Holy Cyberpunk, Batman! We Rank the Top ‘Batman Beyond’ Episodes

After years of smash success riding off of the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, producers Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and Paul Dini were tasked with crafting a brand-new Batman series unlike any previously seen before. Batman Beyond would eschew the art deco noir for dystopian cyberpunk, established favorites with brand-new adversaries, and, instead of Bruce Wayne, Batman would be Terry McGinnis, a 16-year-old former delinquent eager to atone for his past mistakes.

On paper, the premise should not have worked. Instead, Batman Beyond garnered the same critical acclaim as its predecessors, becoming a cult favorite among Bat-fans who initially greeted the series with mixed feelings. 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this cyberpunk Dark Knight, Wealth of Geeks enters Neo-Gotham once more and ranks the best Batman Beyond episodes to see how a premise delivered from network executives as a requirement somehow became one of the most beloved fan-favorite takes on the Batman mythos.

1. “Shriek”

With a new futuristic background to play around with, the producers of Batman Beyond were eager to see their new Batman face off against foes uniquely his own instead of relying on futuristic reinterpretations of classic foes. One of the first new supervillains was Shriek in his self-titled debut episode, a sound engineer turned hired muscle working on behalf of Derek Powers in a ploy to run Bruce Wayne out of his own company.

Part of Shriek’s appeal lies in the villain’s use of his sound wave powers, which not only knock over buildings but subtly manipulate Bruce into doubting his psyche. The climactic fight between Shriek and Batman heavily uses inventive sound direction, making “Shriek” an episode offering style and character building in equal measure.

2. “Payback”

Much of Batman Beyond's initial conception lies in its focus on a uniquely teenage version of its title hero, with many of the typical problems teenagers face becoming relevant in Terry McGinnis’s young life. In “Payback,” a mysterious masked figure calling himself Payback targets the tormentors of teenagers, with the only clue to his identity lying within a youth therapy group.

One of the series’ stronger mystery-centric episodes, “Payback” focuses heavily on investigation and undercover work, with Terry joining the therapy group to devise a list of suspects. With red herrings and an unexpected reveal, “Payback” offers a fun, action-mystery while offering futuristic teenage angst.

3. “The Eggbaby”

With the mix of superhero action and cyberpunk sci-fi, it’s easy to forget that Batman Beyond’s new lead remains a high school student throughout the show’s run. In “The Eggbaby,” Terry’s investigation into a string of robberies becomes hampered by his latest school assignment: taking care of an “eggbaby,” an egg-shaped doll designed to act like an infant, for his family studies class.

The most comedy-centric episode of Batman Beyond’s run, “The Eggbaby” provides much-needed levity to a series famed for its darker tone, with the absurd premise of Batman taking care of a “baby” while fighting crime conjuring too many funny images for just one episode. Throw in a literal criminal family, and “The Eggbaby” shows that even a hero as serious as Batman can have a sense of humor.

4. “A Touch of Curaré”

Not many of the former Batman’s supporting cast transitioned to Batman Beyond owing to the time period, but one of the most notable was former Batgirl Barbara Gordon. In “A Touch of Curaré,” the title character assassin is dispatched to kill District Attorney Sam Young, Gordon’s husband, before he can testify against a notorious arms dealer. In sharp contrast to her younger, vigilante self, the now-Commissioner Barbara Gordon shows distaste for the new Batman, preferring her law enforcement methods.

While the assassin plot takes center stage and delivers the requisite action audiences expect, “A Touch of Curaré’s” drama derives from Gordon’s past with the Bat Family, showing a glimpse into how Bruce Wayne found himself alone in his old age.

5. “Bloodsport”

Though the two are clearly different upon closer scrutiny, some parallels can be made between Terry McGinnis and Marvel’s Peter Parker; both are traditionally depicted as high school-aged superheroes, their greatest opponent is a corrupt industrialist, and each struggles with balancing duty and personal life.

These parallels come to the forefront in “Bloodsport,” which sees an enhanced African hunter called the Stalker prowl the Neo-Gotham night for his next prey: Batman. Aside from the obvious comparison to the Spider-Man villain Kraven the Hunter, “Bloodsport” also sees Terry’s nighttime activities spill over into his personal life, with the Stalker kidnapping his younger brother Matt to lure him out. With a uniquely designed villain that stands out and offers a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase, “Bloodsport” sees Terry pushed to his limit both in and out of costume.

6. “Unmasked”

The final episode of Batman Beyond’s production run doesn’t offer a high-stakes climatic showdown to cap off the show. Instead, it provides a reason behind Terry’s caginess about being open about his nocturnal activities to his loved ones.

Told primarily as a flashback, “Unmasked” sees a novice Batman forced to unmask himself to save a child, only to throw the boy into further danger when the criminal organization KOBRA seeks him out for his knowledge. While not the most thrilling of episodes, especially for what is essentially the show’s finale, “Unmasked” makes for a fine cautionary tale about secret identities.

7. “The Last Resort”

Part of Batman Beyond’s enduring appeal stems from its willingness to explore more mature subject matter compared to its acclaimed predecessor, with “The Last Resort” tackling the all-too-real subjects of corrections corruption and child abuse. As troubled youth incidents spike at Hamilton High School, parents increasingly send their children to “the Ranch” to set them straight.

Yet when the relatively straight-laced Chelsea Cunningham is sent to the Ranch herself, Terry’s investigation uncovers far more horrific conditions than he could’ve imagined. With a ramping up of escalation culminating in a full-blown riot out of a prison drama, “The Last Resort” showcases issues that appear ripped from today’s headlines.

8. “Zeta”

In a futuristic take on on-the-lam thrillers like The Fugitive, Terry crosses paths with the rogue Zeta, a military android seeking to escape his handlers and win his freedom. Delving into age-old science fiction debating free will and hardwired programming, “Zeta” sees its title character struggle to prove his worth as his own being and not merely as a weapon, with some encouragement from reluctant companion Max Gibson.

The character of Zeta would turn up again, redesigned from his initial appearance, in his spin-off series, The Zeta Project, by episode writer Robert Goodman, expanding on themes explored in this installment. Yet while The Zeta Project proved short-lived, “Zeta” itself remains a fine example of classic android science fiction storytelling.

9. “Lost Soul”

If “Zeta” asks whether a machine can prove its own agency, “Lost Soul” asks the audience whether the suit makes the man, with the digital “ghost” of long-dead industrial magnate Robert Vance seeking to take over the body of his grandson. When “Vance” hijacks the Batsuit, Terry has to make do with the old Batman gadgets and his athleticism to save the day.

Bringing in old-school superhero action to the proceedings, “Lost Soul” sees Terry essentially fighting himself, with the third act dominated by a tense showdown between the analog-equipped McGinnis and the superior strength of his alter ego. If there were doubts about whether the young hero could thrive without his tech-packed costume, “Lost Soul” eagerly dispels those fleeting notions with style.

10. “Ascension”

The season one finale, “Ascension” marks the culmination of the long-simmering Blight storyline, seeing Terry face off against the man who ordered his father’s death in a final battle long-anticipated. With his body decaying rapidly and his irradiated self on the verge of exposure, Derek Powers enlists his equally power-hungry son, Paxton, to take over his position as chairman of Wayne-Powers, only to find himself publicly exposed as Blight at a crucial board meeting.

Between a Terry torn between seeking personal vengeance and seeing Powers face justice, “Ascension” marks Blight’s final appearance in Batman Beyond but delivers a worthy send-off to the new Batman’s nemesis.

11. “Hidden Agenda”

Until continuation comics decades later, Batman Beyond went out of its way not to shower Terry McGinnis with a futuristic “Bat-Family,” eschewing any character that could be construed as a take on Robin or Batgirl.

Instead, “Hidden Agenda” would see the debut of high school confidante – a brilliant tech-savvy girl convinced that not only is Batman a fellow student but that Terry himself is a member of the Jokerz street gang. Gibson would never don a costume, but she would prove invaluable to Terry and Bruce in future installments, with her debut showing off her sharpness, wit, and tech wizardry.

12. “Babel”

“Babel” sees the return of Shriek with the supervillain, seeking revenge for the events of his debut episode, blanketing Neo-Gotham with a sound wave interfering with human speech. With the price being Batman’s life in exchange for the city’s functions, Terry grapples with whether or not to hand himself over to Shriek, providing a compelling psychological look into McGinnis’ motivations and his drive as the new Batman.

Though the central premise is marked by most of the cast speaking in incomprehensible gibberish, “Babel’s” central conceit lies in Terry fully realizing his role as a hero and the sacrifices he’s willing to make to do good in Neo-Gotham, even if its citizens don’t fully appreciate his efforts.

13. “Dead Man’s Hand”

It wouldn’t be a Batman series if there weren’t a femme fatale for the Caped Crusader to be enthralled with, and Terry McGinnis’s can be found in “Dead Man’s Hand.” After a messy break-up with girlfriend Dana Tan, Terry meets the reluctant thief Melanie Walker while contending with her aristocratic-minded family, the Royal Flush Gang.

Between the turbulent romance between Melanie and Terry, “Dead Man’s Hand” marks the first time Terry and Bruce come to blows over their different lives, with the younger Batman eager to enjoy the youth denied to his mentor. With a tragic young romance at the heart of its plot, “Dead Man’s Head” sees Terry grow into his own and gradually mature as the new Dark Knight.

14. “Spellbound”

Spellbinder, one of the most visually striking villains to emerge from Batman Beyond, traces his roots from the Silver Age but becomes a far more formidable threat with his debut, “Spellbound.” Utilizing advanced technology to fool victims into all-too-real situations, from game shows to war-torn battles, Spellbinder makes them his unwitting accomplices in audacious robberies, even throwing Batman for a loop more than once throughout the episode.

With powers recalling the likes of the Scarecrow and the Mad Hatter, Spellbinder turns in a memorable first impression in “Spellbound,” ultimately becoming the recurring threat that defines some of the series’ best episodes.

15. “Hooked Up”

The toll of addiction takes center stage in “Hooked Up,” with Spellbinder returning once more to entrap numerous high school students into committing crimes on his behalf, offering highly addictive virtual reality fantasies in exchange. With Max eager to be more involved in Terry’s Batman activities, she becomes overwhelmed in the case and falls victim to the aforementioned Spellbinder’s schemes.

The episode offers some of Batman Beyond’s strongest character work as audiences learn more about Max’s home life and her desires while illustrating the futility of escaping into fantasy. Though not an action-heavy installment, “Hooked Up” showcases a unique form of sci-fi addiction and gracefully approaches a heavy subject.

16. “The Call, Parts 1-2”

The first depiction of the Justice League in the DCAU, “The Call” sees an older Superman recruit Terry into the League to help him investigate a suspected traitor within the group after one of their own is severely injured.

While not showcasing the Justice League’s more famous members, their ranks filled with either descendants or new characters, “The Call” marks a crucial step in the eventual Justice League series years later, establishing Batman’s distant relationship with the team and the larger-than-life foes they routinely face. The reveal of the traitor and the villain of the two-parter makes for a shocking twist and serves as a fun nod to the Justice League’s comic book history.

17. “Final Cut”

Dealing directly with the fallout from “A Touch of Curaré,” “Final Cut” sees Terry forced to protect the last surviving member of the Society of Assassins from a vengeful Curaré, blackmailed into doing so with the threat of a bomb hanging over Neo-Gotham. With Bruce Wayne absent, audiences watch Max and Terry work closer together than previously, fending off Curaré while trying desperately to locate the bomb before it goes off.

From a thrilling confrontation between the assassin and one of her former Society members at the story's beginning to an armory museum climax, “Final Cut” delivers high-octane action.

18. “Eyewitness”

Though “Black Out” and “A Touch of Curaré” formally reintroduced Barbara Gordon into the world of Batman Beyond, “Eyewitness” reexamines her relationship with the new Batman after harboring distrust throughout much of the series. When Batman appears to kill bomber Mad Stan in cold blood, Gordon rallies the GCPD to arrest Terry, all while Bruce works to prove his apprentice’s innocence.

With a unique antagonist in Barbara and her intimate knowledge of Bruce’s thinking and Terry’s true identity, the installment conjures memories of the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Over the Edge” but with real stakes at the heart of the conflict. With multiple explosive set-pieces and a surprise twist villain, “Eyewitness” makes for one of the most thrilling installments of Batman Beyond.

19. “Revenant”

In a futuristic take on haunted school chills, Terry and his high school friends become embroiled in the supposed ghost of a long-dead student terrorizing the student body, launching an interest in the paranormal from everyone involved. Yet the incidents hide the involvement of former student Willie Watt, who’s now more powerful than ever before after his previous appearance in “Golem.”

One of the episodes dedicated almost entirely to Terry’s high school life, “Revenant” slowly builds up its escalation to the Watt reveal, toying with the idea of a genuine supernatural presence before delivering a gripping psychic showdown at episode’s end. Yet the small McGinnis family moments in the episode rank it high, with young Matt toying with the idea of ghosts as memories of his father Warren still loom large. 

20. “Earth Mover”

In a detour from more traditional science fiction action to pulp monster horror, “Earth Mover” sees Terry intervene when close friend Jackie finds herself stalked by a monstrous creature made from the soil itself. As the creature grows more audacious and starts attacking both Jackie and her stepfather, Batman quickly discovers its motivations and that Jackie’s actual father is far closer than anyone realizes.

Marked by one of the most gruesome images in the entire series, “Earth Mover” returns Batman Beyond to its predecessor's gothic roots within its futuristic world, delivering a suitably haunted tone that eschews traditional comic book villainy for gothic tragedy.

21. “Meltdown”

Before Return of the Joker, Terry rarely fought Bruce Wayne’s old foes due to the nature of the period, only facing the legacies those old foes left behind. However, in “Meltdown,” McGinnis crosses paths with the reborn Mr. Freeze, recently given a brand-new body by Wayne-Powers as a test to fix Blight’s declining physical form.

Capping off the character’s appearances in an arc born in the acclaimed “Heart of Ice,” “Meltdown” sees a genuinely remorseful Victor Fries attempt to atone, only to face hostility from old victims and new foes as his mutation resurfaces. Apart from the novelty of seeing a futuristic take on Mr. Freeze, eschewing his previous retro-future design for one akin to the character's artwork from the late 1990s, “Meltdown” zeroes in on the character's tragedy, bringing his sorry tale to a close in the only way it could ever end.

22. “Ace in the Hole”

The elderly Bruce Wayne's constant companion since the beginning of Batman Beyond, the dog Ace should be the last to receive an origin story in the series, but “Ace in the Hole” sees the pooch take center stage. When Ace runs away after attacking a known dog fighting fixer, Bruce recalls how he adopted the Great Dane as Terry investigates.

With a grueling look at animal abuse and a glimpse into Bruce’s older life before he met Terry, the installment gives deeper characterization to the reinterpreted Bat-Hound while delivering satisfying comeuppance for audience members with dogs of their own at home.

23. “Sneak Peek”

Good science fiction should address hot-button topics with the veneer of fantasy, and one of the best Batman Beyond episodes to tackle that ethos head-on lies in “Sneak Peek.” A sleazy tabloid journalist, Ian Peek, uses a high-tech intangibility belt to obtain video footage of celebrities’ dirty secrets all over Gotham, ultimately snagging footage of Terry and Bruce in the Batcave in the process.

Touching on issues of press ethics and celebrity culture, more relevant now than ever, “Sneak Peek” showcases a unique one-off antagonist and the struggle over how to confront an unethical man who isn’t technically breaking the law. With one of the bleakest endings in the entire series, “Sneak Peek” highlights the price of tabloid glory.

24. “Out of the Past”

Though the relationship between Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne had always been cordial between student and mentor, there were always lingering insecurities on Wayne’s part about letting the teenage McGinnis take over his old mantle.

That lingering discomfort and his mortality form the crux of the Paul Dini-penned “Out of the Past,” when old love Talia al Ghul reenters the elderly Wayne’s life to offer him a unique birthday present: The Lazarus Pit and the opportunity to become a young man once more. Lamenting years past, lost loves, and some uncharacteristic nostalgia, “Out of the Past” sees Wayne making peace with his regrets and embracing whatever the future holds for him, giving the audience just a glimpse of what an in-his-prime Batman would have been like if he teamed up with his Beyond successor.

25. “Rebirth, Parts 1-2”

It’s admittedly a cheat to put the first two episodes of Batman Beyond at the top of the list. Still, considering how off-kilter the initial premise is, the Batman Beyond premiere could have either made or broken the entire series. The two-parter opener succeeds with an alarming amount of ease, setting up the world of Neo-Gotham, where Terry McGinnis begins his journey to become Batman and his budding relationship with the retired Bruce Wayne.

The pacing remains remarkable, going through Bruce Wayne’s final night as Batman to Terry McGinnis’ first with enough breathing room to establish how much and little has changed in 2039 Gotham City. As an introduction to a bold new Batman, “Rebirth” remains a strong masterstroke of creativity and easily the best of all Batman Beyond episodes.