While most of the latter's upcoming DC movies will be set in the present to maintain a relatively simple chronological order, some projects from the DC Animated Universe are set far into the future, explaining the timeline discrepancies. One such show was Batman Beyond, which debuted a whole subsection of the Batman franchise for the DCAU to explore. In doing so, Bruce Timm and his team created some of the darkest stories in DC animation for the franchise's conclusion.
Although a few tidbits from other shows in the DCAU take place after Batman Beyond, the show's story was the furthest along in the timeline. In this sense, Batman Beyond ended the DC Animated Universe's timeline, with no other shows coming after it. This may have been a reason as to why Batman Beyond went as dark as it did, with Bruce Timm not pulling any punches.
Batman Beyond Takes Place In A Hopeless Future
Batman Beyond is considered the endpoint of the DCAU timeline as it is set in the future, after Bruce Wayne has retired as the titular superhero. This allows Terry McGinnis to take up the mantle, giving the show a rare opportunity to tell some classic Batman stories, but with significant dark twists that change them completely. For instance, the Joker is part of the Batman Beyond timeline, only to be tied massively to Tim Drake, aka Robin, from prior shows.
Tim was both brainwashed to become a version of the Joker and had his mind controlled by the real Joker, making that story much darker than the character's other DCAU appearances. Another somewhat tragic subplot was the reveal that Terry was the biological son of Bruce Wayne, with Amanda Waller having overridden his father's DNA with Bruce's. Moreover, the Justice League that once was had been replaced by a different version that operated under government oversight.
This is all without mentioning characters like Nightwing, whom the Batman Beyond spin-off comics revealed abandoned Gotham and the Bat-Family due to Barbara Gordon having a miscarriage. Many of these plot points prove just how dark Batman Beyond went, with the more muted animation color palette and locations only backing that up.
The DC Animated Universe Ended On A Positive Note
Despite the darkness of Batman Beyond, however, the DC Animated Universe still concluded on a positive note. One of the few installments of the DCAU to take place beyond Batman Beyond in the timeline was the final episode of Justice League Unlimited season 2, titled "Epilogue." This officially rounded off the DCAU's story, despite another season being released after season 2 that takes place before the latter's finale in the timeline.
During this episode, the characters of Batman Beyond came into focus; the reveal that Terry is Bruce's son came in this episode. Although this news makes Terry angry at Bruce, they eventually reconcile, and the former continues to help people as Batman after realising what the hero means to people. Nothing else in the DC Animated Universe takes place beyond this episode, meaning the franchise at least ends on an uplifting note, despite Batman Beyond telling some of the darkest DC stories ever.
Release Date
1999 - 2001-00-00
Network
The WB
Writers
Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Stan Berkowitz, Rich Fogel, Hilary Bader, Bob Goodman, Gerry Conway
English (US) ·