BATMAN THE ANIMATED ADVENTURES: Showing Empathy

It is no exaggeration to say that Batman: The Animated Adventures became a big part of the childhood of many a Batman fan. The animation, crossovers, voice acting, storytelling and characters all weaved together into a narrative that ended up becoming what to many would be the ultimate despiction of Batman, remaining in the minds of its fans forever.

In fact, Harley Quinn, Joker's famous sidekick/victim, debuted in this show, and gained enough popularity to be ported into the comics. As many have pointed out, he is a mix of different eras of Batman: he broods, but he is also a parental figure. He jokes, but not enough for it to not be Batman anymore. He is far kinder that some would expect, understanding that Harley is more than a victim than a villain, and that she just needs help. This is a Batman that remembers that his enemies are not just villains, but people who need help and can be saved. He even helps Harley realize that Joker doesn't love her, as when she gets the closest anyone has ever gotten to killing Batman, Joker gets angry at her, despite her doing it out of love for him. This Batman is not just someone who wants to go out every night to fight crime: He is someone who wants to help people, help them get back on the right path, and do good.