Customer Reviews

Batman Beyond: Tech Wars [VHS]

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Tech Wars features three episodes of Batman Beyond dealing with the brutal results of high technology crime.

The opening episode is a clever satire of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four. Three scientists are irradiated and become superheroes - The Terrific Trio - and cause Terry to ask Bruce if he can now have some time off. But the Army goes after The Terrific Trio and Batman must intervene when they use the same radiation experiment against a colleage. Robert Davi, of The Profiler, Die Hard, and numerous villian roles, voices Magma, the volcanic (literally) member of the group.

Next, the founder of the Vance computer conglomorate - the tape cover inaccurately lists his name as Cyrus Vance (! ) - has downloaded his essense into his machinery and plays havoc with Gotham's power grids. Batman seemingly shuts him down, but he infiltrates the Batsuit to download himself into even more powerful computer systems - and also into the essence of his grandson.
This episode features another excellent piece of character interplay between Terry McGuiness and Bruce Wayne - Terry goes after the Batsuit, asking Bruce if Batman is the suit or the man wearing it. Bruce's comment on this same question at the end is one of the show's best moments.

Finally comes Terry's encounter with Splicing - his fellow teenagers are experimenting with animal DNA, which scientist Dr. Emil Cuvier (Ian Buchanan) is using to create a following for his lust for power. Batman himself is spliced, turning him into a Manbat even more hideous than the creature Bruce himself battled decades before.

This episode features several nice character touches - the relationship between Commissioner Barbara Gordon (Stockard "Grease" Channing) and the city's DA (Paul Winfield), and also Terry's relationship with Bruce's belligerent guarddog Ace. Barbara appreciates Terry's actions, but urges him to ditch the Batsuit, as she has experienced firsthand working for Bruce in the fight against crime.

First of all, I have to say that I love "Lost Soul." That is a great story and deserves to be on tape. The other two episodes are also good for superhero/supervillain buffs who enjoy plot and action. Also, like all the other tapes, the music is fantastic.