The superhero comic books of Marvel and DC use a static timeline, where no characters permanently age.
That’s what makes “Batman Beyond” so unique; following in the thematic footsteps of “The Dark Knight Returns,” the show depicted a Bruce Wayne who’d aged out of the cowl.
In his place, he trained teenage Terry McGinnis as the new Dark Knight.
The film “Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” even provided a definite end for “Batman: The Animated Series,” showing via flashback the final battle between the original Batman and the Joker; the latter abducts Robin (Tim Drake) and tortures/brainwashes him into “Joker Junior.” Tim ultimately snaps and kills the Joker with his own spear gun.However, the next DC Animated Universe series, “Justice League“/”Justice League Unlimited,” went back to the “present”/contemporary era.
This left the creators constrained by what they established in “Batman Beyond” — or did it?In…
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