THE AISLE SEAT - by Mike McGranaghan

"BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD SEASON 1 PART 1"

I've been a Batman fan all my life, and the thing I appreciate most about the character as an adult is that he's open to all kinds of creative interpretations. DC and Warner Bros. have been releasing animated Batman DVDs for years, and they've grown progressively darker. The recent Batman: Under the Red Hood disc (which, incidentally, is outstanding) even carried a PG-13 rating. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has now released Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season 1 Part 1, a two-disc collection of 13 episodes from the television series which brings the character back to a more kid-appropriate level while still maintaining all of his integrity.

Improbably but capably voiced by comic actor Diedrich Bader (“The Drew Carey Show”), Batman teams up in each episode with a colleague from the DC universe. Together, they take on an assortment of wildly creative villains in stories designed to capitalize on kids' interests and fascinations. In one episode, Batman joins forces with Plastic Man to fight giant gorillas on an island inhabited by dinosaurs. In other, he unites with Red Tornado and together they battle aliens and evil Christmas toys. Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Wildcat, Deadman, Bronze Tiger, Atom, and Aquaman also make appearances.

The animation is terrific, with brighter colors and slightly more rounded figures than in some of the other recent Batman incarnations, which tended to be dark and angular. There is also an abundance of humor to lighten the more somber tone Batman has taken lately. The emphasis here is on fun – bringing out the heroic side of the Dark Knight and downplaying the tormented side. This is not to say that his backstory has been erased (the murder of his parents is directly referenced in one episode, as is his ongoing sense of loss), but it's handled in a manner that may inspire children rather than unsettling them.

The 13 episodes of Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season 1 Part 1 also have good moral lessons incorporated into them. Themes of teamwork, sacrifice, and forgiveness abound. It is the kind of show that parents and kids can enjoy together, then have something to talk about when it's over. This is a really wonderful DVD for families who enjoy superhero tales. I look forward to future installments.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold Season 1 Part 1 - Own it on DVD. Available now.