100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation
#49. Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker
Medium
Animated Feature Film
Release Date
December 12, 2000
Credits
Director: Curt Gaeda
Writers: Paul Dini (Story and Screenplay), Glen Murakami (Story), Bruce Timm (Story)
Cast: Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis / Batman, Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker / Jordan Pryce, Angie Harmon as Commissioner Barbara Gordon, Tara Strong as Young Barbara Gordon / Batgirl, Dean Stockwell as Tim Drake, Matthew Valencia as Young Tim Drake / Robin, Andrea Romano as Young Tim Drake / Joker Jr., Arleen Sorkin as Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn, Melissa Joan Hart as Delia Dennis / Deidre Dennis / Dee Dee, Michael Rosenbaum as Stewart Carter Winthrop III / Ghoul, Don Patrick Harvey as Charles Buntz / Chucko, Henry Rollins as Benjamin Knox / Bonk, Frank Wekler as Woof the Hyena-Man / Ace the Bat-Hound, Lauren Tom as Dana Tan, Rachael Leigh Cook as Chelsea Cunningham, Teri Garr as Mary McGinnis, Ryan O’Donohue as Matt McGinnis, Vernee Watson-Johnson as Ms. Hoyce Carr, Mary Scheer as Mrs. Drake, Jason Stanford as Gangster
The Reason It’s Great
Just when you thought the Joker couldn’t get more twisted and diabolical, this animated film comes along. Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker shows the ingenuity of the Dark Knight’s greatest arch-enemy. The film is noted for showing the complex struggle and relationship between a hero and a villain.
In Neo-Gotham City, the Joker resurfaces after a 35-year absence and takes over the Jokerz criminal gang. During a robbery, Terry McGinnis intervenes, but the Joker is still able to escape. Bruce Wayne, concerned for Terry’s safety, takes the Batsuit to keep him from pursuing the Joker.
It’s soon discovered that the Joker is actually Tim Drake who’s been implanted with a chip that has the Joker’s DNA and consciousness—allowing Tim to transform into the Joker’s clone. In the climactic fight, Terry destroys the chip, killing any remnants of the Joker.
With the usual great performance by Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker, this film is a haunting reminder that evil never really goes away. However, the emotional scenes with Bruce and Terry also show us that good will find a way to prevail.