The Iconic Opening of Batman: The Animated Series Just Snuck Back Into the DC Universe

Warning: Spoilers for Batman and Robin: Year One #4!DC often plumbs the depths of Batman and Robin's early adventures in its Batman and Robin: Year One series, using the wealth of stories that have come after to inform these crucial early moments in the Dynamic Duo's history. In this instance, that takes the form of concluding a breathtaking fight with a series of panels that evokes the iconic opening of Batman: The Animated Series.

In Batman and Robin: Year One #4 by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, Batman confronts General Anthony Grimaldi about his attempt to stir up a gang war in Gotham. When Grimaldi sics his goons on Batman, Batman tears through the armed men like paper as he makes his way up to the roof to escape.

Batman bursts onto a rooftop being chased by two mobsters armed with pistols.

In two climactic panels, Batman is confronted by two armed men on the rooftop before getting away in a dramatic angled shot. The action and angles used parallel the '90s cartoon's now-legendary intro sequence.

Batman and Robin: Year One Takes Its Cues From the Iconic Cartoon

Batman and Robin: Year One #4 by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Matheus Lopes, and Clayton Cowles

Batman: The Animated Serieshas had a major impact on DC as a whole: not only was the perennial favorite character, Harley Quinn, created for the show, Batman: The Animated Series revitalized heroes and villains alike with its strong writing and spearheaded a shared universe between it and DC's other animated series of the '90s and '00s. The opening to this storied show is equally well-regarded. With its bold color palette and immediately recognizable poses, this minute of Batman thwarting two armed robbers beneath a stark red sky has sparked various homages, references, and parodies across multiple forms of media.

Taking cues from the Batman: The Animated Series intro is an excellent way for Batman and Robin: Year One to demonstrate Batman's skill and strength.

The dramatic escape in the final pages of Batman and Robin: Year One #4 uses the same visual language as the introduction to Batman: The Animated Series. Two mobsters in long coats and hats approach Batman with their pistols held up; Batman himself strikes a dramatic pose upon a rooftop, tilted at an angle. The main difference is that, while the visual language is the same, the action is inverted: in this instance, Batman is being chased by the two criminals, rather than pursuing them, and his dramatic pose is his escape rather than a declaration of triumph.

The Batman: The Animated Series Opening Is Perfect For A Year One Sequence

Batman and Robin: Year One #4 Main Cover by Chris Samnee and Matheus Lopes

Comic book cover: Batman and Robin Dick Grayson stand in front of the Bat-signal. — Batman and Robin Year One 4 Main Cover

Taking cues from the Batman: The Animated Series intro is an excellent way for Batman and Robin: Year One to demonstrate Batman's skill and strength. Year One stories depict a world that still doesn't know Batman very well, while Bruce is in peak physical condition; as such, mimicking a sixty-second clip designed to sell Batman's appeal is the perfect way to portray Year One Batman. So seamlessly do the two scenes flow together that one can easily picture Batman's ascent through Anthony Grimaldi's forces leaping into animation and concluding with the animated series' intro sequence.

Batman and Robin: Year One is a classic Batman adventure, so it's great to see it pulling from classic sources to sell its vision of early Batman. Batman: The Animated Series has earned its place as a major milestone in Batman lore, and it's wonderful to see the comics reference its particular visual style once more. As the conflict between Batman, Robin, and General Grimaldi kicks into high gear, it's great to see that the old Batman: The Animated Seriesinfluence can be seen, still informing the character over three decades later.

Batman and Robin: Year One #4 is available now from DC Comics.