Batman: The Animated Series – Episode 04 – The Last Laugh

Swenson had a very brief writing career and if this episode is any indication, it was kind of obvious why. He’d later write 3 episodes for the show Goof Troop but pretty much vanish from the scenes afterwards. On the other hand, Altieri’s back as director and I’m excited to see what’s in store from him this go around.

One of the most memorable aspects of this episode from a positive focal point is the score, kicking off with a synthesized up-tempo beat anticipating the arrival of Joker’s gas via garbage scow. This motief is carried out in various scenes throughout the episode and remains catchy. Good job by Shirley Walker here.

Altieri, right off the bat (no pun intended), again incorporates various shot elements to give the episode a different flavor. Different angles of the scow shows off the effect of its traveling speed wise and I especially like the shot of the driver swerving towards the painters while leaning out the window. A simple little action shot that again typifies the acceleration of speed. Altieri delivers another great shot as Joker throws a gray piece of concrete through the Jewels ‘R’ Us window pane directly at the camera in a riff of a 3D style gimmick moment that a movie would utilize.

Altieri leans on a few classic comedy gags befitting of this episode including Joker’s panning past Batman’s up close face with a periscope, shuttering in realization, and panning back. Altieri again uses the close up at the camera bit with Batman physically punching the periscope and somehow sending Joker flying backwards (maybe Batman has the strength of an Elephant?). The directing of this episode hides the flaws of the plot much better than Christmas With The Joker including a neat shot of Alfred through reflection from the floor as he sweeps up the mess he made at Wayne Manor.

The artwork and animation is very well done here by AKOM. Some of the strongest scenes include Bruce’s showering and seeing his reactions facially to the news that Gotham Police are investigating near fatal accidents due to hysterical laughing fits. The close ups of the people laughing uncontrollably was a bit creepy and pulled off well. I normally find Joker hit or miss when it comes to his animation but in this episode, he comes off very strong with sharp, bony, angular features that are reminiscent of a skeleton almost or even the kind of makeup look evoked during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

I also love the blue outline of Batman’s costume as he works in his Batcave with a blow torch. A great little touch to characterization is again seen as Batman punches Captain Clown, then clutches his hand with a bit of a bewildered expression showcasing that Batman isn’t an infallible superhero prone to being able to physically punch out everything he comes into contact with. The animation does a great job showing the exertion and physical taxation on Batman during the episode, something that most episodes tend to take for granted that the audience assumes it’s a toll on him.

In a subtle and unnerving scene, Joker is seated on a packaged trash heap and is shown going under vents while maintaining an unwavering smile, an effective way of reminding the audience that underneath the charm and one-liners is a callous, cold villain. A really great touch also comes as Joker slides down the trash incinerator on his stomach, chin on the palms of his hands grinning all the while. A good counterbalance shot to the prior moment I spoke of.

The plot itself is pretty lame and relies a lot on convenience although the directing by Altieri helps give it some solid pacing. One example is the two henchmen scuba diving to where the armored car fell and being able to steal the jewels inside merely via opening the back with a crowbar. I did like the clowns wearing different colored masks as it reminded me of the robbers in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Rather than raise the stakes or touch on anything meaningful, there’s a very vague connection to Joker wanting the stock market to plummet via his laughing gas making Gothamites go insane due to exposure while, in some instances, literally shaking people down for their money and jewels in the streets. Later on Batman escapes the trash can, luckily not having his underground Batpod shoot him in the process too while managing to hit it at an angle that allows Batman to fully escape.

One of the minor upsides to this episode is that we do see Joker taking on more of a malevolent turn in his utilization of weapons, especially in confronting Batman, such as wielding a knife and stabbing “air holes” into the trash can container overtly trying to stab Batman to death first and let him bleed out. It’s a nice dichotomy to Joker’s gas being so hands off that Joker would go to the other extreme when forced to fight or get his hands dirty.

Unfortunately, the lack of a real overarching storyline to the plot leaves the episode feeling really draggy by the 17 minute mark as Batman chases Joker down. Altieri does his best to try and keep the action going without too much downtime but even his angles and transitions as Batman races down the conveyer belt to Joker feels like padding. Disappointingly, the ending calls back to Joker’s debut episode where he trips, somehow entangles himself, and hangs waiting for Batman to haul him back up and arrest him. A very anticlimactic way to end an episode that felt like it was running on fumes at this point.

Mark Hamill already conveys more of a feel with Joker now, imbuing what would be pretty corny one liners with a darker undertone while emphasizing Joker’s penchant and enjoyment of them with his cackles afterwards. Hamill and Conroy give a great back and forth on the scow, immediately showing chemistry and attraction that would forever combine this Batman and Joker as two oppositional forces destined to go head to head. I particularly love Hamill’s execution on the line, “Okay, boys… It’s playtime.” Hamill gives it such a sinister tracing to a line that could have very easily been over the top otherwise. One of the more memorable lines is of course Joker’s outrage at Batman’s killing of Captain Clown but the vehemence on the second reading resonates well.

We get the debut of Alfred’s new voice actor (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and he does a solid job, giving Alfred more of a deadpan attitude and dry wit with a hint of upper class elegance without being forceful with it. Summer Gleeson (Mari Devon) also makes a brief return, showcasing a bit of character by complaining about the situation before delivering the news.