Batman: The Brave & The Bold

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more superheroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain. As the title suggests, the series focuses on Batman's regular "team-ups" with various heroes similar to the most well-known version of the original comic book series. The series premiered on November 14, 2008, on Cartoon Network in the United States, and ended on November 18, 2011.

## Overview

Each episode of *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* features the main character (Batman) teaming up with other, minor characters from the DC Universe to thwart minor villains or to solve crimes. Most episodes have a cold open with an escapade not related to the remainder of the episode. In the first season, the villain was Equinox, who later returned in "Time Out for Vengeance!"; and in the second season, the villain was the alien Starro. During production, the show's creator said that if a character's cold open appearance was deemed successful, then it may warrant exploring the character further in a future episode's main adventure.

*Batman: The Brave and the Bold* ended after season three, which consisted 13 episodes. A new Batman animated series, has returned the character to a more serious tone. However, a new direct-to-video crossover with Scooby-Doo, entitled *Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold*, was released in 2018.

## Cast

### Principal cast

* Diedrich Bader – Batman/Bruce Wayne/Matches Malone, Kilowog, Ace, Owlman, Solomon Grundy, Punch, Gorilla Boss, Batman (Damian Wayne), Lord Death Man, Creepy Usher, Caveman Batman, Pirate Batman, Batmanicus, Robot Batman, Musketeer, Teen Batman
* Jeff Bennett – Joker/Red Hood, OMAC, Captain Marvel, Batman's Singing Voice, Rubberneck, Abra Kadabra, Joker-Mite, Joker Jr., Rubin, Penguin (Scooby-Doo version), Prez Richards, El Gaucho, Ultra-Humanite, Starman
* Corey Burton – Red Tornado, Silver Cyclone, Thomas Wayne (in "Invasion of the Secret Santas!"), False-Face, Doctor Mid-Nite, Dr. William Milton Magnus, Mercury, Chancellor Gor-Zonn, General Zahl, Killer Moth, Batman (Bat-Manga version), Joker (Scooby-Doo version), Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
* John DiMaggio – Aquaman, Gorilla Grodd, Tiger Soldier, Typhon, Enemy Ace, Ubu, Faceless Hunter, Black Adam, Black Mask, Tattoo, Pharaoh, Toyman, Vigilante, Hellgrammite, Mr. Freeze, Legionnaire, Captain Boomerang, Owen
* Will Friedle – Blue Beetle/Jaime Reyes, Scarlet Scarab, Lazy Eye
* Tom Kenny – Plastic Man, Baby Face, Ray, Deadshot, Mirror Master, 'Mazing Man
* James Arnold Taylor – Green Arrow, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), Blue Bowman, Major Disaster, Wotan, Nabu, Mark Desmond, Arges, Leslie "Rocky" Davis, Alpha-Red, G.I. Robot, Jace

### Special guest cast

* Morena Baccarin – Cheetah
* Edoardo Ballerini – Vulture, Jack
* Xander Berkeley – Sinestro
* Clancy Brown – Per Degaton, Rohtul
* Gabrielle Carteris – Vicki Vale, Princess Laethwen
* Patrick Cavanaugh – Robin (Damian Wayne)
* Mindy Cohn – Velma Dinkley
* Jeffrey Combs – Kite Man
* Kevin Conroy – Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, Phantom Stranger
* Tim Conway – Weeper
* Olivia d'Abo – Elasti-Girl
* Diane Delano – Big Barda
* Dana Delany – Vilsi Vaylar
* Michael Dorn – Bane, Kru'll the Eternal
* Greg Ellis – Gentleman Ghost, Doctor Fate, Cavalier, Dr. Canus, Hawk, Thomas Wayne (in "Dawn of the Deadman!"), Shrapnel, Mr. Mind, Big Headed Batman
* R. Lee Ermey – Wildcat
* Oded Fehr – Equinox
* Ellen Greene – Mrs. Manface
* Ioan Gruffudd – Blue Beetle Scarab, Matthew "Red" Ryan
* Mark Hamill – Spectre
* Neil Patrick Harris – Music Meister
* Tippi Hedren – Hippolyta
* John Michael Higgins – Riddler
* William Katt – Hawkman
* Wallace Langham – Ocean Master
* Loren Lester – Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
* Vicki Lewis – Wonder Woman
* Matthew Lillard – Shaggy Rogers
* Carl Lumbly – Tornado Champion/Tornado Tyrant
* Tim Matheson – Jarvis Kord
* David McCallum – Merlin
* Ted McGinley – "Aquaman 2"
* Andy Milder – Flash (Jay Garrick)
* Richard Moll – Lew Moxon, Two-Face (in "Chill of the Night!")
* Phil Morris – Fox, Jonah Hex
* Laraine Newman – Ms. Minerva
* Julie Newmar – Martha Wayne (in "Chill of the Night!")
* Gary Owens – Space Ghost
* Hunter Parrish – Kid Flash, Geo-Force
* Ron Perlman – Doctor Double X
* Jim Piddock – Calendar Man/Calendar King, Doctor Watson, Doctor Sivana, Shazam, Thaddeus Jr.
* James Remar – Two-Face
* Paul Reubens – Bat-Mite
* Henry Rollins – Robotman
* Michael Rosenbaum – Deadman
* Jeffrey Ross – Himself
* Stephen Root – Penguin, Woozy Winks, Planet Master, Killer Croc
* Peter Scolari – Atom (Ray Palmer)
* Tom Everett Scott – Booster Gold
* Jennifer Seman - Star Sapphire
* Armin Shimerman – Calculator, Psycho-Pirate, Walter Mark "Prof" Haley, Guardians of the Universe
* John Wesley Shipp – Professor Zoom
* J. K. Simmons – Guardians of the Universe, Evil Star, Kyle "Ace" Morgan
* Cree Summer – Vixen
* Jeffrey Tambor – Crazy Quilt
* Tony Todd – Astaroth
* Alan Tudyk – Flash (Barry Allen)
* Michael T. Weiss – Adam Strange
* Adam West – Thomas Wayne (in "Chill of the Night!"), Proto-Bot
* Wil Wheaton – Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
* Michael Jai White – Tattooed Man
* Gary Anthony Williams – Fun Haus, Mongul, Mongal
* Tyler James Williams – Jason Rusch/Firestorm
* Wade Williams – Mantis, Supreme Chairman of Qward
* Thomas F. Wilson – Sportsmaster, Catman
* Henry Winkler – Ambush Bug
* Peter Woodward – Caesar, Ra's al Ghul
* Michael-Leon Wooley – Kalibak, Darkseid
* "Weird Al" Yankovic – Himself, Mr. Star

### Additional voices

* Sebastian Bader – Robin (Future)
* Dee Bradley Baker – Clock King, Jason Blood/Etrigan the Demon, Felix Faust, Brain, Chemo, Scarecrow, Ace the Bat-Hound, Oberon, Ramjam, Dove, Brother Eye, GPA Operative, Fisherman, Professor Malachi Zee, Tin, Professor Milo, Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man, Starro Titan, Haunted Tank, Madniks, Bug-Eyed Bandit, Copperhead, Mister Atom, Misfit, Warren Griffith, Vincent Velcro, Pvt. Elliot "Lucky" Taylor, John Wilkes Booth, Punchichi, Krypto The Super-Dog and Baby Batman
* Gregg Berger – Hammer Toes, Brain Scientist, Police Captain, Crime Boss, Creature King
* Brian Bloom – Iron, Oxygen, Creeper, Rip Hunter, Captain Atom
* Steve Blum – Heat Wave, Captain Cold
* Andrea Bowen – Talia al Ghul
* Ian Buchanan – Sherlock Holmes
* Cathy Cavadini – Alanna Strange, Jan, Ruby Ryder, Fiona, Dr. Myrra Rhodes
* Grey DeLisle – Fire, Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance), Black Canary (Dinah Drake), Daphne Blake, Robin (Dick Grayson) (Bat-Manga version), Dala
* John DeVito – Captain Marvel Jr.
* Sean Donnellan – Elongated Man, Steve Trevor
* Robin Atkin Downes – Weather Wizard, Kobra, Firefly, Ten-Eyed Man
* Bill Fagerbakke – Ronnie Raymond/Firestorm, Lead, Helium, Riddler Henchman
* Nika Futterman – Lashina, Selina Kyle/Catwoman
* James Garrett – Alfred Pennyworth
* Zachary Gordon – Young Bruce Wayne, Young Aqualad
* Richard Green – General Kreegaar
* Kim Mai Guest – Katana (in "Inside the Outsiders!")
* Nicholas Guest – Question, Martian Manhunter
* Jennifer Hale – Ramona, Poison Ivy (in "Chill of the Night!"), Zatanna, Killer Frost, Ice
* David K. Hill – Negative Man
* Sirena Irwin – Mera, Lois Lane
* Lauri Johnson – Ma Murder
* Mikey Kelley – Kamandi
* Lex Lang – Doctor Polaris, Hourman, Gold, Hydrogen, Alloy, Wildcat (Young in "The Golden Age of Justice!"), Batman (Dick Grayson)
* Hope Levy – Stargirl, Phantom Lady
* Yuri Lowenthal – Mister Miracle, Prince Tuftan, Bulletman
* Tress MacNeille – Ms. Gatsby
* Jason Marsden – Paco, Speedy, Robin (Dick Grayson) (Scooby-Doo version)
* Vanessa Marshall – Poison Ivy (in "The Mask of Matches Malone!"), Katrina Moldoff/Batwoman
* Richard McGonagle – Sardath, Professor Carter Nichols, Chief, Perry White, Brainiac
* Scott Menville – Metamorpho
* Jason C. Miller – Doll Man, Black Condor
* Pat Musick – Martha Wayne (in "Dawn of the Deadman!")
* Ryan Ochoa – Speedy (Young in "Sidekicks Assemble!")
* Peter Onorati – Joe Chill
* Vyvan Pham – Katana (in "Enter the Outsiders!")
* Alexander Polinsky – Slug, G'nort, Jimmy Olsen
* Rachel Quaintance – Carol Ferris
* Enn Reitel – Chancellor Deraegis
* Peter Renaday – Uncle Sam, Abraham Lincoln
* Kevin Michael Richardson – Black Manta, B'wana Beast, Despero, General Steppenwolf, Blockbuster, Detective Chimp, Monsieur Mallah, Starro, Telle-Teg, Barack Obama, Lex Luthor, Mister Mxyzptlk, Heroes Voiceover
* Bumper Robinson – Black Lightning
* Roger Rose – WHIZ Reporter Tom Tyler, Superman, Amazo
* Eliza Schneider – Baroness Paula Von Gunther, Georgette Taylor
* Jeremy Shada – Robin (Dick Grayson) (Young)
* Zack Shada – Aqualad
* James Sie – Atom (Ryan Choi), Dyna-Mite
* Jane Singer – Jewelee
* Meghan Strange – Harley Quinn
* Preston Strother – Arthur Curry Jr., Kyle
* Tara Strong – Huntress, Billy Batson, Mary Marvel, Georgia Sivana, Kid Batman, Toddler Batman
* Gary Anthony Sturgis – Bronze Tiger
* Fred Tatasciore – Mutant Master, Arsenal, Sgt. Rock, Major Force
* Hynden Walch – Platinum, Carbon Dioxide
* Frank Welker – Scooby-Doo, Fred Jones, Batboy, Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Scooby-Doo version)
* Billy West – Skeets
* Mae Whitman – Batgirl
* Tyrel Jackson Williams – Chris
* Crawford Wilson – Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson)
* Marc Worden – Kanjar Ro, Lt. Matthew Shrieve
* Tatyana Yassukovich – Morgaine le Fay
* Keone Young – GPA Operative

## Production

### Writing

The show has no overarching story, instead having most episodes stand alone. The show is lighter in tone than previous Batman series, depicting the Dark Knight as more lighthearted and playful with a "dry, ironic wit." The show features various references to various depictions of Batman in media, including the 1960s *Batman* TV series.

While the tone is lighter, the series has touched on the subject of death with such examples as retelling the murder of Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne at the hands of Joe Chill, the death of the Silver Age Blue Beetle, the assassination of Boston Brand, the death of the first Black Canary, the execution of "Gentleman" Jim Craddock, and the self-sacrifice and death of B'wana Beast and the Doom Patrol. The tone of the series was addressed in the episode "Legends of the Dark Mite!", when Bat-Mite broke the fourth wall to read out this missive from one of the show's creators:

> Batman's rich history allows him to be interpreted in a multitude of ways. To be sure, this is a lighter incarnation, but it's certainly no less valid and true to the character's *roots* than the tortured avenger crying out for mommy and daddy.
>
>

Show creators have chosen to go with "lesser known" characters. In many instances, the characters are those that were repeatedly teamed with Batman in the 1970s run of the *Brave and the Bold* comic book, such as Green Arrow, Wildcat, Plastic Man, and even the Joker. Thus, the characters have an appearance and feel very akin to both of their Golden & Silver Age incarnations. While the show has featured major heroes such as the Green Lantern and the Flash, it consistently focused on the lesser-known individuals that portrayed the heroes, such as Guy Gardner and Jay Garrick, rather than the more popular, better known Hal Jordan or Barry Allen, until Barry appeared in the second-season episode "Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!" (though this episode centers around Kid Flash and Jay Garrick) while Hal appeared in the first-season episode "The Eyes of Despero!" as well as the third-season episode "The Scorn of Star Sapphire". In the episode "Bat-Mite Presents: Batman's Strangest Cases!", Batman even teamed up with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang to defeat the Joker and the Penguin in a retelling of the two similar crossovers from *The New Scooby-Doo Movies*.

Additionally, Batman's alter ego of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne did not appear as an adult during the series in situations where Batman was unmasked. His face was kept hidden until the season 2 episode "Chill of the Night!" when Batman finally confronts Joe Chill. From this episode onwards, whenever Bruce Wayne appears, his face is no longer silhouetted (as in "The Knights of Tomorrow").

### Crew

* Michael Jelenic – Producer, Story Editor
* Amy McKenna – Line Producer
* Sam Register – Executive Producer
* Andrea Romano – Casting and Voice Director
* James Tucker – Producer

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Animation News Discussion Cartoon Community – toonzone news – Toon Zone News Interviews the Brave and Bold James Tucker!. News.toonzone.net.
2. ↑ Dan Iverson (July 23, 2010). SDCC 10: The Joker Finally Kills Batman – TV News at IGN. Tv.ign.com.
3. ↑ G-Man (July 24, 2010). Comic-Con: Brave and the Bold & Young Justice Panel. Comic Vine.
4. ↑ http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/10/30/scooby-doo-and-batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-trailer-debut-and-movie-details?abthid=59f63e50f9f554ef55000005
5. ↑ Harvey, James (April 10, 2008). Bader Confirmed As Batman For "Batman: The Brave And The Bold". The World's Finest.
6. ↑ The World's Finest – Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Interview with John DiMaggio.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Interview with James Tucker.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Interview with Michael Jelenic.
10. ↑ CC2010: Batman- The Brave and the Bold Interview with Andrea Romano | ComicsOnline 2010. Comicsonline.com (July 31, 2010).
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The World's Finest – Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Full cast and crew for "Batman: The Brave and the Bold". Internet Movie Database.
13. ↑ Animated Shorts – The Voice of CN's Batman Talks Season 2. Newsarama.com.
14. ↑ Comics Continuum article.
15. ↑ Wil Wheaton Twitter. Twitter (April 14, 2008).
16. ↑ Comics Continuum.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Comics Continuum Article.
18. ↑ Comics Continuum article.
19. ↑ Phegley, Kiel (November 6, 2008). Directing Batman: The Brave & The Bold. *TV/Film*. Comic Book Resources.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Phegley, Kiel (November 4, 2008). Making Batman Braver and Bolder. *TV/Film*. Comic Book Resources.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Murphy, Joel (November 14, 2008). One on One with Diedrich Bader. *TV/Film*. HoboTrashcan.
22. ↑ Worley, Rob (October 27, 2008). BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD – Rise of the Blue Beetle. *TV/Film*. Mania.