Episode Details

Batman: Knightfall has FINALLY received an animated adaptation! DC's legendary Batman storyline comes to life in Batman: Knightfall Part 1, and we're breaking down the new DC animated movie with a full spoiler review and comparison to the classic Knightfall comic book storyline. In this episode of SuperHero Homies, we discuss the animation, art style, brutal action, Bane, Batman's physical exhaustion, Azrael, Tim Drake, voice acting, pacing, comic book changes and how successfully Knightfall Part 1 condenses one of Batman's biggest stories into an animated movie. Overall? We really enjoyed this one! FULL BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL PART 1 SPOILERS! BATMAN: KNIGHTFALL PART 1 REVIEW Knightfall is one of the most famous Batman stories ever published, and adapting such a massive comic book saga was never going to be easy. Fortunately, Batman: Knightfall Part 1 gets a LOT right. We discuss: • The animation and art style • The brutal action and gore • Batman's deteriorating physical condition • Bane as a physical and psychological threat • Azrael and his introduction • Tim Drake/Robin and the supporting characters • Voice acting and performances • Changes from the original Knightfall comics • The movie's pacing problems • What we're expecting from Knightquest and Part 2 BANE IS A MONSTER One of our biggest highlights is Bane. We've seen plenty of interpretations of Bane across Batman movies, TV, animation, video games and DC Comics, but this might be one of his most vicious portrayals yet. He's intelligent, calculating, physically overwhelming and absolutely BRUTAL. The movie understands what makes the Knightfall version of Bane so dangerous. He doesn't simply want to beat Batman. He wants to systematically destroy him. Watching Batman struggle against exhaustion while Bane's plan unfolds gives the movie a sense of impending doom, even when you know where the story is going. AZRAEL, TIM DRAKE & THE BAT-FAMILY The supporting characters also get opportunities to shine, particularly Tim Drake and Azrael. Azrael's introduction is especially important because the movie needs to establish his character while laying the groundwork for what's coming next. Unfortunately, that's also where one of our biggest criticisms comes in. THE PACING ISN'T PERFECT There's a LOT of story for Knightfall Part 1 to juggle. The movie needs to introduce Azrael, establish Bane's motivations, demonstrate Batman's worsening exhaustion, develop the supporting characters and keep the central plot moving. Sometimes you can feel the movie wrestling with all those spinning plates. Certain developments could have used more breathing room, particularly Azrael's introduction, Bane's motivations and Batman's deteriorating physical condition. Fortunately, everything else works extremely well. KNIGHTFALL MOVIE VS. COMIC How does the animated movie compare to the original Batman: Knightfall comics? The original Knightfall saga is MASSIVE, making a direct adaptation extremely difficult. Instead of attempting to include every subplot, the movie streamlines the material into something much more digestible. We discuss what's changed, what's been condensed, what works better in the comics and what the animated adaptation gets right. Despite our pacing complaints, we think Batman: Knightfall Part 1 is a strong adaptation that understands what made the original comic book storyline special. WHAT'S NEXT? KNIGHTQUEST! Now we're ready for Batman: Knightfall Part 2 and Knightquest. We're especially interested to see how the animated adaptation handles Azrael's evolving role, the fallout from Part 1 and the next stage of the Knightfall saga. If Part 2 can build upon everything that worked here while giving the story more room to breathe, DC could have something special. JOIN THE DISCUSSION What did YOU think of Batman: Knightfall Part 1? Did it live up to the comics? What did you think of Bane? Did Azrael get enough development? What are you hoping to see