Zadzooks: Batman vs. Robin: Limited Edition Gift Set review (Blu-ray)

Warner Bros. Animation teams up with DC Entertainment to once again adapt a comic book series with mixed results.

This time out, Batman vs. Robin: Limited Edition Gift Set (Warner Home Video, Rated PG-13, $29.96) gives viewers a reimagined version of the massive crossover story arc “Batman: Night of the Owl” orchestrated by writer Scott Snyder in 2012.

The 80-minute-long effort focuses on Batman’s attempt to control and groom his dangerous son, Damian Wayne, into Robin while investigating a mythical secret society called the Court of Owls.

This organization is thought to control Gotham City through murder and political influence since its inception with help from its dangerous assassins, the Talons.

Although the high-definition animation looks great and comes loaded with some excellent close quarters combat, it’s a bit too routine for my tastes and far too quickly compacts the original source material.

I’ll offer this word of warning to parents. This is a PG-13 cartoon and contains some graphic violence such as bloody combat and death along with sexual innuendo. It’s not recommended for the tweens and younger children in the family.

Pop culture alert: Pay close attention at the beginning of the film and Batman’s encounter with the Dollmaker, who is maniacally voiced by the great Weird Al Yankovic.

With all of the recent DC animated efforts, the extras often overshadow the main event. Here is yet another example.

First, viewers get an optional commentary track with creative director of animation for DC Entertainment Mike Carlin, director Jay Olivia and supervising producer James Tuck. The trio keep it light and playful with not too much geek speak and touch upon character design, choreographed fight sequences, the animation process, the voice-over cast and comparisons to the original story.

Next is a 44-minute look at the comic book origins of the “Court of Owls” and a comparison to some real-life secret societies. Mr. Snyder is primarily the interviewee here and offers much about the comic book story while the screen is filled some amazing Batman sequential art.

Additionally, not in high-definition (boo), a group of episodes from classic cartoon shows on the disk will not disappoint. They include the following:

• “The Color of Revenge” (originally aired in 2009) from the series “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” offers a confrontation with the villain Crazy Quilt and is played out as if the 1960s live-action Batman show were animated.

• “Old Wounds” (originally aired in 1998) from “Batman: The Animated Series” presents Bruce Timm’s stylish and noirish take on the Batman mythos. This episode co-stars Robin and Nightwing, Batgirl and the Joker while exploring why Dick Grayson stopped working with Batman.

• “Obsession” (originally aired in 1998) from the show “Superman: The Animated Series” offers a battle between the Man Steel and Toyman.

• “Auld Acquaintance” (originally aired in 2012) from the series “Young Justice” finds the superhero team trying to uncover a traitor in their midst and co-stars Robin, Aqualad, Red Arrow, Kid Flash, Zatanna and a host of Justice League members.

Also, get ready for this, a beautifully animated, classic Merrie Melodies short from 1943 starring Bugs Bunny as “Super Rabbit.” That last short really took me back to my Chicago childhood where I watched the toon as part of the show “Ray Rayner and His Friends” in the late 1960s.

Still not enough Bat fans? Warner tosses in a 4.5-inch-tall, plastic Batman statue from German toy figurine producer Schleich. Although, cool, I bet collectors might have preferred a more articulated action figure from one of Mattel’s line.