Batman: Caped Crusader has set up a classically flawed version of the DC hero - and I'm genuinely excited to see this iteration debut. The Batman animated series is taking a lot of interesting new angles when it comes to the Caped Crusader cast of characters, promising fresh perspectives on the likes of Two-Face, Harley Quinn, and Clayface.

However, its take on Batman himself follows some more traditional ground when looking at his history in the comics, shows and movies - specifically, ground where the Dark Knight has almost no connections or sense of self outside of his war on crime, leaving him untrusting and cold even to those who wish to help him. While this may have set off alarm sirens for a potentially needlessly edgy Batman for some looking forward to the release, I actually think these red flags are a promising sign when looking at the big picture for Batman: Caped Crusader's story.

Caped Crusader's Batman Has Some Of His Worst Traits

Batman: Caped Crusader's Producer Shed Light On The Hero's Show Characterization

The preview descriptions of Batman: Caped Crusader's make it clear that the initial iteration of the DC hero embodies some of his least flattering traits. Bruce Timm - former Batman: The Animated Series head producer and producer for Caped Crusader - described this Batman to Empire as "kind of weird, and spooky," revealing that his commitment to his vigilante efforts is so extreme as to alienate him from one usual tie to humanity, stating, "He weaponises Alfred...He’s not Batman’s surrogate father anymore. He’s a guy that’s going to enable him to fight crime."

Talking to IGN, Timm explained that "originally I'd had an idea about Batman where he was much more inspired by the old pulp heroes... They were not nice guys, they weren't like people you'd want to hang out with necessarily... And so that's kind of how I always wanted to present Batman." This explains why the Caped Crusader version of the hero has been repeatedly described in terms that place him more solidly in the realm of the more paranoid, isolationist and cold versions of the hero, and makes what comes next more exciting for this commitment to a "not nice" Batman.

The Best Batman Stories Require The Most Growth

Batman: Caped Crusader Starting With A Flawed Hero Lets Him Grow More

The descriptions of Caped Crusader's Batman make it all the more notable that the show was described by JJ Abrams in the original 2021 DC FanDome announcements (recorded by IGN) as "an incredibly complex psychological story about someone who, in a way, needs to be redeemed – and that's kind of what at least this first season is about." While descriptions of a full divorced-from-humanity Dark Knight might be unnerving for some, this suggests he's less a permanently cold figure and more one in a state similar to Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne at the start of The Batman.

This is especially promising, as - to me - a lot of the best stories in the comics, movies and shows are about Batman learning to be human as much as he is learning to be a superhero. The Dark Knight trilogy works especially well in terms of Bale's hero coming to trust in the people of Gotham so ardently that he leaves his mantle with a successor, and countless comics and shows have focused on the idea that Batman has sidekicks and extended allies to keep himself tied to the world and learning how to truly care for it.

While an unflappable and always prepared stoic Batman is a version I think we all love, it's also one that has to be tempered by reminders that there's a real person under the suit - evidenced in momens like the Dark Knight leaving a Thanksgiving dinner for Solomon Grundy in Batman: The Long Halloween, for example, or his immensely emotional heart-to-heart with the dying superpowered youth Ace in Justice League: Unlimited. As such, giving Batman: Caped Crusader a hero who "needs to be redeemed" sets it up to follow his growth as a focal story feature, and exemplify this kind of journey.

Caped Crusader Repeats The Batman Story I Can Never Get Tired Of Watching

The Dark Knight's Story Is Often One Of DC's Most Hopeful, Despite It All

If there's one thing media about Batman doesn't shy away from, it's showing that he isn't a perfect person. However, when shown in terms of an origin story of sorts, this usually comes with a sense of recovery, with Bruce Wayne taking on allies, wards, and often at least one dog as he matures as a hero, becoming as much a father figure and corner of a community as he is someone capable of doling out immense violence when the time calls for it.

Even though I've seen this story countless times over the years, it's one that never fails to feel poignant, carrying a message - sometimes intentionally, and sometimes seemingly not - that growth and change is possible for anyone, even those who tend to spend a good portion of their time in a dark underground cave. As such, the promise of a deeply troubled Batman with a redemption story incoming makes Batman: Caped Crusader an exciting prospect, even if it also means the show may depict the hero in some unfavorable lights when it kicks off.