Batman Beyond
Series, 1999, Kids' WB, Set in Neo-Gotham
Batman Beyond is #24 of 28 in release order and #24 of 28 in chronological order in the Saturday Morning Cartoons.
The story
As new villains overrun Gotham City of the future, the aging Bruce Wayne hangs up the cape of the once invincible Batman. But when troubled teenager Terry McGinnis stumbles upon the Dark Knight's secret, a new alliance is forged. And a triumphant new Batman is born.
Batman Beyond recap
In 2039, a teenage Terry McGinnis breaks into Wayne Manor and finds that the old man there, Bruce Wayne, long retired, was Batman. When Terry's father is murdered by the corrupt businessman Derek Powers, Terry takes the new high-tech Batsuit and becomes the new Batman in Neo-Gotham, with Bruce guiding him from the Batcave. Powers becomes the radioactive villain Blight. Terry juggles school, his girlfriend Dana and his mother and brother while fighting a new generation of villains, including the shapeshifting Inque, the sound-based Shriek and the Jokerz, a street gang. His school friend Max figures out his secret and helps. Later episodes include the futuristic Justice League. The show ran on Kids' WB for three seasons from 1999 to 2001. The film Return of the Joker (2000) brings the Joker back decades later and reveals what happened to Tim Drake.
Batman Beyond ending explained
The final episode, "Unmasked" (2001), has Terry reveal his identity to a young boy to save him, trusting him with the secret. The real ending comes in Justice League Unlimited's "Epilogue" (2005): Amanda Waller tells an adult Terry that he is Bruce's biological son, created in secret to make sure there would always be a Batman. Terry accepts it and keeps going.
Where to watch Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.1/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Pokémon, before Digimon: Digital Monsters.
- Chronological order: after Pokémon, before Digimon: Digital Monsters.
Cast
- Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis / Batman (voice)
- Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne (voice)
- Cree Summer as Max Gibson (voice)
- Lauren Tom as Green Lantern (voice)
- Stockard Channing as Commissioner Barbara Gordon (voice)
- Teri Garr as Mary McGinnis (voice)
- Ryan O'Donohue as Matt McGinnis (voice)
- Sherman Howard as Derek Powers / Blight (voice)
- Corey Burton as General Norman (voice)
- Bruce Timm as Top Hat Joker (voice)
- Seth Green as Nelson Nash / Dempsey (voice)
- Michael Rosenbaum as Agent West (voice)