Prime’s New Batman Show Introduces a New Bat-Fam Member Who’s Got to Make it Into the Comics

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The animated series Bat-Fam offers a fresh take on Batman stories, different from anything DC fans have seen before. While geared towards a slightly younger audience than Batman: Caped Crusader, it’s a funnier show that also reimagines familiar characters in surprising ways. For example, Ra’s Al Ghul is portrayed as a friendly ghost, Man-Bat lives in Wayne Manor, and Damian Wayne now goes by “Little Batman.” Following the events of Merry Little Batman, Bruce Wayne and his family are facing a new dynamic, particularly with the introduction of a character who needs a little encouragement.

A surprising new member of the Bat family in this Amazon series is Volcana, also known as Claire. In Merry Little Batman, she fell into a Lazarus Pit, a last-ditch effort to save her life. While the Pit did bring her back, it had an unexpected effect: instead of returning as an adult, Claire was transformed into a teenager! Now, Bruce Wayne has taken her in, and Volcana has quickly become a key part of his unusual team.

Volcana’s powers – controlling and creating fire – aren’t particularly unique among characters in the DC Universe. What makes her stand out is her personality and how well she interacts with the other characters, especially within the large Bat-Family. She brings a lively energy and a bit of humor, particularly in her scenes with Damien. Though she’s already appeared in DC Comics, Volcana deserves a more significant role in future stories.

The Origins of Volcana

I’m a huge fan of DC’s animated universe, and Volcana is a character I’ve always found fascinating! She actually started as a completely original villain in Superman: The Animated Series, first appearing in the episode “Where There’s Smoke.” It’s kind of cool how she followed a similar path to Harley Quinn – Harley debuted in Batman: The Animated Series before getting her own comic book run, and Volcana did too! Though it’s a bit surprising, she didn’t show up in the comics until fairly recently, in an issue of Black Lightning last year. It’s a shame, though, because while she’s made it into the comics, she hasn’t gotten the same kind of development or spotlight as she did in the animated series. Hopefully, we’ll see more of her story explored soon!

I’ve been thinking a lot about Volcana, and whether the writers should keep her as the villain we first met, or go back to her younger, more conflicted self from the Bat-Fam series. Honestly, I don’t see her joining the Bat-Family – Gotham’s already overflowing with heroes! But that doesn’t mean she can’t be an amazing villain for Batman. He already fights Firefly sometimes, but Volcana feels like a much more powerful and dangerous opponent – she’s not just relying on gadgets to create flames, she is the fire!

What Else Should Be Made Canon From Bat-Fam?

We’re not convinced Man-Bat and Ra’s Al Ghul need to be regular fixtures at Wayne Manor, and Damien shouldn’t become “Little Batman” permanently. However, there are some interesting ideas in this series we’d enjoy seeing explored. For instance, turning Ra’s into a ghostly presence that haunts Batman could be effective, and it could open the door for his daughter, Talia, to take over as the new leader.

As of today, a second season of Bat-Fam hasn’t been officially announced, but there’s a lot more story to tell. The first season clearly demonstrated the creators’ deep knowledge and love of DC comics, including many hidden references. It’s possible that characters like Volcana and the show itself could eventually influence the comics.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/bat-fam-showrunner-and-cast-on-creating-a-new-batman-his-midlife-crisis-batmobile-insanity-of-ras-al-ghul-and-more/embed/#

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2025-11-15 00:40