Batman: The Animated Series- The Demon's Quest, Part 2

 "You must understand, beloved. I share my father's vision and seek the same ends, but I do not choose his means to those ends."

"I know." 

After an extraordinary first episode, this concluding instalment can't quite manage to live up to it, feeling very rushed in its twenty-three minutes of screen time. It's still impressive, though, leaving us with a strong impression of both Ra's Al-Ghul and Talia as characters. I hope we see them both again. Both David Warner and Helen Slater are very good indeed.

The cliffhanger resolution is obvious, with Batman saving Talia. But the lore is interesting- the Lazarus Pit can resurrect, but at the price of a temporary loss of sanity, and it can be fatal to those not in need of healing. And there are hints that it won't keep one alive forever, and that we are all ultimately mortal.

Batman still refuses Ra's' offer, however, so he and Robin are left to die as the place is evacuated for Ra's desert sanctuary. Fortunately, Batman and Robin survive, having the best plot armour in the business, but it's an entertaining section to watch, as is Batman's detective reasoning as he works out the location of said desert sanctuary.

There follows an amusing section in which Batman infiltrates a large group of camel riding minions only to be caught... wearing a mask beneath a mask. It's hilarious how Ra's removes the outer mask yet leaves the cowl intact, and then commits the ultimate baddie mistake by happily explaining all his plans to the Batman. So, well, he wants to end environmental devastation by killing half the human race. lovely.

Oh, and there's more lore- there are a number of Lazarus Pits, in various specific locations worldwide, which is tantalising. As is the ending, as the defeated Ra's falls into the pit calmly and with a smile. That final shot is hardly unexpected.

And yet, even more fascinating is the spark between Batman and Talia. But is he two timing Selina Kyle, with whom he also has a bit of a flirtationship? I'm sure we'll see... 

 

 

Batman: The Animated Series- The Demon's Quest, Part 1

 "The master gave you no permission to leave."

"I didn't ask for any."

At long last the Animated Series, having already teased us with Talia, finally gives us its Ra's Al Ghul, and what a Ra's Al Ghul. This episode, adapted by Denny O'Neil himself from his 1971 original in Batman #232, is a tour de force. It matters not that we know from the beginning that Al Ghul is behind everything, the whole thing is just so compelling. And David Warner... what a performance.

I love how Al Ghul works out Batman's identity, an obvious method to one with his resources, and the whole treasure hunt through India, Malaysia and the Himalayas on which he leads Batman. Batman, of course, knows exactly what's going on, but is surprised to see himself being offered the chance to be a dying Al Ghul's successor... yet he rudely refuses, causing great offence. Unsurprisingly, as the offer includes a declaration of Talia's love for him.

But it seems that Al Ghul is dying... but Talia insists on getting him to the Lazarus Pit, which revitalises him. Yet, if this exists, why did he say he was dying and make the offer to Batman? And why does he seem to have gone bonkers and lifted Talia above himself?

I'm sure we'll find out. But wow. What an episode. 

Batman: The Animated Series- Off Balance

 "As you said, detective... this is not over!"

This is a magnificent episode. An exciting story, a clever twist, Helen Slater (Supergirl herself!) and a nod to the fact that Gotham City is a kind of fictional knock-off of New York City by featuring a knock-off Statue of Liberty in the opening set piece... this one has it all. 

The conceit is delicious- a kind of criminal cult called the Society of Shadows, with eyes everywhere, which kills anyone who spills its secrets and whose agents use a mind-erasing drug when captured. Already this is intriguing. But they are led by a chap called Vertigo, whose powers induce a particularly trippy version of just that, combined with a penchant for set piece booby traps. And naturally this shadowy organisation is after Wayne Enterprises' latest MacGuffin.

Even more intriguing, though, is a lady of ambiguous loyalties who eventually saves Batman, healing him, and seeing who he is beneath the mask, apparently a friend... but then she gives her name: Talia. And yeah, at that point I knew.

It was still enormous fun to see how the episode ending, though, with Talia proving to be loyal neither to the law nor to Vertigo... but to her father, Ra's al Ghul. About bloody time...

And I love the fact that the title is a pun.

Supergirl (1984)

"I'm considering nothing less than world domination!"

I know that this film, well, isn't exactly good, but, I mean, come on- this is a delightfully quirky bit of '80s silliness which combines the style of the Superman films, generic '80s action films tropes, some delightful silliness and a completely random jolly hockey sticks, Mallory Towers side. It's gloriously bonkers. This is a film which has Peter Cook utter the line "Holy Cow!"- what's not to love?

Then again, so is the character, and I can't help reflecting that the film was made, in glorious Pinewood Studios, the very year before DC killed Supergirl off in Crisis of Infinite Earth, sentencing her to death for the crime of having an overly convoluted backstory. And, well, we see that here- Argo City is a bit of Krypton that survived the planet's destruction for vaguely unconvincing reasons, and all this is because of the new character of Zaltar- played with an acting ability far above the level that the character deserves by the great Peter O'Toole, who accidentally destroys the city (except, naturally, Kara) with the film's main MacGuffin only to die a predictable death and end up as Kara's very own Obi-Wan style British morale-boosting ghost. It was clearly in the zeitgeist.

Helen Slater is more than good enough as the goody two-shoes character she's playing, but is upstaged in the billing by the splendid Faye Dunaway, who is having much more fun chewing the scenery with delightful gusto with wicked witch and baddie Selena. Yes, there's a certain creepiness in the love narrative between the very adult Ethan and the very innocent schoolgirl Kara, which is definitely eeeurgh, but the film is far more fun than its reputation suggests,