Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires is a fresh take on the DC character’s mythos, and I had a great time with this new Batman universe. As one of DC’s most popular characters outside the comics, there have been several Batman adaptations. That includes a wide array of live-action movies, as well as a slew of animated features starring Bruce Wayne.
As such, many key stories from the comics have already been adapted into some format for Dark Knight projects over the years. While I will never get enough of Batman, I appreciate it when something truly new with the hero is done, which sadly does not happen very often.
Thankfully, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires is one of those brave projects that decides to take Batman and change everything around him. Sure, many well-known characters from DC Comics appear in the new animated movie, but they have different names, backstories, and a context to the overall universe. It’s quite refreshing.
Aztec Culture Makes DC’s New Batman Movie Unlike Any Other
It is impossible to talk about Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires without diving headfirst into how the movie’s chosen setting changes the Dark Knight’s world. The decision to set the film in the time of the Aztec Empire and make Batman its protector is a choice that could not have been more right.
I loved the way Aztec culture was integrated into classic Batman concepts. The team behind the movie did a great job of being as faithful to the period as possible, ranging from clothes to buildings and more. Seeing how a Batman origin story, something we’ve seen play out several times in different media, connects to this rich world gave me the feeling of seeing it for the first time.
It would be easy for the Dark Knight to let revenge take the best of him, but Yohualli rises above it, like a true hero.
More or less like the comics, Batman comes to be after the murder of his father. The journey the young Yohualli Coatl goes on to become a true warrior is both inspiring and exciting to follow. It would be easy for the Dark Knight to let revenge get the best of him, but Yohualli rises above it like a true hero.
While Batman is key to the film, there are many new versions of iconic characters. The most important of them is Two-Face, who is not Harvey Dent, but Hernán Cortés, the leader of the conquistadors. This version of Two-Face is cold, manipulative, and quite intense.
As a fan of actor Álvaro Morte’s work in La Casa de Papel and other TV series, I was intrigued by what he could bring to the table as the famous Batman villain. Morte made Two-Face frightening, and alternates between charismatic and utterly vile in seconds. Given the real-world ruthless nature of Cortés, the character is pitch-perfect.
The Batman Movie Works As The First Step In A New Franchise
I would gladly spend years in this version of Batman’s mythos. Luckily, there is a chance that it might happen. The very end of the movie offers a tease of what could come in a possible sequel. I hope DC sees the value in continuing this Elseworlds universe despite the many Batman projects in development.
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires is completely different from Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise, and it’s safe to say that James Gunn’s DCU and its Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, are not going to be headed to Mexico any time soon. The animated movie is exactly what DC’s Elseworlds projects should be.
It introduces a rich new world full of possibilities to be explored. The characters grow in important ways. The action is fluid, bloody, and effective. Like in Batman’s case, the animated movie made several DC characters feel true to their core while also being unique to this world.
Yoka’s transformation is haunting.
The Joker, or Yoka, is a standout. The character is known as Batman’s nemesis, and while that is not necessarily the role DC takes with the character, Clash of Empires does something few stories have done: give the Joker an origin. Not only that, but Yoka’s transformation is haunting.
Something only Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires could do is explore the important role that gods play in the story. Yohualli Coatl is the chosen figure of the Aztec bat god Tzinacan. The inclusion of the gods and that mystic origin of the Dark Knight make this story distinct, mysterious, and a treat to slowly unravel.
While there is room for improvement, Aztec Batman is a great first step for what could be a new Batman film franchise. The movie’s ending offers the necessary payoff to the story that preceded it and teases a new chapter that could once again change this Batman universe. Hopefully, DC will see the potential in a sequel and explore it.
