Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker (ISBN 0823077179)

Return of the Joker - VERY WELL WRITTEN:
After reading the screenplay for Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, I CANNOT wait for the video. This was VERY well written and explains what happened to the Joker, Harley Quinn & Tim Drake, (Robin), and why the Joker is still around after all this time in a believable and understandable manner. They even explain why Bruce walks with a limp & cane now, (& it's not because he got old either). I hope WB does not edit ONE SECOND of the screenplay as it will do it an injustice. As with the others, I do not want to give out any spoilers but I will say that there are many twists, suspenseful moments and surprises that'll make you want to read it over and over. This is a must read for anyone who follows BB and wanted to know where the rest of the "Batman family" is after all these years. There are a few unanswered questions though like why Bruce stopped being Batman, (though that WAS explained in the very first episode), whatever happened to Nightwing & why Bruce has a costume "tribute" of Harley Quinn, especially after what she & the Joker did...sorry, can't give away any spoilers, (though if you're dying to know, just look at the character drawings in the back of the book to get an idea. That's as close as you'll get from me about a spoiler). However, those minor omissions are more than made up for by the clever & well written plot & story about the rest of the characters. I highly recommend this book for every Batman & Batman Beyond fan.

Not just another stupid kids' cartoon:
When WB first started running ads for "Batman Beyond," I must admit I was skeptical. "Batman: the Animated Series" and its subsequent series had been among my favorite shows, but having a show that was wholeheartedly separate from the Batman canon was a little questionable, in my mind. BTAS had done a few things to ignore the comic story, like eschewing the tragic story of Jason Todd in favor of skipping right to Tim Drake in the line of Robins, but that can be chalked up more to network censorship and showing people what they would want to see (which is not Robin getting beaten to death by the Joker). I was also a little worried the series would go the way of "Extreme Ghostbusters," taking an excellent cartoon with wonderful characters and throwing it away for a cheap grab at a new market. Having said all that: Batman Beyond definitely exceeded my expectations, and this movie went beyond that. The movie format allowed some things to happen that could have never happened in the TV show--the ten minute flashback showing the Joker's torture of Robin, and the terrifying grotesque skeleton's grin forced onto Tim's face as a result. But unlike many attempts, live-action and animated, to delve into the psyche of the Batman both as a hero regardless of who wears the cowl and as the men who have worn the suit, this really hits a home run. Bruce Wayne's motivation for ending his use of a Robin and eventually ending his career as Batman is revealed, as well as his hesitancy to let Terry be Batman at all, let alone be Batman without his supervision from afar. If you could care less about the psychological drama of some guy who dresses up as a bat, the action scenes and smooth flow of the plot provide plenty of entertainment. The "whodunit" aspect is especially played up and detective work, something the Batman has always been known for and that has been sorely lacking from all but the first live-action Batman movie (that's the 1989 one, not the campy 1966 movie or any of the rarely-mentioned 1940s productions), is especially present. Check it out; it's worth renting or owning, with a great story and character development.

Don't shoot yourself in the foot, see the movie first.:
If you haven't yet seen the Batman Beyond movie, Return of the Joker, buy it and watch it now. Go! Shoo! Yes, WB did edit the movie. Yes, it would have been better unedited, assuming you are 11-ish or older. Yes, the movie is still totally 'Schway'. It rocks! Buy it! Now! Great art, nice music, tight like a drum story. What I did? I bought the movie and this book, which is the _UNEDITED_ screenplay. I watched the movie, then read this book to see the difference. Slight, but noticeable. The models in the back were a nice touch- needed more Dee-Dee pictures. ;-) How come there aren't Dee-Dee action figures? I want them.

IT's Not a comic:
This book is actually the screen play for the film. It is not a comic book. If you are looking for the actual comic, look elsewhere.

Edited, but still very good.:
The only thing that keeps me from giving this movie the full 5 stars is my disappointment at WB's decision to tone it down before release. The action and plot development are more intense than they regularly dared in the televised shows, and all things considered, it is very good, despite the fact that I know it would have been so much more. One warning, however. I made the mistake of checking out the extras first, and it ruined the surprise at the end. A definite must for animated bat-fans.