"On Leather Wings" is the first produced episode of Batman: The Animated Series. I really kind of reviewed this episode on a whim, and though I'd love to eventually review all these episodes, I can't guarantee anything, because I'd still like to do Spider-Man, Superman, and all the other Marvel movies leading up to the Avengers. But in the meantime, let's enjoy the beginning of the greatest superhero cartoon ever made.
As I said, "On Leather Wings" was the first episode they made, but it wasn't the second one they aired. The pilot episode was the first appearance of Catwoman because they wanted to capitalize on Batman Returns. So "On Leather Wings" was pushed to number two, and made its debut on September 6, 1992. I was 5 years old when this show began, and was my first experience with Batman. Even today, I still find myself comparing other Batmans with the one portrayed in Batman: The Animated Series. This show not only set a lot of standards in the Batman universe, but it also launched many more superhero cartoons for DC and Marvel, as well. Now on to the show.
One of the things I love most about this series is the opening. It's unique, simple and powerful, driven mostly by a nice variation on the Danny Elfman score. It has no words and doesn't need any. It was quite a risky move for them to have a cartoon begin this way, but it completely paid off. The creators of this show really had a difficult task of making a cartoon that would be appropriate for kids and still appeal to adults. This opening sequence sets the tone that matches both those goals. I can only add a point for this once, and I will do it here, with the first episode.
The score jumps to a 7 with a beautiful touch of subtlety — the District Attorney Harvey Dent flipping a coin in the shadows. They don't even say his name, but hardcore fans knew exactly who he was and first-time fans will remember him when he comes back in later episodes. Little details like this are what set this show apart from others.
I'll add another point for the look and feel of the show as a whole and this episode specifically. Really, the animation isn't that great (it is almost 20 years old, after all), but it is still great to look at. All the characters are quite detailed and realistic-looking, and all the vehicles (blimps, Batmobile) are really cool. The Batcave is awesome, Gotham City is interesting and diverse, and I love how the show has such a timeless feel to it. These stories could be taking place in 1950 as easily as 1990.
The score will go up to a 9 because of the homage to Batman: Year One, which is the greatest origin story of Batman told in the comics. Just like with Batman Begins, any good Batman story needs to include some elements of this monumental book. Having the SWAT team that chased Batman look just like the SWAT team from the comic showed all the big comic book geeks out there that this show would be respectful to the original source material. In fact, until they recently made an animated feature of Year One, I'd say this episode was the closest adaptation of that story.
Which, unfortunately leads me to taking away a point for the loose continuity of this show. It makes sense that they didn't want each episode to be directly connected, just in case the kids missed an episode or two, but then they did a few two-parters, which kind of defeats that idea. My main complaint with this episode is that the police are treating Batman like a vigilante and are trying to arrest him (a nice idea) but then no other episode ever deals with that idea again. It would have been nice to have seen Batman do some more things other than taking down the Man-Bat to earn the trust of the police.
But, I will add a point back for another wonderful, but small detail. While in the Batcave, Batman is talking to Alfred in his Batman voice, and then he gets on the phone and talks in his Bruce voice. After he hangs up, he goes back to talking to Alfred like Batman. Kevin Conroy did a wonderful job as the voice of Bruce and Batman, and I think he was showing that the Batman voice is Bruce's real voice, and the Bruce voice is a part of his mask as a millionaire playboy. When Bruce is alone, he thinks of himself as and acts like Batman. It's only when he's in public when he becomes the likable Bruce Wayne. This is a wonderful aspect of Batman that adds a refreshing depth to a children's cartoon.
I will add one final point for the Man-Bat. I normally don't like it when Batman fights monsters or the supernatural, but this show pulled it off really well. There was a great mystery trying to figure out who and what it was, and it was legitimately scary when Langstrom transformed. The Man-Bat also looked and sounded really cool.
I don't think I would have chosen the Man-Bat as the first villain in this show, but they pulled it wonderfully. We had a good mystery, some great action (Batman even bled!), and it served as a perfect introduction to Batman, Bruce Wayne, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Mayor Hill, and Harvey Dent. This is where it all began, and it couldn't have started any better.
Final score: 10 out of 10.
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