#Arnold Stromwell
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Batman: The Animated Series - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles
Arnold Stromwell
Arnold Stromwell was a successful mobster who controlled the Gotham criminal underworld with an iron first for many years. He got his start in illegal narcotics and quickly moved onto extortion, theft, prostitution and racketeering. He owned numerous legitimate front companies that enabled him to launder his ill gotten gains and live a lavish lifestyle. Stromwell’s near obsession with being rich and powerful stemmed from his growing up poor and a tragic incident where he was almost hit by a train and his brother lost his leg in saving him.
As he grew older, Stromwell had to fight off many younger and more vicious mobsters who were constantly jockeying to encroach on his territory and operations. None more so than Rupert Thorne, whose organization posed the greatest threat to the aged mobster’s hold on power.
It was during his war with Thorne that Stromwell’s son went missing and he was convinced that Thorne’s men had abducted him. Batman offered to assist Stromwell on the condition that he turn states evidence against Thorne. Not wanting to be a rat, Stromwell refused Batman’s offer and tried to negotiate for his son’s release on his own.
Thorne tried to kill Stromwell and Batman had to save him. It was then that Batman revealed to Stromwell that his son was actually being cared for at a free clinic where he was being treated for severe drug addiction. Furthermore, it was Stromwell’s own drug operation that had led to his son getting hooked.
After reconciling with his brother, Stromwell agreed to work with District Attorney Harvey Dent in building a case against Rupert Thorne. Thorne was ultimately able to beat the rap (temporarily) and Stromwell was sentenced to prison, but his son survived and the hardened gangster finally achieved a peace of mind.
Actor Eugene Roche voiced Arnold Stromwell, with the character appearing in the sixth episode of the first season of Batman: The Animated Series, ‘It’s Never Too Late.’
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Robin's Reckoning (Who knew he could get so dark?)
[All images are owned by DC Comics and Warner Bros Discovery. I hope I’m too small-fry to sue...]
Before I dive into this review, I want to mention a few things I realized as I was deciding to do this story from Batman TAS…
Robin has been with the series from the beginning! Well, starting in the second episode (which was also the debut of Mark Hamill as the Joker). I originally thought he started late in the series since he’s only been in a handful of episodes.
While nearly everyone knows the origins of every major super hero out there, not as much attention is given to the sidekicks. I mean sure, most people know the origin of Robin (that is, Dick Grayson; I’m not sure how many know Jason Todd’s or Tim Drake’s origins as Robin), but how many know the comic canon origins of Bucky Barnes, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, or Speedy (hell, I’m not sure I know Speedy’s origin!)
Which brings us to the subject of this review. If you would like to watch the two-part story, the episodes are available on Max or behind your favorite paywall.
We open to Batman and Robin staking out a high-rise construction site waiting for an extortion ring intent on destroying the site.
…and Robin is bored out of his skull, since they’ve been waiting for 4 hours.
Finally they show and Batman wants to go in slowly.
(Gotta love the impatience of youth)
The Dynamic Duo make short work of them (and somehow manage to not send any falling to their doom). Two of the three escape…
…leaving the third hanging. Batman threatens to leave the thug (whose grip is slipping) behind unless he tells who his boss is.
Robin wants to know where to find Marin, but Batman puts the brakes on, telling Robin to get a coffee the Batmobile. As soon as Robin leaves…
It’s at this point most older viewers start realizing this isn’t Adam West we’re dealing with.
Later at the Batcave, Batman decides to bench Robin on the Marin case.
Robin is understandably pissed as Batman leaves without him. Later, he starts venting to Alfred.
Robin then access the Bat-Computer to find out what Batman knows about Marin.
Wait a minute, Zucco can’t be Sid the Squid! Sid the Squid killed Batman!
This triggers a flashback to 9 years ago, when Dick Grayson was part of the Haly Brothers Circus…
…as a member of the Flying Graysons with his parents.
Young Dick saw the owner, Jack Haly, kick Tony Zucco out of his trailer when Zucco attempted to extort the circus.
However, that night…
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(Thanks to Batman: The Animated Series)
So Bruce, in disguise, attempted to get info about Zucco. One of the thugs got suspicious and started asking questions of his own. Realizing the jig was up, Bruce made short work of the thugs…
…then quickly changed into his “power suit”. The goon quickly told Batman Zucco’s hiding with his uncle, Arnold Stromwell.
Later that evening, Batman paid Stromwell a visit.
Batman demanded to know where Zucco is, but Stromwell played ignorant and kicked Batman out…
…but not before putting a bug in the room.
After he realized it’s safe to come out, Zucco started gloating, which pretty much pissed off Stromwell.
Stromwell disowned Zucco and threw him out, which was what Batman was waiting for…
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(Thanks again to Batman: The Animated Series)
Well, that’s not foreboding! I mean, we all know he’ll eventually quit and become Nightwing, but the series is still in season 2 at this point! We’ll have to see how this plays out by clicking that “next episode” button.
We open with Robin tracking the Batmobile (you’d think Batman would’ve thought to shut it off if he didn’t want Robin involved…
…Oh, he did)
This leads to another flashback, this time with young Dick learning fencing from Bruce.
Let’s just say Dick was a better acrobat than fencer. Then Lt. Gordon showed up to discuss Zucco. Dick eavesdropped.
That night, Dick snuck out of Wayne Manor to find Zucco before he could escape. He then canvassed the residents of the seedier parts of Gotham asking around about Zucco, but coming up empty until…
…he spotted a local pimp thug having issues with one of his…female employees. Dick lent a hand and he and the “lady” made their escape.
Later at a nearby diner, she showed her appreciation by buying Dick dinner. The waitress actually saw Zucco and pointed Dick to an abandoned warehouse (naturally) Dick rushed there and saw…
…Zucco packing his things for a long trip. Unfortunately, he made just enough noise for Zucco to notice and…
Fortunately, Batman arrived on the scene and knocked Zucco away. Unfortunately…
Batman saved Dick’s life, but Zucco got away. Batman took Dick to the Batcave and asked how badly Dick wanted Zucco. Then…
Thus began Dick Grayson’s career as a crime fighter.
Back in the present, Robin continues his search for Zucco.
Robin overhears a news report on Batman’s capture of the thug in part 1 (remember him?), as well as his address, so he goes there and breaks in. He tosses the place looking for Zucco’s address. Then he finds the phone and it’s one of those new-fangled ones with last number redial (remember this is the early 90s. Cell phones were just starting to hit the marketplace at this point) He puts a tracer on the phone and dials.
“Gotcha!”
At Zucco’s hideout, Zucco is getting paranoid and is pretty much jumping at shadows. He hears a noise in the ceiling and…
Zucco empties the Tommy gun into the ceiling. His gang says he’s losing it, but then…
(How the hell did Zucco not hit him if he was on top of the area Zucco weakened by filling it with bullet holes?)
Unfortunately the fall twisted Batman’s knee! Zucco has Batman dead in his sights! Unfortunately for him…
…he emptied the gun into the ceiling. Batman throws a smoke bomb and limps out. While Zucco and his gang regroup, Batman ties a makeshift brace for his injured leg. Batman takes out one of the thugs, but that sends the rest his way!
Meanwhile, Robin is rushing to kill Zucco join the fight.
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(Thanks to The Night Beyond)
[QUICK NOTE: The original run of this episode had Batman using the makeshift crutch, but Bruce Timm didn’t like how vulnerable it made Batman look, so they re-animated it for future airings and DVD release]
Now I just need to find origins for the other sidekicks. Hope you enjoyed!
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(Literary License Podcast)
Be A Clown
Mayor Hamilton Hill's miserable son, Jordan, becomes even sadder when his father uses his birthday party as a political gathering rather than a normal celebration, and ends up stowing away in the truck of the party clown hired by Hill for the party, whom he doesn't know is actually the Joker in disguise. It is now up to Batman, whom Mayor Hill distrusts, to rescue the boy before it is too late.
Two Face Part 1
Mobster Rupert Thorne attempts to use Harvey Dent's secret split personality to blackmail him. But when Dent meets with Thorne at a chemical plant, "Big Bad Harv" takes over, and the resulting confrontation leads to an explosion that horribly scars half of Dent's face and his entire body.
Two Face Part 2
Harvey Dent, now calling himself Two-Face, resurfaces and starts robbing Rupert Thorne's illegal businesses, preparing for a final confrontation with the crime boss, and Batman must stop his former friend before he and Thorne kill each other.
It’s Never Too Late
A mob war between crime bosses Rupert Thorne and Arnold Stromwell is nearing its end, and comes to a climax when Stromwell is set up to be killed in an exploding restaurant by Thorne. Batman saves him at the last moment, and aided by Stromwell's brother (now a priest who lost his leg years before, an accident for which Stromwell carries a secret guilt), tries to persuade him to give up his life of crime and help the police bring Thorne down by testifying against him.
Opening Credits; Introduction (1.29); Amazing Design Advertisement (45.31); Episode One: Be A Clown (46.42); Episode Two: Two-Face Part 1 (1:02.15); Episode Three: Two-Face Part 2 (1:23.59); Episode Four: It’s Never Too Late (1:48.34); Favourite Character (2:15.33); Favourite Episode (2:30.03); Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel (2:34.11); Closing Credits (2:35.46)
Opening Credits– Batman Animated Theme by Danny Elfman. Copyright 1992 Warner Music
Closing Credits: It’s Never Too Late by Kylie Minogue. Taken from the album Enjoy Yourself. Copyright 1989 PWL Records
Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast.
Incidental Music: Batman: The Animated Series by Shirley Walker. Copyright 1995 Warner Music International.
All rights reserved. Used with Kind Permission.
All songs available through Amazon Music.
#SoundCloud#music#Literary License Podcast#Batman The Animated Series#Richard Moll#Kevin Conroy#Katherine Helmond
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'Batman: The Long Halloween - Part 1' limited edition bluray steelbook.
Special features include:
Justice Society: World War II - Consumer Trailer HD
Batman: Soul of the Dragon - Consumer Trailer HD
Batman: Death in the Family - Consumer Trailer HD
A Sneak Peek at the Next Animated DC Universe Movie, Batman: The Long Halloween Part Two - The saga continues as Batman desperately hunts the Holiday killer and Harvey Dent comes face to face with his worst nightmare.
DC Showcase: The Loser
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series: "Christmas With The Joker" - After escaping Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve, the Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city for a crime. He challenges Batman and Robin to find his hidden TV studio and free his hostages – Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock and Summer Gleeson – before midnight.
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series: "It's Never Too Late" - A mob war between crime bosses Rupert Thorne and Arnold Stromwell is nearing its end when Batman saves Stromwell and tries to persuade him to give up his life of crime and help the police bring Thorne down by testifying against him.
On sale now through Zavvi.
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Duke Reviews TV: Batman: The Animated Series 1x12 It's Never Too Late
Hello, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Duke Reviews TV Where We Continue Our Look At Batman: The Animated Series By Talking About Episode 12 Of Season 1, It's Never Too Late...
When The Gang War Between Rival Mob Bosses Arnold Stromwell And Rupert Thorne Reaches It's Climax, Batman Senses An Opportunity To End It Peacefully By Convincing Stromwell To Retire...
Will Stromwell Retire And End This War?
Let's Find Out As We Watch It's Never Too Late...
The Episode Starts In The Estate Of Aging Crime Boss, Arnold Stromwell As He Watches The News As A Story On The Worsening Conflict Between Himself And Rupert Thorne Airs, But That's Not Why He's Watching...
He's Watching For Hope That There's Word About His Missing Son, Joey Who's Been Gone For Days And Though Him And His Son Were Estranged Stromwell Is Convinced That Thorne Is Behind Joey's Kidnapping...
So, He Orders His Men To Set Up A Meeting With Thorne. However, Batman Hears Thorne Say That He Plans To Assassinate Stromwell After He Receives His Message...
But Wait A Minute...
Wasn't Thorne Arrested In The Last Episode? I Thought Two Face Had Enough On Thorne To Ruin Him...
I Know People Are Going To Say "Thorne Most Likely Had His High Powered Attorneys Drop Two Face's Evidence Because He's A Criminal And Criminals Can't Be Trusted" And To Those People I Say...
It Was Still Legal Evidence Which Had Everything Illegal Thorne Ever Did And It Should Have Been Enough To Put Him Away For Life, So In Other Words His Appearance In This Episode Is Completely Pointless..
And Even If He Could Be Able To Weasel His Way Out Of This They Should Have Waited To Have Him Again As They Just Had Him On And Having Him On Again After Knowing That He Should Be In Jail...
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But Back To The Story...
On His Way To The Meeting, Stromwell Passes An Old Train Yard Where He Has A Flashback Of Himself And His Brother, Michael When They Were Kids...
Walking Home On The Railroad Tracks, A Train Soon Comes That Forces Michael To Dive Out Of The Way, Arnold's Foot Gets Stuck On The Tracks Eventually Getting Free, He Jumps Onto Another Track Where Another Train Is Coming..,
Freezing With Fear We....
Cut Back To Stromwell, Who Shakes Off The Flashback Before Entering A Deli Owned By Thorne For The Meeting...
Great Choice, They Have A Dirtbag Sandwich With A Side Of A Sleezeball Salad That's To Die For...
Meanwhile At A Church, Batman Visits An Elderly Priest To Ask For His Help With Stromwell, But With A Sigh, He Says That Stromwell Is Someone He Wishes He Could Let Go Of, But Batman Still Encourages The Priest To Help...
Back At The Deli, Thorne Acts Affable, But Stromwell Still Seizes Thorne And Questions Him About The Whereabouts Of His Son, However, Thorne Swears That He Had Nothing To Do With Joey's Disappearance...
However, When Stromwell Calms Down After Thorne Says That, Thorne And The Deli Owner Run Out Back As A Bomb Explodes Inside The Deli But Luckily Stromwell Is Saved By Batman, Who Tells Him To Give Up His Criminal Ways And Turn State's Evidence...
But Acting Defiant, Batman Decides To Take Stromwell On A Little Tour...
As Police Investigate The Bombing, A Hobo Tells Gordon That He Saw Batman Save Stromwell, With One Of Thorne's Thugs Overhearing That, He Informs Thorne Who Worries That Stromwell Will Testify Against Him And His Associates, So, Thorne Orders A Manhunt For Both Stromwell And Batman...
The First Place Batman Takes Stromwell Is His Old Neighborhood Where He Started His Career As A Drug Peddler...
After That, They Go To The Sunrise Foundation, A Drug Rehabilitation Center Where Stromwell Is Shocked To Discover His Estranged Wife, Connie (Played By The Late Katherine Helmond) Who Is With His Son Joey, Who Is Suffering From Severe Drug Withdrawal Pains...
Stromwell Rages On This But Is Brought Up Short When Connie Reveals It Was One Of Stromwell's Own Drug Dealers That Got Joey Addicted And It Was Batman Who Rescued Him And Alerted Her...
Why Not Point A Finger At The Guy And Just Go...
Realising He's Been Cut To The Quick, Stromwell Agrees To Hand Over Files Incriminating Not Only Himself But Thorne To Batman But When Stromwell Gives Batman The Files At An Empty Office, They're Revealed To Be Dummies And That...
Grabbing A Gun While Batman Was Looking At The Fake Files, He Says That He Won't Go Down So Easy And That Once He's Done With Thorne, He'll Rescue Joey From The Rehab Center, But Stromwell Finds That Him And Batman Have Company As Thorne And His Gang Attack Them..
But While Batman Subdues Thorne's Gang, Stromwell Runs With Thorne Right Behind Him. Eventually Finding Himself At The Old Rail Yard,b Stromwell Remembers The Rest Of The Flashback...
Where The Other Train Is Just About To Hit Arnold, His Brother, Michael Pushes Arnold Out Of The Way As The Train Roars Over Him As Arnold Screams His Name Over And Over Again Just As Arnold Is Doing Now...
But When A Voice Tells Him That He's There, The Old Priest Enters And Is Revealed To Be Michael, Who Survived The Incident But Sadly Lost A Leg Doing So...
Out Of Guilt For What Happened, Arnold Refuses Michael's Offer Of Help Only To Be Reminded Of The Current State Of His Dismal Life...
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(Start At 2:02, End At 2:53)
But Thorne Isn't So Sentimental As He Intends On Killing Both Arnold And Michael But Batman Interpheres, Subduing Thorne. With Police Arriving At The Scene, Stromwell Prepares To Give Them A Statement As Batman Walks Away Into The Night, Ending Our Episode...
And That's It's Never Too Late And It's An Okay Episode...
The Story Is Well Written And It Does Have A Christmas Carol Sort Of Vibe But It's Not Among My Favorites, Call It A Preference To Episodes With Supervillains But It's Interesting I Will Say That So, I Say See It..,
Till Next Time, This Is Duke, Signing Off...
#batman the animated series#BTAS#Kevin Conroy#Robert Costanzo#Bob Hastings#Townsend Coleman#paul dooley#katherine helmond#john vernon#dc animated universe#DCAU
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One Step Closer
read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/26031883
by Mykael
“Carmine Falcone, Luigi Maroni, Franco Bertinelli, Stefano Mandragora, Arnold Stromwell, Rupert Thorne,” Black Mask started listing off, staring down at his desk. He looked up at Li and his men, his expression darkening “all some of the most prolific Crime Lords in Gotham History. I defeated them all, made my way to the top. The only thing left in my way now, is the Red Fuckin’ Hood. For twenty years we’ve fought. And yet here we are, still. I need something, anything to give me an edge over this prick,” Mask growled, fist clenching on his cane.
Words: 1232, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Series: Part 7 of Twinsverse
Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: M/M
Characters: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Roman Sionis, Joker (DCU), Original Children of Jason Todd, Original Male Character(s), Identical Twins - Character
Relationships: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd
Additional Tags: Crimes & Criminals, Organized Crime, Vigilantism, Angst, Drama, Emotional Manipulation, Kidnapping, Attempted Murder
read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/26031883
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What's your favorite episode of Batman the animated series? Sorry if you got asked this before
You know what, I don’t think anyone has.
And this is going to be hard.
Hmmmmm.
I would say It’s Never Too Late.
I’ve talked about this before but one of the reasons I think BTAS is the best Batman media is because it gets one important fact about Batman right: Batman cares. In this episode, we see trying to HELP a mob boss. Basically, Arnold Stromwell is an aging mob boss and Batman needs his help putting Rupert Thorne, another mob boss, behind bars. I don’t want to spoil it but it’s just really good and full of heart.
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I went ahead and took the wiki episode list of batman the animated series and put it into an excel sheet so i could make my own little basic chart of the villains and how often they appear in those 85 episodes.
Now this is very basic and prone to error (since i literally only did a ctrl+f through the wiki) and subjectivity (i didn’t have penguin count for ‘The Trial’ due to lack of notable speaking lines) - However I’d like to go ahead and just post this because I was surprised at some of the results myself.
Most Featured Villains in B:TAS
Joker (13 episodes: 15.29%)
Harley Quinn, Rupert Thorne, & Two-Face (8 episodes: 9.41%)
Penguin (7 episodes: 8.24%)
Poison Ivy & Catwoman (6 episodes: 7.06%)
Roland Daggett, Killer Croc, & Mad Hatter (5 episodes: 5.88%)
Scarecrow, Riddler, Talia, & Ra's al Ghul (4 episodes: 4.71%)
Red Claw, H.A.R.D.A.C., & Ventriloquist (3 episodes: 3.53%)
Arnold Stromwell, Mr. Freeze, Clayface, Clock King, Tony Zucco, Kyodai Ken, Professor Milo, Gil Mason, & Boxy Bennett (2 episodes: 2.35%)
There are a remaining 27 villains who featured in only 1 episode (1.18%), such as Hugo Strange and Baby-Doll.
Fun Number Visualization Time!!
This is “141 Villain Appearances” over the 85 episodes, which averages out to 1.66 villains per episode.
I got a VERY theoretical 65.88% of episodes with 2 villains and 34.12% with 1 villain - but this is of course just a playful number because there are several outliers like ‘The Trial’ which has 9 villains counted. Still good for visualization though!
#batman the animated series#btas#batatalk#not gf#i honestly just felt like running some numbers#for fun - this isn't ENTIRELY accurate and some numbers are definitely skewed#for example: catwoman is counted in a few via description#and there are some descriptions that maybe SHOULD have included a villain's name#but did not
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Batman The Animated Series - ‘It's Never Too Late’ Review
"All your power and money has bought you an empire of misery."
And now for something (almost) completely different.
The makers of BTAS were determined that the show wouldn't be typical Saturday morning cartoon fare. They didn't want to just tell tried and tested stories about Batman foiling OTT supervillian schemes and delivering blunt moral lessons at the end of each episode. They wanted to tell, for lack of a better term, more grown up stories. Stories where the villains were complex and even a little sympathetic. 'It's Never Too Late' is not one of the series best episodes, but it is one of the best examples of exactly what Timm and his team wanted to do with the show.
A cross between A Christmas Carol and Angels with Dirty Faces (a film about a gangster and a priest who used to be childhood friends), this episode tells the story of Arnold Stromwell, an aging gangster locked in a bloody gang war with his younger rival, Rupert Throne. The war isn't going well for Stromwell and to make matters worse his only son has disappeared. Believing that Throne is responsible, Stromwell sets up a meeting so he can call a truce and get back his son.
But Throne, unsurprisingly, pulls a double-cross and tries to have Stromwell assassinated. Luckily a certain local vigilante with a knack for the theatrical is on hand to save him. Hoping to make Stromwell's heart grow two sizes so he'll turn and testify against the city's other mobsters, Batman takes on the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present and gives Stromwell a tour of Gotham so he can see first hand the damage his criminal empire has wrought upon the city.
This is an episode that deliberately eschews everything we associate with comic book stories. There are no maniacal supervillains nor a race against time to stop some diabolical plot that will destroy all of Gotham. Batman is the only comic book element in this story, and even he is used in an atypical fashion, acting more as a guardian angel than as a shadowy figure of vengeance and violence. His goal here isn't just to bring down the mob, but to also save one man's soul by making him see the error of his ways so that when he finally does the right thing he does so for the right reasons, not because he's shit scared of the creep in the cape.
I Know That Voice
Stromwell was voiced by Eugene Roche who played E. Ronald Mallou, Esq. on Soap, Bill Parker on Webster, and Luther H. Gillis on Magnum P.I. Michael was voiced by Paul Dooley, who played John Shirley on Grace Under Fire and Enabran Tain on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Stromwell's wife, Connie, was voiced by Katherine Helmond best known for playing Jessica Tate on Soap, Mona Robinson on Who's the Boss? and Ida Lowry in Brazil.
Notes and Quotes
--The music playing in the restaurant at the beginning is 'O sole mio by Giovanni Capurro, Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi.
--This is another episode that really pushed the boundary in what you could show in children's animation. Not only are there multiple references to drug dealing, something very taboo at the time, we even see a character who has become a junkie struggling with withdrawal.
--Pretty dumb of Stromwell to meet Thorne in a place he controlled rather than at a neutral location.
--Bruce has stepped up his undercover game since 'The Forgotten'.
Michael: "Arnold? That's one soul I wish I could give up on."
Stromwell: "I don't need your help!"
Michael: "Oh, is that a fact? An empire crumbling? A marriage shattered? A son lost? Sure, you're doing fine."
Two and a half out of four local vigilantes with a knack for the theatrical.
Mark Greig has been writing for Doux Reviews since 2011
#Batman#Batman The Animated Series#BTAS#DCAU#DC Comics#Batman The Animated Series Review#Doux Reviews#TV Reviews
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DCAU #13: It’s Never Too Late
“Darn shame, they made the best cannolis!”
Christmas With The Joker was the Christmas episode of the series, and it was so enjoyable as such partially because of how obnoxious parts of it were. Y’know, in a fun type of way, almost like watching Gremlins. But if I were to pitch a Batman TAS Christmas Episodes set to Warner Brothers, along with Heart Of Ice I’d also include this episode, because it felt like a crime drama version of A Christmas Carol. It’s a much more subdued, serious, heartfelt episode, and I think it could easily round out and contrast against the bright and colorful Joker episode.
Villain: Rupert Thorne
Robin: No
Writer(s): Tom Ruegger (story), Garin Wolf (teleplay)
Director: Boyd Kirkland
Animator: Spectrum
Airdate: September 10, 1992
Grade: A
I remember most episodes of this show very well I’d like to think. At least half of them. This was not one, to the level of this feeling like my first time watching it. The only bit I remembered was that it had something to do with drugs, which it did, although I expected a little bit more of a straight up “don’t do drugs” message for the kids. What we got was a dark, gothic, very adult story that does the “don’t do drugs” message in a way that anyone can enjoy, not even necessarily being the forefront. It’s an episode mainly about responsibility and admitting that change is sometimes necessary. The episode features a failed marriage, a dying son, PTSD, crime drama, and a complex character on top of that.
It’s also an episode that flows in a way where the viewer starts off a little bit confused, and gradually pieces to the plot are filled in one by one. By the time we reach the end, we know exactly what’s going on, who we’re rooting for, and this is all done with as little obvious exposition as possible. The episode does a great job at relying on our memory, not assuming that we have forgotten plot-points, even for the children watching. This is one thing that is so, so, so great about Batman The Animated Series. It’s not dumbed down. Yeah, it does have to manage to stay within censorship guidelines and be appropriate for all ages. But that is often as far into being for kids as the show strayed. Sometimes half the fun of some of our favorite shows is growing up and understanding what we’ve been watching even more. And kids are not completely void of understanding complex characters and feelings. People should be challenged and taught to question things, even at the average age of those who watched Fox cartoons. So while I think Two-Face is a better episode than It’s Never Too Late, I think that It’s Never Too Late may be the definitive episode when it comes to showing off this particular aspect of the show. No, it may not stick in our minds as much as a flashier episode. It may not be the darkest (it was really dark, though), the best-looking (it was really good-looking, though), or even the most entertaining (it was really entertaining, though), but I think if a compilation of, say, 5-10 episodes was put together to highlight individual strengths of the series one by one, this would be a not-so-obvious but really important inclusion.
As far as the technicals, I knew this was a Spectrum episode before I even looked it up. It just has that flavor to it that I can’t even really describe. P.O.V. was also done by this studio, as was On Leather Wings, and damn. People praise TMS’ work on the series (along with their work on other series) nonstop. But Spectrum is some tough competition, looking just as good so far. I almost couldn’t believe how great some of these shots looked. Especially the flashbacks to the train, and Batman pouncing on all of the thugs amidst the darkness. The train has this puff of fog that it breaks through to reveal itself that looks so dreamlike and mysterious, and it immediately sends me back to when one night I heard the night train from my apartment, put my shoes on, and ran over to the tracks just in time to see the tail end of it passing by. You feel like you’re there. Also the scene when Batman first talks to the priest was awesome looking too, appearing more spooky and noir than a lot of stuff we’ve seen so far. I’m hoping these guys ended up animating plenty more episodes! Of course, hats off to director Boyd Kirkland too!
On the writing side of things, I never would have guessed that Tom Ruegger would be the story guy for this one, particularly after seeing his last episode was the underwhelming Underdwellers. I don’t know if Bruce Timm took him outback and threatened him with his hulking muscles or what, but way to buck up and redeem yourself. We went from an episode about some weirdo with an eyepatch who lives in the sewer, keeps pet crocodiles, laughs maniacally, and makes children work for him to this episode. I think it’s safe to say that by this point, people were on the same page, and the kid gloves were weeded out. Well… Almost… Unfortunately we have next time’s episode to deal with, and I’m dreading this likely as much as you, the reader, are looking forward to it…
The detail in this episode was highly appreciated. What I mean by this are all of the little flourishes that I noticed to give this episode some seasoning mixed into the meatiness. One little thing was when Stromwell was stopped at the train track in his car, paralyzed with fear, I swear I could see the car trembling just as he would be on the inside. If you haven’t seen this episode (I do recommend seeing them before reading these posts, but you’ll do what you do, you goober), that might sound insufferably stupid, but it only added to what was already a very atmospheric scene. And I really don’t know, maybe it was actually just an animation mistake. But I prefer the term “happy little accident”. Another little detail? That weirdo that sees Batman and Stromwell escaping the blown up restaurant. He was awesome, and a nice moment of comic relief. Believe it or not, though, I did feel that he added something important aside from the “Whoa, heavy bbq action, man” quote (again, this is much less dumb when you watch the episode). He also mentions, “Whoa, he’s really out there!” when he notices Batman, and it goes further to show that to many, Batman is only a legend, with many people never having seen him. The average joe does not dare to walk the streets of Gotham City at night, and it’s mostly only criminals and a few select cops to experience more than mere hearsay. As one last detail, I noticed that Rupert Thorne figured Batman saved Stromwell merely to get information on all of the various underworld warriors that lurk in the shadows and warehouses of the city. And this is partially true, yes, but Rupert Thorne fails to realize Batman’s true motives and morals. But this is exactly what Batman wants. He wants to be seen as a feared, brutal, superhuman force that wants to do everything he can to rip the criminal scum apart. He wants to be intimidating. A black angel. Thorne likely figures that Batman in some ways is just as slimy as he is. Batman is not Superman, and looking like a goodie two-shoes boy scout would destroy his image.
These details do a lot to add to the already pretty delicious story that we have going on here, and as I said, it’s ultimately a tale of responsibility and being willing to admit irresponsibility and changing. Trying to rectify that too, of course. Arnold Stromwell is a stubborn man. But that makes sense. We see during flashbacks that even as a kid, he was still living a version of the life he lives in the present. It’s hard to say how it got that way. Maybe it was some friends in a bad neighborhood. Maybe it was his parents. Whatever the reason, growing up with a certain mindset and taught lifestyle can be difficult to overcome once you’re older. A real-life example is a lot of the old, racist bigots you find out there (not that they’re excused, but explained). This is a very similar situation, and right as you think that Stromwell’s mindset will be changed rather quickly (a dying son is pretty compelling, to be fair), he shows that it hasn’t at all, and he wants to take his son from the rehab center to personally make sure that his son gets better. This was pretty heavy, as Stromwell basically said that he didn’t at all believe in the power of the rehab center, a pretty questionable message to send to kids. But you also understand where he’s coming from. He’s a mobster that has been going against the law, selling drugs, and possibly using them since he was a kid. His son has been missing, and he assumed it was due to Thorne. Now, seeing his son, lying down in a bed seemingly fighting for his life, it can’t leave him thinking rationally. And living his whole life essentially taking care of himself in the way he did, yeah, someone like him probably would prefer to figuratively spit on the steps of the rehab building. He’s also in denial of his own impact on his son, and undoubtedly taking matters into his own hands to try and make this better would only end up leaving him digging a deeper hole. Yet, he still wants to prove that things aren’t his fault, and living the life he’s living will work out. This is a story of a man who needs to realize that what you live by can be challenged, much like how this show liked to challenge typical ideas that kids (and adults) may possess, and sometimes the responsible way to truly help is to work on yourself admit that the situation is not your expertise. This is also a story about doing the right thing, realizing your impact, and attempting to live the last years of your life a new man, much like Ebenezer Scrooge did that one Christmas morning.
Fire count: 7
Char’s grade: A
Next time: I’ve Got Batman In My Basement
Full episode list here!
#batman the animated series#batman tas#it's never too late#rupert thorne#dc animated universe#dcau#batman
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It's Never Too Late.
Aka the BTAS remake of Angels with Dirty Faces.
Story by Tom Ruegger. Teleplay by Garin Wolf. Directed by Boyd Kirkland.
Seeing brightly lit suburbia in a Batman cartoon is weird
Our first look at Arnold Stromwell. He doesn't look older than the white-haired Thorne.
Stromwell takes the role that, post-Year One, is usually given to Carmine Falcone. I don't know if Stromwell is from Bronze Age comics like Thorne is, though.
Father Michael, from a time before religious figures were automatically assumed to be sinister in fiction.
Arnold almost ends Thorne here.
He might not be willing to kill family, but Thorne is willing to violate a sit-down. There's no way that can bite him in the ass, right?
Crazy hermit guy!
Bullock, you're a twit.
Stromwell, Batman is really not a guy you want to play dumb with.
Arnold's kid managed to drop out of sight from both parents. I'm not sure if I'm impressed with Joey, or irritated with his parents.
Stromwell does not learn his lessons at all.
Sepia toned flashbacks probably weren't overused back then, but they sure are now.
How did Father Michael escape from getting run over by the train with only a missing leg?
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Batman: The Animated Series - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles
Rupert Thorne
A powerful and ruthless crime boss, Rupert Thorne muscled his way into the Gotham City and swiftly took control over a large section of the criminal underworld. Edging out former kingpins, Arnold Stromwell and Salvatore Valestra, Thorne’s enterprises ranged from narcotics to racketeering, money laundering, gambling and weapons smuggling. Although his criminal endeavors were well known to the public, the corruption within Gotham's justice system kept Thorne in his penthouse and the authorities off his back.
District Attorney Harvey Dent was determined to put an end to Thorne’s grip on the city. Dent’s dogged pursuit of Thorne became even more relentless as he was campaigning for reelection as District Attorney. Dent was getting close and Thorne became desperate to put a stop to it.
Thorne attempted to blackmail Dent after his agent had pilfered the medical notes from Dent’s psychiatrist. Dent was contending with rather severe psychological difficulties and Thorne threatened to expose this to the public unless Dent agreed to drop all investigations into his enterprises. Dent refused and a scuffle broke out wherein Dent was caught in an explosion that terribly scared half of his face. All this resulted in the creation of the villainous Two-Face. And Two-Face would prove an even greater threat to Rupert Thorne than Dent had ever been.
A new breed of criminal was encroaching on Thorne’s territory. Villains like Two-Face, The Penguin and The Joker were substantially cutting into his profit margins and The Batman was a near constant threat to his whole organization. Determined to wrestle back control, Thorne hired the mercenary known as Bane to break the Bat and ostensively reseat Thorne atop the criminal empire.
The plot failed, Batman triumphed over Bane and Thorne’s hold on power became even more tenuous. In desperate need of cash, Thorne agreed to pool resources with The Penguin and the mob enforcer Carlton Duquesne in a venture to sell high tech weapons to the war-torn nation of Kasnia.
The operation was taken down by Batman along with the mysterious new heroine, Batwoman. Duquesne was convinced to testify against Thorne and the once untouchable gangster was sentenced to life in prison at Stonegate Penitentiary.
The wonderfully intimidating John Vernon provided the voice for Rupert Thorne, with mobster first appeared in the sixth episode of the first season of Batman: The Animated Series, ‘It’s Never Too Late.’
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One Step Closer
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3j8y61X
by Mykael
“Carmine Falcone, Luigi Maroni, Franco Bertinelli, Stefano Mandragora, Arnold Stromwell, Rupert Thorne,” Black Mask started listing off, staring down at his desk. He looked up at Li and his men, his expression darkening “all some of the most prolific Crime Lords in Gotham History. I defeated them all, made my way to the top. The only thing left in my way now, is the Red Fuckin’ Hood. For twenty years we’ve fought. And yet here we are, still. I need something, anything to give me an edge over this prick,” Mask growled, fist clenching on his cane.
Words: 1232, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Series: Part 7 of Twinsverse
Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: M/M
Characters: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Roman Sionis, Joker (DCU), Original Children of Jason Todd, Original Male Character(s), Identical Twins - Character
Relationships: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd
Additional Tags: Crimes & Criminals, Organized Crime, Vigilantism, Angst, Drama, Emotional Manipulation, Kidnapping, Attempted Murder
read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3j8y61X
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by Mykael
“Carmine Falcone, Luigi Maroni, Franco Bertinelli, Stefano Mandragora, Arnold Stromwell, Rupert Thorne,” Black Mask started listing off, staring down at his desk. He looked up at Li and his men, his expression darkening “all some of the most prolific Crime Lords in Gotham History. I defeated them all, made my way to the top. The only thing left in my way now, is the Red Fuckin’ Hood. For twenty years we’ve fought. And yet here we are, still. I need something, anything to give me an edge over this prick,” Mask growled, fist clenching on his cane.
Words: 1232, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Series: Part 7 of Twinsverse
Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories: M/M
Characters: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Roman Sionis, Joker (DCU), Original Children of Jason Todd, Original Male Character(s), Identical Twins - Character
Relationships: Dick Grayson/Jason Todd
Additional Tags: Crimes & Criminals, Organized Crime, Vigilantism, Angst, Drama, Emotional Manipulation, Kidnapping, Attempted Murder
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Arnold Stromwell's beautiful family.
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Batman The Animated Series,Episode 12:It's Never Too Late
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