Acclaimed screenwriters David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence), and Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series) team up with world-renowned animators and have put together six exciting chapters of the Batman saga that chronicle his transition from beginner crime-fighter to seasoned veteran. Batman: Gotham Knight bridges the gap between 2005's extraordinary Batman Begins and this summer's super blockbuster The Dark Knight, pitting the Batman against such loathesome foes as the Scarecrow, Deadshot, and the gruesome Killer Croc.

As much as I've come to detest anime -- and this is anime, make no mistake -- Batman: Gotham Knight surprised me at every turn with its compelling storylines, terrific voice acting, and action sequences that honestly, for a moment, made me forget I was watching an animated feature. There were also some amazingly smart, fresh takes on the legend of the Batman, reflecting in real time what the caped crusader must look like in different peoples' eyes. The wonderment, the awe, and even fear play into the public's imagining of the dark hero, casting very different lights on the very same character.

Also well-done are the parallels between storylines both past and present. Sure, characters such as Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox are represented well, but finer details like the Narrows, the isolation of the island after the Scarecrow's unleashing of toxic chemicals in Batman Begins, they're all worked into the various storylines within Batman: Gotham Knight and help create a very consistent, cohesive thread through which the viewer travels in these new adventures. I thoroughly enjoyed this new DVD release from Warner Home Video, and I can recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in the ongoing legend of the Batman.

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