Random Reasons Why Batman Beyond Is Actually the Best Take on Batman (16 items)

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  (#1) The New Batsuit Is a Technological Marvel

  While the original Batsuit will always be the most classic, the Beyond suit has some really nifty enhancements. Augmented strength, retractable gliding wings, microphones in the fingertips, rocket boots, a batarang dispenser, claws, and a built-in cloaking device give Terry one impressive edge over his enemies. Its stylish minimalism also makes it feel futuristic in a way that blends in with the show's cyberpunk aesthetic. 
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  (#2) Clever Twists on Original Villains

  Even though it's been decades since we last saw Batman fight his rogue's gallery, they still manage to find ways to pop up in the future. From seeing Mr. Freeze's attempts to become a good guy again to Bane being a wasted husk from his years on venom to the Joker's return with a plan to exact revenge on Gotham - everyone makes an appearance in a smart and clever way. Even better, though, is seeing their legacy on the city. The "slapper" patches full of venom, and the Joker gang are particularly inspired. 
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  (#3) Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne Make the Perfect Odd Couple

  Bruce Wayne has been operating as Batman for decades. He's as jaded as a person can possibly be, but he's still committed to the cause. Terry McGinnis is new to the crime fighting game and is still full of hope and naiveté, which causes the two to clash constantly. The brilliance of the show is that Terry isn't Bruce, and wouldn't necessarily do what the original Batman would do. He often finds a creative solution that strikes a balance between his own convictions and Bruce's years of experience. 
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  (#4) Old Man Bruce Wayne Is the Best Bruce Wayne

  Bruce is reaching his twilight years in Batman Beyond, but that doesn't mean he's someone you can mess with. This is a Bruce who is done throwing up a facade and is pretty much Batman all day every day. He's lost just about everything in his fight against crime, which means he has zero f*cks to give. That makes him a force to be reckoned with. 
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  (#5) Terry McGinnis's Take on Batman Is Fresh

  One of the strokes of brilliance baked right into the show's premise is that Terry McGinnis's Batman is a completely different take on the character than we're used to. He's more Peter Parker than Bruce Wayne, having lost his father to corporate espionage. But instead of becoming a dark and brooding Avenger, Terry is a talker. He jokes with his enemies, often playing with them before laying the final blow. Sometimes a smile during a fight can go a long way to impact the audience. 
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  (#6) Seeing What Happened to the Original Heroes

  Just because the original Bat gang got old doesn't mean their fight is over. Barbara Gordon is now commissioner and Tim Drake has retired after a horrific run in with the Joker, but they're still pulled into the future adventures of Terry and Bruce. We even get to see what the future Justice League is up to, complete with an older Superman.  
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  (#7) The New Batmobile Kicks Butt

  There's no such thing as a bad Batmobile - pretty much every version kicks ass. But... this one can fly and reach speeds up to Mach 3. It also has radar, missiles, a grappling hook, and a cloaking device. That's right, this Batmobile can turn invisible and it's awesome.  
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  (#8) The Opening Credits Rock

  A new theme set to cyberpunk rock music? Sign us up. It sets the stage for the show perfectly, giving viewers a sense of the desperation in a hopeless city. Words like "greed" and "apathy" flash across the screen and offer up a sense of dread. Of course, the credits finish with the word "hope," then Batman appears - so you know it's on. Also, the creepy CGI shots of an old Bruce Wayne add a lot of ambiance. 
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  (#9) Ace, "Good Bad Dog"

  A giant Great Dane named Ace may be Batman's best sidekick ever. Ace is a fiercely loyal and well trained companion who's not only full of personality, but also really useful in combat. Terry brings Ace on more than a few missions, especially when he needs help against splicers, and often says, "good bad dog," when Ace obeys his commands. 
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  (#10) It's Cyberpunk

  Whoever came up with the idea to cross Blade Runner with Batman is a genius. Batman was born in the noir era, so it's only fitting that his future is set in a cyberpunk dystopia. The fight to control Wayne Enterprises gets a lot of attention, making it the big mega corporation you see in so many corporate dystopian stories. All the villains are based on technology gone amok and the heroes are full of even cooler tech to confront them. Batman even has his own awesome hacker. Oh, and they totally get the cyberpunk aesthetic down perfectly. 
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  (#11) The New Gadgets Are So Cool

  One of the perks of being set in the future means you can take the classic Batman gadgets and put a new spin on them. The batarangs, for example, can be electrified, turned into explosives, can restrain enemies, and can be fired from Batman's wrists. Batman also has access to lasers capable of melting metal, and polygraph sensors to check if someone is lying. 
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  (#12) Ten Is a Great Love Interest

  Bruce has Selina Kyle, and Terry has Melanie Walker. A member of the Royal Flush Gang, Melanie (Ten) Walker runs into Terry more than a few times, and the two strike up a romance. That is until they realize each other's secret life: one as a criminal and the other as the new Batman. The tension between them serves as a great source of drama, and even leads to her reformation. Not even Bruce can manage that with Selina. 
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  (#13) The New Villains Are Awesome

  While they may not quite reach the heights of Batman's original rogue's gallery, Batman Beyond features a lot of cool bad guys. Batman's early arch-nemesis, Blight, works well as a rival to both Terry and Bruce and frequently disrupts both their plans. Inque is a great new-age Clayface that is a real threat and very relatable at her core. Shriek is an awesome tech-based villain that constantly keeps Terry on his toes. 
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  (#14) Terry McGinnis's Home Life Gives Depth to the Drama

  While Bruce is always fun to watch on screen, his status as a loner has always limited the types of stories writers can tell about him. Terry, on the other hand, is a teenager living with a single mother, a kid brother, a girlfriend, and he has high school grades to keep up. He's under constant pressure to find time between his work as Bruce Wayne's personal assistant, his responsibilities as Batman, and his personal life. Most of the time, he needs to make some sacrifices in the name of being a hero which can lead to some wonderful drama. 
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  (#15) Max Is a Great Companion and Batman's Personal Hacker

  While Terry doesn't have Oracle, he always has Bruce watching him from afar. Sometimes, however, that isn't enough. Enter Max: a programmer so skilled she eventually deduces that Terry is Batman. Vowing to help in any way she can, she becomes Batman's personal hacker. Eventually, she becomes acquainted with Bruce Wayne... even if he keeps her at arm's length. 
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  (#16) Splicers Are So Cool

  They may not play a huge role in the series, but they're just so cool it's impossible not to list them as one of the show's virtues. In the future, a new fad is taking hold of Gotham where kids are using genetic enhancements to augment their genes with animal features. Spots, fangs, cat eyes, you name it, they can do it. Some people, of course, take it to an extreme... and Batman has to fight these guys. It's an awesome bit of world building.

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