by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
When Batman goes missing, Nightwing must step up to fill in for his former mentor. With a little help from Robin, Batwing, and the new Batwoman, can Dick save the city and learn the true fate of Batman? Get ready for some new additions to the Bat-Family, because Batman is back for more adventures in Batman: Bad Blood, the newest DC Universe Animated Original Film!
Batman: Bad Blood is the third film in the “Damien Wayne” arc, and continues from where Batman vs. Robin concluded. When Batman is seemingly killed in a battle with Firefly, Killer Moth, Tusk, and the mysterious villain Heretic, Dick Grayson must do the one thing he never wanted to do: assume the Mantle of the Bat! Acting as Batman in Bruce’s absence, he and Damien must track down Batwoman, the last person to see Batman alive. Meanwhile, Wayne Enterprises is attacked, and Lucius Fox is critically injured. To avenge his father, Luke Fox joins the battle as the high tech hero known as Batwing. Can these heroes learn Heretic’s plans before more lives are lost? And what connection does Heretic have to the League of Shadows?
Bad Blood features returning voice actors Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova) as Batman, Sean Maher (Firefly) as Nightwing/Batman, Stuart Allen (Son of Batman) as Robin, and Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Gotham) as Talia. The film also features the stellar talents of Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) as Batwoman, John DiMaggio (Futurama) as Tusk and Blockbuster, Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, Transformers Prime) as Lucius Fox, Steve Blum (Star Wars Rebels) as Black Mask, Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars Rebels) as Renee Montoya, Gaius Charles (Friday Night Lights) as Luke Fox/Batwing, and Robin Atkin Downes (Batman Vs Robin) as The Mad Hatter. This installment is loaded with vocal talent, which helped to solidify this release as the best of the current animated Batman DC Film series. Maher steps up to the plate with Grayson taking over for Batman, and his raw emotions on the subject are demonstrated with care and consistency. Strahovski brings Kathy Kane/Batwoman to life for the first time in animated form, and her voice lends the necessary strength and conviction needed to sell the character. After hearing Charles performance as Luke/Batwing, I genuinely hope that we get to see more of the character in future iterations as well.
- A Sneak Preview at the next DC Universe Animated Film: Justice League Vs Teen Titans.
- Two Episodes from the DC Comics Vault
- Featurette: Putting the Fight into Gotham
- Featurette: Expanding the Family of Batman
