Season two’s “The Laughing Bat” (Parts 1 & 2) begins with a classic Joker scheme gone horribly right. Dissatisfied with merely robbing banks, the Joker (voiced with manic glee by Kevin Michael Richardson) unleashes a new laughing gas. But this isn't the lethal, paralyzing toxin of other iterations. This gas is designed to reprogram its victims with an uncontrollable, permanent case of the giggles—turning Gotham into a city of smiling, compliant zombies.

By giving this hyper-athletic, feral Joker a plot that was deeply psychological, the show runners proved that The Batman (2004) possessed sophisticated storytelling depth underneath its fast-paced, action-heavy exterior.

The visual transition of Batman in this episode is a masterclass in 2004-era character design. As the venom takes hold, we see Bruce Wayne’s stoic features distort. His skin pales, his hair takes on a greenish tint, and most famously, his cowl stretches into a permanent, horrific grin.

If you want to dive deeper into this classic era of animation, tell me:

: The episode serves as a character study on the thin line between Batman and his rogues. By forcing Batman to experience the Joker's madness from the inside, the show highlights Batman's greatest fear: losing the rigid self-control that separates his brand of justice from chaotic villainy.

As the "Laughing Bat," the Joker patrols Gotham to enforce his own version of justice. His methods are a nightmare: