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I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series
A narrative history of the popular television show The Animated Series, including exclusive interviews and never-before-shared stories from the making of the series.
At a time when televised cartoons—especially within the superhero genre—were often over-looked, The Animated Series introduced an entire generation of soon-to-be Batman fanatics to the caped crusader. The series triumphed into what is largely considered one of the best superhero cartoons of all time, and the best depiction of Batman mythology in any format.
But the road to genre-defying and genre-defining success was hardly guaranteed. Along the way, co-creator Bruce Timm and his team of artists at Warner Bros Animation battled a landscape prejudiced against all things Batman. Internal struggles led the writing team and the network to debate everything (literally everything) about how best to depict Batman—from whether or not the eco-friendly hero would have a recycling bin in the Batcave to how many women he was allowed to kiss onscreen.
In I Am the Night, Daniel Dockery lovingly deep dives into The Animated Series and the cartoon renaissance it inspired, becoming the definitive primary source for new and old fans of the series alike. Including exclusive interviews with the team behind the cartoon and many never-before-shared insights about the series, I Am the Night will surprise even the staunchest of Batman enthusiasts and capture what made people first fall in love with the series. As many ups and downs as the DC Cinematic Universe may have, Batman is eternal–and so is The Animated Series.
At a time when televised cartoons—especially within the superhero genre—were often over-looked, The Animated Series introduced an entire generation of soon-to-be Batman fanatics to the caped crusader. The series triumphed into what is largely considered one of the best superhero cartoons of all time, and the best depiction of Batman mythology in any format.
But the road to genre-defying and genre-defining success was hardly guaranteed. Along the way, co-creator Bruce Timm and his team of artists at Warner Bros Animation battled a landscape prejudiced against all things Batman. Internal struggles led the writing team and the network to debate everything (literally everything) about how best to depict Batman—from whether or not the eco-friendly hero would have a recycling bin in the Batcave to how many women he was allowed to kiss onscreen.
In I Am the Night, Daniel Dockery lovingly deep dives into The Animated Series and the cartoon renaissance it inspired, becoming the definitive primary source for new and old fans of the series alike. Including exclusive interviews with the team behind the cartoon and many never-before-shared insights about the series, I Am the Night will surprise even the staunchest of Batman enthusiasts and capture what made people first fall in love with the series. As many ups and downs as the DC Cinematic Universe may have, Batman is eternal–and so is The Animated Series.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 18, 2026
This book was so interesting and definitely well researched. There was so much new information that I hadn't ever read before, which, granted, I haven't actually spent that much time reading on the history of Batman, but I am also not new to the show or anything. However, I was disappointed that there weren't any photos included in the book. It's possible that may just be having to do with it being an advanced Kindle copy, but even with that, those usually include the photos. Possibly just didn't want to pay for the rights, though, since it's not in the public domain yet?
Still, would definitely recommend.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Still, would definitely recommend.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Read
May 9, 2026A bit scattered. I have a bone-deep attachment to this show. I probably know everything there is to know about it. So my disappointment in its level of behind-the-scenes detail should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I do believe more could have been done to center its focus. I felt like a lot of attention was drawn away from the show and the making of it to focus on the other cartoons that were in its orbit at the time it was airing. There's certainly plenty of value in looking at how those shows were informed by BTAS but I do sort of wish more of this book had been focused on the nuts and bolts of the series. Not having any direct comments from Bruce Timm, one of the two lead creators and arguably the true face of the series and all its spinoffs, also hurts its claims as the "ultimate" history of BTAS. That said, I did enjoy taking the journey and hearing new thoughts from some of the artists who helped create this iconic show.
March 15, 2026
This book was enjoyable on many levels. The first is the most obvious: Batman. Specifically, 1990s Batman. Revisiting the fun of that decade where Batman T-shirts were more prevalent than NASA ones was a joy. The first time I attempted to write a novel was in the early 90s and featured Batman and Catwoman. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was on the fringes of a Boom! that was largely playing out on the west coast.
Second, and my favorite part of the book, was the inside view of the creative talents that came together to create Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS). It's one thing to enjoy the show and even chase down action figures in rural Wal-Marts (done and done), but it's another to understand the alchemy that happened when a select number of people came together with story ideas, cinematic references, a desire to do something different, and enough autonomy to not have someone looking over their shoulders saying they couldn't do what they set out to do. Names I knew from watching the credits of BTAS and subsequent versions of animated Batman shows came alive, and there's something about seeing how things played out that is inspiring. After finishing the book, I headed over to YouTube and rewatched Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (both 1&2) and marveled at the art direction and the story telling.
I have an unusual comp to suggest: Let's Call Her Barbie. It's historical fiction, but similarly to I AM THE NIGHT, it follows the challenges Ruth Handler faced while conceiving of and launching Barbie. The creative journeys felt the same, so, depending on your interests, you may like that book too.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
Second, and my favorite part of the book, was the inside view of the creative talents that came together to create Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS). It's one thing to enjoy the show and even chase down action figures in rural Wal-Marts (done and done), but it's another to understand the alchemy that happened when a select number of people came together with story ideas, cinematic references, a desire to do something different, and enough autonomy to not have someone looking over their shoulders saying they couldn't do what they set out to do. Names I knew from watching the credits of BTAS and subsequent versions of animated Batman shows came alive, and there's something about seeing how things played out that is inspiring. After finishing the book, I headed over to YouTube and rewatched Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (both 1&2) and marveled at the art direction and the story telling.
I have an unusual comp to suggest: Let's Call Her Barbie. It's historical fiction, but similarly to I AM THE NIGHT, it follows the challenges Ruth Handler faced while conceiving of and launching Barbie. The creative journeys felt the same, so, depending on your interests, you may like that book too.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
September 18, 2026
Lots of Nostalgia and Production Details
(Once again) It's weird to read history that you we're alive for.
I was there, I was watching the show with other 20 somethings, but reading it here seems like it happened in a different country and my friends & I just got the import version.
I knew the basics of this story, but there's a lot here I didn't know.
But the author did not exaggerate how ground breaking this was in American animation. This show was blowing everyone away, and then it got better.
The writing in this book starts out rough, but gets better as it goes.
(Once again) It's weird to read history that you we're alive for.
I was there, I was watching the show with other 20 somethings, but reading it here seems like it happened in a different country and my friends & I just got the import version.
I knew the basics of this story, but there's a lot here I didn't know.
But the author did not exaggerate how ground breaking this was in American animation. This show was blowing everyone away, and then it got better.
The writing in this book starts out rough, but gets better as it goes.
September 16, 2026
My second by Daniel Dockery - for a fair disclosure, Daniel is my irl friend. I also enjoyed his previous book, Monster Kids, about the era of popular 'monster collecting' anime shows and games like Pokemon, Digimon, etc.
I Am The Night is a lovingly-researched nonfiction story about the creation of the seminal Batman: The Animated Series cartoon in the 1990s, considered by many comic book aficionados as one of the finest, if not the finest, iterations of DC's Batman character on the screen (big or small). Before Daniel wrote this book, I knew he wanted to write about Batman - I think originally he had wanted to tackle Batman Forever and perhaps even as specific a topic as the surprisingly-important decision by McDonalds regarding the merchandising Happy Meal tie-ins for that film, but that idea it looks like ultimately morphed into this book. That's not to say you won't learn about Batman Forever and the Happy Meals fiasco, but you'll learn about a lot of other things, too.
For me personally, my experience with Batman: The Animated Series is fond memories of seeing the show sometimes as a kid on television. I like superhero stuff decently well but I'm kind of burned out on superhero blockbusters by now and I try to stay out of the discourse. As someone who only really had vague recollections of the show, it was great to have this deep dive into the histories of all of the artists involved in bringing it to life - the writers, showrunners, animators, and voice actors, among others. Daniel also provides a lot of context by giving you brief asides into other shows the talent had worked on, other series that were competing with or inspired by B:TAS, and other visions of Batman, from the DC comics originals to live-action television and blockbuster films. I got a kick out of the section where he discusses Freakazoid, and it was interesting to learn about Gargoyles, which is a show that completely missed me because I was never, at any time in my life, a Disney Channel person.
Daniel's exploration of this piece of prime 1990s pop culture is detailed but never fawning - he doesn't shy away from elements of the show that weren't up to the normal standard, or times when there were artistic or personal disagreements. I think he strikes a great balance between a clear love of the source material and a willingness to see it for what it is, rather than some sacrosanct fanboy artifact - there are a lot of documentaries and books both these days exploring pop culture of decades past that often feel like they just amount to a lot of talking heads saying "Man, I LOVED that when I was a kid", so it's great to see some deeper and more thoughtful analysis than that. Nostalgia is a potent social and cultural force these days but I definitely prefer the feeling of looking back on your childhood as an adult as opposed to trying to relive your childhood.
Great work, Daniel! Can't wait to read your next one about [REDACTED]!
I Am The Night is a lovingly-researched nonfiction story about the creation of the seminal Batman: The Animated Series cartoon in the 1990s, considered by many comic book aficionados as one of the finest, if not the finest, iterations of DC's Batman character on the screen (big or small). Before Daniel wrote this book, I knew he wanted to write about Batman - I think originally he had wanted to tackle Batman Forever and perhaps even as specific a topic as the surprisingly-important decision by McDonalds regarding the merchandising Happy Meal tie-ins for that film, but that idea it looks like ultimately morphed into this book. That's not to say you won't learn about Batman Forever and the Happy Meals fiasco, but you'll learn about a lot of other things, too.
For me personally, my experience with Batman: The Animated Series is fond memories of seeing the show sometimes as a kid on television. I like superhero stuff decently well but I'm kind of burned out on superhero blockbusters by now and I try to stay out of the discourse. As someone who only really had vague recollections of the show, it was great to have this deep dive into the histories of all of the artists involved in bringing it to life - the writers, showrunners, animators, and voice actors, among others. Daniel also provides a lot of context by giving you brief asides into other shows the talent had worked on, other series that were competing with or inspired by B:TAS, and other visions of Batman, from the DC comics originals to live-action television and blockbuster films. I got a kick out of the section where he discusses Freakazoid, and it was interesting to learn about Gargoyles, which is a show that completely missed me because I was never, at any time in my life, a Disney Channel person.
Daniel's exploration of this piece of prime 1990s pop culture is detailed but never fawning - he doesn't shy away from elements of the show that weren't up to the normal standard, or times when there were artistic or personal disagreements. I think he strikes a great balance between a clear love of the source material and a willingness to see it for what it is, rather than some sacrosanct fanboy artifact - there are a lot of documentaries and books both these days exploring pop culture of decades past that often feel like they just amount to a lot of talking heads saying "Man, I LOVED that when I was a kid", so it's great to see some deeper and more thoughtful analysis than that. Nostalgia is a potent social and cultural force these days but I definitely prefer the feeling of looking back on your childhood as an adult as opposed to trying to relive your childhood.
Great work, Daniel! Can't wait to read your next one about [REDACTED]!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When my mom handed me an advance copy of I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series, I was very intrigued and excited for her to read it so I could have an excuse to show her a cartoon I think is very, very good.
Then she told me I was going to be the one reading it and writing the review, and I was even more intrigued.
Fast-forward a few months, and I decided I should probably actually do the reading and review before the book is published.
Maybe it was a long time coming, but since I’m finishing it so close to the release date, perhaps the book will stick in people’s minds a little better.
Before talking about Daniel Dockery’s book, though, I think it’s important to talk about Batman: The Animated Series itself and why this cartoon about Batman deserves an “ultimate unauthorized history” in the first place.
Batman: The Animated Series is one of the most beloved pieces of Batman media ever made, and for good reason. A lot of people consider it the definitive incarnation of Batman, or at least one of the best. The series took decades of Batman comic-book history, pulled out the best parts of Batman and his rogues gallery, stripped away some of the messy continuity that naturally comes from decades of rewrites and reinterpretations, and created versions of these characters that felt definitive.
In fact, some of those versions became the jumping-off point for practically every incarnation that came afterward.
Add the striking animation, memorable score and incredibly talented voice cast, and Batman: The Animated Series really was a show that did it all. My own favorite episode is “Beware the Gray Ghost,” which features Adam West as Simon Trent, an actor who played the childhood television hero who inspired Bruce Wayne. It’s a great example of how the series could respect Batman’s history while also creating something new from it.
That’s what makes I Am the Night such an interesting read.
Dockery doesn’t just tell the story of how Batman: The Animated Series was made. He gives context for what animation and superhero television looked like at the time. Superhero cartoons were often treated as cheap entertainment designed mostly to sell toys to children. Then came the Batman mania surrounding Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, which helped create the circumstances that eventually gave us Batman: The Animated Series.
The book introduces the huge collection of talented people who made the show what it was, including Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and many others. One of the things I appreciated is that it doesn’t act like one or two famous people were responsible for everything. A lot of different voices went into making this show as good as it was, and they get their time to shine here.
The book also expands beyond Batman to discuss contemporary animated shows like X-Men, Spider-Man and Disney’s Gargoyles, including some of the people who worked across these different series. It looks at what these shows had in common, what made them different, and how Batman: The Animated Series helped prove that animated superhero stories could be sophisticated, atmospheric and genuinely good television.
Most importantly, it explores the enormous impact the series left behind. Batman: The Animated Series eventually helped pave the way for the DC Animated Universe and an entire generation of DC shows in the late ’90s and 2000s. Its influence on Batman in particular is almost impossible to separate from the character today.
But no good story is beyond its criticisms.
The book can be a little all over the place. Sometimes a chapter seems to lose sight of its original point, and occasionally the chapters themselves don’t seem to have a particularly strong theme connecting everything being discussed. There are moments when the book seems to stop and say, essentially, “Here is another interesting thing I know.”
There are also a lot of parentheses.
Several times I would get to another little aside in parentheses and wonder, How was this relevant to the overall story?
Although, to be fair, if I were writing a book about my favorite cartoon and had some tiny piece of trivia that I desperately needed everyone else to know, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop myself from putting it in either. I understand, but if I think it’s unnecessary, I’m still going to say it’s unnecessary.
Overall, though, I Am the Night is a fascinating history of a show that deserves this level of attention. If you absolutely love Batman: The Animated Series—or even if you just recognize that it is one of the best incarnations of Batman ever created—I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery publishes September 1, 2026.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending my mom the advanced reading copy—and apparently making me her guest reviewer, it makes me feel like an extra special snowflake indeed.
—Henry
Then she told me I was going to be the one reading it and writing the review, and I was even more intrigued.
Fast-forward a few months, and I decided I should probably actually do the reading and review before the book is published.
Maybe it was a long time coming, but since I’m finishing it so close to the release date, perhaps the book will stick in people’s minds a little better.
Before talking about Daniel Dockery’s book, though, I think it’s important to talk about Batman: The Animated Series itself and why this cartoon about Batman deserves an “ultimate unauthorized history” in the first place.
Batman: The Animated Series is one of the most beloved pieces of Batman media ever made, and for good reason. A lot of people consider it the definitive incarnation of Batman, or at least one of the best. The series took decades of Batman comic-book history, pulled out the best parts of Batman and his rogues gallery, stripped away some of the messy continuity that naturally comes from decades of rewrites and reinterpretations, and created versions of these characters that felt definitive.
In fact, some of those versions became the jumping-off point for practically every incarnation that came afterward.
Add the striking animation, memorable score and incredibly talented voice cast, and Batman: The Animated Series really was a show that did it all. My own favorite episode is “Beware the Gray Ghost,” which features Adam West as Simon Trent, an actor who played the childhood television hero who inspired Bruce Wayne. It’s a great example of how the series could respect Batman’s history while also creating something new from it.
That’s what makes I Am the Night such an interesting read.
Dockery doesn’t just tell the story of how Batman: The Animated Series was made. He gives context for what animation and superhero television looked like at the time. Superhero cartoons were often treated as cheap entertainment designed mostly to sell toys to children. Then came the Batman mania surrounding Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, which helped create the circumstances that eventually gave us Batman: The Animated Series.
The book introduces the huge collection of talented people who made the show what it was, including Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini and many others. One of the things I appreciated is that it doesn’t act like one or two famous people were responsible for everything. A lot of different voices went into making this show as good as it was, and they get their time to shine here.
The book also expands beyond Batman to discuss contemporary animated shows like X-Men, Spider-Man and Disney’s Gargoyles, including some of the people who worked across these different series. It looks at what these shows had in common, what made them different, and how Batman: The Animated Series helped prove that animated superhero stories could be sophisticated, atmospheric and genuinely good television.
Most importantly, it explores the enormous impact the series left behind. Batman: The Animated Series eventually helped pave the way for the DC Animated Universe and an entire generation of DC shows in the late ’90s and 2000s. Its influence on Batman in particular is almost impossible to separate from the character today.
But no good story is beyond its criticisms.
The book can be a little all over the place. Sometimes a chapter seems to lose sight of its original point, and occasionally the chapters themselves don’t seem to have a particularly strong theme connecting everything being discussed. There are moments when the book seems to stop and say, essentially, “Here is another interesting thing I know.”
There are also a lot of parentheses.
Several times I would get to another little aside in parentheses and wonder, How was this relevant to the overall story?
Although, to be fair, if I were writing a book about my favorite cartoon and had some tiny piece of trivia that I desperately needed everyone else to know, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop myself from putting it in either. I understand, but if I think it’s unnecessary, I’m still going to say it’s unnecessary.
Overall, though, I Am the Night is a fascinating history of a show that deserves this level of attention. If you absolutely love Batman: The Animated Series—or even if you just recognize that it is one of the best incarnations of Batman ever created—I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery publishes September 1, 2026.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending my mom the advanced reading copy—and apparently making me her guest reviewer, it makes me feel like an extra special snowflake indeed.
—Henry
September 21, 2026
There are multiple ways to enter reading
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series
. Die hard BTAS fans, those who have seen a few episodes, and those sheltered people like myself who have never seen an episode. I know, depressing, right? But as someone who only has select knowledge of the series, I Am the Night by Daniel Dockery was a grand exploration of the show that pushed me even more to watch the series in its entirety.
At a time when televised cartoons―especially within the superhero genre―were often over-looked, Batman: The Animated Series introduced an entire generation of soon-to-be Batman fanatics to the caped crusader. The series triumphed into what is largely considered one of the best superhero cartoons of all time, and the best depiction of Batman mythology in any format.
But the road to genre-defying and genre-defining success was hardly guaranteed. Along the way, co-creator Bruce Timm and his team of artists at Warner Bros Animation battled a landscape that was often antithetical to their aims with Batman. Internal struggles led the writing team and the network to debate everything (literally everything) about how best to depict Batman―from whether or not the eco-friendly hero would have a recycling bin in the Batcave to how many women he was allowed to kiss onscreen.
Growing up in the 1990s I was a fan of animated superhero television, but my attention was on X-Men: The Animated Series rather than the Batman: The Animated Series. Without having seen an episode of BTAS, I do know that it is truly the definitive animated comic book show of my generation, if not ever. Even though I was a huge fan of the X-Men series, over the years it has been widely known that DC has had a foothold on the animated side of comics over Marvel . So I have been planning to watch BTAS, just never got around to it, but you know what helped nudge me forward, I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series .
I Am the Night is a narrative history of the popular television program, but also touches on those shows to shape BTAS and the world of animation in the 1990s. Dockery doesn't dive super deep, but deep enough into X-Men, Gargoyles, the other DC animated shows, as well as kicks things off discussing other Warner Bros. animated tv shows that helped get BTAS even on the air. Dockery provides exclusive discussions and some behind-the-scenes insights that has never been shared.
As Batman: The Animated Series features Batman, who would've thought?, Dockery also touches on the 1989 Batman film as well as its sequels to give us a glimpse of where the studios where going and why things went the way they did. This made for more of a deeper discussion on Batman on screen as a whole during this era, not just BTAS. What outside factors also attributed to the success or failure of projects, episodes, or storylines that I had no idea about in the first place. As a non-viewer of the show, my viewing experience (starting this week) will be a bit different knowing what went into making the show outside of physically writing, animating, and acting.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series is an outstanding source for those biggest Batman fans as well as those just getting started with BTAS. Daniel Dockery dives right into the world of BTAS and what it took to make what has been one of the most definitive animated comic book shows of all-time. Dockery tells the story behind the story, giving even more credence to what has become a historic cartoon series and films.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series is available at bookstores everywhere from St. Martin's Press. The audiobook, narrated by Tim Campbell, is available via Libro.fm!
At a time when televised cartoons―especially within the superhero genre―were often over-looked, Batman: The Animated Series introduced an entire generation of soon-to-be Batman fanatics to the caped crusader. The series triumphed into what is largely considered one of the best superhero cartoons of all time, and the best depiction of Batman mythology in any format.
But the road to genre-defying and genre-defining success was hardly guaranteed. Along the way, co-creator Bruce Timm and his team of artists at Warner Bros Animation battled a landscape that was often antithetical to their aims with Batman. Internal struggles led the writing team and the network to debate everything (literally everything) about how best to depict Batman―from whether or not the eco-friendly hero would have a recycling bin in the Batcave to how many women he was allowed to kiss onscreen.
Growing up in the 1990s I was a fan of animated superhero television, but my attention was on X-Men: The Animated Series rather than the Batman: The Animated Series. Without having seen an episode of BTAS, I do know that it is truly the definitive animated comic book show of my generation, if not ever. Even though I was a huge fan of the X-Men series, over the years it has been widely known that DC has had a foothold on the animated side of comics over Marvel . So I have been planning to watch BTAS, just never got around to it, but you know what helped nudge me forward, I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series .
I Am the Night is a narrative history of the popular television program, but also touches on those shows to shape BTAS and the world of animation in the 1990s. Dockery doesn't dive super deep, but deep enough into X-Men, Gargoyles, the other DC animated shows, as well as kicks things off discussing other Warner Bros. animated tv shows that helped get BTAS even on the air. Dockery provides exclusive discussions and some behind-the-scenes insights that has never been shared.
As Batman: The Animated Series features Batman, who would've thought?, Dockery also touches on the 1989 Batman film as well as its sequels to give us a glimpse of where the studios where going and why things went the way they did. This made for more of a deeper discussion on Batman on screen as a whole during this era, not just BTAS. What outside factors also attributed to the success or failure of projects, episodes, or storylines that I had no idea about in the first place. As a non-viewer of the show, my viewing experience (starting this week) will be a bit different knowing what went into making the show outside of physically writing, animating, and acting.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series is an outstanding source for those biggest Batman fans as well as those just getting started with BTAS. Daniel Dockery dives right into the world of BTAS and what it took to make what has been one of the most definitive animated comic book shows of all-time. Dockery tells the story behind the story, giving even more credence to what has become a historic cartoon series and films.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series is available at bookstores everywhere from St. Martin's Press. The audiobook, narrated by Tim Campbell, is available via Libro.fm!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this look at the creation and legacy of one of the best animated adaptations of a character ever, one that told stories that reached high, developed real characters out of paper thin villains, and crafted a legacy that is still drawn on today, in both animated, live action and even in comics.
My Grandmother was my connection to comics growing up, and I guess my Nan was a big fan of Marvel. I received the occasional Superman, even a Justice League, but never any Batman comics. As such I had no real ties to the character. I knew the TV show, on constant repeat on channel 5 in New York, but it was fun, never something I became a real fan of. That changed when I bought a bunch of comics at a flea market. Included were the Batman stories featuring the Underworld Olympics, a crime sporting event set in Gotham. That story blew my little mind. The Batman was dark, people died, crimes were committed, and punishment dealt out in fists. I began to look for Batman stories and found a rich collection, almost schizophrenic in a way, crime, Batmites, aliens. I liked the, but I liked the grounded character, even with the weird villains. That's why Batman:The Animated Series hit me so hard. Dark, brooding, but with real characters, real emotions. Everything I knew comics were capable of, but the Big Two were afraid to try. I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery is the origin story of a show, coming at the right time, the right place, with the right creators, a show that casts a shadow over the animated and live actions movies that have followed, and one few have come close too.
A city lit only by blimp light. An explosion, thieves in the darkness, a fight on a roof. A flash of lightening, divine justice in the form of a man, a detective, a warrior, and a man dealing with grief. I remember first seeing that and knowing this was going to be a show. I was not wrong. Tim Burton's Batman had broken box offices, and made superheroes, especially Dark Knights, cool. And worth a lot of money. A cartoon, one to keep interest up in the time between movies, was decided on. At the same time Children's television was going through a lot of changes. In addition a new television channel needed product. And Warner Bros., the owners of Batman loved money. Add in a group of creators with a love of animation, of Batman, classic films, and changing the way cartoons were viewed, and magic happened, a rare magic without much studio influence, and with the help of a surprising character in Steven Speilberg. Dockery goes into the origins of the show, discussing what was happening in TV, and entertainment. Dockery looks at the creators, Bruce Timm, who gave the design aspect, and Allen Burnett, who edited and shaped the stories that are still discussed today. Dockery looks at the music, the problems with animation, and of course the casting of the voice that made the images real to so many. Along with the rich history and legacy that still show in many animated shows today.
A book not only about Batman, but about the shows that became so important to many a child, now a sad adult in a darker world. Dockery examines again the perfect storm that helped the show be created. the need for content, the power of creators at one point, and a studio so eager to land a big budget director that there was little interference, of even notes. Or if there were, were ignored. My only gripe was the chapter length. Sections went on and on, where a break would have been welcome. That is a small complaint in a book that covers much. One can tell Dockery did a lot of research. The book is loaded with interviews, lots of different cast members, creators, and even fans. Dockery looks at the studio system of animation, the creating of music, and how certain characters transcended their lives in comics, becoming more important, and critical to the Batman myth.
A really well done book about an important cartoon, that really is the top of what a cartoon can do. Great characters, great design, plots that still hold up, and in fact have become part of comic lore. A book for fans, especially Batman fans.
My Grandmother was my connection to comics growing up, and I guess my Nan was a big fan of Marvel. I received the occasional Superman, even a Justice League, but never any Batman comics. As such I had no real ties to the character. I knew the TV show, on constant repeat on channel 5 in New York, but it was fun, never something I became a real fan of. That changed when I bought a bunch of comics at a flea market. Included were the Batman stories featuring the Underworld Olympics, a crime sporting event set in Gotham. That story blew my little mind. The Batman was dark, people died, crimes were committed, and punishment dealt out in fists. I began to look for Batman stories and found a rich collection, almost schizophrenic in a way, crime, Batmites, aliens. I liked the, but I liked the grounded character, even with the weird villains. That's why Batman:The Animated Series hit me so hard. Dark, brooding, but with real characters, real emotions. Everything I knew comics were capable of, but the Big Two were afraid to try. I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery is the origin story of a show, coming at the right time, the right place, with the right creators, a show that casts a shadow over the animated and live actions movies that have followed, and one few have come close too.
A city lit only by blimp light. An explosion, thieves in the darkness, a fight on a roof. A flash of lightening, divine justice in the form of a man, a detective, a warrior, and a man dealing with grief. I remember first seeing that and knowing this was going to be a show. I was not wrong. Tim Burton's Batman had broken box offices, and made superheroes, especially Dark Knights, cool. And worth a lot of money. A cartoon, one to keep interest up in the time between movies, was decided on. At the same time Children's television was going through a lot of changes. In addition a new television channel needed product. And Warner Bros., the owners of Batman loved money. Add in a group of creators with a love of animation, of Batman, classic films, and changing the way cartoons were viewed, and magic happened, a rare magic without much studio influence, and with the help of a surprising character in Steven Speilberg. Dockery goes into the origins of the show, discussing what was happening in TV, and entertainment. Dockery looks at the creators, Bruce Timm, who gave the design aspect, and Allen Burnett, who edited and shaped the stories that are still discussed today. Dockery looks at the music, the problems with animation, and of course the casting of the voice that made the images real to so many. Along with the rich history and legacy that still show in many animated shows today.
A book not only about Batman, but about the shows that became so important to many a child, now a sad adult in a darker world. Dockery examines again the perfect storm that helped the show be created. the need for content, the power of creators at one point, and a studio so eager to land a big budget director that there was little interference, of even notes. Or if there were, were ignored. My only gripe was the chapter length. Sections went on and on, where a break would have been welcome. That is a small complaint in a book that covers much. One can tell Dockery did a lot of research. The book is loaded with interviews, lots of different cast members, creators, and even fans. Dockery looks at the studio system of animation, the creating of music, and how certain characters transcended their lives in comics, becoming more important, and critical to the Batman myth.
A really well done book about an important cartoon, that really is the top of what a cartoon can do. Great characters, great design, plots that still hold up, and in fact have become part of comic lore. A book for fans, especially Batman fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To describe Daniel Dockery’s I Am the Night in one sentence, it’s a biography of Batman: The Animated Series, with the tone and structure of an episode of VH1’s Behind the Music covering a band that was as successful as it was unstable, with members coming, going, and coming home again.
From the very get-go, Dockery’s approach to the material reflects an understanding that a younger writer might fail to recognize: that to understand BTAS requires an understanding of the state of American TV animation, and American media as a whole, during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
For those not old enough to have lived through that era, kid-centric media in the early ‘90s was a complex tension between synergies and the desperate need to discover the next big thing. Even as TV advertisements and school playgrounds were ground zero for endless debates about Mario versus Sonic, Street Fighter versus Mortal Kombat, and yes, Batman versus Superman, behind the scenes, the media ecosystem was far more incestuous.
Early on, Dockery quotes BTAS producer and writer Alan Burnett’s succinct description of the homogeneity of Disney’s ever-changing and yet unvarying collection of animated shows under the Disney Afternoon umbrella, “fur and feathers,” and describes how they were a response to ebbing popularity of the action-adventure, action-figure-centric shows of the 1980s.
In that moment, TV animation was ruled by the warring and yet in many ways similar empires centered around Disney’s and Warner Brothers’ cohort of fuzzy and feathered characters, with animators—some with memories stretching back to Disney’s Nine Old Men—and writers moving back and forth between the two, even as they yearned for something with a little more heft, which they were soon to have fall into their collective lap.
By exploring this environment, Dockery effectively sets the stage for Batman to make a superhero’s first entrance into meaningful, artful, dramatic animated storytelling since Dave Fleischer’s Superman cartoons 50 years prior.
I’m dancing around the book’s focus, BTAS, because I would rather give a sense of how it feels, than regurgitate the facts and stories I found most interesting. That would be doing it a disservice. To cut to the chase: If you’re interested in Batman: The Animated series, or Batman, or superheroes, or animation, or any exanimation of how the creative sausage gets made, you’ll want to read this book.
Dockery pulls from literally hundreds of interviews with dozens of people involved in BTAS’ development, production, design, animation, writing, and voicework to tell the story of the series. This is likely the book’s greatest strength and weakness. He manages to dredge up myriad details from obscure interviews, many long out-of-print or lost to digital rot, and provide details, stories, and context not available in any previous comprehensive discussion of the series. But at the same time, weaving together so many individual threads results in a tapestry that can be discordant and uneven at times. Occasionally, Dockery steps back from the story to discuss BATS’ most beloved, underappreciated, and notorious episodes. He more than deserves the opportunity to fanboy a bit and get into the weeds. But it adds to the book’s unevenness.
However, you can’t help but love Dockery for giving into the temptation to tell particularly weird and offbeat stories. One of the weirdest comes near the end, and involves Steven Spielberg’s participation in the production of the short-lived series Freakazoid!. I won’t spoil it here, but it’s a nice illustration of how constraints fuel creativity, and too much power and access can result in some serious weirdness.
I would love it if Dockery someday gets the opportunity to develop an episode-by-episode guide for the series, heavy with scene stills, sketches, character designs, and the background details that didn’t merit mention in I Am The Night’s overarching story. That’s a coffee table book I would read in a heartbeat.
In the meantime, I Am The Night is more than worth the ride.
From the very get-go, Dockery’s approach to the material reflects an understanding that a younger writer might fail to recognize: that to understand BTAS requires an understanding of the state of American TV animation, and American media as a whole, during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
For those not old enough to have lived through that era, kid-centric media in the early ‘90s was a complex tension between synergies and the desperate need to discover the next big thing. Even as TV advertisements and school playgrounds were ground zero for endless debates about Mario versus Sonic, Street Fighter versus Mortal Kombat, and yes, Batman versus Superman, behind the scenes, the media ecosystem was far more incestuous.
Early on, Dockery quotes BTAS producer and writer Alan Burnett’s succinct description of the homogeneity of Disney’s ever-changing and yet unvarying collection of animated shows under the Disney Afternoon umbrella, “fur and feathers,” and describes how they were a response to ebbing popularity of the action-adventure, action-figure-centric shows of the 1980s.
In that moment, TV animation was ruled by the warring and yet in many ways similar empires centered around Disney’s and Warner Brothers’ cohort of fuzzy and feathered characters, with animators—some with memories stretching back to Disney’s Nine Old Men—and writers moving back and forth between the two, even as they yearned for something with a little more heft, which they were soon to have fall into their collective lap.
By exploring this environment, Dockery effectively sets the stage for Batman to make a superhero’s first entrance into meaningful, artful, dramatic animated storytelling since Dave Fleischer’s Superman cartoons 50 years prior.
I’m dancing around the book’s focus, BTAS, because I would rather give a sense of how it feels, than regurgitate the facts and stories I found most interesting. That would be doing it a disservice. To cut to the chase: If you’re interested in Batman: The Animated series, or Batman, or superheroes, or animation, or any exanimation of how the creative sausage gets made, you’ll want to read this book.
Dockery pulls from literally hundreds of interviews with dozens of people involved in BTAS’ development, production, design, animation, writing, and voicework to tell the story of the series. This is likely the book’s greatest strength and weakness. He manages to dredge up myriad details from obscure interviews, many long out-of-print or lost to digital rot, and provide details, stories, and context not available in any previous comprehensive discussion of the series. But at the same time, weaving together so many individual threads results in a tapestry that can be discordant and uneven at times. Occasionally, Dockery steps back from the story to discuss BATS’ most beloved, underappreciated, and notorious episodes. He more than deserves the opportunity to fanboy a bit and get into the weeds. But it adds to the book’s unevenness.
However, you can’t help but love Dockery for giving into the temptation to tell particularly weird and offbeat stories. One of the weirdest comes near the end, and involves Steven Spielberg’s participation in the production of the short-lived series Freakazoid!. I won’t spoil it here, but it’s a nice illustration of how constraints fuel creativity, and too much power and access can result in some serious weirdness.
I would love it if Dockery someday gets the opportunity to develop an episode-by-episode guide for the series, heavy with scene stills, sketches, character designs, and the background details that didn’t merit mention in I Am The Night’s overarching story. That’s a coffee table book I would read in a heartbeat.
In the meantime, I Am The Night is more than worth the ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 9/1/2026. If you’re an Elder Millennial (or even an Oregon Trail Generational) and watched cartoons, you know the epic opening sequence of Batman: The Animated Series. The rising, dynamic orchestral theme song. The stark lines and angles. The blues and grays punctured by reds and yellows. The blimps. Blimps, wtf? Then… the lightning crash and the pose. You knew you were in for a most excellent 22-ish minutes. Reading I Am The Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series feels like reliving those delicious moments in high def with the world’s nerdiest commentary track on. Dockery really digs into the lore and history of the show - starting at the very beginning and not letting up on the gas until we get to today’s status of Culturally Iconic.
This book is full of back-stage stories and all of those crazy little birthing pains that made the show truly one of a kind and inspired the many other serious-minded superhero cartoons. But it does not focus solely on BTAS. Dockery also takes a lens to the pre-BTAS land of cartoons and, when you think about it, there was a whole lot of sub-par pablum being handed to kids during the 70’s and 80’s with a few gems sparkling. But, as we all remember, TOYS and MARKETING were the by-words of so many network execs and they did not exactly have a high opinion about what kids’ brains could handle or even what they would want. Serendipitiously, Tim Burton’s Batman came out just as some talented folks were hoping to shake-up and elevate kids’ cartoons and so the money men were willing to open their wallets and minds more. BTAS also benefited from some truly gifted and crusading types who shepherded it through the crazy schedules, overworked staff, deadlines, animation fails, etc. Plus, let’s face it, it also had Bruce Timm’s stunning visual eye/concept and Paul Dini’s talented typewriter. Hence… Magic.
As BTAS continued, Dockery brings in parallels to other shows and networks inspired by the envelope-pushing show - X-Men, Gargoyles, etc. Cartoons that were not afraid to get complicated or challenge kids to think a bit. Above them all, Batman posed and challenged, making the final shot of the opening credits downright prophetic really.
If I have anything to complain about with this book, it is the sheer amount of names to keep track of which is hardly something that can be avoided in a project like BTAS that spanned years and included work from dozens and dozens of talented people. So you just have to pay close attention.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have a date with MY Batman, Kevin Conroy.
This book is full of back-stage stories and all of those crazy little birthing pains that made the show truly one of a kind and inspired the many other serious-minded superhero cartoons. But it does not focus solely on BTAS. Dockery also takes a lens to the pre-BTAS land of cartoons and, when you think about it, there was a whole lot of sub-par pablum being handed to kids during the 70’s and 80’s with a few gems sparkling. But, as we all remember, TOYS and MARKETING were the by-words of so many network execs and they did not exactly have a high opinion about what kids’ brains could handle or even what they would want. Serendipitiously, Tim Burton’s Batman came out just as some talented folks were hoping to shake-up and elevate kids’ cartoons and so the money men were willing to open their wallets and minds more. BTAS also benefited from some truly gifted and crusading types who shepherded it through the crazy schedules, overworked staff, deadlines, animation fails, etc. Plus, let’s face it, it also had Bruce Timm’s stunning visual eye/concept and Paul Dini’s talented typewriter. Hence… Magic.
As BTAS continued, Dockery brings in parallels to other shows and networks inspired by the envelope-pushing show - X-Men, Gargoyles, etc. Cartoons that were not afraid to get complicated or challenge kids to think a bit. Above them all, Batman posed and challenged, making the final shot of the opening credits downright prophetic really.
If I have anything to complain about with this book, it is the sheer amount of names to keep track of which is hardly something that can be avoided in a project like BTAS that spanned years and included work from dozens and dozens of talented people. So you just have to pay close attention.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have a date with MY Batman, Kevin Conroy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I grew up on Saturday morning cartoons, although by the time Batman: The Animated Series arrived I was starting to drift away from children's television as school took over. Even so, I remember hearing just how highly people spoke of it. I've always been curious about what made this particular series such a landmark.
📚 Post-Reading
As I thought...
Daniel Dockery's I Am the Night is far more than a history of one television programme. While Batman: The Animated Series remains the heart of the book, it also paints a fascinating picture of the wider animation industry during the early 1990s and shows how one ambitious cartoon helped reshape superhero television for years to come.
The sheer amount of work that goes into producing an animated series is astonishing. From writing and storyboarding to animation, voice acting, music and studio negotiations, every episode represents the efforts of countless creative people working together. Dockery makes the process accessible without oversimplifying it, giving readers a real appreciation for the craft behind the finished product.
I particularly enjoyed seeing how many artists, writers and producers moved between different studios and projects. Watching careers develop across multiple iconic cartoons gives the book an extra layer of depth, and it was impossible not to smile whenever another familiar title appeared. (Whoo, Gargoyles!)
It surprised me by...
Just how influential Batman: The Animated Series proved to be. The book makes a compelling case that it helped spark a renaissance in superhero animation, and tracing that influence through the years is one of its greatest strengths.
Some of the behind-the-scenes discussions are wonderfully unexpected. Reading about debates over seemingly tiny details—right down to what colour Catwoman's hair should be or how many women Batman could kiss on screen—offers a reminder that every creative decision, no matter how small it seems, has someone arguing passionately for or against it.
By the time I finished, I found myself wanting to revisit the series with fresh eyes. Not just to enjoy Batman's adventures, but to appreciate the artistry, creativity and determination that brought them to life.
👀 Who I'd Recommend It To
Fans of Batman: The Animated Series
Readers interested in animation history
Anyone curious about how cartoons are made
Superhero fans looking to understand the medium's evolution
📚 Post-Reading
As I thought...
Daniel Dockery's I Am the Night is far more than a history of one television programme. While Batman: The Animated Series remains the heart of the book, it also paints a fascinating picture of the wider animation industry during the early 1990s and shows how one ambitious cartoon helped reshape superhero television for years to come.
The sheer amount of work that goes into producing an animated series is astonishing. From writing and storyboarding to animation, voice acting, music and studio negotiations, every episode represents the efforts of countless creative people working together. Dockery makes the process accessible without oversimplifying it, giving readers a real appreciation for the craft behind the finished product.
I particularly enjoyed seeing how many artists, writers and producers moved between different studios and projects. Watching careers develop across multiple iconic cartoons gives the book an extra layer of depth, and it was impossible not to smile whenever another familiar title appeared. (Whoo, Gargoyles!)
It surprised me by...
Just how influential Batman: The Animated Series proved to be. The book makes a compelling case that it helped spark a renaissance in superhero animation, and tracing that influence through the years is one of its greatest strengths.
Some of the behind-the-scenes discussions are wonderfully unexpected. Reading about debates over seemingly tiny details—right down to what colour Catwoman's hair should be or how many women Batman could kiss on screen—offers a reminder that every creative decision, no matter how small it seems, has someone arguing passionately for or against it.
By the time I finished, I found myself wanting to revisit the series with fresh eyes. Not just to enjoy Batman's adventures, but to appreciate the artistry, creativity and determination that brought them to life.
👀 Who I'd Recommend It To
Fans of Batman: The Animated Series
Readers interested in animation history
Anyone curious about how cartoons are made
Superhero fans looking to understand the medium's evolution
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, this was a very dry read. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but I think my biggest problem was that there was a lot of info about the business of Hollywood and how animated shows in general got their start, as well as so much focus on other programming besides BTAS. (10+ pages at a time about other shows. I wasn't interested in those; I was here for stories about BTAS.) Because of this, a lot of the book felt like filler.
I didn’t have any illusions about how the industry works, but it’s still a bummer to read about how so much of this programming only came about because the studios wanted to sell toys and that a lot of the people involved didn't really care about the comics or the character when the show was first being developed; it was only about profits. Luckily, some of the major players behind writing the scripts and ensuring high quality art were invested in the integrity of the stories and that's why we were left with such good results. (Bruce Timm and Paul Dini will always be names I remember and appreciate.)
The book didn't really catch my interest until about 20% in, when the subject turned to Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill and really started to get to the heart of the show instead of the business stuff. But it continued to veer off topic (in my opinion) here and there until the end. There were interesting tidbits scattered throughout, but not enough for me to recommend this read. What I liked the most were the parts that analyzed the psychological aspects of the villain interactions with Batman and how the actors chose to play the roles, etc. I think I would have loved a whole book that just focused on that, though it would've been a whole lot shorter.
I feel like dedicated fans of the show will already know most of the things discussed. (It doesn't go that deep.) I guess sometimes it’s better not to know how the magic was created. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2.5 rounded up because the show still means so much to me.
I didn’t have any illusions about how the industry works, but it’s still a bummer to read about how so much of this programming only came about because the studios wanted to sell toys and that a lot of the people involved didn't really care about the comics or the character when the show was first being developed; it was only about profits. Luckily, some of the major players behind writing the scripts and ensuring high quality art were invested in the integrity of the stories and that's why we were left with such good results. (Bruce Timm and Paul Dini will always be names I remember and appreciate.)
The book didn't really catch my interest until about 20% in, when the subject turned to Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill and really started to get to the heart of the show instead of the business stuff. But it continued to veer off topic (in my opinion) here and there until the end. There were interesting tidbits scattered throughout, but not enough for me to recommend this read. What I liked the most were the parts that analyzed the psychological aspects of the villain interactions with Batman and how the actors chose to play the roles, etc. I think I would have loved a whole book that just focused on that, though it would've been a whole lot shorter.
I feel like dedicated fans of the show will already know most of the things discussed. (It doesn't go that deep.) I guess sometimes it’s better not to know how the magic was created. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
2.5 rounded up because the show still means so much to me.
September 27, 2026
For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery talks about the transformative cartoon which changed the way we look at superhero shows. Mr. Dockery is a published writer and author.
First and foremost, this book is an unauthorized one, so there are no pictures of this amazing show. Nevertheless, it's a well-researched, well written documentation of this transformative show which changed television animation.
I am the Night by Daniel Dockery tells the story of Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS) through the personalities involved, such as Bruce Timm and Kevin Conroy all within the context of the late 1980s, early 1990s TV landscape. The book celebrates the creators behind the show, extensively quoting them from interviews and research material.
The idea of a Batman cartoon came on the heels of the successful Tim Burton movie, which proved to Warner Bros. that society is ready for a dark version of the Dark Knight. I had no idea that the passionate development team had to fight tooth and nail not only the studio, but also censors, all while redefining the art of animation storytelling.
I watched BTAS since it aired and enjoyed it very much. I was glad that Mr. Dockery spent a lot of pages on the amazing aesthetics of the show. When it first aired, we knew we were seeing something special but couldn't really put our finger on it. Of course, we never thought we'd still be talking, appreciating the show three decades later.
The book tells an engaging story, not just of the making of BTAS, but how it changed TV and inspired other creators to do something different. I realize that making animated shows is time consuming and dense, but the book moves at a good pace, and it's very entertaining to boot.
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series by Daniel Dockery talks about the transformative cartoon which changed the way we look at superhero shows. Mr. Dockery is a published writer and author.
First and foremost, this book is an unauthorized one, so there are no pictures of this amazing show. Nevertheless, it's a well-researched, well written documentation of this transformative show which changed television animation.
I am the Night by Daniel Dockery tells the story of Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS) through the personalities involved, such as Bruce Timm and Kevin Conroy all within the context of the late 1980s, early 1990s TV landscape. The book celebrates the creators behind the show, extensively quoting them from interviews and research material.
The idea of a Batman cartoon came on the heels of the successful Tim Burton movie, which proved to Warner Bros. that society is ready for a dark version of the Dark Knight. I had no idea that the passionate development team had to fight tooth and nail not only the studio, but also censors, all while redefining the art of animation storytelling.
I watched BTAS since it aired and enjoyed it very much. I was glad that Mr. Dockery spent a lot of pages on the amazing aesthetics of the show. When it first aired, we knew we were seeing something special but couldn't really put our finger on it. Of course, we never thought we'd still be talking, appreciating the show three decades later.
The book tells an engaging story, not just of the making of BTAS, but how it changed TV and inspired other creators to do something different. I realize that making animated shows is time consuming and dense, but the book moves at a good pace, and it's very entertaining to boot.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The story of the Batman the world needed.
I Am the Night is the story of how Batman: The Animated Series came to exist and the people behind the magic that would become my personal favorite characterization of Batman. There is so much history in this book about the environment in which cartoons were made in the 80s and leading into the 90s that primed the industry to make a show like Batman possible. There is so much excitement in the beginning of this book that I was draw in quickly and learning things that were just plain cool.
As I read on I found the issue I had with the book. The author is clearly excited about the vast majority of the story surrounding the creation of Batman: The Animated Series and it shows in the writing, it gets the reader excited along with it, but then there are moments that read as if the author is just doing their job in relating the information to complete this book. These moments are tedious to get through. I remember being excited about the chapter on the music that went into the show, but the entire chapter feels so monotone that I was left feeling disappointed.
The strength of this book is that the highs far out weigh the more boring moments. The excitement in felt in seventy plus percent of the book and it really is contagious. When reading about casting there was so much that just pulled me in.
If you a fan of Batman: The Animated series, animation history, or methods of adapting material between mediums then you will adore this book.
I recommend checking this one out.
NOTE: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I Am the Night is the story of how Batman: The Animated Series came to exist and the people behind the magic that would become my personal favorite characterization of Batman. There is so much history in this book about the environment in which cartoons were made in the 80s and leading into the 90s that primed the industry to make a show like Batman possible. There is so much excitement in the beginning of this book that I was draw in quickly and learning things that were just plain cool.
As I read on I found the issue I had with the book. The author is clearly excited about the vast majority of the story surrounding the creation of Batman: The Animated Series and it shows in the writing, it gets the reader excited along with it, but then there are moments that read as if the author is just doing their job in relating the information to complete this book. These moments are tedious to get through. I remember being excited about the chapter on the music that went into the show, but the entire chapter feels so monotone that I was left feeling disappointed.
The strength of this book is that the highs far out weigh the more boring moments. The excitement in felt in seventy plus percent of the book and it really is contagious. When reading about casting there was so much that just pulled me in.
If you a fan of Batman: The Animated series, animation history, or methods of adapting material between mediums then you will adore this book.
I recommend checking this one out.
NOTE: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2026
4.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series
By Daniel Dockery
Batman: The Animated Series was quite possibly my favorite show as a kid. I was especially obsessed with Catwoman and Two-Face, and played every single day with my set of McDonald's Batman action figures for years. I honestly believe the beautiful, brooding animation played a big part in my love for character depth and grim storylines.
I was a bit worried the book would be a dry telling of facts and dates, but Dockery has written a very engaging account of the history of the series and the people behind it. I had never realized just how much effort went into making the show, how demands from the network and behind the scenes drama shaped it, and how much of a game-changer it really was. I highlighted so many sections that were filled with either cool tidbits or references I intended on exploring.
We also get a look into a myriad of related movies and shows, such as the Batman films, Animaniacs, Gargoyles, Freakazoid, etc. and how one set off a chain of events leading to the next. It was so much fun.
I'm not sure if this will be fixed in the final copy, but the first quarter bounced around a bit in regards to dates of events, and I wish those had been more linear, but it's a fascinating look into everything that went into creating a series I love, and I plan on re-reading it.
A big thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Daniel Dockery for providing me with an advanced copy! I had a blast!
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series
By Daniel Dockery
Batman: The Animated Series was quite possibly my favorite show as a kid. I was especially obsessed with Catwoman and Two-Face, and played every single day with my set of McDonald's Batman action figures for years. I honestly believe the beautiful, brooding animation played a big part in my love for character depth and grim storylines.
I was a bit worried the book would be a dry telling of facts and dates, but Dockery has written a very engaging account of the history of the series and the people behind it. I had never realized just how much effort went into making the show, how demands from the network and behind the scenes drama shaped it, and how much of a game-changer it really was. I highlighted so many sections that were filled with either cool tidbits or references I intended on exploring.
We also get a look into a myriad of related movies and shows, such as the Batman films, Animaniacs, Gargoyles, Freakazoid, etc. and how one set off a chain of events leading to the next. It was so much fun.
I'm not sure if this will be fixed in the final copy, but the first quarter bounced around a bit in regards to dates of events, and I wish those had been more linear, but it's a fascinating look into everything that went into creating a series I love, and I plan on re-reading it.
A big thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Daniel Dockery for providing me with an advanced copy! I had a blast!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unlike many of the people who will read this book, I didn't watch BTAS growing up. I was aware of it, sure, and I "liked" Batman in the way any boy in the 1990s did. But it was a cultural blind spot for me. "I AM THE NIGHT" made me so interested in the series as an adult that I came to love it, which I think is the best possible outcome for this sort of book.
"I AM THE NIGHT" is written with the same firsthand passion as Dockery's first effort, "MONSTER KIDS," the recollected warmth of nostalgia seen through a critical and journalistic lens. It is extremely well-researched and considers BTAS in the context of the 90s cartoon boom, the turbulence of comics in the same period, and early film adaptations that laid the blueprint for the MCU and Nolan Batman films. In this regard it treats BTAS not just as a fun thing to reminisce about, but an important piece of the pop culture canon. This is why I appreciated the book even as someone who missed out on BTAS: it is about so much more.
Dockery also goes to great lengths to examine the humans behind BTAS' creation. The section about Kevin Conroy in particular is moving and insightful, and there are lots of interesting, funny, and even haunting anecdotes from behind the scenes of the show. Given the continued struggle of animators and writers for fair compensation and recognition, these stories have particular timeliness.
A fast and good read. Highly recommended.
"I AM THE NIGHT" is written with the same firsthand passion as Dockery's first effort, "MONSTER KIDS," the recollected warmth of nostalgia seen through a critical and journalistic lens. It is extremely well-researched and considers BTAS in the context of the 90s cartoon boom, the turbulence of comics in the same period, and early film adaptations that laid the blueprint for the MCU and Nolan Batman films. In this regard it treats BTAS not just as a fun thing to reminisce about, but an important piece of the pop culture canon. This is why I appreciated the book even as someone who missed out on BTAS: it is about so much more.
Dockery also goes to great lengths to examine the humans behind BTAS' creation. The section about Kevin Conroy in particular is moving and insightful, and there are lots of interesting, funny, and even haunting anecdotes from behind the scenes of the show. Given the continued struggle of animators and writers for fair compensation and recognition, these stories have particular timeliness.
A fast and good read. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As a huge fan of Batman: The Animated Series (or BTAS as the shorthand Dockery uses throughout), I was eagerly awaiting this novel. At first I thought it was going to be one of those books that would go through the details of each episode, but I was surprised to learn that it’s a much more in depth reporting on the classic cartoon.
The novel covers the genesis of the series rising from the success of the live-action Batman movie and the Tiny Toons Adventures success at Warner Bros and continues through the creatives who brought the whole thing together.
While I’m certain there will be readers that wished Dockery would go into more detail on some things rather than others, he does take broad strokes with the material. If I had my way with the edit, I’d probably wish sections of the book were more deliberately defined. Like if I wanted a chapter on the voice actors that would be easy to locate. That might make readers pick and choose what to read as opposed to reading the entire text, but I would find that more enjoyable.
I believe that fans of Batman: The Animated Series will enjoy learning about a lot of the behind the scenes drama of putting a show like this together. I also believe that if your only history with the show was watching it, you’ll be excited to learn a lot more of what made this legendary cartoon.
Cheers to St. Martin’s Press and the author for the ARC for a honest review.
The novel covers the genesis of the series rising from the success of the live-action Batman movie and the Tiny Toons Adventures success at Warner Bros and continues through the creatives who brought the whole thing together.
While I’m certain there will be readers that wished Dockery would go into more detail on some things rather than others, he does take broad strokes with the material. If I had my way with the edit, I’d probably wish sections of the book were more deliberately defined. Like if I wanted a chapter on the voice actors that would be easy to locate. That might make readers pick and choose what to read as opposed to reading the entire text, but I would find that more enjoyable.
I believe that fans of Batman: The Animated Series will enjoy learning about a lot of the behind the scenes drama of putting a show like this together. I also believe that if your only history with the show was watching it, you’ll be excited to learn a lot more of what made this legendary cartoon.
Cheers to St. Martin’s Press and the author for the ARC for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Batman and ran to read this so fast! I gobbled up all 300 pages! What a cool concept of a book! It’s very thorough and full of history that spans decades of building the character and psychology of Batman. It was very interesting to see how Disney movies, Star Wars, X-Men, and Marvel all affected Batman: the Animated Series. Mr. Freeze is my favorite Batman villain and I loved the section that talked about building some emotional humanities into his character. My favorite Batman movie is “Batman & Robin” (roll your eyes, I know it’s widely hated by other fans) so I also loved the section about how that came together. I never understood why that movie is so widely hated but this book shed a lot of light on that. There’s a line about casting Arnold Schwarzenegger so it just became a pun factory. There’s a whole section explaining rewriting the script for Freeze as the villain instead of the original villain (Bane) only because Arnold Schwarzenegger was hired. Fair.
The only thing that would have made this book better was to include some pictures or artwork of the animation process. Fans of Batman, comics, the film/tv industry, and pop culture will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! Release date 9/1/26.
“Batman needs Bruce, however hollow that identity feels to him from time to time. Bruce keeps Batman human.”
The only thing that would have made this book better was to include some pictures or artwork of the animation process. Fans of Batman, comics, the film/tv industry, and pop culture will definitely enjoy this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! Release date 9/1/26.
“Batman needs Bruce, however hollow that identity feels to him from time to time. Bruce keeps Batman human.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book courtesy of Netgalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: In the early '90's, in an attempt to cash in on the cartoon circuit, Fox Kids joined forces with Warner Brothers. They hired a collection of writers, artists, directors, and producers to bring the Caped Crusader to the afternoon television screens. How did these three seasons shape how we see Batman? Let's find out.
Dislikes: For some reason, we needed to know the sexuality of a lot of people who worked on the Batman franchise. There truly was no reason to focus on this characteristic. Really who cares about how many gay people worked on a cartoon? We didn't hear about how many straight white men worked on the show. Anyone care about that one? As long as someone writes/produces a good story, we don't usually care what you look like, or your love life.
The book also seemed to focus on all of the cartoons that were out at the time, and not just on Batman. We heard about Tiny Toons Adventures, The Amazing Spiderman, Gargoyles, X-Men, and so on.
Likes: It was cool to find out that "Heart of Ice" won so big at the Academy Awards.
Conclusion: I wanted to like this book. However, it appeared that Batman had some extra help in success of the show. If you are more interested in the diversity quota of a show's staff, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: In the early '90's, in an attempt to cash in on the cartoon circuit, Fox Kids joined forces with Warner Brothers. They hired a collection of writers, artists, directors, and producers to bring the Caped Crusader to the afternoon television screens. How did these three seasons shape how we see Batman? Let's find out.
Dislikes: For some reason, we needed to know the sexuality of a lot of people who worked on the Batman franchise. There truly was no reason to focus on this characteristic. Really who cares about how many gay people worked on a cartoon? We didn't hear about how many straight white men worked on the show. Anyone care about that one? As long as someone writes/produces a good story, we don't usually care what you look like, or your love life.
The book also seemed to focus on all of the cartoons that were out at the time, and not just on Batman. We heard about Tiny Toons Adventures, The Amazing Spiderman, Gargoyles, X-Men, and so on.
Likes: It was cool to find out that "Heart of Ice" won so big at the Academy Awards.
Conclusion: I wanted to like this book. However, it appeared that Batman had some extra help in success of the show. If you are more interested in the diversity quota of a show's staff, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
August 12, 2026
I Am the Night by Daniel Dockery was SO much fun!!!
I went into this one knowing and loving Batman: The Animated Series from growing up, but I definitely wasn’t someone who watched it religiously. I honestly wasn’t sure how much I’d get out of a book about the making of the show… and WOW, was I wrong. 😂
This book was incredibly informative without ever feeling boring or overwhelming. I learned SO much about the creation of the series, the people behind it, and all the little behind-the-scenes details that made the show what it became. There were so many moments where I found myself thinking, “Wait… WHAT?!” 😂
One of my biggest revelations: I DID NOT KNOW BATGIRL WAS COMMISSIONER GORDON’S DAUGHTER!!!! Like seriously?! 🤯😂
What I loved most was how easy this was to get through\. It’s packed with information, but Dockery makes it genuinely entertaining, which made learning all these behind-the-scenes details even more fun.
If you’re a fan of Batman, DC, comics, or even just superhero culture in general, I think you’ll have a blast with this one. And honestly? Even Marvel fans should give it a shot! 👀
A nostalgic, fascinating, and surprisingly addictive look at one of the most influential animated superhero shows ever.
Absolutely a 5-star read for me! 🦇💥
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the ARC!
I went into this one knowing and loving Batman: The Animated Series from growing up, but I definitely wasn’t someone who watched it religiously. I honestly wasn’t sure how much I’d get out of a book about the making of the show… and WOW, was I wrong. 😂
This book was incredibly informative without ever feeling boring or overwhelming. I learned SO much about the creation of the series, the people behind it, and all the little behind-the-scenes details that made the show what it became. There were so many moments where I found myself thinking, “Wait… WHAT?!” 😂
One of my biggest revelations: I DID NOT KNOW BATGIRL WAS COMMISSIONER GORDON’S DAUGHTER!!!! Like seriously?! 🤯😂
What I loved most was how easy this was to get through\. It’s packed with information, but Dockery makes it genuinely entertaining, which made learning all these behind-the-scenes details even more fun.
If you’re a fan of Batman, DC, comics, or even just superhero culture in general, I think you’ll have a blast with this one. And honestly? Even Marvel fans should give it a shot! 👀
A nostalgic, fascinating, and surprisingly addictive look at one of the most influential animated superhero shows ever.
Absolutely a 5-star read for me! 🦇💥
Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the ARC!
September 26, 2026
I was thrilled when this book popped up on my radar a few months ago, but to be honest, I found reading it to be a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping for a dishy “oral history” of Batman: The Animated Series, and while author Daniel Dockery did do a whole bunch of new interviews with BTAS creators, the one he didn’t do—for whatever reason—was with Bruce Timm, so every time he’s mentioned, it’s followed by a credit for this magazine or that website. It’s entirely possible (and probable) that Timm refused to be a part of this project, since he was working on the current Batman: Caped Crusader series for Prime. The book also offers a history of similar superhero-themed cartoon series of the era, along with other WB Animation and Fox Kids projects, but is sadly spends more time on things like Gargoyles and Spawn than on other DC-oriented projects like Superman and the two Justice League series, one of which—Justice League Unlimited—is Timm’s favorite series of all the ones he worked on. The JL series are relegated to two short paragraphs in the Epilogue of the book, as if both the author and book itself ran out of gas. My review is actually really 2 stars, but I’ve added a star for the excellent cover by Rob Grom, which evokes the BTAS series without crossing any copyright lines, since this book is “unauthorized.” I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “ultimate,” though.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I tell you to guess how excited I was to actually read this, I want you to do so fully knowing how much of an absolute nerd I am for this cartoon. I have seen every single episode, have made and worn my own BTAS Catwoman costume, own several statuettes and action figures, and I can quote word for word the love-lorn goodbye between Tygrus and Selina Kyle at the end of Episode 30 “Tyger, Tyger.” Batman is my second favourite superhero franchise, falling right behind The X-Men, and I initially cut my teeth on reviewing comic books for a small independent newspaper, starting with Batman: The Widening Gyre by Kevin Smith.
With all that said, yes, I was exceedingly excited to read this—and then extremely disappointed when it fell so flat.
Speaking frankly, my major problem with this book has nothing to do with opinion, it is that so much of the supplementary information is so factually inaccurate. Aside from direct quotes from the show’s creators through various other interviews, and information directly related to the show’s production, a lot of the information provided references incorrect dates or contextualizations. For example, while this novel does not give exact dates, it infers that the Golden Age of comics occurred post WWII when in actuality it was 1938-1956. The reason why this is important is because of the morality wave that pulled superhero narratives into scrutiny and gave rise to the Comics Code Authority (1954-2011), who actively censored a lot of plots for children’s narratives. These would later become the base of superhero cartoons. Something that this novel inaccurately attributes to the rise of commercialism and children’s advertising in the 80s… and that’s just one example.
While an awesome concept, I can’t recommend this because it paints such an incomplete and confused picture of the immense impact Batman: The Animated Series had on an entire industry. Overall, I think I’ll wait for the authorized history. At least then it might be a little more well-researched.
With all that said, yes, I was exceedingly excited to read this—and then extremely disappointed when it fell so flat.
Speaking frankly, my major problem with this book has nothing to do with opinion, it is that so much of the supplementary information is so factually inaccurate. Aside from direct quotes from the show’s creators through various other interviews, and information directly related to the show’s production, a lot of the information provided references incorrect dates or contextualizations. For example, while this novel does not give exact dates, it infers that the Golden Age of comics occurred post WWII when in actuality it was 1938-1956. The reason why this is important is because of the morality wave that pulled superhero narratives into scrutiny and gave rise to the Comics Code Authority (1954-2011), who actively censored a lot of plots for children’s narratives. These would later become the base of superhero cartoons. Something that this novel inaccurately attributes to the rise of commercialism and children’s advertising in the 80s… and that’s just one example.
While an awesome concept, I can’t recommend this because it paints such an incomplete and confused picture of the immense impact Batman: The Animated Series had on an entire industry. Overall, I think I’ll wait for the authorized history. At least then it might be a little more well-researched.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!”
This nonfiction microhistory does a deep dive into the early 90’s show Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS). Told mostly chronologically, the book explores previous Batman media (comics, live action shows, movies, etc.), the production studio and creators that brought BTAS to life, specific episodes/character arcs, and the overall impact and legacy of the show.
I remember watching Batman as a kid. My mom and my brother were more enthralled by the series than I was, but I still found Gotham and its colorful inhabitants fascinating. Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero on VHS was a particular favorite. It was fun to read this behind the scenes look the making of the series. I hadn’t realized that The Joker was voiced by Mark Hamill! I appreciate how the author put things in context by including information about other Batman adaptations, cartoons of the 80s and 90s, some of the individual creators, and how the show introduced or shifted the portrayal of certain characters. I love that Harley Quinn was created specifically for BTAS but has since become a DC powerhouse character in her own right. Overall, my nostalgic 90s nerd heart really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
This nonfiction microhistory does a deep dive into the early 90’s show Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS). Told mostly chronologically, the book explores previous Batman media (comics, live action shows, movies, etc.), the production studio and creators that brought BTAS to life, specific episodes/character arcs, and the overall impact and legacy of the show.
I remember watching Batman as a kid. My mom and my brother were more enthralled by the series than I was, but I still found Gotham and its colorful inhabitants fascinating. Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero on VHS was a particular favorite. It was fun to read this behind the scenes look the making of the series. I hadn’t realized that The Joker was voiced by Mark Hamill! I appreciate how the author put things in context by including information about other Batman adaptations, cartoons of the 80s and 90s, some of the individual creators, and how the show introduced or shifted the portrayal of certain characters. I love that Harley Quinn was created specifically for BTAS but has since become a DC powerhouse character in her own right. Overall, my nostalgic 90s nerd heart really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
July 28, 2026
I received I Am The Night from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I Am the Night is a must-read for any fan of Batman: The Animated Series. The behind-the-scenes stories, artwork, and interviews offer a fascinating look at how one of the greatest animated shows of all time came together. Learning about the creative process and the passion that went into every episode gave me an even greater appreciation for the series.
What I loved most was how the book brought back so many childhood memories. Reading about the making of the show reminded me of sitting in front of the TV as a kid, completely captivated by Batman's adventures every week. Reading about the production details, and stories from the creators made those memories feel fresh again. It's both a celebration of an iconic series and a nostalgic trip back to a time when Batman: The Animated Series was the highlight of my afternoons.
Whether you're a lifelong Batman fan or simply interested in animation history, I Am the Night is a beautifully put-together book that captures the legacy of a series that continues to inspire audiences decades later.
I Am the Night is a must-read for any fan of Batman: The Animated Series. The behind-the-scenes stories, artwork, and interviews offer a fascinating look at how one of the greatest animated shows of all time came together. Learning about the creative process and the passion that went into every episode gave me an even greater appreciation for the series.
What I loved most was how the book brought back so many childhood memories. Reading about the making of the show reminded me of sitting in front of the TV as a kid, completely captivated by Batman's adventures every week. Reading about the production details, and stories from the creators made those memories feel fresh again. It's both a celebration of an iconic series and a nostalgic trip back to a time when Batman: The Animated Series was the highlight of my afternoons.
Whether you're a lifelong Batman fan or simply interested in animation history, I Am the Night is a beautifully put-together book that captures the legacy of a series that continues to inspire audiences decades later.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This history of Batman the Animated Series is terrific. As someone who wrote a book length analysis of each episode of the series I really appreciated the care and seriousness with which Daniel approached his history. It’s not just about Batman, either. This engaging, extensively researched book is a snapshot of a moment in time in television animation and explores the larger cultural context of the 90s into which Batman stepped and transformed. It comes out in just a few days and it’s well worth your time if you are an animation fan. There are tidbits about Gargoyles, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid and even the follow up Superman show. You’ll find something new from it even if, like me, you’ve spent most of your life obsessed with BTAS. Kudos, Daniel, you have made a major contribution to cultural history. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance review copy in exchange for a fair review. No incentive is given for positive reviews.
Looking forward to putting this one on the shelf.
Looking forward to putting this one on the shelf.
September 3, 2026
I feel like if you had zero knowledge of how the show Batman the Animated Series came about this would be a good jumping off point.
Some of the details about the syndication and what was going on in other animation formats at the time was interesting to learn about. And I felt like it was pretty well researched. Daniel does a good job of catching the nostalgia of the show while also explaining bits of the history of it.
I guess my gripe with it is that it is a little scattered at times. By the end of the book you can admit it was linear, but while you're in it, it's sometimes hard to stay in it, because there is a lot of jumping around.
If you want a more indepth breakdown episode to episode - I would recommend the Jump on the Batwagon Podcast - hosted by James from the Watchtower Database and his friend Brian, for they go further in depth on animation, which studios, directors, acting, and heavy healthy commentary and fan input.
It was still a very worthwhile read, I still enjoyed it, and I hope that those who want to know more about BTAS will pick it up.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for early copy.
Some of the details about the syndication and what was going on in other animation formats at the time was interesting to learn about. And I felt like it was pretty well researched. Daniel does a good job of catching the nostalgia of the show while also explaining bits of the history of it.
I guess my gripe with it is that it is a little scattered at times. By the end of the book you can admit it was linear, but while you're in it, it's sometimes hard to stay in it, because there is a lot of jumping around.
If you want a more indepth breakdown episode to episode - I would recommend the Jump on the Batwagon Podcast - hosted by James from the Watchtower Database and his friend Brian, for they go further in depth on animation, which studios, directors, acting, and heavy healthy commentary and fan input.
It was still a very worthwhile read, I still enjoyed it, and I hope that those who want to know more about BTAS will pick it up.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've had the most difficult time trying to rate and review this book. I Am the Night is well-written and the author is definitely knowledgeable, but also the content is scattered and the pacing slow. I enjoyed segments of certain chapters—the birth and success of Harley Quinn; and the tragic backstory behind Clayface's character creation—however, the most interesting bits are breadcrumbs amidst a forest of detours. So much time is spent talking about other cartoons that were popular at the time, random pop-ins from Stephen Speilberg, and just other unrelated, unnecessary filler. I think whole portions of the book, such as the production of the tv series 'Gargoyles' and 'Animaniacs', could be removed or condensed without taking away important aspects from the text overall.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author Daniel Dockery for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author Daniel Dockery for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
St. Martin's Press provided an early galley for review.
As a huge fan of this classic cartoon (I can vivdly recall the airing of the very first episodes in 1992), this was an instant must-read for me.
I like how this book cover the series from inception through the various seasons, taking time to touch upon too the full length films that spun off from it. The author also takes time to put this show into perspective with the other ongoing animation efforts of various studies during this time period. Context is always helpful when measuring a classic show like this with its competitors. I liked too how the TV series is viewed in the context of the live-action Batman films of the 90's, and how one impacted the other.
For some die-hard fans, it might not be the "ultimate" history, but it certainly covers a lot of ground and works well as a launching point for fans looking to rekindle that 90's nostalgia once more.
As a huge fan of this classic cartoon (I can vivdly recall the airing of the very first episodes in 1992), this was an instant must-read for me.
I like how this book cover the series from inception through the various seasons, taking time to touch upon too the full length films that spun off from it. The author also takes time to put this show into perspective with the other ongoing animation efforts of various studies during this time period. Context is always helpful when measuring a classic show like this with its competitors. I liked too how the TV series is viewed in the context of the live-action Batman films of the 90's, and how one impacted the other.
For some die-hard fans, it might not be the "ultimate" history, but it certainly covers a lot of ground and works well as a launching point for fans looking to rekindle that 90's nostalgia once more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A great high-level breakdown of how one of the best cartoons of all time was made. Dockery doesn't just recite the events, he provides some crucial context about the state of the animation industry before BTAS, and the influence its creative team had on subsequent shows. There's lots of information in here about other shows, like Gargoyles, and Spawn.
I was also impressed by how fair he was when discussing some of the less popular episodes, and the people that made them. There were clearly differences of opinion between some of the writers and the producers, but no one was made out to be in the wrong.
Fans of this show will likely come away with some new information - I for one didn't know about Bruce Timm's note for Paul Dini about the TNBA episode Over The Edge. That one little tidbit made me laugh!
I was also impressed by how fair he was when discussing some of the less popular episodes, and the people that made them. There were clearly differences of opinion between some of the writers and the producers, but no one was made out to be in the wrong.
Fans of this show will likely come away with some new information - I for one didn't know about Bruce Timm's note for Paul Dini about the TNBA episode Over The Edge. That one little tidbit made me laugh!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did you watch Batman: The Animated Series? Have your kids watched it? Dockery has written a detailed history of the series. Lots of detail from the creators of the series - the producers - the artists and writers. Anyone who dipped their toes into the Batman. There are stories of the Burton Batman movies and the impact it had on the interest in a new animated series. Dockery discusses the many villains and their emotional depth. Not something I expected from a cartoon. He also talks about this Batman almost as if he's a real actor. There were some surprising voice actors - Tim Curry and Mark Hamill both voiced The Joker. And Dockery mentioned several villains that were born from this series - like Harley Quinn.
Towards the end the author gets into other cartoons - felt like filler in a book that's supposed to be about Batman.
Batman fans should enjoy this one.
Towards the end the author gets into other cartoons - felt like filler in a book that's supposed to be about Batman.
Batman fans should enjoy this one.
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