Heart of Steel

Up next is an exciting sci-fi two-parter slightly based off an old Czech play that introduced the world to the concept of robots. "Heart of Steel" was the 38th and 39th episodes produced and 39th and 40th episodes aired on Nov. 16 and 17, 1992.

Part I

I really liked the robot briefcase at the beginning. It was really versatile with a ton of different tools, a powerful laser and even a rocket. It's fun to have some high-tech science fiction stuff with Batman every now and then. Plus one point.

But while this cool robot is doing its thing, one of the security guards decides to walk Bruce Wayne out of his office, but for some reason, he had a hard time unlocking the door. First of all, why did he have to unlock the door to get out of it? Second, what kind of incompetent guard is this? You should know which keys do what! I know they needed to find a way to delay Bruce, but I think they could have come up with something better than a guard fumbling with his keys. Minus one point.

I'll take another point off for what happens next. When the guards hear the alarm go off, they push Bruce into a random room. Once inside, Bruce reaches up and touches nothing on the wall (I think there was supposed to be a button or picture or something, but they didn't draw anything) and the wall turns around, giving him a chance to turn into Batman. Again, I have two problems with this. Does Bruce have secret panels like this in every room in his office just in case? And what happens if someone else happens to touch that exact same spot on that wall? Also, what happened when those guards went back to that room to check on Bruce only to find he's disappeared? Too many problems here.

But the score will go back up to a 5 for the introduction to Barbara Gordon, and most notably her relationship with he father, Jim Gordon. In this continuity, it looks like she's the only family he has, and you can really see how much love they have for each other, which is sweet. I also liked the thing with her teddy bear. Just a nice, heart-warming relationship.

I'll also add a point for the character Karl Rossum. His name comes from the 1921 Czech play by Karl Capek, "Rossum's Universal Robots," which invented the word robot. This Rossum is also fun because he is a nice guy, but there's something about him that makes you suspicious of him. I also loved to hear Batman say Rossum taught him everything he knew about electronics. Not only would Batman have sought out the best martial arts teachers, but also the best electronic experts as well.

The story gets really exciting when we're introduced to the robotic Jim Gordon. This works so well because of the tender moments earlier with him and Barbara and the teddy bear. Now, we're not only worried for Jim and Gotham, but also his only daughter. The score's up to a 7 now.

And I'll add one more point for the great cliff-hanger. Bruce's new girlfriend is really a bad guy, she electrocutes Alfred and discovers the Batcave! That really is one of the best endings to an episode that I've seen. Luckily, audiences only had to wait one day to see the second part.

Final score: 8

Part II

Luckily, Part II didn't get off to a slow start like Part I did. Instead, the action only intensifies with the introduction of more body snatchers! With the mayor, Bullock and several other influential men in Gotham being replaced, we don't know who to trust anymore. This is the kind of storyline that could effectively be carried out in the comics over the course of a few months. Unfortunately, this show only allowed it to be two episodes. In any case, the score is at a 6.

One great thing about fighting robots is you have complete freedom to be as violent as possible. The best one was with the robot Bullock, who fell into the Bat signal, which electrocuted his skin off. I also wanted to have Batman say, "Good job, you took out the robot Bullock" and have Barbara say, "He was a robot?" Plus one point.

I'll add another point for seeing Barbara Gordon act like Batgirl long before she put on her costume. Yes, some of her detective skills were a little over-convenient, like the fingerprints on the keypad, but the concept was good. I like seeing heroes act heroic before becoming superheroes. The mask and cape doesn't make someone heroic, what's inside does.

I do have to bring the score back down to a 7 for a rather stupid and illogical move by the computer villain H.A.R.D.A.C. He kidnapped a whole bunch of people and kept them alive in a water tank hidden underground. But he later pulls that tank up to show everybody those victims were still alive, which only left them exposed to be rescued. Not a very logical move for a computer.

But I'll give a point back for the great fight scene at the end. Fighting robots is so much fun, especially when Bruce's one-time girlfriend has half her face blown off. Just a lot of freaky fun. Luckily, we will see the robots come back one more time.

Final score: 8