Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - Bat-May

[@ChannelAwesome]

Is this the best DCAU movie? Follow Walter on Twitter - twitter.com/WalterCulture Watch Bat-May 2023 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKKpcpawgZZnZ7M Watch all Bat-May here - bit.ly/BatMay

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

YES

[@mikechicago6200]

Love those twins, man Dee Dee both played by Sabrina, shame they never told who the daddy was or parents of them, rip Arleen!

[@jovensworld2037]

Return of the Joker: 10/10 no questions asked.

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Awesome video!

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

There was also a video game about It. It sucked.😂

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Terry gave Joker his worst nightmare: The batman laughing AT him and becoming the bane of every comedian, a heckler.

[@skylineXpert]

So you decided to get your skin bleached & become a super villain

[@jonathanshaw9704]

What? You couldn’t get a job as a rodeo clown?!! AHAHAHA!!!

[@jonathanshaw9704]

What? You couldn’t get work as a rodeo clown? AHAHAHA!!!

[@louisduarte8763]

@@skylineXpert "Couldn't get work as a rodeo clown?"

[@dragoninthewest1]

Terry grew on the internet and has been S***posting since he was 5. The Joker never stood a chance.

[@trytotopthis3152]

"You make me laugh. But only because I think you're kind of pathetic" - Terry. One of the most savage quotes out there. Joker is so used to Bruce's stoic personality that he wasn't ready for Terry's level of savagery. Joker's biggest mistake was thinking he could deal with Terry the same way he deals with Bruce. Terry was making Joker so uncomfortable, that the clown actually tried to escape the room than to deal with that, lol.

[@estebangutierrez160]

Joker also had an ego problem. He always wants to be top dog, the center of attention, someone that everyone remembers for the rest of their lives. That's why he got upset when Harley and Ivy were becoming so popular when they teamed up to become Gotham's Crime Queens. To the moment Terry was making fun of the Joker, it bruised him so badly since it's not what Batman would do.

[@balrighty3523]

Yep. He was so used to being Bruce’s number one foe that he didn’t realize that for this new Batman, he was only “Random Bad Guy #83”.

[@berniethekiwidragon4382]

The build up to that line was essential, but that last line was THE final twist of the knife.

[@sebastianemond5313]

Irony, that those were the last words Joker used on Batman when discovering his identity. Now, *they're the last words the Joker will hear reflected back at him* by the new Batman.

[@SPAnComCat]

That was Savage and Hilarious! Terry is an Underrated Batman!

[@DanGamingFan2406]

That flashback scene was something else. The way Tim Drake was tortured into becoming Joker Jr., Bruce's reaction, Tim's insane laugh turned to sobbing after killing Joker, it's all so chilling, and still one of the most powerful Batman moments ever.

[@milkiassamuel780]

Damn, Joker just loves torturing Robin's, huh? Im wondering who suffered the most Jason Todd or Tim Drake?

[@watershipup7101]

I know right? The trauma that guy went through is insane.

[@kdusel1991]

It was so good!!

[@kdusel1991]

​@@milkiassamuel780 in this, Tim, in under the red hood, Jason. Both suffered equally in my eyes

[@johnbeal6114]

The PG-13 version of that scene was way more darker and way more hard to sit throat seen what joker did to Tim pushed Batman to the edge

[@smittyjjensin558]

I love the idea of a "young" joker emerging in an unfamiliar future, seeing his main nemesis being a hunched old man with a cane, and his new rival being half his age.

[@erichzannbusoumuzan]

... Holy, that's actually a good elevator pitch material.

[@l3nsman]

For me, the moment Terry dismantled the Joker psychologically by heckling him, was the moment Terry truly became his own character and really became the Batman. And it was something only he would have done.

[@matthewmuir8884]

Indeed. Terry heckling The Joker is a truly fantastic moment. I especially love the final, mocking, "Ha, ha" he gives The Joker before using the joy buzzer to destroy the Joker chip. _Batman_ got the last laugh against The Joker; something that would never make sense with Bruce, but it's perfect for Terry.

[@_GeneralMechanics_]

TAS aside, I never liked Batman but Beyond was a great series and a new take on Legacy characters.

[@changvasejarik62]

I openly dislike the more modern harbinger of chaos joker. It’s part of why I enjoy the TAS version of joker he’s capable but at the end of the day he’s a homicidal schoolyard bully. That under all the devil may care bravado and gags he can easily fold like a paper tiger if you know the buttons to push.

[@Kage-pm6qi]

"Joker's vain and likes to talk, he'll try to distract you but don't listen! Block it out and power through." "Wait...I like to talk too."

[@neoanimefreak_7606]

Which leads to what Bruce says to Terry at the end. "Terry, I've been thinking about something you once told me, and you were wrong. It's not Batman that makes you worthwhile, it's the other way around. Never tell yourself anything different.". Yeah, the man makes Batman, not the other way around.

[@Jonathan_Collins]

Mark Hamill's performance in this movie is one of my favorites in all his career as the Joker. He never disappoints, but he was so good here.

[@kdusel1991]

He's so awesome in this!!

[@LucyLioness100]

He’s totally amazing in this

[@corruptcamerupt2344]

The genuine venom he’s able to put into some of the lines is incredible, especially at the end when the joker is strangling terry and telling him to laugh. There’s what sounds like genuine loathing in those lines in particular.

[@matthewmuir8884]

To this day, Terry heckling The Joker is my favourite Batman moment. Terry comes into his own as Batman by beating The Joker through a method Bruce was too stoic to ever consider, and, with his defiant "Ha, ha" before destroying the Joker-chip, _Batman_ got the last laugh against The Joker.

[@Regfife]

Bruce kinda did the same thing in "Mad Love" when he mocked Joker about Harley coming closer to killing Batman than he ever did.

[@jp3813]

@@Regfife Batman also laughed at Harley.

[@jbcatz5]

I really like how their respective histories with Joker inform how Bruce and Terry see him. Bruce is probably the person who is most familiar with the Clown Prince of Crime and has more than enough reason to take him seriously as a threat even before before the trauma with Tim. Joker is like a bogeyman to him now, striking fear far more effectively than Scarecrow ever could. Whereas Terry’s experience is with the opportunistic Jokerz gang, opportunists whose crimes and ambitions don’t reach even the lesser of their idol’s schemes. He’s never known a Gotham under terror from Joker. This also informs how each Batman approaches Joker. Terry sees Joker’s weakness where Bruce can’t, that when his perceived threat is diminished so is his evil charisma. Terry heckles Joker into becoming sloppy because Joker can’t see past Bruce behind the cowl, and underestimates his new opponent. Bruce always took Joker seriously and Joker fed on that, but he couldn’t take being the butt of the joke himself.

[@ExplorerAUDIO]

Well put. Thank you.

[@BrightWulph]

Its also one of the things I like about Joker too, IMHO, the best versions of the Joker are the ones who are hypocrites. The one's who can dish it out, but can't take a serve. Because they actually allow Batman a victory, rather than a setback, if that makes sense.

[@nickthepick8043]

@@BrightWulph It makes perfect sense. At the end of the day, while Joker may be the best kind of villain, at the end of the day, his type of villain is more like a child throwing a tantrum that life didn't go their way. True, he doesn't know his own past is most versions, but it's still the same. In many ways, the best villains are hypocritical in some way.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Still can't believe the guy who's Ron Stoppable and Cory's brother on Boy Meets World was Batman

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

He came back on crisis.

[@van8ryan]

Even though he's basically a hyperactive man-child on BMW, the few times they gave him a dramatic arc, he always nailed it HARD (one of my favorite "Serious" moments with Friedle was when Eric is holding a grudge against Cory for selling off their childhood things; that whole episode, he's pulling NO JOKES at all; only anger and it worked so well)

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Also Bumblebee in Transformers: Robots in Disguise. They also gave him a one-shot villain role in The Batman 2004.

[@johnbeal6114]

He also voiced Star-Lord and the guardians of the Galaxy animated series

[@tinchick2]

And he's a really nice guy too!

[@Raganui]

"It's not Batman that makes you worthwhile, it's the other way around. Never tell yourself anything different." A great line from old Bruce to Terry. Really shows how much Bruce actually entrusts him with Batman. Also, both Joker scenes are great, but there is something to be said for the 'censored' version. Joker dying to a Prat Fall electrocution is just hilarious.

[@Scibsj]

Literary brought me to tears hearing that Kevin Conroy line again. It's something I didn't know I needed to hear as someone who holds himself to too high of a standard. A piece of advice we should all take to heart,

[@racheljackson4428]

That quote from Bruce Wayne really brings Terry's Batman Journey Full Circle. RIP KEVIN CONROY.

[@shadowldrago]

Either way, Joker is hoist by his own petard. The best possible way for a clown to go out.

[@neoanimefreak_7606]

Yeah., the man makes Batman, not the other way around. *nods to this*

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

Very wise words, thank you for sharing Mechanicus pfp man

[@marcusyates3044]

The Joker: "Don't play psychoanalyst with me, boy"

[@nintendolife25]

Batman (Terry): “Oh, I don’t need a degree to figure you out.”

[@jonathanshaw9704]

Batman (Terry): The real reason you kept coming back because you never got a laugh out of the old man. Get a clue, clowny. He’s got no sense of humor. He wouldn’t know a good joke if it bit him in the cape… not that you ever had a good joke.

[@Penguinmanereikel]

@@jonathanshaw9704 "I'm not hearing this..."

[@Flamyll]

​@@Penguinmanereikel I mean Joy buzzers? Squirting flowers? Lame, where's the A-material? Make a face, drop your pants, something!

[@dklounge7082]

Terry pulled a Tommy Boy on the Joker. He may not have all the book smarts that Bruce has, but he does have street smarts

[@Purplesubmariner]

Personally I do like the uncut version better, because it _really_ emphasizes the mental struggle on the altered Robin. You can see him really struggling against the order to shoot Bruce, only to last minute inch the gun _just enough_ to get Joker as he pulls the trigger. He couldn't stop himself from pulling the trigger, and he was able to regain just enough control in the last second to prevent himself from killing his father figure. But the toll of still killing _anyone_ really breaks him after that

[@matthewhyman8795]

"Oh what the heck, I'll laugh anyway. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

[@blueraccoon1088]

"If You don't like video i got slides"

[@claytonrios1]

I'll be honest. The main reason I remember this film is because of the flashback scene with Joker and Harley revealing their... Mentally traumatizied mini Joker. That's probably the worst thing they have ever done and everything about the mini Joker feels off... From his constant grinning to just the way he moves around.

[@BrandonCornwell-wi9ku]

Terry should've told Dana the truth about his identity after the attack by The Jokerz gang

[@MR-hk2qu]

It's the worst they've ever done in the DCAU at least. To me the worst goes to Injustice: Tricking Superman into killing his wife and unborn child as well as Metropolis, triggering the (to me) most realistic depiction of Batman vs Superman so far.

[@claytonrios1]

@@MR-hk2qu Well after Superman murdered The Joker and became a fascist dictator that made sense for Batman to want to bring him down.

[@rogue7723]

For real, they made a _PG-13 rated snuff film_ for 3 minutes.

[@mrbrainly]

The moment Terry turns out the lights to scare the Joker with the impending doom of the laser is as pure of a "Batman" moment as there's ever been

[@WatanukiProductions]

"That's not funny... That's not..." It's perfect! I couldn't imagine better last words for the definitive version of the Joker.

[@ramirezthesilvite]

Holy shit I never until this moment realized that Terry McGinnis is voiced by Ron Stoppable. Dude's got range.

[@LucyLioness100]

It shocked me when I finally learned that. He does a great job as Terry

[@Jackie-McCann]

And to think, Terry was Will Friedle’s first voice acting role!

[@lainiwakura1776]

Sean from Boy Meets World.

[@aRBy125]

@@lainiwakura1776 Eric Matthews actually! :)

[@SJ_RANKS]

Everybody talks about how scary heath ledgers joker was but honestly mark hamill’s performance in this movie is Sh🐬t your pants terrifying torturing Robin and breaking his mind, killing bonk by launching a flag pole into his chest, sneaking into the bat cave and nearly killing Bruce with joker toxin and of course that scene where he’s tim drake and he makes Tim drake transform into him that’s just as scary if not scarier than the lamp wick scene from Pinocchio I watch this movie on Halloween simply because of how scary the joker is in it

[@candycover]

Ledger's joker wasn't scarry

[@jp3813]

@@candycover People are likely only comparing live action Jokers.

[@darknessunknown4384]

I loved Terry's confrontation with the Joker. That chilling transformation scene, Terry getting under the Joker's skin by laughing at mocking him, and that last laugh the Joker gave, before Terry fried him, is one of my favorite Joker laughs; it was sadistic and downright scary.

[@dragondaveltd1992]

18:53 Joker: Don't you dare laught at me! Batman Beyond: Why? I thought the Joker always wanted to make Batman laugh! Joker: YOU'RE NOT BATMAN!!!

[@jajafeedyns8082]

Only a few gotten under Joker's skin, but Terry made it all the way to his kidneys.

[@The_Phantasm]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, this film is Mark Hamill's best and most terrifying ever performance as the Joker!

[@AGMGrayLineProductions]

There IS a certain poetry on the censored version's death of Joker. The idea of Joker dying from tripping adds a certain sadistic level of humor. However i'm still more inclined on the uncut version mostly because of Tim Drake's mind control. The fact that he only managed to snap out of it for just a second enough to shoot Joker instead, feels way stronger since that shorter period feels way more powerful. Idk, i feel some of the seriousness of his torture gets lost when he manages to snap out of it for a much longer period of time, enough to not only drop the gun but actually stand up to him. But him only being able to JUST change the direction of the bullet feels way stronger.

[@Kage-pm6qi]

Also the fact that the uncut Joker death is so mundane is actually a perfect cosmic punishment, the Slapstick death is fitting for Joker and exactly one of the ways he'd want to go out which is why him getting Shot by the Corrupted Tim Drake is so wonderful because he absolutely hates it. There's no big event, no forcing someone to break their code, and worst of all for him no punchline. Just him dying, like a common thug soon to be forgotten.

[@AGMGrayLineProductions]

@@Kage-pm6qi That's ALSO fair, very true. In a way him dying like a normal person with nothing extra about it would be cool, and since Tim is already broken, there's nothing more to break within the code like you say. And much like in Arkham Knight, his biggest fear is to be forgotten, which kind of reflects in this movie with his opening scene where he puts alot of focus and even anger on "his days" and need to feel like he is still important.

[@sarafontanini7051]

the uncut verison also plays more into the trauma of the event and plays a aprt in why batman's relationships fell apart

[@LadyOnikara]

I didn't know there was two versions. I only saw the one where Drake shot him.

[@ExplorerAUDIO]

I think the cut version is visually more interesting the and the scream more taunting. But you're right, too. Maybe a combination of the two would've been perfect. Tim shots the Joker like he did in the uncut version and with this stick in his heart he is pushed into the tubes. Still alive but deadly wounded he try's to get out and slips, and pushing the lever. That would be great. Best of both worlds.

[@ChamarM]

I would've loved a Bat-May Beyond but I'll take this

[@deadponic117]

please no, i got enough issues with this movie, i don't need to be traumatized further with the shit-fest that is Batman Beyond

[@jlev1028]

​@@deadponic117Grow up.

[@deadponic117]

@@jlev1028 if you can't see through the deceit and lies that WB has created and infested your mind with, you sir are truely a fool. also i am planning to sue WB for character assassination to get every single copy of this movie removed from shelves.

[@molcatz9634]

​@@deadponic117 shit fest? Damn bro you got issues...

[@DigiRangerScott]

It would’ve gotten him close to another 2 years

[@DjPrimeVideos]

Joker: It would be funny if it wasnt so pathetic. Terry: You make me laugh, only because i think youre pathetic

[@memesarekeem]

Terry Mcginis will always be the true successor to Bruce in my book, I loved Batman Beyond and everything Terry stood for, he is such a great character, a troubled youth who has a good heart but led astray after the death of his father, he still has family and isn't a loner like Bruce; that's what makes him so compelling, he's everything Bruce wanted to be. Over the course of the show, you really get to see him grow into the Batman role and make it his own with Bruce as his Alfred. I wait for the day Terry becomes canon to the mainline comics.

[@xxSandt21xx]

There’s something so fitting about a character like Joker dieing because he slipped on some water, one of the most iconic forms of classic slapstick comedy

[@BrandonSwinney-j2v]

when nostalgia critic reviewed this movie, he said that was what he felt would be the perfect death for a clown, an equivalent to dying by slipping on a banana peel

[@arilumani6194]

​​@@BrandonSwinney-j2vNostalgia Critic didn't review this movie, it was just an editorial transcript titled Is This The Best Joker Death? where he discussed the way the Joker died, the build up towards his death and if this is really his best out of every other incarnation. However, he should still review this movie, since he talks about Batman all the time in this channel.

[@BrandonSwinney-j2v]

@@arilumani6194 it had been a while, so I forgot it wasn't a full review

[@Eidlones]

I like the uncut version of Joekr's death better. It's more blunt, and undramatic, in contrast to what the Joker is. It strips away the theatricality of everything, and presents it as it is, giving more impact to what the Joker actually did to Tim.

[@AnimetalViking]

RIP to Wayne Static of Static X who did the vocals on Crash with Mephisto Odyssey. A true metal legend.

[@wstine79]

The Batman look he had on in the video was cool.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

Also Kevin Conroy and arleen.

[@Voltra_]

Terry mocking the Joker is such a great moment

[@justinpullen1097]

I think the uncut death is more impactful as it adds another aspect to Joker's 'victory'. He got one of the Batfamily to break Bruce's one rule. Plus it adds more to Tim's breakdown in the climax. He said "I killed him" like a repressed trauma was uncovered.

[@IsleofJaya]

Terry laughing while fighting Joker still gives me chills to this day.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

BEST animated batman movie. Happy Bat-May!

[@dionysisnance4204]

Joker line if it a whopen your a wanton. Still goes hard to this day

[@shioriryukaze]

Let's dance bozo...

[@marcusyates3044]

Joker: "That's not funny" So, what's next for Bat-May?

[@jinpei05]

Mystery of the Batwoman

[@jinpei05]

Mystery of the Batwoman

[@shioriryukaze]

For those who have not watched the series, watch this movie, then it will give you a reason to watch the series and you will watch the whole series...thats how good it is.

[@matthewmuir8884]

Indeed. I watched the movie before watching the series. The movie and the show are both really good.

[@LadyOnikara]

Yeah, I was thinking about finally watching the series sometime.

[@buddyzilla4557]

One thing that I really loved but you did not mention is how Terry turned the tables on Joker. He starts to fight dirty. He starts to REALLY taunt the Joker and not just with some sparky quips. He throes the Joker off by being something HE wasn't expecting and reminding Joker he isn't the same batman that the Joker used to play games with. He then starts to assess the jokers' behavior over all those years. He questions why he obsessed so much over bats and states the goal must have been yo make Batman laugh. He wanted to make Bruce stoop to his level at least once. Break the stoic demeanor and give in to the madness on his level but Bats never would. Terry finally pushes things over the edge by saying he will laugh but not for the joker..just at him. He starts to cackle at the clown from the shadows driving him into a full on rage. THIS felt like a true passing of the torch to me. The psychology and tactics Terry used were very in line with the origional batman but it a direction Bruce would never take. Terry always came off a a balanced fusion of Batman and Nightwing to me. A happy middle ground between the two that was just what was needed for the evolving crimes cape of Gothem. I felt this scene explemplified that. It also proved the Joker was no longer valid in this Gothem. He tried to break the bat but couldnt and now there was one so different from the prior tat he couldnt be broken in the same way. Jokers time was over and a batman he couldn't even compete with had taken over. Even if he was bluffing or dead wrong on the Joker'smotivations, it didn't matter. He knew what buttons to push to get Mr. J . off his game and that was the point. He did the one thing Bruce never could or perhaps just would. He truely got into Joker's head and switched the roles to put an end to his shenanigans once and for all. Awesome! You only touched upon it but you did mention this a little at the end.

[@dkfunentertainment3778]

I think the uncut death of joker is so much better! It makes it more raw and you believe how messed up Tim Drake would have been because of it.

[@BelcherKendric-vn7ke]

Never watch the 2nd version of a movie first, it is nearly never as good.

[@dklounge7082]

Terry pulled a Tommy Boy on Joker. He may not have all the book smarts that Bruce has, but he does have street smarts

[@vm141789]

I showed this movie to my friend who had never seen Batman Beyond. He said it was amazing.

[@reven148]

The uncut version is the best overall version but the death in the censored version is a bit more emotionally chilling.

[@connorthompson8376]

You mentioned possibly covering the “Epilogue” episode one day. As I’ve said before, I would be right there if you covered the rest of the DCAU in the same format.

[@jlev1028]

You got that right about audiences not necessarily having to watch an episode of Batman Beyond to enjoy this movie. Believe me, Return of the Joker (the censored version) was my first exposure to the series back in middle school, and it's on my top 20 favorite animated flicks. In fact, I didn't know about the show itself until J's Reviews covered it 2019. Still, I'd say the experience is enhanced by viewing the entire show and knowing how every obstacle Terry confronted led to this. To me, you wouldn't truly understand why Terry deserved to be the next Batman if not for those three seasons.

[@noir-214]

This movie was my first introduction to Batman beyond and Batman the animated series itself, and the first scene I saw was the flashback to how Joker died, and I just wanted to watch more of this amazing animated universe

[@TealFirefox4387]

Terry's fight with joker is hands down my favorite piece of batman content and one of my favorite pieces of animation.

[@PatricksCrazyPlace]

That moment where Terry taunted Joker was the moment he became one of my favorites to be Batman. My jaw was on the floor when I saw it. I was like "He's making fun of him! And its working!" Wonderful scene with excellent top tier voice acting from Hamill and Friedle.

[@VictoryArtz]

This Movie proves why Joker cannot be a Spider-Man Villain, Terry does what no one else does in the DCAU. He Mocks and Deconstructs the Joker.

[@M0b1us_118]

You took that J’s Reviews review of Return of The Joker didn’t you?

[@VictoryArtz]

​@@M0b1us_118 YEAP. And He's Not Wrong.

[@M0b1us_118]

@@VictoryArtz Damn straight.

[@averymerrick]

Credit to TV Tropes: The fact that (despite voicing Joker for nearly a decade by this point) Mark Hamill actually felt uncomfortable voicing him in this film. *Let's put that in perspective.* In the original series, Joker repeatedly killed people in droves, abused his girlfriend, stalked a guy for years on end, and created Joker Venom. All of which was turned up in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. *And yet what Joker did in this movie unnerved his voice actor.*

[@jlev1028]

At least cite TV Tropes before copy pasting its content.

[@christiandauz3742]

Reminds me of Michael Cain/Movie Alfred nearly forgetting his lines when he saw Heath Ledger Joker for the first time

[@antihero627]

I like the gunshot death better than the electrocuted scene as it gives more into the clown aspect. With the gun, it’s like either Tim's love for Batman was strong enough to shift his aim or that J.J was so twisted that he did the unexpected thing just as Joker would. Was he crying cause he killed someone like Joker would or cause he failed as Batman's son. It shows that Batman will always be a part of Tim and now, so will the Joker, so is he Robin or J.J?

[@supernerd8067]

As someone who did watch the movie with very little memory of Batman Beyond, I can say I really enjoyed it and still do.

[@Analog_Mind47]

15:41 I think the uncut version shows how horribly tortured Tim had been & maximum amount of resistance he could will was to tilt the gun a few degrees

[@Nasser851000]

All those poor kids that got scarred watching Robin be Jokified O.O

[@thedefinitionisthis]

Eh, I just don't agree that the edited version of Tim merely pushing the Joker is more compelling. Frankly, I don't see how it can be. Thematically, it doesn't hold as much weight because the Joker dying isn't ultimately by his hand; it's an accident. On the Joker side of things, him dying by accident is kinda funny. But the fact that Tim, regardless of what was done to him, had it in him to ultimately pull the trigger adds SO MUCH more weight to the trauma he feels as an adult. I guess it's enough for some people that he had this horrible thing happen to him, but if the Joker had died by accident, then the guilt that Tim feels later on makes no sense: "I can still hear him laughing. Telling me I'm as bad as he is. We're both THE SAME!"....... It's not just about turning the kid visually into the Joker; Joker effectively made him a murderer, even if he did kill the baddest of the bad. If Joker drugged up Robin just to make the kid look like the former without Robin ever committing any wrong-doing, then the agony that adult Tim is lamenting about, "being as bad as he is" and them being "the same" simply doesn't hold up. The Joker took this child and put him into a position to take someone's life. I'm sorry, but you don't get any of that if Tim simply shoves Joker, and the latter accidentally slips. If anything, THAT is much too clean. It wipes Tim's hands clean, when the whole point is that he's spent the rest of his life with blood on his hands.

[@jonathanshaw9704]

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is my favorite DC animated movie… full stop. I’m a massive fan of the Batman Beyond series in general, but this movie is excellent ending of that series (and the DCAU in general too). The look of the series, Terry, Bad-Ass Old Man Bruce, etc. Also this movie showed the darkest acts ever committed by the Joker (in the DCAU anyway). That demented clown kidnapped, torture and mentally broke Tim Drake. It was also echo to what happened to Jason Todd/Red Hood in the comics. It just goes to show that Joker was more than just a “garden variety nutcase”, he was an insane, cruel, manipulative monster who was evil all the way down to his core. I also love how Terry defeats Joker. Terry is a different type of Batman than Bruce was (Terry is actually kinda like Spider-Man with his quips). And he was able to throw Joker off his game by just making fun of him, with Terry finally finishing him off for good when he was getting choked out by him. Terry finally ended the nightmare that was the Joker, allowing the Bat-Family to move on and heal. I love this movie with my heart and soul.

[@Anonomius0]

I'm sorry, but I prefer the uncut version of Joker's death. Not only is it more haunting to hear him says "that's not funny" and hearing what happened to his body, but it also made most sense why tim broke down afterwards.

[@ewormXD]

In the end, Joker dies via electrocution anyway.

[@Anonomius0]

@@ewormXD Not in the uncut version

[@ewormXD]

@@Anonomius0 Yes, in the uncut version too, that's my point. Terry uses electricity to fry the chip that lets Joker "live" in Tim's body.

[@Alurax]

I can attest that this movie holds up and is easy to follow even without watching the series. I initially rejected the idea of Batman Beyond... until I watched this movie. The beautifully brutal backstory for what they did to Tim will always stay with me, and I remember thinking, "Wow, this Terry kid is screwing with the Joker's head. Maybe I'll give this a shot." I was instantly hooked.

[@mx9226]

I watched this movie before ever seeing Batman Beyond. I still had an awesome time

[@bigmookie27]

I think the difference in the scenes of the Joker's demise are just telling 2 different stories. The censored version shows Tim was still Robin under there, that even though the joker brutalized him, he could come back. The uncut scene shows just how far and how dark the Joker pushed him, as Tim, like Bruce would never resort to killing. But, because of the Joker's influence, Tim went somewhere he could NEVER come back from. And this was more impact full on Bruce too, as he saw how far gone the closest thing he had to a son was. Both did their job, but told different stories.

[@LadyOnikara]

I have still never seen an episode of Batman Beyond, and I love this movie.

[@taylorspencer1068]

I like both Joker deaths. The uncut scene is more iconic, where the censored scene shows more raw emotion.

[@abbyb8332]

I get why people like the cencored Joker death. In a lot of ways, it's ironic. But I prefer the uncut version because it really confirms that the Joker's dead...I mean we see the body...it builds with the mystery instead of the censored version where viewers would say, "Oh yeah He might have survived that." And like in BTAS, when there were so many fake outs with the Jokers "demise" only for him to reappear a couple of episodes later. BB-ROTJ uncensored confirms that this isn't a fake out. He's really dead. Yes, the censored version show more of Tim fighting back. But I enjoy the idea that in the uncut version, he managed to think clearly for a split second before he was swallowed up by Jokers' influence. He wasn't sure how long that second would last, so he took the shot. Regardless, I absolutely LOVE this movie!!

[@matthewmuir8884]

Also, the uncut version of The Joker's death mirrors how The Joker kills Bonk, foreshadowing that The Joker is possessing Tim Drake.

[@abbyb8332]

​@matthewmuir8884, right, you are, sir! Another great detail!!

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

The best legacy hero moment is when Terry proves he is a better Batman in that he heckled Joker and defeated him for good.

[@Nasser851000]

Terry should have gotten his own game series in the style of the Arkham games ;)

[@spectra5407]

I agree

[@darthcinema4262]

Way overdue, but it will probably never happen

[@matthewmuir8884]

I haven't played any of the Arkham games, but I would definitely play a Batman Beyond game in the style of the Arkham games.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

@@matthewmuir8884 Play them. Play them immediately. In this order: Asylum, City, Origins, and Knight.

[@spectra5407]

@@matthewmuir8884 We were supposed to get one with Damien instead of Terry, but instead we got Kill The Justice Leauge

[@Tachikawa92]

for the censored death scene it is fitting to see only Joker's mouth laughing as he is being shocked

[@The-Jax-inator]

I have quite literally never seen a video show up on my feed this quickly, and one on my favorite Batman animated series?

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

R.i.P. kevin Conroy.😢

[@TeamSoraPresents]

I always remember the dialogue between Terry and Joker during their final battle; Batman (Terry): "Why? I thought you always _wanted_ to make Batman laugh." Joker: "YOU'RE NOT BATMAN!!!" Joker starts chocking Batman: "Come on, McGinnis. LAUGH!"

[@matthewmuir8884]

The Joker: "Come on, McGinnis! Laugh it up now, you miserable little punk! LAUGH! I can't hear you!" Terry: "...Ha, ha." (Destroys the microchip with the joy buzzer). Remember what Barbara Gordon said about how The Joker got the last laugh? Terry's final defiant "Ha, ha" meant that, in fact, _Batman_ got the last laugh.

[@Dorelaxen]

The AMAZING Kenny Wayne Shepherd also plays guitar on the end credits theme.

[@blackpanthro]

The alternate death is beautifully animated, ill give it that. A little too convenient for my tastes. I like the half second decision to shoot much more. Thats how close Batman was to losing everything.

[@airistal]

Adding the breaking of the no killing rule, the guilt of directly killing, and the question of how much of the Jokers mind was behind that shot.

[@lites73]

One of my favorite lines from the movie was, " Oh, what the heck I'll laugh anyways hahahahahahahahaha"

[@DomesticAnimo]

Its iconic 😂

[@antibiotics514]

This movie brought me to the batman beyond show

[@isaacgleeth3609]

I prefer the uncut version of Joker's death. Joker's ultimate "joke" is to kill Batman. He sets up the "joke" by kidnapping Tim Drake and mentally and physically torturing him, resulting in a mini-Joker, while Batman and Batgirl search for him. He continues the build-up by leading them to the closed-up Arkham and revealing what he did to Tim. This build-up turns into the ultimate punchline--having Tim kill Batman while Joker and his miniature version laugh. However, Tim Drake shoots Joker, ruining the "joke" he likely worked on for years. In Joker's dying words, "That's not funny. That's not--"

[@zackkatian3436]

Also the fact that Joker did not go out in a flashy or funny way, but died like a common street thug. Talk about going out with a whimper. Which just makes it even better. No grandiose send off just bang yer dead.

[@CynderSpirit]

Joker even foreshadows how he died in the beginning of the movie when he murders Bonk with the same bang gun that Tim shot him with.

[@Aussieroth7]

Then there's Kevin Conroy's most intimidating-straight up terrifying line delivery was in this. "I'll break you in two." When I hear him say those lines, to me that's just him subtly saying "This time I'm breaking my rule just to kill you."

[@lens_hunter]

This is my favorite Batman movie. Batman Beyond doesn't get enough love. I love Terry.

[@cassidyhumberston9133]

This one is by far my favorite DCAU movie. But now, I watch it, knowing that Kevin Conroy (THE voice of Batman) is no longer with us. I believe this movie was not only one of his best works, but one of the best Batman films in general. RIP Kevin!

[@mleighqs]

I love this film just as much as Mask of the Phantasm. Terry is a great character, what happens to Tim always gets me choked up, and how Joker meets his end in the censored version is better than the uncut one in my opinion.

[@spookerredmenace3950]

i love both cuts, but i love the version DEATH where he gets shocked

[@drakedarkstar5422]

I think killing Joker by shooting is better cause it makes the feelings mixed rather than just one gasp from electricution. If jolt death would stay, we'd think only about Joker: "Wow, slipping and dying by accident. Truly hilariously genius" (i think Doug brought it up too). But with shot we get: A) come on, that last line is awesome. Unexpected and tone-changing; B) we get a catarsis: finally, Joker is dead; B2) and sudden mystery: but if he's dead, who is in future; C) Tim's emotional breakdown as audience is relieved knowing that there's still hope and sad because we know that is his end as Robin. He commited a murder. He broke Bat-family rule. There's no future for him as hero and Bruce's successor. Joker in the end won - Bruce lost his another son. For me it's more compelling.

[@theresacherco3503]

I remember watching this movie once and I thought it was dark and also Batman beyond is my favorite Batman cartoon that’s why I like it too

[@PlayNiceFolks]

It's been decades since I first saw it, and yet it's still one of the darkest bits of storytelling I've ever come across. Family Memories.

[@saltyk9869]

Such a good movie. Batman Beyond doesn't get enough praise. The fact that there wasn't a grand finale to the series is actually why the JL shows always had a grand finale. They swore they wouldn't make that mistake again. Also, the fact that Joker thought of Terry as a nonfactor is part of why he lost. He dismissed him at every opportunity. "Batfake." Which makes the fact that -Terry- Batman broke him at the end, so much more satisfying.

[@RaptorNX01]

I still love the bit of trivia from the commentary on how the satellite weapon scene was meant to be an homage to the japanese animated film "Akira",. and one of the heads of the animation dept working on that scene, had been an animator at the time akira was being made and had actually animated part of the satellite weapon scene ROTJ was homaging.

[@Morgil27]

I distinctly remember the opening credits to this movie were the first time I realized that Luke Skywalker played The Joker.

[@futureDreamer4]

I prefer the electrocution of the Joker better than the uncut version.

[@Zorro3k6]

I will always love this movie. Even as an adult, watching the flash back sequence sends chills down my spine. Tim smiling with only his mouth and eyes illuminated is chilling. And knowing that the Joker physically, mentally, and probably emotionally tortured a child to the point of brain washing is haunting. As Bruce says, "He was a psychopath.... a monster." And that shows. I love the Joker as a character. He's probably my favorite villain. That said, I would never want to meet him in an ally. Btw, I'm surprised you didn't talk about the redesign during that sequence. I really like it. I think it's a good combination of the original BTAS and TNBA designs. Hamill as always crushes it in the role and I agree with this being the best direct to video movie in that universe

[@Shadow1Yaz]

As a person who was introduced to Batman Beyond through this movie, I think you can def watch it without watching the show. 😊

[@wakeangel2001]

Ironically, the first time I saw this movie was on DVD, but it had the censored cut with the Joker electrocution death, and the first time I saw the uncut shooting death version was when it aired on Toonami a couple years later. So I saw the censored version on DVD and the uncut version on TV, weird huh?

[@lordroyalnightmare]

I think this movie was actually my introduction to Batman Beyond. I may have seen the first episode or two first, but beyond that this was most of what I knew of the show

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

The Teaser Trailer for this movie scared the crap out of me as a kid. The slow build up of the Joker's laughter as Batman's name is spelled out and ending with that brief flash of the Joker's smiling face. I had to fast forward through any VHS I had with that trailer and it haunted my dreams for a long time. Effective marketing.

[@kdusel1991]

This movie is awesome! And Mark Hamill's performance is still amazing!

[@ryanmills892]

my favourite part of this movie is Terry laughing and making one-liners at Joker (even calling his grudge laughably pathetic) all the while Joker is proclaiming that Terry is not Batman, Terry is his own kind of Batman much how Miles Morales is his own kind of Spider-Man.

[@michaelryall5752]

Yeah I'm glad you brought up how both versions of the Joker's death have their merits. While the line "That's not funny" is the perfect ironic lasts words for the Joker, the censored death is the best overall scene in terms of Robin's character fighting back using the nonlethal skills he was taught by Batman and the crazy clown dying by extreme pratfall.

[@wstine79]

I love the STATIC X music video for Batman Beyond. Seeing Wayne Static in a Batman-style suit with his hair in the pointed ears look was awesome.

[@Nasser851000]

*Joker voice* And here we....go!

[@shonen991]

Joker being electrocuted I feel is more thematic to his character. Some of the most early comedy on film was slapstick, because the limitations of technology. Having his death by an accident, a mini rubegoldberg type sequence, pushed > soaked > tied up > slip > lever > electricity. It gives it an ironic twist, that, if it was a comedy, he would be soot covered with static hair. He's is the joker after all, and what's a better joke, then one that isn't seen coming?

[@WickedFireBird69]

I have been waiting for Walter to talk about Batman Beyond since BatMay first began! I can't wait to watch this!

[@CinematicInsanity]

The Joker Jr. scene is still haunting as hell! Looking back, it’s probably the first time I felt truly disturbed.

[@jdzencelowcz]

While the uncensored version of J's death hits just right, the censored version works too.

[@lihoffman8157]

I remember this a lot as a kid and now I'm starting to think my childhood was not as friendly as I thought.

[@derekstein6193]

Uncut is better. Not only for the line, but the fact that Tim killed the Joker... with a gun. The death-by-electrocution of the Joker just makes it an accident, rather than a deliberate attempt to kill.

[@matthewmuir8884]

The censored version also takes away the clever foreshadowing with the original Joker's death mirroring how The Joker in the future kills Bonk, with The Joker commenting, "That's also how we did things in my day."

[@calebglasscock7392]

Kevin Conroy you will be missed my friend there will never be another animated Batman voice like yours. I just hope they bring back the DC animated Universe someday and they find a great new voice for Batman.