There are a number of characters that appear in the different DC Animated Universe (DCAU) series as well as other Elseworlds series that I would like to see carried over into mainstream continuity. However, Batman: The Animated Series was always my favorite. It was the show I watched growing up in the 90s. It's the show that got me into comics and superheroes in the first place. That being said, there are several characters in it that have yet to make their way into DC's mainstream comics who I feel absolutely deserve to do so.
1. Andrea Beaumont – Appears in the animated movie, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Mask of the Phantasm is one of my favorite movies of all time. Following suit, Andrea Beaumont is one of my favorite characters of all time. I love everything about her. I love her relationship/history with Batman/Bruce Wayne, her purpose, she was the woman who Bruce Wayne was going to give up being Batman for. She was his chance at a new life. Until he found out she was also the Phantasm, a vigilante bent on killing those responsible for the death of her father. She was like Bruce in so many ways except the most important one to him, she killed. And we all know that's against Batman's code. At the end of the movie, it is thought that she died because we never see or hear from her again. Until the Justice League Unlimited/Batman Beyond Cross-Over episode 26, “Epilogue”. Where we see her much older (just like Bruce Wayne), where she was contracted by Amanda Waller to kill Terry's parents, but she refused. So we know she is alive, somehow, in the DCAU. She is top of my list of characters I would love to see pulled over into comic continuity. She has a deep history with Bruce, she's a badass, she's basically a vigilante ninja with a sweet metal-arm-hook thing , she's just amazing all-around.
2. Tygrus – Appears in Episode 42 - “Tyger, Tyger”
Tygrus only appears in one episode and he gives you all the feels. He was artificially engineered by Dr. Emile Dorian, who was a deranged scientist that believed cats were the most superior creatures on Earth (he might not be wrong though). So he created Tygrus, an enhanced feline-human hybrid with increased speed, strength, agility, all the regular stuff, you know the drill. But Tygurs was lonely (so sad), so Dr. Dorian had him kidnap Selina Kyle (Catwoman) so he could genetically modify her into a cat creature as well. Which Selina did not exactly appreciate. Batman comes to save her, Tygrus realizes his “father” doesn't actually care about him, and so he helps Batman and Selina destroy the lab. After the chaos calms, he gives Selina an antidote to turn her human again. Heartbroken and alone once more, he leaves them saying “there's nothing for me anywhere” and then disappears into the jungle, never seen again. HOW SAD IS THAT?! He just wanted love, to not be the only one of his kind. He only had one episode but he has such potential as a character. He could easily become a hero, an anti-hero, or even a villain. I just feel like there's no much there that could become an even greater story for him.
3. Summer Gleeson – First appeared in Episode 2 - “Christmas with the Joker”
Summer appears in a number of episode from Batman: the Animated Series. Like Vicki Vale, she is a news reporter, however, unlike Vicki, she does not have a sexual relationship with Bruce Wayne. I understand why she hasn't been moved over to comics, because, well, Vicki Vale exists. However, I always liked Summer more. Mostly because she DIDN'T have that interest in Bruce Wayne. He's an associate, he's someone she knows, but she doesn't give a damn about trying to “woo” him like most of the other women in his life. Although she's been kidnapped her share of times, she doesn't break easily. I'd like to see her given the chance to prove just how strong she could be. I mean, she's feisty, she's smart, most of the time when she does get herself into trouble it's because she was doing something dangerous like spying on the mob. She isn't afraid. So I think she deserves to be canonically relevant. Even if she's just a side character, she deserves some comic acknowledgement (other than that one super brief time her name was mentioned in No Man's Land. That doesn't count).
4. Mary Louise Dahl a.k.a. Baby Doll – Appears in Episode 77 - “Baby-Doll”
Mary Louise Dahl, known as the villain Baby Doll, has a very rare condition where even though she ages, her physical body does not. She is stuck forever looking like she is 5 years old despite being in her 30s. She was a “childhood” star, by that I mean she played a child on a TV show but she was in her 20s. She left the show due to jealousy towards a new character, Cousin Spunky, who she felt was stealing all the attention. After leaving, she attempted to pursue a more professional acting career, but it turned out she wasn't actually that good of a serious actress. The show was cancelled after she left and despite her best efforts, no television company would renew the show. Baby Doll suffered a psychotic break and kidnapped her previous cast members to force them to do die with her as a “family”. Although she is super cute and has doll themed weaponry, she's a psychopath. A terrifying one at that. She is also one of the two ORIGINAL villains from the fifth run of the show not to be crossed over into comics. I mean, come on already. Baby Doll also has a romantic interest in Killer Croc in The New Batman Adventures because she feels he too is judged by society due to his appearance and therefore they are kindred spirits (however, he uses her and betrays her).
5. Red Claw – Appears in Episodes 15 & 16 - “The Cat and the Claw Part 1 & 2” and Episode 78 - “The Lion and the Unicorn”
Red Claw is the only known name she goes by, but she is the second of the two original villains from the first run of Batman: The Animated Series, to not cross over into comics. And I really don't know why because she's a leader of a freaking terrorist organization, she's huge, she's strong, and she knows martial arts. She's also crazy smart considering she was able to evade Batman's tracking long enough to acquire all the tools she needed to create a freaking plague that was capable of wiping out all life within a 10-mile radius. Catwoman accidentally came across Red Claw's plans when she broke into a Multigon facility to obtain incriminating evidence on them so she could keep them from destroying a mountain lion preservation. Because of her discovery, Red Claw attempted to kill Catwoman, which is what led to Batman finally finding her. Red Claw manages to even kidnap Alfred, which is a difficult and ballsy thing to do, that's just how smart she is and how few fucks she gives about who Batman/Bruce Wayne is. She was ejected from the Batwing and was never seen again. Another character who simply vanished, still alive, and could TOTALLY and super easily be brought into the comics.
6. Kyodai Ken – Appears in Episode 35 - “Night of the Ninja” and Episode 44 - “Day of the Samurai”
As you can probably gather from his name and episode appearances, Kyodai Ken is a ninja. He studied alongside Bruce Wayne under Yoru, and Bruce always lost to him. However, he was banished from the dojo for trying to steal Yoru's sacred weapons. Bruce had intervened and was thus, the reason his plan was foiled. So he vowed revenge against him upon his banishment. He returned to Gotham to enact his revenge. Kyodai uses a number of ninja weapons including shuriken, a katana, and those things you throw to make a cloud poof up so you can disappear. I mean, yeah, he's basically just your standard ninja, but he's a damn good one. He also has this sweet back tattoo which just makes him look all the more intimidating. He supposedly died in a lava explosion, but let's be honest, no one really “dies” in the BTAS. I know Bats already has enough ninjas to deal with from the League of Assassins and all, but Kyodai would be unaffiliated. He could become a hitman or private assassin. He could do a lot of cool things given the chance.
7. Isis a.k.a. Catwoman's favorite feline – I'm not sure when her first appearance was, but she's in a number of episodes
Isis is the only cat that Catwoman ever calls by name. She assists Catwoman in many of her robberies. I know she's just a cat, but she was seriously an important character in the BTAS. She helps Catwoman in a number of ways and she's clearly more than your average cat. I just think she deserves some comics time. Even if it's just Selina in her home with a cat next to her that she calls “Isis”. She doesn't have to accompany Catwoman on her endeavors like she did in the show, but I just remember her so vividly. For instance, if I ever get an all-black female cat, her name will be Isis (Unfortunately, my cat is black and white and also a male, so his name is Batman. I love him though). I mean, even in the atrocity that was the Catwoman movie starring Halle Barry, there was a special cat that “chose” her or whatever, and I always associated that cat with being like Isis. In Batman Returns, we also see Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle seeming revived by alley cats, in particular, an all black cat sits on top of her. Isis is clearly an important character that we have seen represented (including in the video games), but she has never been called by her name. I think she deserves to be.
There you have it. Maybe you'll recognize some. Maybe you'll agree, maybe you won't. Either way, these are characters who were relevant in Batman: The Animated Series who I think deserve a little more recognition than they have been given. Also, if you haven't watched BTAS, you should. And watch Batman: Mask of the Phantasm as well as Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero. You won't regret it.
