BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER Season 2 holds all the cards

The Caped Knight

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

10 Episodes. Starring: Hamish Linklater, Jason Watkins, Eric Morgan Stuart, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Gary Anthony Williams & Michelle C. Bonilla. Created By: Bruce Timm. On: Prime Video.

Crusade your way through the golden era of the 90s, when M.J. was the G.O.A.T, in both music and basketball, and they even fed that animal to a T-rex in 'Jurassic Park', and you'll see and feel that entertainment was just different. Even before the real dawn of superhero movies, from Robert Downey Jr's "same mask, different task" Iron Man, to the 'Doomsday' the 'Oppenheimer' Oscar winner is going to bring back to the M.C.U., things got really animated.

There used to be a DC vs. Marvel debate. Which animated series was better. The 'X-Men', or 'Batman'?

Well we all know which one had the better theme tune, as you'll never hit "skip into", but Batman's opening card was art, too. Now the debate has been reignited with a rush of nostalgia to the pimply forehead. Because not only have Disney + brought back the 'X-Men '97' throwback redux for a second season, Amazon's Prime Video have also given us ten new episodes of 'Batman: Caped Crusader' for their own second series. Helping bolster Prime as a third wheel in the big-three battle of Netflix and Disney streaming services. Especially with their fellow film-noir superhero style of Nicolas Cage's madcap live-action version of his 'Spider-Noir' into the verse. An utter delight, live in living colour, or in true hue black and white.

This 1940s period piece doesn't need its live-action affair. From Keaton to Pattinson, we have too many brilliant Batman's for all that. Yet, how about one more in the late, great Kevin Conroy honouring Hamish Linklater (of 'Legion' fame)? He heads a vocal cast of Jason Watkins, Eric Morgan Stuart, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Gary Anthony Williams and Michelle C. Bonilla that are stars in this rogue's gallery war, even without the legendary Mark Hamill's iconic Joker voice and laugh. Because wait until you get a load of the one that will have you dying with a smile on your face here. Like 'Folie a Deux' with a lady going Gaga as Quinzel. What more could you expect from a show so brave, bold and brilliant enough to have Minnie Driver playing the penguin? Waddle aside, Colin!

You see, 'Batman: Caped Crusader' is more than a spiritual successor to the original and outstanding 'Batman: The Animated Series'. It's damn near an actual sequel, making its own legend in its own right. So much so that even the brilliant Bruce Timm is back to help (re)create Bruce Wayne. Not to mention every villain in the frame's origin story. A penguin with different plumage, a more gangster enigma, and a clown with a British accent who calls you brother?  Not to mention a beautiful Batmobile bonnet even bigger than this Dick Tracy's Desperate Dan chin. This J.J. Abrams Bad Robot produced gem with the help of latest Bat director Matt Reeves is the real Gotham knight the city deserves.

This wonderful Warner Bros. animation gets psychological, personal and profoundly powerful in parts. This young Wayne even has help with more Barbara Gordon than a killing joke...and it's not on us. The criminal foreboding continues on this super second season. Spinning its wheels, but not changing the mood of its Arkham ancestors. This season you'll have a rocketeer, zombies and even the devil himself. But it's when the cards are finally dealt that you have to give this crusader a hand. It's one deal you'll just shake on, even if you know in your bones, something in your hand will go buzzzzzz! But have no cape fear, this knight is the darkest and the dawn of more things, like before, to come.