Batman vs. Superman ‘Dark Knight Returns’ Style in New ‘The Brave and the Bold’ [Video]

The final cycle of Batman: The Brave and the Bold episodes begins tonight, and Executive Producer James Tucker is going to take the beloved series out with a serious bang. "The Battle of the Superheroes" guest-stars Superman, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olson, Turtle Boy, Metallo, Krypto and Mister Mxyzptlk. But more importantly, the season premiere features a battle between a Red Kryptonite-tainted Superman and a furious Batman all kitted out in armor from The Dark Knight Returns.

Broadcasting at 6:30pm tonight on Cartoon Network, the "Battle of the Superheroes" episode of Batman: The Brave and The Bold is the first of the show's final 13 episodes. The series has been a favorite of longtime DC Comics fans both for its reverential treatment of the characters' legacies and for the endlessly nerdy references to even the most arcane bits of comic book continuity. The light-hearted and eminently kid-friendly show is the only Warner Bros. Animation/DC Comics project that's approached the quality of the original Batman: The Animated Series since Justice League Unlimited went off the air in 2006. The Brave and the Bold will reportedly be replaced by a new, darker Batman cartoon sometime in the near future.