25 Years Ago Today, the Best Batman Spinoff Gave Us a Crossover No One Expected (And an All-New Justice League)

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Batman is arguably the most popular superhero, appearing constantly in comics, TV shows, and films. Surprisingly, people don’t seem to mind seeing so much of him. This is likely because he’s a compelling character, and audiences readily accept his presence even in stories where he doesn’t necessarily belong. A good example is the HBO Max series Titans. The show begins with Dick Grayson trying to establish his own identity and leave Gotham, but Batman quickly reappears to resolve issues stemming from their shared history.

While some Batman spin-offs focus on the challenges of being Batman, the most successful ones fully accept that the hero is essential. Batman Beyond does this by having Bruce Wayne mentor Terry McGinnis, who shares Batman’s unwavering dedication to fighting crime. In its third season, McGinnis’s successes attract the attention of a significant DC character, who leads a particularly distinctive Justice League – arguably the most unique one of the last quarter-century.

The Bat Flies Out of Gotham in “The Call”

Most episodes of Batman Beyond begin in Gotham City, where Batman usually finishes his crime-fighting for the night. Typically, a villain causes trouble, and Bruce Wayne mentors his protégé as he defeats them. However, the episode “The Call” is different. It starts in Metropolis, where Justice League member Micron is training. When he receives a distress signal, he immediately responds, using his powers to shrink and grow to save a train operator. Like any good hero, Micron tries to stop the runaway train completely, but he’s trapped inside by a force field as it crashes.

After one of his teammates is injured and it looks like someone deliberately caused it, Superman goes to Gotham to ask Batman to join the Justice League, reminding him he was one of the original members. Terry is thrilled, but quickly realizes his new teammates – Big Barda, Warhawk, Green Lantern, and Aquagirl – are upset about his arrival, as they’re close to the injured teammate and don’t want him replaced. Superman isn’t just adding Terry to the team for numbers, though; he wants Terry to secretly investigate a possible traitor within the League.

Batman Beyond Reunites the Batman and Superman Rivalry

Watching “The Call” can be distracting because it’s packed with subtle hints about what’s coming next in the DC animated world. We learn Warhawk is the son of Green Lantern John Stewart and Hawkgirl, and Aquagirl is Aquaman’s daughter – who’s currently missing. However, all these details serve as a clever diversion from the main plot: someone is systematically targeting members of the Justice League. After attacking both Warhawk and Aquagirl, the villain nearly eliminates half the team. Desperate for answers, Terry heads back to the Bat-Cave hoping Bruce Wayne can help him figure things out.

Terry’s gut feeling proves correct when Bruce reviews the footage of Warhawk’s death and spots an energy beam striking the hero’s missile. Using computer enhancements, they discover Superman is the one responsible for the attack. Terry is shocked, but Bruce is prepared, handing over a Kryptonite sample he’s kept hidden in the Batcave in case Superman ever turned against them. The episode ends on this cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager to learn the full story – and luckily, with streaming, “The Call: Part 2” is readily available on HBO Max.

I’m really fascinated by “The Call” and the unique take on the Justice League it presents! I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks – let’s discuss it over on the ComicBook Forum, I’m heading there now to join the conversation!

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2025-11-11 20:25