Written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, & Stan Berkowitz
Directed by Curt Geda
Animation by Dong Yang
Original air date: January 10, 1999
My rating: ****.5

Description: This is where it all started.'Rebirth' stands out as the beginning of the Batman Beyond era: the end of the old Batman, the arrival of a brand-new one. I think any Batman fan must have seen these two episodes -what- a million times so I won't be too long on the summary of this episode.

The episode starts in a warehouse (ot some kindda) where a gang of thieves have kidnapped a young girl, the daughter of the Vreelands. Batman (the old one) appears from nowhere with a new suit, kicks some butts, but gets a heart attack in the middle of the battle. He can barely move when one of the crooks threatens to hurt him bad. Batman has no other choice but to point a gun at him. More disgusted than ever, he comes back to the Batcave and and promises: "Never again"
Many years later, in the world of chaos that has become Gotham City, carved up by gangs created by lunatics,young MacGuinnis loses his father killed by one of Derek Powers' men, M. Fix. Derek Powers is the business man who now runs Wayne Corporation, renamed "Wayne Powers Industry" (or corporation, I'm not even sure). After discovering Batman's identity, Terry asks for his help. But his denial brings him to steal the suit and handle things by himself.

Why is it such a good episode? Many good points come to mind.
The plot is solid, very well written, and surprising. The world imagined by Timm and the others is very impressive, reminiscent of 'Blade Runner' in a way, very dark and creepy, just like Batman. The story is also excellent, starting with this intro set in the past where Bruce quits his fighting carreer, or that scene where Terry comes home and learns his father got murdered.
There's even good characterization in this two-parter, which truly lacks in most of BB episodes. Such as Derek Powers, marvelously portrayed as Terry's new dark nemesis, an evil and strong-willed person who eventually becomes a real monster, Blight.
Terry's character and his goal as Batman are perfectly decribed and proove "it needs more than a costume and an attitude to do this work". He doesn't become Batman because he just wants it. His losing his father is the main reason he dons the suit, and is also the main reason the whole story is believable. This loss allows us to understand Terry, to get what he has to overcome, what he must go through.
This episode also has great action, including a very fast and Akira-like motorbike chase (when the Jokerz try to catch up with Terry), strong and powerful fights (the one between M. Fix and Batman at the end of the episode is very well rendered).

The animation is good, but not the best. Well It's Dong Yang, not TMS!

Overall a perfect start. There've been better episodes than this one in BB ('Dead Man's Hand','Disappearing Inque' for example) but this one has the merit to be ... well... the one that launches the series!

Salvor