needed. He may have only worn the suit for seconds, but in many ways, Mazouz gave us a solid Batman.
3 WORST: Titans (2018- )
This may seem unfair to some Titans fans, given that Iain Glen is set to appear as this character in Season 2. However, that doesn't change the fact that Season 1 portrayed Batman as a very toxic figure in Dick Grayson's life. Despite not seeing him a lot, we experience through Dick that Bruce's mentoring in their later years didn't exactly have the best effect on the Boy Wonder. It doesn't help how fast Bruce replaced him with Jason Todd as the next Robin after Dick left. We'll ignore what the season finale did since that was just Trigon putting Dick into an illusion.
However, we won't forget the lazy costume design that the Dark Knight was sporting. It remains to be seen whether or not Glen will actually suit up as Batman at all in Season 2 since his casting announcement was specifically for Bruce Wayne. But for the time being, Titans' take will be seen as one of the worst takes on the character.
2 BEST: Batman in the Bruce Timm-verse
As mentioned earlier, Kevin Conroy is, for many fans, the definitive Batman and not just in animation. Even if Justice League Action doesn't do the character justice, that doesn't take away from Conroy's epicness through the Bruce Timm universe. From Batman: The Animated Series/The New Adventures of Batman, Batman Beyond, to Justice League/Justice League: Unlimited, Conroy is a blessing to all Batman fans.
It would be a disservice to Conroy if we didn't give a shout out to his work through the many DC animated movies as well as video games. Conroy brings everything you need for the perfect Dark Knight. It's rare to hear anyone defy his Bat-voice as "silly" because one growling sentence will strike fear into any criminal. It's also his swaggering Bruce Wayne that convinces you there is no way that this famous playboy billionaire could be hiding behind that cowl.
1 WORST: Birds of Prey (2002-2003)
Despite the fact that he only appears in one episode, Batman on Birds of Prey can still be seen as one of the worst takes of the DC vigilante on TV. This is not a judgment on the actor or costume, but how they set his absence up. In the pilot, it’s explained that Bruce left New Gotham City (formerly known as Gotham City), supposedly after Selina Kyle’s death. It’s hinted throughout the series that he possibly retired, but that is never properly addressed.
This is why their daughter Helena a.k.a. the Huntress and Barbara Gordon, now known as Oracle protect the city for him. In the early 2000s, Warner Bros. was very restrictive of letting Batman be on television, in favors of the character’s film franchises. But the creative reason behind Bruce being MIA in the series paints him as acting out of character. One of the major reasons why Bruce even becomes Gotham’s protector after his parents were murdered was because he knew how corrupt his city was.
The idea that Bruce would leave the city because of Selina’s death put the Birds of Prey interpretation of Batman in an extremely bad light. If anything, it would push him, even more, to fight crime in Gotham City. Despite the brief phone call he makes to Alfred in the series finale, the version we get of the legendary vigilante in this show earns him a spot on the bad list.