Batman is helpless after exposure to a deadly gas by the Penguin. It is up to a few suburban child detectives to keep him safe.
Written by Sam Graham & Chris Hubbell
Directed by Frank Paur
Music by Shirley Walker
Animation Services by Dong Yang Animation Co., LTD.
This episode is probably the most widely reviled episode of not just Batman the Animated Series but the DCAU at large. It’s understandable. The script is basically from an entirely different show. Even from the very beginning with the bizarre heist with the absurdly long claw contraption, glowing egg, and vulture attack. It is emblematic of the production struggles of these early episodes. For all of the valid criticisms there are to be had of this episode, it is not completely at odds with some of the weaker moments we’ve seen from some of these early episodes.
You know this episode has gone off the rails, though, as soon as we see a quiet suburb and a bunch of kids. The way it’s structured to follow these children undermines almost everything about the show and its attempt to ground Batman and his world in genuine drama and gravitas. Then we get a whole bunch of gags with the Batmobile.