The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne

[The Laughing Fish]

This was an entertaining episode, as well as it being Hugo Strange's only appearance on the show. You got to love Bruce's willingness to risk his identity to investigate how Strange blackmailed Judge Vargas, while using his own ingenuity to trick Joker, Two-Face and Penguin into thinking Strange was trying to con them.

I've noticed this episode appears to be loosely inspired by Detective Comics issues #471 and #472, both written by Steve Englehart. In those comics, Bruce Wayne goes to a clinic to recuperate from injuries he sustained from fighting Doctor Phosphorous, but is set up into a trap by Hugo Strange, who then learns of his double life as Batman and tries to auction off his secret identity to the highest bidders. In the BTAS episode, Batman learns Judge Vargas had last visited a relaxation resort run by Strange, and suspects he had something to do with Vargas's blackmail. But unlike the comic, Bruce in BTAS was two steps ahead of Strange as he allowed him to learn of his identity, so he could recreate his thoughts into framing Strange for trying to swindle the bidders, before destroying the mind-reading machine.

Another significant similarity are the bidders between the comic and the episode. In #472, the Joker, Penguin and Rupert Thorne bid in competition to learning Batman's identity. In the episode, Joker and Penguin appear, but Two-Face replaces Thorne, and all three agree to pool their money together. But the glaring difference is in the comic, Thorne ambushes Strange and tries to force him into giving up Batman's identity, but Strange refuses and is tortured to death. Once Englehart's run on Detective Comics had ended, Rupert Thorne would be haunted by Hugo Strange's ghost, and the terror drove him mad and sent him to Arkham Asylum.

In a way, you might say it's kind of a missed opportunity that this episode didn't adapt this portion of Englehart's story, as it might've been a great final appearance for Thorne on BTAS. But looking at it closely, I don't think so. Because for that to work, the writers would have to make the entire episode similar to #473, where Hugo Strange's triumph over Batman was the reason why it got him killed. You'd have to compromise Batman's one-upmanship into sabotaging Strange's plan, and Strange dying and returning as a haunting, vengeful ghost would be too frightening for a show that's already too dark for children's standards.

It's still an enjoyable episode. My favourite scene would have to be when Two-Face says to Joker "Get out of my face, clown!" and Joker replies "Which one?". Classic. 

[Catwoman]

Been a while since I saw this one, but I remember really enjoying it. The exchange between Joker and Two-Face you mentioned was hilarious. Another part I loved is when Strange is trying to tell the villains that Bruce is Batman and Harvey goes "I know Bruce Wayne. If he's Batman, I'm the king of England." 

Sorry Harv.

[The Laughing Fish]

Another funny moment I loved is when Batman sabotages the villains' escape, the Joker tries to jump out with a parachute but he doesn't realise the airplane had already hit the ground and he lands in the dirt. Dizzy, he says "what a rush!". It's a small moment, but it always amused me. The answering machine message scene, where Hugo Strange tries to contact the Joker but the sound of the "answering machine beep" is somebody getting tortured/murdered was another comical moment, albeit a creepy one.

I forgot to mention another detail similar to those Englehart comics was Alfred taken hostage by Hugo Strange. In Detective Comics #472, Strange sent his giant henchmen to abduct Alfred after discovering Batman's true identity, and imprisoned him together with an unconscious Bruce Wayne at the clinic. In this episode, Alfred traveled with Bruce to go to Yuka Springs, and was caught spying on the Joker, Penguin and Two-Face arriving at the resort before getting captured and tied up with Bruce.

Hugo Strange as depicted on BTAS looks quite different from those Detective Comics issues and the Golden Age. He's much shorter than his later comic appearances, and he's not a mad scientist like we see most of the time in comics either. Although, I should point out the funny shape of his head is identical as his Golden Age appearance.