Batman Beyond: I Finally Figured It Out - Part 2a: Earth-12

Long-time readers will know that Batman Beyond has long been a thorn in my side. DC seems to really want the franchise around, but can't ever seem to figure out what they want to do with it, so it's been in continuity, outside continuity, in continuity but with Tim Drake as Batman...it's a headache.

However, recently I got the chance to read through every Batman Beyond series and I took copious notes to try to figure out how it should be represented on this site, and figured it out I did: there are actually three separate versions of the Batman Beyond world. In this three part post, I will describe the three versions and note the characters and concepts each one introduced. If the site has already talked about them, I'll link to that page. If not, I'll put in the new information. Here's Part 1 if you missed it; tomorrow will be Part 2b (Earth-12 from the Justice League's side), Thursday will be Part 3, and Part 4 will be on Friday.

Version 2: The Future of Earth-12
This version provides a clean break, in that it changes its name to Batman Beyond 2.0. But it's more than that. Suddenly Barbara Gordon can walk again, costumes (Nightwing's in particular) reflect their animated counterparts, and they not only exclusively refer to events of the DCAU when talking about the past, they refer to the past more frequently and in deeper detail. This book does occasionally - once or twice - refer to events from previous volumes, but it does it vaguely enough that it could be talking about separate events entirely.

Terry McGinnis/Batman first appeared in the Batman Beyond episode "Rebirth" (1999), as the new Batman, Bruce Wayne's replacement. On Earth-12, he first appears in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013), duh.

Dana Tan now has her own page.

Mary McGinnis and Matt McGinnis, Terry's mother and brother, respectively, first appeared in the Batman Beyond pilot, "Rebirth" (1999). In the comics set on Earth-12, they first appeared in Batman Beyond 2.0 #2 (August 2013).

Warren McGinnis, Terry's father, appeared in the first episode of Batman Beyond, "Rebirth" (1999); we never met the Earth-12 version in comics, but his Earth-50 counterpart appeared in Batman Beyond 2.0 #24 (July 2014).

Maxine "Max" Gibson is Terry's best friend. She first appeared on tv in the episode  "Hidden Agenda" (1999). She was first mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013), but didn't fully appear until Batman Beyond 2.0 #27 (August 2014).

Justice League Unlimited

Sam Young

The Jokerz - The Jokerz are a collection of gangs that model themselves after The Joker; they debuted in the first episode of Batman Beyond, "Rebirth" (1999). Their first Earth-12 appearance is listed in the link, but their first appearance in this version of Batman Beyond was in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013). Specifically, we see Ghoul, Woof, and Chucko. Dee Dee doesn't make an appearance until issue 2 (August 2013).

Splicers are first mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013), although the Man-Bats he was fighting weren't technically splicers. But I'm pretty sure Woof is, and he's in the issue too.

Mad Stan, aka Stanley Lebowski, had his first appearance in the Batman Beyond episode "Rats" (1999). On Earth-12, he first appears in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013).

As does Charlie "Big Time" Bigelow

Shriek and Spellbinder first appear in Batman Beyond 2.0 #2 (August 2013). Shriek first appeared on tv in the episode of the same name (1999). Spellbinder is Ira Billings, a psychologist at Hamilton High.  He first appeared in the Batman Beyond episode "Spellbound" (1999).

Curare

Inque was a saboteur working for Derek Powers who first appeared in the Batman Beyond episode "Black Out" (1999). She is first mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #3 (September 2013), but doesn't appear until issue 5 (October 2013).

Melanie Walker/Ten

The Royal Flush Gang has been around in comics for a long time, but this particular incarnation - which Ten was a part of - first appeared in the episode "Dead Man's Hand" (1999). They appear in Batman Beyond 2.0 #33 (September 2014), although we later learn that everyone has been replaced except for Queen.

Justice Lords

The Phantasm

Derek Powers/Blight was the main antagonist for Batman Beyond, and as such, was around since the first episode, "Rebirth" (1999). He was mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #26 (July 2014).

Mr. Fixx was Blight's right-hand man, and he debuted in "Rebirth" (1999). He was later mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #26 (July 2014).

Powers Industries, the company - first appearing in "Rebirth" (1999) - that bought out Wayne Industries and was run by Derek Powers, aka Blight, was mentioned Batman Beyond 2.0 #17 (March 2014). To be fair, this is the Earth-50 version of Powers Industries, but since this scene of the issue is written to make you think it's happening on Earth-12, it still counts. It counts regardless, but it especially counts.

Foxteca is a company created by Lucius Fox after leaving Wayne Industries that first appeared in the episode "Black Out" (1999) when Inque was hired to sabotage it. It then first appeared in Batman Beyond 2.0 #7 (November 2013).

The Peregrinator's Club is a men's only club that was featured in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor" (1992) and a few other episodes. It was mentioned in Batman Beyond 2.0 #11 (January 2014).

Daggett Industries is a company owned by corrupt businessman Roland Daggett, which first appeared in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Feat of Clay" (1992), and then several times after that. This mention is from Batman Beyond 2.0 #11 (January 2014).

Nightwing and Robin (Tim Drake) appear in flashback with their animated looks in Batman Beyond 2.0 #4 (October 2013).

The animated Batmobile and Dick Grayson in his animated Robin outfit appear in Batman Beyond 2.0 #9 (December 2013), during a flashback to the events of the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Fear of Victory"(1992).

Mr. Freeze's animated look appeared in Batman Beyond 2.0 #16 (March 2014).

Two-Face's animated look appeared in Batman Beyond 2.0 #16 (March 2014).

Tim Drake's infection with Joker toxin is recounted in Batman Beyond 2.0 #26 (July 2014). This event was the impetus of the plot in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000).

Batman and Batgirl's relationship ended in a flashback featured in Batman Beyond 2.0 #26 (July 2014). This particular plot point was brought up occasionally in Batman Beyond, in episodes such as "A Touch of Curare" (1999) and "Out of the Past" (2000). I've never particularly cared for this idea, but it happened.

This version of Commissioner Barbara Gordon can walk, as seen in Batman Beyond 2.0 #1 (August 2013). The version in previous Batman Beyond comics couldn't at first, then could with the help of implants.

And finally, in this panel from Batman Beyond 2.0 #11 (January 2014), they're referring to the events of the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past" (2000).