Damian is back for more bat-tastic fun in Amazon Prime's Bat-Fam. This time the Bat-family is involved with plenty of chaotic moments, big action pieces, and life lessons.
Bat-Fam Review
Two years after the zany, exciting holiday outing that is Merry Little Batman, Mike Roth has returned to his Cartoon Network-style DC world with Bat-Fam. This time we find not only Batman being Bat-Dad but also a whole lot of other familiar and not so familiar faces joining the family. Although it is aimed at younger audiences it still offers plenty to entertain the adults in the room. It's no Batman: The Animated Series and that's ok, because right now there is very little in the DC world that can appeal to all ages, so Bat-Fam is perfectly situated to bring Batman to a new generation.
Bat-Fam is a fresh, fun, and hilarious entry into the animated Batman lexicon. Damien is still as headstrong as ever, jumping into fights and situations that he really should get some grownup help with. Thanks to his enthusiasm, the hijinks abound throughout the show's ten episodes, resulting in chaos, big fight sequences, and lots of life lessons. Roth, co-creator Jase Ricci, and their team of writers pack a lot into these 20 minute episodes. Alongside the teaching moments is a solid amount of “caper,” with a similar vibe to the Adam West Batman series. Episodes build upon each other and there is a solid amount of nostalgia thrown in for good measure.
There is a lot going on in Wayne Manor. Batman (Luke Wilson), Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab) AKA “Little Batman,” and Alfred (James Cromwell) are now living with Alicia (London Hughes), reformed villain Volcana (Haley Tju), the ghost of Ra’s Al Ghul (Michael Benyaer), Man-Bat (Bobby Moynihan), and a cat called Selina Kyle. This found family will have to ban together to combat threats due to their own shenanigans and from outside villains intent on taking over Gotham.
Bat-Fam mixes after school special morals with action and solid humor. Despite the hijinks, the story finds its anchor in the found family and the love that grows from their relationships. The animation services the physical gags and overall comic book feeling of the fights but it is the casts' performances that make it all work. Up until Merry Little Batman, I never would've really thought about Bruce Wayne as a dad, let alone one with warmth in his voice. However, Wilson showed me the light and his Bruce/Bats is a loving father just trying to do his best. He once again avoids using a “bat voice” which honestly is fine (and preferred for this type of show). It's funny to watch him fight crime while also trying to parent a wild little child. The father-son dynamic is endearing and wholesome to watch even as they do battle with some of DC's greatest foes.
Benyaer's Ra's al Ghul is probably the funniest character in the series. He's a ghost who haunts Wayne Manor, coming up with ways to thwart Batman while also being a present (as one can be as a ghost) grandfather for Damian. Moynihan and Cromwell are equally outstanding in their respective roles. Plus fans of voice over work will recognize some other industry royalty popping up here and there including Fred Tatasciore.
Verdict
For DC fans looking for something different, or at the very least something they can enjoy with their younger children, Bat-Fam delivers something fun, heartfelt, and entertaining. This is a Batman that can bring new generations into the fold of the DC universe, much like Adam West's show did for many all those years ago. The unique take on the Bat-Family and the DC universe is a breath of fresh air. I hope we get another season to interact with even more villains and reformed villains in this Gotham.
All 10 episodes of Bat-Fam are available on Prime and Amazon Kids+ now.
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