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Ethan Hawke plays Batman yet again in a new batch of episodes in the Dark Knight's returning DC series. As DC's most popular superhero, Batman's adaptations are usually among the comic book giant's most high-profile entries. However, that does not mean that DC has stopped innovating when it comes to Bruce Wayne. Sure, there have been many live-action Batman movies.
Those are as mainstream as it gets, dominating the box office and pop culture discourse. That said, Batman has also led many underrated projects that did not speak to as high a number of fans as, say, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, Tim Burton's Batman, or Matt Reeves' The Batman. That comes mainly from Batman's animated TV shows and movies.
In recent years, a few animated Batman projects have flown under the radar. Among them is Prime Video's adorable Bat-Fam series. With distinct art, a heartwarming found family storyline at its center, and a treasure trove of DC characters, the show is a treat to fans of all ages. The R-rated animated movie Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires, rewriting DC lore with another culture, also deserves more love.
Among those animated Batman projects that should have had more of a following than they do is the one where Hawke finally got to voice Bruce Wayne after nearly playing him in live-action. The Moon Knight actor takes on the role of Batman in the animated Batwheels series, which follows the Bat-Family's sentient vehicles as they help the heroes on missions. That show has now returned for more.
Batwheels Season 3D Is Out Now
Batwheels' seasons do not tend to be released in one batch or weekly installments, given how seasons 1 and 2 both made it to a 37-episode total. As such, the DC series usually releases multiple episodes at once, then takes a couple of months off before dropping another batch of new Batman adventures. Batwheels season 3 started airing on December 5, 2025, with season 3A, aka the current season's first batch of episodes. That has since continued, with Batwheels season 3B releasing on February 6, season 3C on May 22, and the show's latest release, season 3D, arriving this Friday, July 17, on HBO Max.
Batwheels season 3's previous episode batches ranged from four to five episodes, with the latter happening for seasons 3B, 3C, and now for season 3D. In its return, the HBO Max Batman series features heroes and villains like King Tut, Clayface, Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing, and more. The Batwheels also have to face off against the vehicles of many Batman villains, like Two-Face, Bane, Mr. Freeze, and others in the show's five new episodes. For anyone who is into DC lore, wants to see what Hawke's Batman looks like, or enjoys Pixar's Cars, HBO Max's Batwheels is the perfect project.
How Batwheels Season 3 Changed The DC Series
Given how this is a show made for young viewers, Batwheels does not usually go for the same world-ending threats seen in many live-action and animated DC movies, nor is its tone dark and mature like that of Batman's usual releases. That is why the first episode of Batwheels season 3 was so interesting and escaped from what the show tends to do with its stories. Instead of telling a more insular tale, like season 3D's episode where Catwoman wants to win a skate competition or the one where the Batwheels have to team up against Clayface, the stakes were severely increased.
Badcomputer, the show's main villain, took over control of all computers on Earth, which led to the Batwheels going to space to stop the villain. That was quite a way to kickstart the new season, taking the characters and young viewers out of their comfort zones. Even in Batwheels season 3D, months after the premiere, the DC series continues to do new things, like introducing Two-Face's aptly named car, Dent. Ethan Hawke's Batman show on HBO Max is a fun time.
