DC TV Updates For 'Flash', 'Arrow' and 'Gotham'

Hey everybody! Sorry for the hiatus. I just took the last week for a little R+R, but now I'm back and more dedicated than ever. Let's talk some DC TV.

Wentworth Miller Cast as Captain Cold

Last Friday TV Guide tweeted that Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller will portray the ice villain and leader of the Rogues on Flash. The character will be first introduced in episode 4.

Miller is a great cast for Leonard Snart. He fits the new 52 look of the character which is the direction I believe the show should take. Ice Powers > Ice Gun every time. With Cold being added there is only a matter of time before this show brings in the rest of the Rogues. Can't wait.

Arrow and Flash Will Have a Two Hour Crossover!

TV Guide also nabbed another a big DC TV scoop this week from an interview with Flash and Arrow producer Andrew Kreisberg. He revealed that both shows will have a crossover event that will take place across each of the show's 8th episodes. The producer also mentioned that everybody's favorite Arrow character, Felicity Smoak, will be making a stop in Central City in Flash's 4th episode.

These shows exist in the same universe so a crossover was inevitable. Thats not meant to say that I'm not excited for it though. It's going to be cool seeing Ollie team up with super powered Barry. The dynamic between the characters will be much different than Barry's Arrow guest stint considering they are both superheroes now. Bring on the mash up.  

By the way the most exciting question about this crossover is who's the bad guy causing this little team up? Could it be the Rogues first assembling? Or maybe Deathstroke breaks free? Or could Gorilla Grodd bringing his own brand of whoop ass to Central City? (I'm still riding on an Ape-high because of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) Well whoever it is must be tough to catch the attention of both our CW heroes.

Geoff Johns Confirms DC TV and Movies Are Not Connected

DC Entertainment Chief Geoff Johns had a recent interview with IGN Movies where he revealed that the DC Movie and TV universes are not connected. Johns said "You'll see a lot of DC universe characters [on The Flash and Arrow]. You won't see Batman or Superman. We're on production on Batman V Superman now. So you'll see characters like The Atom or Firestorm, but no not Batman or Superman right now [on TV]." That makes sense, but Smallville aired when Superman Return was released, so why not?... It's a separate universe than film so that the filmmakers can tell the story that's best for film. While we explore something different in a different corner of the DC universe. We will not be integrating the film and television universes."

We live in a world today where everybody expects every comic related media to be connected. Marvel Studios has revolutionized the genre by weaving a larger tale with their interconnected films. Last year the studio attempted to integrate TV into it's MCU cannon by adding Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. Now that show blows. Like seriously sucks ass. And while I believe that Marvel's Netflix series will fair much better, I think AOS proved that making your TV show connected to your movie universe is not always a good thing. 

Yes having a Movie Flash and a TV Flash will not please everyone. But I actually like what Johns said about having the universes separate allow the writers to explore different characters in the TV corner of the DC Universe. I mean let's face it, not every comic character is going to be brought to film. The Flash and Green Arrow might get film adaptions yet characters like Firestorm, The Atom, and Katana probably never will. So having heroes like Flash and GA on TV allows for these more obscure DC characters to make it into the limelight. And if the two heroes are played by different actors and make it into film, then they can deal with their fellow Justice Leaguers. I think it just means more stories being told about our favorite characters. So its not the end of the world that Ben Affleck will not be taking selfies with Colton Hayes anytime soon.

Gotham show runner Bruno Heller Dishes on Batman Prequel

Bruno Heller (The Mentalist) has been talking non-stop about his new show Gotham. Heller told IGN Movies about the potential Joker appearances, Poison Ivy's name change, the inclusion of Hugo Strange, an older Harvey Dent, and Arkham Asylum all in season one.

An older Harvey Dent and Hugo Strange. Great two more villains for this show to ruin. Let's go through which foes have been confirmed for this show. Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Hugo Strange, Two Face, Joker, Scarecrow and some have even rumored Mr. Freeze will make an appearance. That's 9 of Batman's top baddies and they have only shot the pilot. Are gonna introduce fucking Clayface and Professor Pyg this season too? If the writers did they would probably rename them Swine Bacon and Johnny Mud. (The name Ivy Pepper still makes me fucking puke.)  Seriously though I thought this show was about Jim Gordon and the GCPD. Gordon's past now only really seems like a vehicle for these horrendous villain backstories that no one wants to see. The season is supposed to consist 16 episodes, but I starting to think that is 15 episodes to many. Bury this shit before it starts to tarnish Batman's legacy.

Sources: IGN Movies

               TV Guide

That's all the recent DC TV news, but make sure to follow us on Twitter @Caped_Informers or follow me @cstrand73 to keep up on all your comic related news. Thanks for reading.

Arkham Knight E3 Overview

Arkham Knight E3 Overview
Before I start getting into the coverage from the E3 gameplay trailer, I would like to start off with a little background information about the series and the game for the people that don't know too much of this game series. Arkham Knight is the fourth installment of the latest batman franchise, which also includes Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Origins. These types of games have a sort of Assassin's Creed like game play and combat system going over a wide, explorable map that is riddled with enemies and secrets. The newest installment, Arkham Knight, is the sequel to the Arkham City game and takes place in Gotham City and is voiced by the almighty Kevin Conroy. The original trailer for this game was released in early March and since then, there have been many speculations on the gameplay and the landscape. The best part from that original trailer was the Batmobile and the fact that the player can now officially drive it around Gotham City. Although the game has been pushed back to 2015, it is still one of the most highly anticipated games for the next gen consoles and with the game play footage being released at E3 this year, everyone can now see it in its glory.

With the game play trailer above, lets begin to pick it apart and see what makes this game one of the best games to come out for the next gen consoles.

The Overview
This game takes place one year after the Arkham City game in the City of Gotham. He is helped by James and his daughter Barbara Gordon, as the Oracle, to help rid the city of the criminals that escaped from Arkham Asylum. The main villain, introduced briefly in the first trailer but more so in this one, Scarecrow, enlists the help of many other super-villains to help take out the Batman once and for all. This game also introduces a new villain to the playing field, The Arkham Knight. This villain is like a militarized version of the Batman that wears a coveted 'A' on his chest to symbolize Arkham. The player will have to take down all the super-villains in Gotham to save its citizens and himself from the Scarecrow.

The Suit

One of the first things that is seen in this trailer is Bruce putting on the bat suit. The detail the game designers went into the suit alone makes this game worth while. It's more robotic than the normal cape and cowl, but it makes it more realistic as an armor to protect his body during fights. And the fact that you can see the suit fitting perfectly to his body adds to the game experience to the new and the old fans. If they can get this type of suit into any of the upcoming Batman movies, I think we would all be very happy.

The Landscape

Starting with the Wayne Tower, you can see the amount of details put into the surrounding area. In a small area like the starting place, seeing that much detail can only speculate what Gotham City is going to look like. At first, I thought that if they put that much detail in a small area, the overall map may not be as well done and thank God (or whatever religious deity you thank, if any) I was wrong. The map of Gotham City spans over 5 times the area of Arkham City and every area has so much detail put into it, it probably wouldn't be physically possible for it to work for the previous console systems, such as the 360 and PS3. When Batman first steps out onto the ledge at 0:42, you can see what I mean by a huge landscape. From what is know, everything that is seen from the view is traversable, giving Arkham Knight one of the biggest maps in video game history.

Not to mention how far he drops as well. The closer he gets to the bottom, the more the map expands and you can see the detail put into every little window and door and light etc. Although I still want to keep my old 360, I am glad that this game is a next gen exclusive, just because of the sheer detail put into the design of the game.

The Batmobile

The most anticipated part of this new game, the fully rideable Batmobile. For it being one of the coolest features in the new game, it comes at a cost. The amount of work and detail put into the batmobile made it use up so much data that it would take up an entire 360. How it looks however, it makes a lot of sense in its memory usage. From shown on the game play trailer, the player can summon the batmobile when Batman is nearing the ground and the fabled batmobile appears. The actual driving of the batmobile looks like any other game with cars in it and looks pretty unwieldy. But unlike other games, the batmobile doesn't crash when it hits a lamp post or a blockade, it completely decimates them, not even slowing down. Now the best part of the batmobile starts at 1:52 of the game play trailer; when it gets ready for combat. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the batmobile getting combat ready and I have to say, it is probably the best feature of this game by far. The wheels widening and being put on a pivot point instead of the axle makes the batmobile more mobile and agile, being able to move side-to-side, diagonally, and front-to-back as easy as it is to drive normally. And when the turrets came out of the top, I was ecstatic. The detail put into these guns are just astounding. From the fighting in the batmobile, it looks like you have a rocket, a lock-on missile, and a gatling gun, which I feel is just enough to have, you definitely don't want to go overboard with the amount of weapons, then it would make the game too easy. The last feature that is shown of the batmobile is the ability to rocket yourself out of the batmobile and be able to glide away easily. This, I feel, will be one of the more useful tricks the batmobile can pull off. It makes it easier to dodge enemies while in the batmobile and it makes it so the player can easily start exploring the skies again.

The Combat and Stealth

The combat in this game is just like the other games in the series, where you can gang up on multiple enemies and start combo-ing the crap out of them. One of the newest features added to the combat is called the "Fear Takedown", which is shown at around 2:55 where in the top left corner of the screen, you can see a "Fear Takedown Meter". From what I can understand, the diamonds underneath the Fear Takedown label are the amount of targets acquired. This move can select up to three targets when undetected and slows down the time to be able to take the enemies out quickly and quietly, and all it takes is to look at the target and press one button, easy enough right? This makes the stealth game and combat game a whole lot easier for the player while still making the combat interesting. Like in all the other games, the stealth makes the player essentially invisible to the enemies in the area. We get a good look at the stealth towards the end at around 3:36. I think its cool having the player be able to traverse underneath the enemy in the vent system and then pop out when close enough to the enemy.

The Ending

When I saw the first game play trailer while watching E3, I thought to myself, 'why would they bring in a broken trailer, I feel like they should have checked it out before launching it'. But when Scarecrow was revealed, it took away my sense of shame for the broken trailer and turned it into acting like a giddy little school girl. His reveal as the main enemy for batman, though known from the first trailer, adds a whole new set of questions, like how will his poison be used? or how will he use the Arkham Knight to beat the Batman? All we know for sure is that Scarecrow is enlisting the help of the Penguin, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and the Riddler to take down the Batman. All in all, I can see this game being one of the best games for the next gen consoles and has a good chance of being "Game of the Year" with all of these added features and superb graphics and game play. All I can say is, I can't wait for this game to come out and be able to see its glory in person.

Batman TAS Consensus Top Ten Episodes!

All week, each of the informers has been counting down their top 5 favorite Batman TAS episodes, but now we are ready to present our top ten overall picks. Deciding on these ten was not an easy feat. There was much deliberation, fights broke out, marriages were ended, but in the end we finished it. So here are the top ten episodes according to the Caped Informers!

10. Jokers Favor

Why it's in the top ten: Joker keeps an ordinary man in fear for his life for over two years because of something so small as the man, Charlie Collins, yelling at him on the highway. Especially since initially he intends to kill poor Charlie. That is twisted. The Joker's massive ego is once again on display showing us that he cannot even allow himself to brush off just some average joe having a bad day. But most importantly we are introduced to Harley Quinn. That alone gains this episode top ten status. Harley Quinn has become a mainstay in DC comic lore since her beginning here.

9. If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?

Why it's a top ten: "Your about to match wits with the Riddler." The introduction to the Riddler on show comes in at number nine. Some of Batman's rogues only require the Bat to use his fighting skills, but not the Riddler. The Riddler always keeps the Dark Knight's mind sharp with his riddles. So when Batman and Robin get dropped like rats in a maze, they have to fight and think their way through the "Maze of the Minotaur" in order to save a greedy businessman who screwed the Riddler over. Nygma's anger can be justified, but his means of revenge cannot so Batman must intervene. Got to love tampering with the Hand of Fate.

8. Beware the Gray Ghost

Why it's a top ten: We all know Batman's origin story, but this episode adds a nice new wrinkle to the tale. Bruce Wayne idolized the Gray Ghost, a fictional TV hero, as a child. Now combine that with his parents death and you get Batman. The story of the character of Simon Trent, the man who played Gray Ghost, is one that we hear about happening all the time in Hollywood. After his show, Simon had a fall from the spotlight and dove into obscurity. The great Adam West's vocals capture your heart as you sympathize with this broken man, but when Batman needs the Gray Ghost to stop the Mad Bomber he steps up and helps Batman. Adam West and Kevin Conroy are unstoppable together.

7. Robin's Reckoning

Why it's a top ten: Another origin story makes the list. Robin is spotlighted in this episode and we get to see him confront the man who killed his parent's Tony Zucco. The best parts of this episode are when we see the tight bond between Bruce and Dick. Bruce really cares deeply about his sidekick because they have shared such similar experiences. He helps Dick not only become a hero, but becomes his mentor and brother to help guide Dick emotionally as well. Also Robin taking Zucco out on a motorcycle is pretty sweet.

6. Almost Got 'Im

Why it's a top ten: Joker, Killer Croc, Two-Face, Penguin, and Poison Ivy share stories about almost getting Batman over a card game. Enough Said. You got a great villain ensemble that leads to comedic moments. "I threw a rock at him!"

5. Heart of Ice

Why it's a top ten: Mr. Freeze was forever changed after this episode aired. He became a man turned cold from a greedy man's horrendous crime. Paul Dini weaves together an origin story that makes you sympathize with Victor. Once again we see Batman have to save a greedy business man from a super villain. I guess you can't pick and choose who you save, but Freeze's story makes you kinda wish Batman would take a sick day and let him take this greedy bastard out. Freeze also has some of the most moving dialogue that the show ever produced. Powerhouse episode.

4. Joker's Wild

Why it's a top ten: Greedy businessmen are all over this list. This time Cameron Kaiser is out to piss off the Joker by making a casino in his image. Kaiser's hope is the Joker blows up this grotesque building so he can collect the insurance money. Joker's initial reaction to the casino is hilarious. His ego once again drives him to commit a crime. One other note about this episode is we get the only Bruce Wayne -Joker interaction of the whole series. Bruce is just looking to anger the Clown Prince of Crime as he shits on the decor of the casino. Another fun moment is when we see the Joker's police file. The file says his name is Jack Napier, a clear nod to 1989 "Batman" in which Jack Nicholson's Joker was originally named Jack Napier. " Jumpin' Jimney Christmas, an homage to me. Too bad, I'm gonna have to blow it up."

3. The Man Who Killed Batman

Why it's a top ten: Almost every episode of Batman TAS is told from Batman's perspective. So it is a real treat to see an episode from a low level gangster like Sid "The Squid"'s point of view. Sid has a wild ride after he believes he killed Batman. Including a run in with the Joker. Joker's eulogy is the highlight of this episode. The viewer really begins to understand how Batman is the ying to his yang. You'd expect Joker to be jubilant about Batman's apparent death, but Mr. J's intense anger gives us get insight on the Joker's true motivations. "You really put the FUN in funeral"

2. Over the Edge

Why it's a favorite: Bane vs. Batman to the death. Bruce's identity revealed to the world. Commissioner Gordon's one man quest to capture Batman. Scarecrow killing Barbara Gordon. A shoot out in the Bat Cave and even criminals looking to seek damages from Bruce Wayne for repeatedly beating them. This episode is chock full of amazing possibilities on how Batman could meet his end.

1. The Laughing Fish

Why it's a top ten: NUMBER ONE! The Joker's scheme to copyright fish. The Joker terrorizes and publicly threatens a copyright worker because he would not let him copyright fish. That may sound ridiculous, but to the Joker he has the right to profit off every fish that bears resemble to his "frankly fabulous face." So on his quest he threatens several individuals who he believes can make his quest for copyright possible. This leads to Batman dealing with Joker swordfish, Joker cats, and even a Joker shark. Batman vs. a shark. Can't beat it. Except when you have Batman and Joker fight on top of an aquarium and Joker savagely beats Batman with a wrench. That fight alone is not the only "gut busting" parts of the episode. Joker airs several Joker Fish commercials that are filled with classic Joker charm. "They're finny and funny and oh so delish. They're joyful and jolly. Jokerfish!" The combination of a dark scheme with classic Joker charm earns this episode our top spot.

 That is our top ten Batman TAS episodes. Shout to Paul Dini for writing seven out of the ten. Dude is a machine. Speaking of machines, Mark Hamill's Joker makes five out of ten episodes. Mark's portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime is legendary and he deserves all his spots on this list. Do you agree? What is your top ten? Tell us in the comments section. I hope you enjoyed our week long Batman TAS celebration. Thank you for reading.

Ryan's Top 5 Batman TAS

I remember watching both Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series when I was a kid and immediately loving both of them. It wasn't until I got a little older that I started to fully appreciate the darker and more in-depth elements that make Batman stories great. So without further ado, here is my definitive ranking of the animated series:

5) The Forgotten: While investigating the disappearances of Gotham's homeless in an undercover disguise, Bruce Wayne is kidnapped and imprisoned in a chain gang mining camp, suffering from amnesia. Alfred must thus track him down, help him escape and free the rest of the prisoners. 


Why it's a favorite: Got to love a white-haired Bruce Wayne. But beyond that we get an episode early on in the series that gives us a really good look into the character of Bruce Wayne. This is the first time the audience sees Bruce Wayne as someone who genuinely wants to help his fellow man and not just some guy who runs around in a bat suit "because he can afford it".

4) Showdown: Ra's al Ghul narrates a story from his past in which Jonah Hex stops his plan to destroy the new transcontinental railroad by using a war blimp. 


Why it's a favorite: This episode was a lot of fun because you get a story being told to us by Ra's al Ghul that took place years and years before Batman was around. I love it when you get a narration from a villain because it brings into question: Is the information I am receiving 100% accurate? You also get to see Ra's square off against a hero from a completely different time period: Jonah Hex. Watch as they face off on this blimp.

3) Harlequinade: The Joker steals an atomic bomb, and it is up to Batman and Robin to find and stop him. Since there is no time to spare, the duo enlist the help of Harley Quinn to track Joker down. Throughout the episode, it is briefly discussed how Harley met Joker.


Why it's a favorite: Gotta love the classic unlikely allies coming together story. I am also just a big fan of Harley Quinn in this series. For a character that had no history going into this show, she has come a long way and you even get that brief insight into how her partnership with the Joker came to be. 

2) Almost got Im': Joker, Killer Croc, Penguin, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy all meet at a poker table, each telling a tale of times when they almost defeated Batman. At the same time, Harley Quinn is about to kill Catwoman. Will Batman be able to save her? 


Why it's a favorite: Talk about an ensemble cast. You get four Batman stories in one episode, a ton of villains hanging out exchanging tales, and a surprise twist at the end of the episode similar to the one at the end of Cape and Cowl Conspiracy. Also it is just comical to see a bunch of people sitting around the table talking about Batman like he is "the one that got away". 

1) Over the Edge: During a fight with the Scarecrow, Batgirl is ambushed on a rooftop and falls to her death. Having watched his daughter's demise, Jim Gordon blames Batman for her fate and vows revenge, even recruiting Bane in the process. 

Why it's a favorite: I'm a big fan of the "what if" stories. That is why I am also such a big fan of The Flashpoint Paradox. You get a Batgirl death scenario that results in Jim Gordon waging an all out war against Batman. It ultimately results in the deaths of both Gordon and Batman but you find out at the end that it was just a big hallucination that Batgirl was having brought on by some good old-fashioned Scarecrow fear toxin. Also this Battle to the Death between Bane and Batman.

Honorable Mentions: Heart of Ice, The Man who Killed Batman, The Demon's Quest, Laughing Fish, If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?

Hope you enjoyed the list and be ready for the Top Ten Batman: The Animated Series episodes tomorrow!

Adam's 5 Favorite Batman TAS Episodes

My brother got me to watch Batman TAS with him when we were kids. I quickly became addicted to superheroes and their stories. My favorite hero is still Batman because of this amazing show that brought so many great additions to the Batman mythos. So without further a due, here are my top 5 episodes!

5. Fear of Victory: The Scarecrow invents some kind of fear chemical that is activated by adrenaline. Then, he uses it to affect the outcome of athletic events. Whenever a single person becomes agitated, the fear chemical kicks in, turning his excitement to fear. The Scarecrow bets against the sports stars' teams as part of his criminal scheme to scare up some quick cash and Batman and Robin must foil his plot.

Why it's a favorite: This episode combines two of my passions, sports and comics. Scarecrow's scheme is fun and original. I especially love the scene when the bookie sends his thug after a disguised Scarecrow to see how he is always winning. That guy had no idea what he was getting into. This episode really thrives at challenging Robin and his arc comes full circle at the end when he saves the crowd at the football game from fear toxin. And to top all of that we have the incredibly creepy score from the always stellar Shirley McClain.

4. The Demon's Quest Parts 1+2:  When Robin is mysteriously abducted from his college campus, the Batman begins a fruitless search ... until he is astounded by the sudden appearance in the Batcave of Ra's Al Ghul. Ra's quickly reveals that his daughter, Talia, has been abducted under circumstances similar to Robin's, suggesting that the same persons are responsible. So begins an uneasy truce between the Batman and 'The Demon'.

Why it's a favorite: Um, a shirtless Batman in a sword fight alone earns this episode a spot on this list, but its who he fights againist that makes this one of my all time favorites. Ra's Al Ghul. This was the shows introduction to Ra's. His scheme of faking Robin's kidnapping to see if Batman is worthy of replacing him as the Demon Head leads to an exotic episode outside the normal Gotham setting. I also love when Ra's calls Batman "Detective".

3. Christmas with The Joker: After escaping Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve, The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city for a crime. He challenges Batman and Robin to find his hidden TV studio and free his hostages — Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock and Summer Gleason — before midnight.

Why it's a favorite: This episode is a lot of fun. We get to see the Joker sing "Batman smells" and Batman fight a laser shooting canon. There quotable lines left and right, mostly from Mark Hamill, and how can you beat a nice "the train tracks are out" situation. Not to mention,  Joker talking to his hand puppet and a cardboard studio audience makes for comedic gold.

2. The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy: Baron Jozek, furious at Batman for humiliating him at a dinner party (over Jozek's underworld connections), hires Josiah Wormwood, a master in setting traps for his victims, to hunt down Batman and bring back the hero's cape and cowl.

Why it's a favorite: Batman's superior intellect and problem solving abilities are highlighted in this episode. Wormwood is a slimy, but intelligent villain whose near impossible to solve death traps are quite a challenge for the Dark Knight. When Baron Jozek reveals himself to really be Batman, I nearly shit myself. I did not see that coming.

1. Beware the Gray Ghost: Simon Trent, an actor best known for his past role as "The Gray Ghost", is on the verge of bankruptcy thanks to his declining career. To save himself, he sells off all of his Gray Ghost merchandise. Immediately afterwards, a series of crimes related to the old show begin to occur. Batman, having himself been inspired partly by the show to become the crimefighter he now is, goes to Trent for help, and they team up to put an end to the crimes.

Why it's a favorite: ADAM WEST!!! Long before he was roaming the streets of Quahog as mayor, Mr. West lent his vocal talents to the character of Simon Trent, the Gray Ghost, who turns out to be part of the inspiration for Bruce's Batman persona. We get great flashbacks to Bruce's childhood. He watched and idolized the Gray Ghost. So when a villain is recreating an old Gray Ghost episode to commit his crimes, Batman and the Gray Ghost have to team up to stop it. "You can't interview a dead man!"

Honorable Mentions:  Feat of Clay Parts 1+2, Almost Got 'Im, The Man Who Killed Batman, Laughing Fish, If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?

Thanks for reading. Up next Ryan Keough!

Wednesday Edition: Christian's Favorite Batman TAS Episodes

Batman TAS was my favorite show as a kid. Every night I would come home from school and immediately turn on the TV to take in some of this legendary Dark Knight adaption. The show is what made Batman made favorite superhero and I have never looked back. Choosing just 5 episodes was extremely difficult, but I managed after much inward debate to make this list. I tried to not use villains more than once because I didn't want the list to be just Joker episodes. Enjoy!

1. Joker's Wild : Cameron Kaiser builds a casino hotel modeled after the Joker, called The Joker's Wild. The Joker sees this on the news and, enraged, escapes from Arkham again, with one thought on his mind: destroying the casino, unaware that this is exactly what Kaiser wants him to do as part of an insurance claim.

Why it's a favorite: Mark Hamill is the Joker. He is the voice I hear in my mind anytime I read a Joker comic. That being said the Joker has so many memorable appearances on Batman TAS. I chose Joker's wild for a few different reasons. We get to see Joker's hilarious interactions with Poison Ivy. Even though he calls Ivy " Red", Joker is definitely not her Andy Dufresne. Not to mention we get to see one of the only times on the show Joker breaks out of the asylum.  I just loved Joker's fury that someone was profiting off his likeness. His huge ego drives him to destroy the casino that has taken his image. The idea of a Joker themed casino really intrigues me. Like this needs to exist. Someone get Donald Trump on the phone.

2. Heart of Ice: Bitter scientist Victor Fries, as Mr. Freeze, attacks several divisions of Gothcorp, each time stealing a piece for a secret weapon he intends to build. Batman investigates the connections, and discovers that the start of Freeze's vendetta against Gothcorp was a bitter falling out between Fries and Gothcorp's CEO, Ferris Boyle, during which Boyle almost killed Fries (mutating him into Freeze) and presumably killed Fries' terminally ill wife, Nora. Batman must find a way to bring Boyle to justice before Freeze carries out his revenge.

Why it's a favorite: This episode forever changed the origin of Mr. Freeze. Before this he was another generic ice villain, but after he was a sympathetic character who was turned cold by the greed of one man. We great moments freeze blast moments and even got to see Batman with a cold. Mark Hamill voices Ferris Boyle and because of this we get some fun Star Wars references. Such as Batman being frozen upside like Luke in Empire Strikes back. Mr. Freeze also has some amazingly moving quotes in this episode. Go Paul Dini! Chicken noodle soup saves the day again!

3. Robin's Reckoning Part 1+2 : During a fight with some gangsters at a construction yard, Batman and Robin learn the name of their boss: Billy Marin. While Robin looks forward to going up against Marin, Batman becomes distant, and after a falling out at the Batcave, Batman doesn't allow Robin to accompany him on the search for Marin. Robin investigates on the Batcomputer, and soon realises that Billy Marin is not the boss' real name. Rather, it is an alias of Tony Zucco, the man who killed his parents.

Why it's a favorite: Dick Grayson is my favorite Robin. I enjoy Tim, Jason, and Damien just fine, but Dick has always been my favorite. We see Dick's tragic beginning in this two part episode. His story draws many parallels to Bruce's own story of loss. We see how the strong bond between Dick and Bruce is formed. How they are both heroes born out of tragedy. On top of all that we see Dick confront the man who killed his parents, something Bruce will never get to do. Also Biff from Back to the Future voices Zucco, got to love a nice 80's throwback.

4. The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne: After a prominent judge is injured during a struggle with some thugs demanding money from her in exchange for a strange tape, Bruce Wayne decides to take a trip to Yucca Springs, a resort where the judge had vacationed, and consult Dr. Hugo Strange, a psychiatrist. Bruce soon learns that Strange has invented a machine that extracts people's darkest secrets from their minds and transfers them to videotape — and now Strange has proof of Bruce's secret identity as Batman and plans to auction it to three of Gotham's prominent crime bosses.

Why it's a favorite: Okay, I kinda cheated because the Joker is in this episode, but so are Hugo Strange, Penguin, and Two-face. Between getting to see Joker, Two-face, and Penguin fight over proof of Batman's identity, Bruce Wayne attempting to relax (not really), and Hugo Strange's creepy thought reading machine, this episode has everything you could ask for including Joker's answering machine.

5. Shadow of the Bat Part 1+2: When Commissioner Gordon is framed for taking bribes from Rupert Thorne, his daughter Barbara pleads with Batman to show up at a rally being put on in the commissioner's behalf. But when Batman disappears after finding the person behind the frame-up, Barbara takes the law into her own hands as Batgirl.

Why it's a favorite: Bruce Wayne dons his classic Matches Malone disguise to infiltrate a new gang in town. We get our introduction to Bat-girl, as Barbara Gordon dons her own cape and cowl. She also gets an awesome score to go along with her new identity. And of course I love that subway filled with water scene. Batman and Robin have to be pretty crafty in order not to drown down in an abandoned subway tunnel. Also love me some Harvey Dent. Two faces for the price of one.

Honorable mentions: Fear of Victory, Joker's Favor, Over the Edge, Vendetta, If Your So Smart Then Why Aren't You Rich?

That's my 5. Tell us yours in the comment section. Next up Brady!