Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review)

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham is an original DC Animated Movie based on the three-issue comic book series from the DC Comics Elseworlds imprint. In a similar fashion to Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, the feature-length film places Batman in a different era, this time it is the 1920s.

A Lovecraftian horror whose very title alludes to the Lovecraft story “The Doom That Came to Sarnath,” the story finds Bruce Wayne investigating a mystery that takes him all the way to the arctic where he discovers something horrific about the founding families of Gotham. Returning to the city where his parents were killed by a lunatic 20 years earlier, Bruce Wayne must stop a doomsday cult planning to bring on the destruction of Gotham by calling on a creature from a parallel universe.

With its references to Robin through a number of Bruce Wayne’s orphaned companions, Oliver Queen/the Green Arrow, and the wider DC universe of villains such as Oswald Cobblepot and Ra’s al Ghul, this film successfully brings Batman into the world of gothic and Lovecraftian horror while keeping anchored in the mythology of the character. The animators supply a gorgeous array of backgrounds, character, and creature designs as well.

While these Elseworlds titles are not necessarily canon or the presentation of the characters as we are familiar, they are refreshing entries that allow fans to experience the characters in new settings without the restraints of history and the strict mythology they are weighted to. The story here can be a little convoluted, but ultimately the atmosphere, visual aesthetic, and references to Lovecraft make it enjoyable.

The Video

The digital animation for Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham is presented on 4K Ultra HD in a 1.78:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) HDR10 encodement with a MaxLL of 310 nits and a MaxFALL of 108 nits. There is not much added brightness in the 4K image over the included Blu-ray nor are there really any moments where specular highlights ‘pop’ from the screen. The biggest noticeable differences between the 4K disc and Blu-ray are in the artificial grain, which looks finer and cleaner on the 4K than on the Blu-ray, and the color spectrum, which is a little broader and slightly more vibrant on the 4K. Detail and shadow nuance is fine across both discs.

The Audio

Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham comes with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It is a mix that has become typical for these original DC Animated Movies – it is aggressive, has extended low-frequencies, and makes good use of the surround channels for discrete sound effects and atmospherics. The dialogue is clear and full, the balance of sounds and score is solid, and throughout is well done.

The Supplements

There are limited new bonus features, with the production featurette and audio commentary being the only ones. The included Batman The Animated Series episodes are welcome, if you don’t already own the separate Blu-ray release.

• Digital Copy Code
• Blu-ray with feature film and special features

Special Features on Blu-ray:

• Batman: Shadows of Gotham (1080p; 00:13:12)
• Commentary by producer/co-director Sam Liu, writer Jase Ricci, DC creative director Mike Carlin, and producer Jim Krieg
• Preview of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (1080p; 00:08:29)
• Preview of Superman: Red Son (1080p; 00:11:21)
• From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series – “The Demon’s Quest – Part One” (1080p; 00:22:18)
• From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series – “The Demon’s Quest – Part Two” (1080p; 00:22:14)

The Final Assessment

An atmospheric, action-packed horror that puts Batman in a different era and alludes to the universe of Lovecraft, this animated film looks and sounds great on 4K.

Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham is out on 4K Ultra HD Combo March 28, 2023, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

• Rating Certificate: PG-13 (for some strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief partial nudity)
• Studios & Distributors: Warner Bros. Animation | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
• Director: Christopher Berkeley (co-director) | Sam Liu (co-director)
• Written By: Jase Ricci (screenplay) | Mike Mignola (co-author) | Richard Pace (co-author)
• Run Time: 90 Mins.
• Street Date: 28 March 2023
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: HDR10
• HDR10 Metadata:
  • MaxLL: 310 nits
  • MaxFALL: 108 nits
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: French DD 5.1 | Spanish DD 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH | French | Spanish