(EDITOR’S NOTE: BOF received screening access to Season 1 of BAT-FAM for reviewing purposes and was reviewed by BOF Senior Contributor Ryan Lower. – “Jett”)
After debuting in MERRY LITTLE BATMAN and continuing in the comic miniseries LITTLE BATMAN: MONTH ONE, this Bat-Uuniverse gives us its biggest story yet in the 10-episode series BAT-FAM.
As a fan of this new universe in Batman’s history, I was looking forward to an expansive look at these iterations, their adventures, and the characters (both new and old) we would encounter. What I got was yet another fun, charming, innocent adventure that should win over fans of this world.
I was taken aback at first, but the series opens up with you dropped right into Wayne Manor, which has new occupants. Having watched and read everything up to this point, I was scratching my head, wondering why I had missed a chapter that introduced some of these new elements.
Nope. You meet new characters, reunite with familiar ones, and jump right into an adventure. You catch up as you move along, and it’s easy to follow throughout the season. There’s a Gotham adventure in each episode, with stakes not too extreme or heavy. A small mystery is the through line of the season, as is growth amongst the family, that reaches its conclusion by the season’s end. It’s nice, fun, and pretty innocent.
Much ado was made about the look of this series when it debuted in MERRY LITTLE BATMAN. I’ll admit I wasn’t exactly in love when the first images were released, but I always give something more context. The characters and world quickly won me/us over with their charm. The show is endearing in nearly every aspect and takes chances by looking and acting differently. It’s not exactly hilarious, but it’s fun and has some funny lines and moments. They’re fun for all ages, with humor that isn’t cringe for adults.
Overall, I found BAT-FAM to be a solid continuation of what we’ve been introduced to. It’s fun, delightful, and respectful to Batman history even while it’s so different. Admittedly, I don’t know how much more of this world I need (at least anytime soon), and I do think some fans may tire halfway through the season. I get it, because I was actually getting there too. No complaints. No criticisms. I just may have my fill, you know?
That aside, this was a quality series, and if you’re a fan of what’s come before, I’d recommend giving this a shot too. – Ryan Lower