Legends of the Dark Mite! Original Airdate - May 29th, 2009
In this episode, Batman's biggest fan, BatMite,
is also his biggest nightmare when the 5th
dimensional imp pops up and in an effort to make
Batman a better hero, throws Gotham City into
chaos. Kidnapping the Dark Knight and traveling
to the surreal 5th dimension, the adventure
continues with references to many of the classic
villains. Be on the look out for cameos
featuring the WBA creative team on a Con panel!
Written by Paul Dini
Directed by Ben Jones
Animation by
Lotto Animation
Review by Andrew
Media by Warner Bros. Animation
Cast
Deidrich Bader as Batman Dee Bradley Baker as
Bat hound Jim Piddock as Calendar Man /
Calendar King Paul Reubens as BatMite Tom
Wilson as Catman
Music
Theme Written and Performed by Andy Strumer
Music by Michael McCuisition, Lolita Ritmanis,
Kristopher Carter
Media
Additional Images
Review
In keeping with the tradition of Brave and the Bold, the
teaser is quite the contrary to the rest of the episode,
and starts off with the normal flow of the show. Located
in (we shall assume) Africa, the rarely used Catman is
auctioning off a rare Tiger to the most cliche
blackmarket criminals - even a Chef in fully Chef garb
armed with appropriate cutlery. Of course, that really
is the only strange thing about this fun opening as it
quickly gets into the action and puts a new spotlight on
a strange hero; Ace the Bathound. Although it further
stretched the strangeness of this teaser by featuring
Ace battling the rare Tiger, it was well-handled and
ended perfectly with Catman being chased up a tree.
Ridiculous? Yes. Absolutely funny? Also, yes.
After that, we're introduced to the rest of the episode
by Batman going after two thieves, but with a strange
ambient narration. This story really doesn't take long
to smack you over the head with it's quirky hilarity, as
it quickly delves into the antics of the pint-sized
pest; Batmite. As Batman's biggest fan, he gets bored
quickly of Batman dealing with such easily defeated
criminals and decides to help him be as epic as possible
- but first, he decides a costume change is in order.
Commencing in a great commentary of some of Batman's
oddest styling changes - or blunders in a couple cases -
it really depicts exactly how the rest of the episode
will be as it parodies notorious aspects of the Batman
mythos.
After going through the awesome wardrobe
critiques, he decides to pit our beloved Knight against
a far more villainous foe than the previous criminals.
First up to take a swing is Gorilla Grodd, then Grundy
until Batman subtly convinces him to spawn Calendar Man,
further highlighting the sprinkling of ridiculousness
throughout our hero's past. Of course, with a quick
upgrade from BatMite, Calendar Man spontaneously becomes
the supernaturally-powered Calendar King. To make sure
that this isn't too ridiculous, BatMite checks with
hardcore fans of Batman's in a greatly done parody of an
awkwardly silent Comic Con-esque convention gathering,
filled with a wonderful plethora of easter-eggs
including cosplay versions of the BatGods Bruce Timm as
a scowl-faced Joker, and Paul Dini in his second*
cross-dressing appearance as Harley Quinn.
After
deciding that Batman's mythos can take the ridiculously
great romp we've seen so far, BatMite continues his
antics in bugging Batman. Eventually Batman convinces
him that it's best to leave him to his usual schedule,
and BatMite promptly disappears. Interestingly, this
seems to make Ace possibly the first time character that
has appeared in both the teaser and main story without
the episode being devoted to them as we saw with Ted
Kord as the Blue Beetle in "Fall of the Blue Beetle" and
Robin in "The Color of Revenge!" Unfortunately - for
Batman, not us - BatMite has taken up the guise of the
Bathound and gets angry when his hero doesn't appreciate
the previous efforts, and promptly sets to use Batman as
a toy. Quickly figuring out that BatMite doesn't want a
toy that doesn't do anything, however, Batsy is able to
talk BatMite into further making the episode greater by
becoming the legend himself.
Brilliantly, they
turn the episode into a depiction on how the pesky Fifth
Dimension creatures can be fallible for once, and not
just from under-estimating our heroes. Easily one of the
top three, if not the absolute best episode of the show
so far. If there was a scene that didn't have me
laughing, it would have to be the wonderful recreation
of the B:TAS opening. Simply because I was too busy
grinning from the joyous nostalgic acknowledgement of
that incredible visual.
*Paul Dini's first
depicted romp in a Harley Quinn outfit was in TNBA's
"Joker's Millions."
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