Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) Night of the Ninja (1992) User Reviews

Can Bruce Ever Defeat This Guy?

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 24 January 2008]

We learn a little Bruce Wayne history in this episode. Apparently, he lived in Japan for a few years and trained in martial arts (presumably to aid his skills later as Batman). One of his opponents while in training was an evil guy, someone named "Kyodai Ken." That guy got in trouble with his instructor, was booted out of the school, blamed Bruce and that he'd get him some day, mumbling something about "spoiled, rich kid."

Well, years later, that day has arrived. Actually, it had arrived for several weeks as Wayne's industries were being victimized by this Ninja criminal. The man was setting fires, stealing and causing all kinds of havoc, and no one had been able to stop him. When Batman enters the scene, he isn't able to defeat the man, either. (He never could in Japan, either, which really has him on edge.) Robin saves Batman's life, but the Ninja escapes and Bruce/Batman eventually faces his foe again. Can he beat him?

Also in this story of Bruce/Batman trying to beat an unbeatable old foe, is nosy reporter Summer Gleason, and, thankfully, the aforementioned Robin, who has the best lines in this episode: some good humor and sarcasm.

Summer Shines

[osbornj-00213 · 8/10 · 21 July 2020]

Notable, noticeable, for Summer Gleeson's only full-blown co-starring role. She is SO good, bright, lively, it makes one wonder what the makers were thinking--or more NOT--in not giving her MORE. The reviewer who says "this could easily have been told without her," misses what she brought to the climax confrontation, MADE it, Bruce having to take beating to keep from revealing himself to her , Robin having to figure out way for him. Alfred by comparison brought nothing to sequel sequence Day of the Samurai. Summer was the WASTED character of the show, just 22 episodes, mostly last-in-the-cast brief broadcasting bits, showed WHAT she could bring TO an episode WHEN she got the chance KNOCKOUT at party attacked by M. freeze (Heart of Ice), visited only time by Batman for information (Baby Doll), beautiful even in gas mask raising drama with delivery (Last Laugh), fright under fire then coolness with camera (Shadow of the Bat), run-ins with Bullock (Bullet for Bullock), kidnapped taunted to tears by Joker (Christmas With the Joker), again saving Lock-Up from dreary disaster of old men getting grabbed as well one of them terribly the defied-description dreary HamilDULL Hill the series OTHER mistake treating HIM as more important. Mari Devon always voiced with verve made episodes better while Lloyd Bochner as Hill droned dismally NO episode the better for him, the worse. . She was cruelly, cynically, cast OUT of the second, second-RATE, Batman show (1997-1999) for JERK Ryder, atrocious at ruinously reporting, made one appreciate TOO LATE just how GOOD she was, to become a comics CATASTROPHE from 30 years before the Creeper, to help a comics comeback but that failed AGAIN.

Great promise, weak execution

[Mr-Fusion · 6/10 · 6 January 2017]

'Night of the Ninja', now here's a bona fide Bruce story - not angsty, but one that spotlights the nuts-and-bolts of his training in Japan. that's always great for story material, especially bringing his old dojo rival back from the past. But Kyodai Ken is underdeveloped, and this ultimately feels like a waste of good ninja story on a dull character. Not to mention the forced insertion of Summer Gleason into the mix; I mean, she comes from out of nowhere, and this could easily have been told without her.

Bottom line, ninjas are never boring, but this is strictly functional.

6/10

Having said that, this does have one of my favorite title cards. It's immediately Asian, noirish and very pulp.