In the late 80s, Batman got a retro makeover in an attempt to get back to his roots after so many different incarnations - including the campy television version of the 60s and the low-budget Saturday morning cartoons of the 70s. The catalyst was a novel written in 1986 called The Dark Knight Returns - which offered a darker edged, moodier version of the caped crusader that harkened back to his earlier comic book years. The new look stuck and soon a very popular movie would be released in 1989, followed by a successful sequel in 1992 – Batman and Batman Returns. The public liked the new/old Batman and Warner Brothers decided to offer an animated series that better reflected the masked guy’s makeover.

With sinister shadows and a decidedly more angular look, this new look, dubbed “dark deco” emerged in the animated world as Batman: The Animated Series. The story was the same – young Bruce Wayne embarks on a life of gadgetry-enhanced crime fighting after witnessing the murder of his parents by merciless thugs. Enormously wealthy now, he creates a suit and a batcave and a batmobile and sets out to rid Gotham City of its criminal elements.

All the familiar favorites were there, both good and evil. Alfred the butler, Police Commissioner Gordon, Batgirl and a young Dick Grayson, better known as Robin, fought the good fight against old enemies such as The Joker, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, and many others, each with their own diabolical plans.

Audiences proved fond of the new makeover and found the new and dark animated series right up their alley. By 1994, the show was re-titled The Adventures of Batman and Robin and would stick around for a total of 85 action-packed episodes. Meanwhile, numerous sequels with numerous actors in the starring role would continue being produced well into the next decade, all with the same dark look from yesteryear that seemed to better suit Batman than those campy 60s shows.