Summary
- Batman: Caped Crusader features a mix of earthly foes like Penguin and supernatural threats like Nocturna.
- Nocturna’s storyline in Batman: Caped Crusader mirrors Ace’s tragic story in Justice League Unlimited.
- Bruce Wayne in The Caped Crusader demonstrates fatherly qualities, showing compassion and offering second chances.
In Batman: Caped Crusader In the first season, fans see Hamish Linklater's Batman face several trials. He's in his formative years as the Dark Knight, so there are plenty of challenges. He has to take down some bad guys, as well as mob bosses like Penguin and Rupert Thorne. They're not particularly difficult to take down, though. That's why Batman is as supportive as ever: the opposition is nothing beyond his reach.
Unfortunately, he soon discovers that the enemies aren't all down-to-earth, street-level bad guys. Later, the struggling Bruce must contend with mind-blowing supernatural villains like the Gentleman Ghost, who defy physics and break the metaphysical boundary that science has taught Bruce is the limit. Another shows up in the form of Natalia Night, aka Nocturna. Interestingly, this episode pays homage to one of the Justice League Unlimited more heartbreaking episodes, featuring the Royal Flush Gang and its most tragic member, Ace.
What happened to Ace from Justice League Unlimited?

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Episode Title |
Writer |
Director |
Air Date |
“Epilogue” |
Bruce Timm, Dwayne McDuffie |
And Riba |
July 23, 2005 |
Ace's story came to an end in Justice League Unlimited Season 2 finale. Started out as a child in the Royal Flush Gang. Has psychic powers that have tampered with people's minds. It caused hallucinations and could mentally interrupt them. The government and Joker once tried to use it as a weapon.. Luckily, Batman stopped the Clown Prince of Crime and saved her. CADMUS eventually took the child and attempted to experiment on her, hoping she could become a tool of destruction for them.
Over time, Ace grew tired of having no agency and no identity. She ran away and became an antagonist similar to Marvel's Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. She was able to warp reality and even created her own hub, similar to Wanda's Westview in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ace even turned some ordinary people into her Royal Flush Gang. It was her interpretation of family, which gave her some comfort after having her childhood stolen.
Amanda Waller teamed up with the Justice League to take her down. It was revealed that Ace would die of a brain aneurysm, but they couldn't just let her die alone. Nearby individuals would still be susceptible due to the telepathic shockwave which would kill anyone within range.. Waller had a device designed to kill her, but they had to get close. Batman took the job because she trusted him. He didn't even think of the mission as cruel or inhumane. He knew what situation Waller was in.
It was her way of seeing her family, which gave her a modicum of comfort after having her childhood stolen from her.
Ace let Batman in, knowing he would never use that device on her. Batman chatted with Ace, showing compassion and empathy. She understood the situation and asked him to stay with her until the end.. This helped her die peacefully, allowing everyone around her to be safe. When reality returned to normal, Batman emerged, despondent and holding her corpse. Waller told this story to Terry McGinnis decades later in what was essentially a Batman Beyond final.
This experience was the reason he cloned Bruce using Terry's parents as surrogates. He knew the world would always need this kind of hero, a human who would protect everyone, good or bad. That ordeal and the sight of Batman cradling the child always stood out. He was pure, selfless, and wholesome, traits he hoped Terry would respect as he carried on Bruce's legacy.
Batman: Caped Crusader's Nocturna reinterprets Ace's tragedy

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Episode Title |
Writer |
Director |
Air Date |
“Night” |
Halley Gross |
Mattia Pietroni |
August 1st |
Hooded Crusader In the first season, Nocturna kidnaps children at a carnival outside Gotham. She is a unique vampire who drains their life essence in episode 8, “Nocturne”. This energy keeps Natalia young and healthy. Her brother, Anton, however, hates using her magic show as a distraction. He warns her that she is becoming sloppy and causing too much damage.
Anton understands that she is sick and that she needs to suck energy from people. But he doesn't want her to lose control and become a monster.. Unfortunately, Natalia attacks her brother and leaves him drained. Batman eventually intervenes and fights her, hoping to save her from harming other children like Jace, Dickie, Stephie, and Carrie.
Anton senses that there is good in his sister and Bruce decides to give her a second chance.
She beats Bruce for a while, but is eventually disarmed when he confesses that his brother is dead. Natalia hasn't realized that she has mortally impoverished Anton. She breaks down and wants to die. When the sun rises, she knows she can bask in the glow and burn to death, like any vampire would. However, Batman makes it clear that he wants to fulfill his brother's last wish: to save the girl.Anton senses that there is good in his sister and Bruce decides to give her a second chance.
As she burns, Batman puts his cape over her to protect her. He lets her know that they will do the right thing in time. She has to atone, but she doesn't deserve to die. The way he holds her, like a father, is very Ace-like. The victims are taken to the hospital, making sure no child is killed. It's a huge relief for Batman, because he doesn't want to sentence anyone to death when there is a chance for redemption.
Batman: Caped Crusader Proves Bruce Wayne Is Father Material

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Many DC fans often debate whether Batman really has father qualities, given that he exploited the pain of teenagers to create the Robins. Ironically, Crisis Part Three Batman (of Earth-1) did not like the fact that his Earth-2 counterpart had children of his own, whom he raised to be crime fighters.. He thought it was dangerous and irresponsible. Even Frank Miller's Batman from The Dark Knight Returns He told Carrie Kelley this: The war on crime is no place for teenagers.
Titans' Dick Grayson also had to face this crusade, wondering if he was making the same mistake as his Bruce and becoming a bad father. However, THE Justice League Unlimited the episode with Ace showed Waller that Bruce could be a good father. In Hooded CrusaderBruce shines through his actions and wisdom. Carrie, who wields the slingshot, is there with him, and urges him to kill Nocturna, thinking she is a monster. However, Carrie learns through Bruce that forgiveness is a quality that everyone needs..
They must show empathy, especially since Natalia would die without absorbing her victims; she acted in the interest of self-preservation. Thanks to Bruce, however, she can receive medical care and live up to Anton's dreams. This inspires Carrie when she returns to the other children. She speaks of Bruce, not as a myth, but as a living legend, the kind they would like to be like someday.
In Hooded CrusaderBruce does not directly involve his sidekicks in his crime-fighting lifestyle.. But he manages to convey the same lessons he would if they were in his cave wearing costumes. Whether Bruce will approve of them following in his footsteps later remains to be seen. It doesn't look like he would. But what is certain is that Hooded Crusader — as dark and gloomy as it is — it's a world where Batman is inherently kind and warm.
This is the kind of Batman Kevin Conroy’s Dark Knight would be proud of. After all, Conroy’s voice work helped make Ace’s heartbreaking scene palpable. Linklater’s softer voice is equally soothing and touching. It reaffirms that it’s a good time to be a Bat-fan.
Batman: Caped Crusader Season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.

Batman: The Caped Crusader (2024)
Immerse yourself in a thrilling cinematic world where shadowy noir meets cutting-edge action as a young Bruce Wayne faces his destiny as Batman.
- Release date
- August 1, 2024
- Launch
- Hamish Linklater, Christina Ricci, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Mckenna Grace, Toby Stephens, Reid Scott
- Seasons
- 1