It's more of the same craziness with Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Season Two, Part Two, and I couldn't be happier. The show has firmly established itself and now it’s starting to play with its own format, subverting expectations with some genuine surprises and even messing with its own format. “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases” is easily one of the most ambitious episodes of any Batman cartoon ever made, and it is a hoot from beginning to end. It completely rails against the standard set by Batman: The Brave and The Bold, instead coming up with a truly unique experience that long-time Batman fans will enjoy. And that is just the tip of the iceberg!

Batman: The Brave and The Bold is a show that just continues to surprise. It's never boring and always interesting. It’s fascinating to see how an episode unfolds because, honestly, sometimes things are just so unpredictable. Even the weaker episodes end up being something a little special. And with the show really hitting the right groove in this collection of episodes, I don’t think there even is a ‘weak’ episode. Tossing in some A-List characters like Superman and The Flash brings some fresh blood to the mix (ironically). This great Bat-toon always finds a way to keep viewers engaged, whether it’s thanks to some truly crazy plot points or just fun takes on the characters. Plus, there are just so many nods to past comic lore that it is impossible not to just smile away.

Personal highlights for this release include the amazing “The Knights of Tomorrow!,” “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases!,” “Emperor Joker,” and “Battle of the Superheroes.” In all honesty, every episode here is basically a winner, but these four listed above are the episodes I jumped to first when breaking open this two-disc DVD collection for the first time. “The Knights of Tomorrow” is a great romp into the future, as we see new faces (kind of) under the masks. Fans of the recent Batman And Robin comic series should get a particular kick out of this. “Emperor Joker” is a surprisingly violent but fun affair as Joker gains powers beyond belief, and involves ... well ... a fair amount of death. I won’t spoil it, but you’ll be a bit...shocked. “Battle of Superheroes” throws the spotlight on Superman and pays tribute to a very popular website spotlighting the absolute d...ifferences from Superman’s past. Lastly, “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases” is just a flat-out wonder to behold. Do not miss it! Every episode brings something fresh to the series, no dispute, but these are my personal favorites.

Episodes featured in this collection include “The Siege of Starro! Part One,” “The Siege of Starro! Part Two,” “Requiem for a Starlet Speedster!,” “The Last Patrol!,” “Menace of the Madniks!,” “Emperor Joker,” “The Criss Cross Conspiracy!,” “Plague of the Prototypes!,” “Cry Freedom Fighters!,” “The Knights of Tomorrow!,” “Darkseid Descending!,” “Battle of Superheroes,” “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases!,” and “The Malicious Mr. Mind!”

Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Season Two, Part Two collects the final fourteen second seasons episodes in a nice two-disc DVD set, every single one just as enjoyable as the last. There's plenty of action, some flat-out hilarious moments, solid dialogue, and plenty of in-jokes and nods for even the most die-hard Bat-fan to enjoy. Batman: The Brave and The Bold brings together so many different influences, creating a truly unique Batman experiences that pays homage to pretty much every interpretation of the character possible. The basis might be Silver Age fun, but barely any era is left untouched here. There's no question this cartoon is easily becoming one of the most-loved incarnations of our beloved Caped Crusader. Find out why this cartoon is always showered with accolades by checking out fourteen more excellent episodes featured in this collection, all new to DVD. Without a doubt, Batman: The Brave and The Bold is Highly Recommended. Not only is it a good Batman cartoon, it's just a good show - period. Just buy it and thank me later!

The DVD:

Another sparse release, Batman: The Brave and The Bold – Season Two, Part Two arrives in the standard two-disc Eco Amaray case. As to what should be no surprise, there are no inserts or anything to be found, though the cardboard slipcase absent from the previous releases returns. The disc art is fine – a couple house pictures of Batman and the Joker done in a very minimal fashion . The menus are identical to the those used in the previous Batman: The Brave and The Bold DVD releases . Outside of a digital comic for Batman: The Brave and the Bold #15 and a couple trailers, there are no extras on this set. Just the episodes and nothing more, really. No different than what we've gotten before.

While the disc may lack bonus features, the audio/video quality here is actually pretty solid. Audio is a standard English Stereo mix and the video presentation is an anamorphic widescreen encode, resulting in a surprisingly stunning image. This is as top-notch as standard definition can get, with any imperfections nearly impossible to catch. While not as good as the HD-versions of these episodes, naturally, what we get here on DVD is nothing to scoff at.

Overall, it's a sparse release in terms of bonus content but worth picking up for the 14 collected episodes, all of which are new to DVD. Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Season Two, Part Two finishes off the second season of the acclaimed series, with a third season collection just around the corner – June 2012. It’s a nice collection with a hefty amount of episodes, something fans shouldn’t overlook. That being said, this show really deserves a more in-depth and expansive release, and maybe we’ll get one down the line. It’s extremely unlikely at this point, especially with the announcement of Batman: The Brave and The Bold – Season Three Complete, but we fans can wish. Regardless, pick up these DVDs. This series has so much going on for it, and so many great nods for comic fans and Bat-fans alike. Batman: The Brave and The Bold – Season Two, Part Two is a no-brainer to Recommend and should definitely be sought out by fans. The strength of the main feature here, fourteen great episodes of this excellent Bat-toon, is strong enough to overcome any deficit caused by the lack of extras. Pick up this release!

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