[8.4/10] One writer described Batman Beyond as “Batman coaching Spider-Man” and that’s a fun lens to think of the show through. While there’s a lot of other influences there (Powers is basically Lex Luthor here, and there’s a lot of Blade Runner going on), it’s a neat way to think of Terry McGinnis. “Black Out” leans into that a bit, giving Terry some of Peter Parker’s trademark struggles to balance his romantic life with his masked adventurer obligations, and it even gives him his own goopy-enemy to face a la Venom.
But what I really like about this episode is that all of the characters are really well-motivated, and the action is superb to boot. We understand the M.O. of all four major players here. Derek Powers wants to cause havoc at FOXTECA because he and that company are bidding for the same big government contract. Wayne wants to prevent that out of a loyalty to the Fox family and resentment against Powers for taking over his company. Powers hires Inque, apparently renowned for her corporate sabotage, to see that FOXTECA has problems that would prevent it from being able to handle the lunar module job. And Terry is Bruce’s champion, defend FOXTECA from Inque’s interference since Bruce himself can’t anymore.
That sets the stakes for the episode, the character motivations, and the conflict up very icely and clearly. There’s enough ups and downs to the episode -- Inque attacking Batman the first time, Batman being ready for her the second, Inque invading the Batcave on the third -- to make it interesting. And the actual fireworks are superb.
Anyone who’s been following my write-ups of various superhero shows on here knows I’m a sucker for any goopy or particulate-based supervillain in animation. Just as with Clayface, a baddie with those abilities lets the animators go wild, both in design and creativity, to have our hero have to face some quasi-liquid challenges. Seeing Inque hide herself on car roofs and billboards, emerge like a mass of black death behind Terry, or attack Batman HQ with tentacles and tendrils makes for a visually good time. The water/electricity weaknesses give the good guys something to exploit, and the introduction of the future batmobile gives Batman an edge as well.
This is also a great episode to establish the dynamics between the characters. Terry/Bruce is already off to a great start, with Bruce’s dry sarcasm and advice winning the day, and Terry already kind of bristling at Bruce’s demands. Something as simple as Terry having a blast driving the Batmobile and Bruce telling him not to do that is fun. At the same time, Powers and Inque have that kind of villain tension that really works.
The continuity nods are neat for somebody like me who’s been following the DCAU as well. It’s nice to see Lucius Fox and his progeny given some credit after the events of Batman: The Animated Series, and it gives Bruce’s efforts here some moral weight. The first appearance of Commissioner Barbara Gordon (replete with a picture of her dad on her desk) is a thrill. And I especially love how Bruce hides his identity during Inque’s invasion by donning the Gray Ghost costume.
That Batcave incursion is the highlight of the episode, as it not only exposes both Bruce and Terry to a real threat, but lets each of them having cool moments of one-upping Inque despite her doing some serious damage, and shows off Batman’s various souvenirs from his crime-fighting days in the meantime.
Overall, this is a much better outing for the show than either part of its introductory duology, and it portends good things to come!
introduction of Inque which IMHO is one of Terry's better foils in the series. it does continue the super powered villains but she's a pretty good character overall.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-04-29T00:08:04Z
[8.4/10] One writer described Batman Beyond as “Batman coaching Spider-Man” and that’s a fun lens to think of the show through. While there’s a lot of other influences there (Powers is basically Lex Luthor here, and there’s a lot of Blade Runner going on), it’s a neat way to think of Terry McGinnis. “Black Out” leans into that a bit, giving Terry some of Peter Parker’s trademark struggles to balance his romantic life with his masked adventurer obligations, and it even gives him his own goopy-enemy to face a la Venom.
But what I really like about this episode is that all of the characters are really well-motivated, and the action is superb to boot. We understand the M.O. of all four major players here. Derek Powers wants to cause havoc at FOXTECA because he and that company are bidding for the same big government contract. Wayne wants to prevent that out of a loyalty to the Fox family and resentment against Powers for taking over his company. Powers hires Inque, apparently renowned for her corporate sabotage, to see that FOXTECA has problems that would prevent it from being able to handle the lunar module job. And Terry is Bruce’s champion, defend FOXTECA from Inque’s interference since Bruce himself can’t anymore.
That sets the stakes for the episode, the character motivations, and the conflict up very icely and clearly. There’s enough ups and downs to the episode -- Inque attacking Batman the first time, Batman being ready for her the second, Inque invading the Batcave on the third -- to make it interesting. And the actual fireworks are superb.
Anyone who’s been following my write-ups of various superhero shows on here knows I’m a sucker for any goopy or particulate-based supervillain in animation. Just as with Clayface, a baddie with those abilities lets the animators go wild, both in design and creativity, to have our hero have to face some quasi-liquid challenges. Seeing Inque hide herself on car roofs and billboards, emerge like a mass of black death behind Terry, or attack Batman HQ with tentacles and tendrils makes for a visually good time. The water/electricity weaknesses give the good guys something to exploit, and the introduction of the future batmobile gives Batman an edge as well.
This is also a great episode to establish the dynamics between the characters. Terry/Bruce is already off to a great start, with Bruce’s dry sarcasm and advice winning the day, and Terry already kind of bristling at Bruce’s demands. Something as simple as Terry having a blast driving the Batmobile and Bruce telling him not to do that is fun. At the same time, Powers and Inque have that kind of villain tension that really works.
The continuity nods are neat for somebody like me who’s been following the DCAU as well. It’s nice to see Lucius Fox and his progeny given some credit after the events of Batman: The Animated Series, and it gives Bruce’s efforts here some moral weight. The first appearance of Commissioner Barbara Gordon (replete with a picture of her dad on her desk) is a thrill. And I especially love how Bruce hides his identity during Inque’s invasion by donning the Gray Ghost costume.
That Batcave incursion is the highlight of the episode, as it not only exposes both Bruce and Terry to a real threat, but lets each of them having cool moments of one-upping Inque despite her doing some serious damage, and shows off Batman’s various souvenirs from his crime-fighting days in the meantime.
Overall, this is a much better outing for the show than either part of its introductory duology, and it portends good things to come!