Batman vs. Robin A Knockout at WonderCon

Batman vs. Robin is the latest arrival from the DC Animated Universe, and it premiered before a packed arena in the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday night (April 3) at WonderCon 2015. The audience response to the film after it ended was wildly enthusiastic, and with good reason: this is solid animated superhero storytelling, sophisticated and character-driven, but with plenty of action and comic book imagery to please hardcore fans.

The movie is a direct sequel to Son of Batman, which premiered here last year, and picks up as Bruce Wayne/Batman (a returning Jason O’Mara) struggles to be a father to his son by Talia al Ghul, Damian (Stuart Allan, also back from the previous film), who’s also the new Robin. Being commanding isn’t enough -- he needs to show the boy the kind of love and compassionate guidance that a parent can provide but which might be a problem for a tormented vigilante.

[Related: Batman vs. Robin Exclusive Trailer]

Unfortunately that process is fractured by the Court of Owls, the secret society that has influenced or controlled politics, finances and crime for centuries in Gotham City and has set its sights on bringing Damian over to its side, while ridding Gotham of the Dark Knight once and for all. The Court of Owls was created in the comics by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo, and they are a fantastic adversary for the Caped Crusader -- it’s not just one villain but a braintrust of them, many of whom are possibly respectable figures in Gotham during the day.

The idea of Batman battling the power structures of Gotham on two levels is a fascinating one that could extend to several stories, but this one focuses largely on the battle for Damian’s soul. While the plot points play out pretty much as you’d expect, they still work, and the characters come through even if some of the dialogue is clunky enough that you practically see the word balloons forming in the air.

The movie’s final third is largely devoted to a battle on three fronts that finds Nightwing and even Alfred getting in on the action. But the payoff is satisfying and true to the central relationship -- between Bruce and Damian -- that drives the story. One warning: the movie is, by animated standards, particularly violent and dark. DC is clearly making these animated films as PG-13 titles now, aimed at older audiences. There were a lot of little kids in the audience at WonderCon but parents of smaller Batfans should probably proceed with some caution.

While huge questions hover over the future of DC’s live-action cinematic universe (many of which will start to be answered when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opens less than a year from now), the animated realm keeps consistently bringing out quality installments. WonderCon enjoyed the hell out of Batman vs. Robin, and you probably will too.

Batman vs. Robin arrives April 14 on Blu-ray, DVD and digital HD.