Almost Got 'Im
Encyclopedia
Almost Got 'Im is the forty-sixth episode of the Warner Bros.
animated television series Batman: The Animated Series
, which first aired on November 11, 1992, and was written by Paul Dini
and directed by Eric Radomski
. This episode features seven villains of Batman's rogues gallery, with four of them telling the stories of their "best" attempts at killing the Dark Knight, and the ending leading to a singular plot twist.
, the Penguin
, Two-Face
, and Killer Croc
gather at the criminals-only Stacked Deck Club, where they play cards and share theories about their mutual foe, Batman. Two-Face doubts that Batman is one person. The Penguin theorizes that Batman suffered some crime related trauma in the past. Croc believes that Batman is a robot. Poison Ivy then arrives and joins the game. Soon after, all five of the crooks begin to argue over who has come closest to killing Batman, and each tells their story.
Poison Ivy's story
Poison Ivy placed poisonous gas inside Gotham's pumpkin
supply on Halloween
, causing the vegetables to go off when lit. When Gotham's residents started to feel the effects of the gas, Batman went to the city pumpkin patch to investigate just as Ivy hoped he would. She attacked Batman with the gas and weakened him to the point where he was nearly unmasked. Nevertheless, Batman remotely controlled the Batmobile
to run down Ivy and later retrieved a gas mask
from the vehicle, before subsequently capturing Ivy.
Two-Face's story
Two-Face staged a robbery at a mint
, stealing "$2,000,000 in two dollar bills." When Batman in attempted to stop the heist, Two-Face's henchmen overpowered him. Two-Face flipped his coin
to see whether he would kill Batman or let him live, with a negative "bad heads" result. Two-Face took Batman's utility belt, strapped him to a giant penny, and placed it on a catapult
- "The coin lands face down, you'll be squashed flat. It lands face up, it'll just break every bone in your body..." In midair, Batman cut himself free of his bonds, using Two-Face's own coin. In return for apprehending Two-Face and his gang, the mint let Batman keep the giant penny.
Killer Croc's story
Killer Croc simply says that he threw a rock at Batman during a battle in a quarry
. The other villains stare at him for a moment and continue telling their stories, while Croc mutters, "It was a big rock."
The Penguin's story
The Penguin turned a zoo aviary
into a home for dangerous birds in his own plot to kill Batman. After luring Batman to the aviary the Penguin sprayed him with a vaporous nectar eaten by hummingbirds, and released several poison-beaked birds to attack the Dark Knight. After being bitten several times, Batman threw a batarang
at a sprinkler; the resulting water spray slowed down the hummingbirds. Before Batman could inject himself with an antidote
, he was injured by a cassowary
. In desperation, Batman stabbed the flightless bird with one of the hummingbirds, incapacitating it. Batman chased after the Penguin, but the villain escaped via his flying umbrella.
The Joker's story
After capturing Batman, the Joker commandeered the set of a late-night talk show and held the studio audience
hostage, intending to execute the Dark Knight on live television. Batman was strapped to a "laugh-powered electric chair" which rose in voltage the more the audience laughed. With the audience being forced to laugh at gunpoint, The Joker decided to ellicit more "honest" laughter by pumping the studio with laughing gas
. However, Catwoman
broke into the studio; in the ensuing fight, the Joker became too distracted to notice Batman escaping from the chair. After Harley knocked out Catwoman, the Joker instructed to take her to a cat food factory while he laid low at the Stacked-Deck Club. He explains to the other villains that he will soon meet Harley at the factory, turn Catwoman into cat food, and personally deliver a can of it to Batman.
At this point, Killer Croc attacks the Joker and throws him across the room, revealing himself to be Batman in disguise; it is also revealed that the other bar patrons are Gotham police officers, led by Detective Bullock
and Commissioner Gordon
- the whole thing was a sting operation
. As the villains are arrested, Batman goes to the cat food factory to rescue Catwoman from Harley Quinn.
The episode ends on a humorous note, as Catwoman makes a pass at Batman, only to turn and find he has pulled one of his trademark disappearing acts. She then smiles, shakes her head and mutters to herself, "Huh. Almost got 'im."
named it the show's No. 1 episode.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
animated television series Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
, which first aired on November 11, 1992, and was written by Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
and directed by Eric Radomski
Eric Radomski
Eric Radomski is a producer most closely linked with Warner Bros. Animation. He is perhaps best known as co-creator and co-producer of Batman: The Animated Series....
. This episode features seven villains of Batman's rogues gallery, with four of them telling the stories of their "best" attempts at killing the Dark Knight, and the ending leading to a singular plot twist.
Plot summary
While hiding out from the police, the JokerJoker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
, the Penguin
Penguin (comics)
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot III is a DC Comics supervillain and one of Batman's oldest, most persistent enemies. The Penguin was introduced by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, making his debut in Detective Comics #58 .The Penguin is a short, rotund man known for his love of birds and his...
, Two-Face
Two-Face
Two-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger....
, and Killer Croc
Killer Croc
Killer Croc is a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe, an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gene Colan, while there was a shadowy cameo in Detective Comics #523 , his actual first appearance is credited to Batman #357 , which is also the first appearance of Jason...
gather at the criminals-only Stacked Deck Club, where they play cards and share theories about their mutual foe, Batman. Two-Face doubts that Batman is one person. The Penguin theorizes that Batman suffered some crime related trauma in the past. Croc believes that Batman is a robot. Poison Ivy then arrives and joins the game. Soon after, all five of the crooks begin to argue over who has come closest to killing Batman, and each tells their story.
Poison Ivy's story
Poison Ivy placed poisonous gas inside Gotham's pumpkin
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
supply on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, causing the vegetables to go off when lit. When Gotham's residents started to feel the effects of the gas, Batman went to the city pumpkin patch to investigate just as Ivy hoped he would. She attacked Batman with the gas and weakened him to the point where he was nearly unmasked. Nevertheless, Batman remotely controlled the Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
to run down Ivy and later retrieved a gas mask
Gas mask
A gas mask is a mask put on over the face to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word...
from the vehicle, before subsequently capturing Ivy.
Two-Face's story
Two-Face staged a robbery at a mint
MiNT
MiNT is a free software alternative operating system kernel for the Atari ST and its successors. Together with the free system components fVDI , XaAES , and TeraDesk , MiNT provides a free TOS compatible replacement OS that is capable of multitasking.MiNT was originally released by Eric Smith as...
, stealing "$2,000,000 in two dollar bills." When Batman in attempted to stop the heist, Two-Face's henchmen overpowered him. Two-Face flipped his coin
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
to see whether he would kill Batman or let him live, with a negative "bad heads" result. Two-Face took Batman's utility belt, strapped him to a giant penny, and placed it on a catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
- "The coin lands face down, you'll be squashed flat. It lands face up, it'll just break every bone in your body..." In midair, Batman cut himself free of his bonds, using Two-Face's own coin. In return for apprehending Two-Face and his gang, the mint let Batman keep the giant penny.
Killer Croc's story
Killer Croc simply says that he threw a rock at Batman during a battle in a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. The other villains stare at him for a moment and continue telling their stories, while Croc mutters, "It was a big rock."
The Penguin's story
The Penguin turned a zoo aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
into a home for dangerous birds in his own plot to kill Batman. After luring Batman to the aviary the Penguin sprayed him with a vaporous nectar eaten by hummingbirds, and released several poison-beaked birds to attack the Dark Knight. After being bitten several times, Batman threw a batarang
Batarang
A batarang is a roughly bat-shaped throwing weapon used by the DC Comics superhero Batman. The name is a portmanteau of bat and boomerang, and was originally spelled baterang. Although they are named after boomerangs, batarangs have become more like shuriken in recent interpretations...
at a sprinkler; the resulting water spray slowed down the hummingbirds. Before Batman could inject himself with an antidote
Antidote
An antidote is a substance which can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι antididonai, "given against"....
, he was injured by a cassowary
Cassowary
The cassowaries are ratites, very large flightless birds in the genus Casuarius native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, nearby islands and northeastern Australia. There are three extant species recognized today...
. In desperation, Batman stabbed the flightless bird with one of the hummingbirds, incapacitating it. Batman chased after the Penguin, but the villain escaped via his flying umbrella.
The Joker's story
After capturing Batman, the Joker commandeered the set of a late-night talk show and held the studio audience
Studio audience
A studio audience is an audience present for the taping of all or part of a television program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack . A studio audience can also provide volunteers, a visual backdrop and discussion participants...
hostage, intending to execute the Dark Knight on live television. Batman was strapped to a "laugh-powered electric chair" which rose in voltage the more the audience laughed. With the audience being forced to laugh at gunpoint, The Joker decided to ellicit more "honest" laughter by pumping the studio with laughing gas
Laughing gas
Laughing gas is a common name of Nitrous oxide, particularly when used as an anestheticLaughing gas may also refer to:* Laughing Gas , a 1936 comic novel by P. G...
. However, Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
broke into the studio; in the ensuing fight, the Joker became too distracted to notice Batman escaping from the chair. After Harley knocked out Catwoman, the Joker instructed to take her to a cat food factory while he laid low at the Stacked-Deck Club. He explains to the other villains that he will soon meet Harley at the factory, turn Catwoman into cat food, and personally deliver a can of it to Batman.
At this point, Killer Croc attacks the Joker and throws him across the room, revealing himself to be Batman in disguise; it is also revealed that the other bar patrons are Gotham police officers, led by Detective Bullock
Harvey Bullock (comics)
Harvey Bullock is a fictional character from DC Comics' Batman titles.-Fictional character biography:Prior to the 1984-85 DC maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bullock is a crooked police detective under instructions from Gotham City's Mayor Hamilton Hill to sabotage Commissioner Gordon's career...
and Commissioner Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
- the whole thing was a sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
. As the villains are arrested, Batman goes to the cat food factory to rescue Catwoman from Harley Quinn.
The episode ends on a humorous note, as Catwoman makes a pass at Batman, only to turn and find he has pulled one of his trademark disappearing acts. She then smiles, shakes her head and mutters to herself, "Huh. Almost got 'im."
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Kevin Conroy Kevin Conroy Kevin Conroy is an American stage, screen, and voice actor, best known for his acclaimed voice role as Batman in numerous animated television series, feature films, and video games that make up the DC Animated Universe.-Early life:... |
Batman Batman Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics... |
| Adrienne Barbeau Adrienne Barbeau Adrienne Jo Barbeau is an American actress and the author of three books. Barbeau came to prominence in the 1970s as Broadway's original Rizzo in the musical Grease, and as Carol Traynor, the divorced daughter of Maude Findlay in the sitcom Maude... |
Catwoman Catwoman Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel... |
| Mark Hamill Mark Hamill Mark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord... |
The Joker Joker (comics) The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin... |
| Aron Kincaid Aron Kincaid Aron Kincaid was an American actor perhaps best known for playing Killer Croc on Batman: The Animated Series and Sky Lynx on The Transformers. He also voiced characters for The Smurfs, and DuckTales, among others... |
Killer Croc Killer Croc Killer Croc is a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe, an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gene Colan, while there was a shadowy cameo in Detective Comics #523 , his actual first appearance is credited to Batman #357 , which is also the first appearance of Jason... |
| Richard Moll Richard Moll Charles Richard Moll is an American actor and voice artist,best known for playing Bull Shannon, the bailiff on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1983 to 1992... |
Two-Face Two-Face Two-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.... |
| Diane Pershing Diane Pershing Diane Pershing, born and raised in Queens, New York, is a romance novelist, television writer and voice actor.She wrote episodes for the television series The Love Boat and What's Happening Now!!... |
Poison Ivy |
| Arleen Sorkin Arleen Sorkin Arleen Sorkin is an American actress, screenwriter, presenter and comedienne. Sorkin is known for portraying Calliope Jones on the NBC daytime serial Days of our Lives and for voicing Batman DC comic supervillainess Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series and the many animated series and... |
Harley Quinn Harley Quinn Harley Quinn was first introduced as a villain on September 11, 1992, in the animated series Batman: The Animated Series, later adapted into DC Comics' Batman comic books. As suggested by her name , she is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester... |
| Paul Williams Paul Williams (songwriter) Paul Hamilton Williams, Jr. is an Academy Award-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of acts in the 1970s including Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You and Me Against the World",... |
The Penguin |
Reception
Sandra Dozier calls the episode "charming" and praises it for showing "the origin story for the Bat Cave's giant penny." In August 2011, The Nostalgia CriticThe Nostalgia Critic
The Nostalgia Critic is a web television series starring Doug Walker as the eponymous reviewer. The series was initially launched on YouTube before moving to an independent site, That Guy with the Glasses, run by production company Channel Awesome...
named it the show's No. 1 episode.
External links
- TV.Com fan episode rankings
- Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures at The World's Finest
- The Animated Batman
- Batman: The Animated Series Official Website
- The New Batman Adventures Official Website
- The New Batman Superman Adventures Official Website
- Batman: The Animated Series at TV.com
- Batman: Gotham Knights at TV.com
- Batman Animated at BYTB: Batman Yesterday, Today and Beyond