Batman: Bad Blood

"It always starts with blood, doesn't it, Alfred?"

 

 

Once again DC Animation scores a hit with their latest animated feature - Batman: Bad Blood. I needed something interesting to watch and this was one story I never read in it's original comic book form. I was totally impressed with the storytelling and execution. The MMA inspired fight scenes are fantastic and the subtext is as tortured as you would hope from a Batman story because nothing should ever be easy in a Batman story.
 

 

Damian is still a master brat and still the greatest addition to the Bat Family in the past 20 years. He fights his own fights regardless of what anyone else thinks his path should be - especially his Mother, Talia. He is also a great source of comedy relief because he is relentless and you think him weak at your peril.

 

 

This is an adult story that touches on issues of sex, madness, lesbianism. loneliness, vengeance, redemption, legacy and of course all the violence the cartoon can dish out. They have been pushing the envelope for awhile now with these animated movies and that is to their credit. Any one of the recent half dozen or so features would be huge hits as live action superhero thrillers. The action and adventure never lets up. This is how you tell a good comic book story for fans aged teen to adult.

 

As far a huge super villain plans go, Talia has a pretty good one. High tech and imaginative and batshit crazy - like it should be to contrast with all the internal ennui going on here. Damn those Bat People have ISSUES and I personally wouldn't have it any other way.

I won't spoil the resolution for you but it's very satisfying to watch many of these characters in action together. The very, very ending of the film made me SQUEEEEE like a little girl and you all know of only a few things that could do that. I wish I knew how to steal just that piece of film to share right now. Someone will do so in a week and then I can show you what I am talking about. Solid Batman entertainment.