BATMAN, DEATH IN THE FAMILY: BECOME THE STORY

 

While the Marvel Universe has taken over the feature film world with their numerous hits the same can’t be said for those movies based on DC characters. I’ve always felt in part that was due to the fact the folks at Warner Brothers have shied away from the source material as if to say comic books are unworthy of their efforts. Marvel instead embraces those roots. Fortunately those in charge of Warner’s animated division they don’t follow that path.

The animated DC Universe is alive and well with movies flowing along at a fast pace and more often than not sticking to that great source material their chosen stories are derived from. Just released is one story that they’ve taken an extra step with. BATMAN: DEATH IN THE FAMILY is that release and the new addition they’ve added is making it an interactive story. You the viewer get to decide how the story plays out.

The set up first. For those who’ve not kept up on the comics DEATH IN THE FAMILY was a huge storyline in the Batman comics. Dick Grayson aka Robin had grown up and moved on becoming Nightwing. A chance encounter led Batman to pick up a new replacement for Robin in Jason Todd, a young orphan Batman rescued and took on much like he had Grayson. While the setup was the same the two young men were different in their approach. In 1988 writer Dennis O’Neill suggested they allow readers to determine the fate of Todd and thus the story DEATH IN THE FAMILY came about. Readers were allowed to vote and determine if Todd lived or died.

The interactive movie takes on that same approach. Batman finds himself in Bosnia tracking down arch-enemy Ras al-Ghul who is set to purchase uranium to create dirty bombs. He finds the disillusioned Jason Todd there tracking down the Joker who it turns out is the seller of that uranium. As Batman follows al-Ghul’s men and the uranium, Todd enters a warehouse to confront the Joker. But the Joker is prepared and captures Todd. In one of the most brutal moments in both comic book and animated history Todd/Robin is beaten with a crowbar and left to die. As he attempts to escape he see a bomb counting down the seconds, death imminent.

Here is where the first path must be chosen by the viewer. Three options are presented. 1, have Batman rescue Todd. 2, have Batman fail and Todd die. And 3, have Todd save himself. Each choice leads the path down to various other choices, some lengthier than others. Each choice has consequences. I won’t reveal those outcomes but it’s safe to say they are not always the ones you would expect.

But it doesn’t end there. SPOILER ALERT FOR NON-COMIC FANS. Those who have kept up with the comics know that Jason Todd did die in that vote back in 1988 but was resurrected and later became the Red Hood. Most of the stories that progress from this point use that character. But each choice leads to more choices and more stories. Does Todd kill the Joker or let him live? Does Todd become a force for good or for evil? Does Batman survive or die? Does Ras al-Ghul step in to save either of these characters?

The potential of storylines is so large that the odds of covering them all in one sitting aren’t likely. I know after 90 minutes I had to stop to view the other items included here as to write this review. I will be returning to explore them all though. It’s an ingenious gimmick that works well. Combined with the fact that the production values on the DC animated side of things are always top notch and you have a real treat to enjoy here.

If that wasn’t enough they are also including 4 shorts from the DC Showcase as well. Showcase was the DC comic that featured a rotating series of guests’ stars in the lead story and the same holds true here. One involved the WWII hero Sgt. Rock, another the sci-fi adventures of Adam Strange, a third the mysterious Phantom Stranger and the fourth from the world of the Sandman an episode involving Death. All are done with the same quality found in the main item here.

The use of the various storylines, some using the same footage with different outcomes and endings, is fascinating to watch as they unspool. Just know this is not your old style comic book animated feature. The movie comes with an R rating due to the violence depicted. This is more along the lines of something for fans in the adult category. Consider me one and I heartily recommend this as something worth watching and enjoying more than once. 

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