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Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Blasts Batman into the Future

© Mariolga Fernandez Locklin

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker ties together the Batman of the Bruce Wayne days and the Batman of tomorrow -- Terry McGinnis. McGinnis is the futuristic Batman of the new T.V. series who works as Bruce Wayne's apprentice, of sorts, taking over the implied role of Robin in Wayne's life, but also taking over Batman's responsibility to keep Gotham safe.

The movie ties up loose ends for fans of both the past and present series. It explains what key element finally forced Bat Girl -- or Barbara Jordan -- to leave crime fighting as a caped crusader and follow in daddy's footsteps. And it explains the reason behind the quick demise of the crime-fighter, Robin. We find out, also, that Harley and the Joker also disappear from the Gotham crime scene at the same time and because of the same reasons as Robin and Bat Girl.

Briefly, a gang of criminals, known as the Jokerz, has set out to steal several pieces of electronics -- several big pieces. They claim the leader of the group is the real Joker. He looks and sounds like the real Joker, but as we find out soon enough, the real Joker definitely, positively died. So who is the leader?

This group, and particularly their leader, is out to destroy several portions of the world at whim. They're not nice guys, to say the least. Among their number, are twin girls known as Dee Dee, and their hot bodies and barely-there clothing is vaguely reminiscent of Harley Quinn, only modernized by removing pieces of clothing -- hence the barely-there look.

In the end, obviously, the hero saves the day, because, really, how could the series continue if all the characters died in an atomic burst? The ending twist is kind of "out there" with the explanation behind the Joker's exhistence (he's the real Joker, but he isn't). But considering the source, and allowing for some poetic license, the ending becomes believable. As a fan, I loved the action and the varying dark moods of the ex-Bat friends; but, as a mom, I would have preferred a more toned-done ending.

To be honest, I was excited when the movie came out. I rented it the very day it was released and we took it home with a pizza and a 2-liter of soda to have our special movie picnic. I watched it as a fan, not as a mother, and didn't even notice the violence and strong sexual undertones. I guess my boys, ages 6 and 3, have already been exposed to those things watching Digimon and Power Rangers at daycare from a young age; but I was shocked that they were so comfortable with those themes.