Batwheels (Cartoon Network/HBOmax)

Pretty lame, even for this show. The songs were cute though. 2 1/2 stars.

I am sure there are plenty of purists griping that Robin is a person of color on this show now and is an example of wokeness gone amuck. But see, I think that's a good thing. That means he is NOT Damian Wayne. Can't you just take the fact that this specific corner of the DC Multiverse is Damianless as the HUGE gift it actually is? Stop complaining about good things. 3 1/2 stars.

That was super dumb and weirdly adorable at the exact same time. This show in a nutshell. 4 stars.

At first glance, it pisses me off. Batwing is essentially making a social media post, not only revealing the closely guarded secret than she and the other Batwheels can talk, but the actual damn location of the Batcave!

As the short went on, it becomes clear this "post" is solely for BC and the other Batwheels, and is a mission report of sorts. I find the idea that the show is using the spirit of a social media influencer in the premise, but holding true to the spirit of the secret and the rules in the execution is great. I find that unbelievably clever. Mostly because most preschool shows simply don't care enough about the premise to bother to do that. If you asked me before this short if the Batwheels cartoon had narrative integrity, I'd have said no. Now, I think it does, and this short is the receipt for that.

Yes, the show is often dumb. That doesn't stop it from eating Spidey And His Amazing Friends' lunch every damn episode. 4 stars.

The show often has poor writing and sloppy and obvious toddler morals. But what I don't think the show gets enough credit for is a strength more preschool shows should have, but don't. The original songs are quite often great. They aren't all as great as this one here, but usually even the least memorable of them is a hummably pleasant earworm compared to other songs on other shows for this age-group. Great kiddie songs in a preschool show are rare. It's amazing this show does that specific thing right better than any other current toddler show. 4 1/2 stars.

I usually like the musical numbers on the show but I didn't like this one. It's done as a tribute to 50's beach movies and the problem is it sounds exactly like them. It's not an homage, it's a generic copy. It doesn't sound like it's own thing, which is a failing. 1 1/2 stars.

Kind of miffed we didn't get to see the cape and mask by the end.

Also, Batman keeps random Bat-dog-collars in his utility belt? If you ask me that crosses the line from totally prepared for anything to completely insane. It make Bat-Shark-Repellent seem outright rational by comparison.

The cars talk but Ace doesn't. Weird show. 2 1/2 stars.

Jestah questions the logic of Bibi being willing to help her since they aren't exactly on the same team. Bibi says that doesn't matter in this circumstance. I disagree. Bibi and the Batwheels deciding to repair Harley Quinn's getaway car is the definition of mattering. They shouldn't be doing it.

While we're talking crap they shouldn't be doing, why are they taking Jestah to the secret location of the Batcave? 2 stars.

I'd say this was a REALLY inferior version of Poison Ivy, but thinking back on all the interpretations I've ever seen, the one on "Harley Quinn" is really the only one I like. They aren't wrecking a character high in my esteem. Not at all.

Ace needs his cape, mask, and cowl. Now please.

The song sucked. It doesn't always.

Eh. 2 1/2 stars.

I like that they remembered to make Snowy a reluctant villain. They don't always remember to do that. I like that he still likes Buff.

I love that they had vocalists harmonize the instrumental theme song during the climax and at the end.

Batwing is kinda annoying.

A cute one. 3 1/2 stars.

That was awesomely delightful.

Yes, this show routinely delivers turkeys. But I value it and poop on Spidey And His Amazing Friends because it occasionally does stuff like this and Spidey never does.

Let us itemize the awesomesauce.

Normally I frown on dead actors' likenesses and archival footage being used posthumously. You really think Gene and Grace Kelly wanted to be last remembered for selling vacuum cleaners? The difference here is Adam West genuinely loved being Batman. Despite the role typecasting him, and causing work to dry up for him for decades, he was proud of it and tickled by how many fans he made. Every other live-action Batman I can think of seems embarrassed of the role in hindsight. Every return to the franchise is wearily done with caveats for that reason. It was like pulling teeth for all of them. West, no matter what, was always game. The only other actor who loved being Batman as much as he did was probably Kevin Conroy. But I think if someone told Adam he'd still be playing a version of the character years after he died the idea would thrill and amuse him. I'm not just using that as a b.s. justification to feel better about a practice I think is usually shady. I actually believe it.

Batman 66 stuff:

Crazily, they somehow managed to make Adam's dotted eyes and smile look exactly like Adam West's. No clue how they possibly pulled that off, but they did.

We heard the sound effects but didn't see the word panels. Preschool show, understandable. Like many of Batman 66's similar VFX failures, I accepted it, because I Got What They Were Going For.

Climbing up the building and Green Arrow popping out of a window is also a must.

And of course while the Batman 66 theme isn't played (I assumed because of rights issues with Fox) they Batwheels theme itself was a bit "da na na na na na naed" up a bit during the episode itself.

It's not just that this show is always eating Spidey's lunch that pisses me off. It's that they make it so damn effortless. It's not even because it seems that. It's because making a decent preschool should actually be this simple. The fact that Spidey is terrible is a conscious choice Disney made that I think is both stupid and unnecessary. If they wanted to, that show could easily be good. Batwheels is the proof. 5 stars.

I agree with Poison Ivy. Puns for Batman do not work.

The episode was cheesy, but it's preschool, so that's okay.

I liked the bright colorful flashing lights.

Poison Ivy apparently has Spider-Man's webshooters.

Cute! 3 1/2 stars.

That was totally predictable, but not in the satisfying way I like. It was in the annoying way I don't. 2 stars.

It was all right but nothing special. 2 1/2 stars.

The song is pretty good.

One joke I like is when Penguin tells the little penguins not to attack Batman until they see the whites in his eyes he remembers the whites of his eyes are all anyone ever sees! Ha! The cartoon domino masks are a canon thing, as dumb as they are! 3 stars.

Interesting (My highest compliment).

The most interesting and unpredictable thing about it to me is the fact that the body swapping is not an accident, or something that needs to be put right. All of the Batwheels are eager to try it, the experiment is deliberate, and the Batwheels are allowed to change back when they want to. And I'll tell you why I appreciated it going so far outside the standard premise of the trope. For me, the notion of body swapping doesn't sound like an ordeal. It sounds like a gas. I would LOVE the notion of spending a few days in somebody else's shoes, especially a person of a different gender. Body swapping episodes are always treated like these huge hassles and complications. In reality it sounds fun as a hell.

"I'm Batman." Gee, Jestah, who are YOU trying to be?

I love that when Bam catches Snowy, he smiles. Nice touch.

Bad things? THIS is why I was complaining about the villains knowing the location of the Batcave. That! That!

Fun episode. 4 stars.

The song is sappy but the video is kind of cute. 3 stars.

Meet The Batwheels "Jet Set"

This was TOO sappy however. 2 stars.

Both the song and the clips feel a bit pedestrian. Not only has the show done better, so have these silly promo cartoons. 1 1/2 stars.

Awful. They actually had a character say "These banana peels are making me slip and slide." Out loud. Embarrassing.

Speaking of which Nightbike's voice is annoying,. And they never explained how he came to life.

If Nightwing is a thing, then who is Robin?

Lousy. 1 star.

Hey, I just noticed Ace is in the main title now!

It was a cute episode. 3 stars.

Kitty is a little too adorable to be allowed.

The song was great too. 4 stars.

It's all right but the idea that Buff isn't mad because Red Bird told him the truth is a poor lesson to give toddlers, because it's patently untrue. This is a problem for ALL preschool shows, but kiddie cartoons always give toddlers an inaccurate read of how P.O.-ed friends and loves ones will be if you mess up, particular messing up against THEM. Even being honest won't always make them instantly forgive it. In fact, it almost never will. 2 1/2 stars.

I like this better when it was called "Flubber".

Never mind. I don't know why I just said that. 2 1/2 stars.

Seriously? There is only ONE road between Gotham and Star City? How does that work exactly?

You know what? It doesn't work. It's super dumb.

The song is kind of bouncy though. A jaunty tune. 1 1/2 stars.

Eh. Tolerable. But is that really the bar? 2 1/2 stars.

Of course Grundy is a Monster Truck. Weirdly, it's Grundy himself who is the truck. Normally the truck would be Solomon Grundy's.

Good toddler moral too. That'll teach the sprogs to fly right. 3 1/2 stars.

So I'm wondering what Batman will think when he sees all his vehicles bedazzled. On any other show his reaction would be "What the fuck?"

Sharing the paint was the right idea, although if I were Redbird and Bibi, I would have made the case that THEY should get the paint because they are small enough that there would be enough to cover both of them.

The song blows. Doesn't always, but it did this episode. 3 stars.

I have been very clear in previous reviews that there is value in predictable fiction. Seeing a story turn out the precise way it SHOULD turn out can be both enjoyable and comforting to the viewer.

But if the thing you are offering is NOTHING but predictability, the enjoyment is nil. The story hit every beat "correctly", but I'm still underwhelmed.

If they REALLY wanted to surprise me, when Bibi asked how things could have gotten any worse, instead of Batman on the elevator, it shoulda been Lenny and Squiggy.

They used a Sorcerer's Apprentice soundalike, which is sort of strange because the song itself is public domain. But Fantasia is not (yet) so they were probably just covering their story bases.

Kind of annoying. 2 stars.

When Prank asks where they get these wonderful toys, that's essentially the entire point. All these things would make great toys. That being said, I don't see the Batwheels Toyline keeping up. So far, it's been kind of basic. None of this nuts Mecha stuff is likely to hit the Big Box shelves.

The animation in the action sequences was superb. I should note that because as a toddler show, it doesn't always have legit fight sequences. I thought it was boarded quite well.

Half-hour Batwheels episode! 4 stars.

This episode is set before the previous episode. They should have aired it first.

Maurice Lamarche as Egghead is channeling Vincent Price.

That being said, Egghead was the wrong villain for the episode. Or at least they used the wrong gimmick for him. The Batwheels are trying to prevent him from destroying a giant egg, and they defeat him using... a giant, lumbering dinosaur Mecha? That thing would have accidentally broken the egg in any other cartoon scenario. Absolute wrong premise for that. 2 1/2 stars.

Ace IS pretty cute. 3 stars.

Kitty continues to be Too-Cute.

It seems like a major plothole and oversight that the Legion of Zoom knows where the Batcave is. Am I the only one bothered by this? 2 1/2 stars.

New Rule: If I ever hear a cartoon use the line, "What's happening? I can't stop dancing!" it gets an automatic fail grade.

Sounds fair. 1 star.

Modern cartoons have a lot of autism sensitivity and this is the first kids cartoon I've seen explore the fear of loud noises. I don't think the cartoon ENTIRELY gets it. Speaking as an autistic person, yes, I am scared of loud noises. But their scariness and making me jump are not the only reason I hate them. They hurt my ears. I am in literal pain as they occurring. A kid with a problem with loud noises can't just say "Is what is making that loud noise actually scary?" For many kids, it's the noise itself that's the problem, not whatever's making it.

I love The Penguin TV show, but it's still nice to see a cartoon Penguin not dropping bodies and f-bombs.

Nightbike's wings are super neat.

It's good for talking about a real fear for kids that is never discussed. But I think it's searching for solution to the problem, where none exists. If anything, the other Batwheels are the ones who need to be mindful of this. And that's perhaps not the best moral for a show about a group of vrooming cars. 2 1/2 stars.

I liked how the Atom JUST realized he needs a lock on the belt. I also liked him describing what sized foods he likes at different sizes.

Atom mentions Alfred. Why haven't we seen him in the Batcave yet? That's pretty much where every incarnation of Alfred is stationed.

The ending was a little pat. Yeah, yeah, toddler cartoon. But still. Pat. 3 1/2 stars.

I just noticed for the first time that Joker has a red nose. Is that weird? That strikes me as weird.

But.. But... Joaquin Phoenix! You are actually helping my argument there.

Does Redbird have a new voice? Maybe the old actor aged out of the role.

I'm wondering why Redbird didn't use the camouflage when they played hide and seek in the last episode. He had no problem using it here.

The episode is about the fact that heroes don't need fame, gratitude, or recognition to do their jobs. But can I be real? It helps. A LOT. If you have a person in your life you appreciate, let them know. For all you know all of the wonderful things they have done are hard. Yes, I'm aware heroes should not be in this for fame or praise. But not being recognized DOES take an emotional toll on people. Be mindful of that. 3 stars.

The Magic Pumpkins are cute.

"You gotta be pumkidding me." Okay, I like that line. I am not a snob.

I like the song.

Zucchini, Ivy? Really? How would that fit the Halloween motif? I might be a snob about DUMB lines.

Have we actually seen Alfie the bat before? I don't actually remember him. If he WAS seen previously, the name seems sort of like a consolation prize to Alfred not being on the show. But the Atom revealed a couple of episodes ago Alfred IS on the show (if offscreen). Now a bat named Alfie is just weird.

Meh. My snob is winning over my nonsnob. 2 1/2 stars.

Neat to give the main title a Kansas / Oz motif.

Oh, the live-action footage from the movie is great. THAT'S WB corporate synergy for you!

The Ruby Tires! Nice!

No, not THAT Scarecrow. Don't expect him to show up in a toddler show.

Cuteness and silliness. 4 stars.