Welcome to Adventure(s) Time's fifty-third installment, a look at animated heroes of the past. This week, we're reviewing Batman's doomed romance with a career thief. No cat puns this time, however. The villain in question is Ten of the Royal Flush Gang, and the Batman is of the "Beyond" variety.

"Dead Man's Hand" (airing on March 21, 1999) marks the DC Animated Universe's debut of the Royal Flush Gang. Featuring a story by Stan Berkowitz and direction from Dan Riba, the episode returns to a classic Batman theme. Everyone knows of Batman's tortured relationship with Catwoman, the villain he loves but knows he can't reform. While Batman Beyond sought to avoid new takes on old villains, the producers did attempt to create foes that evoked the familiar themes. The doomed romance between Batman and Ten is, clearly, an update of the Batman/Catwoman relationship.

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Luckily, the crew's sharp enough to make Ten a unique figure. She first encounters Batman while committing a robbery with her family. The Gang escapes, but fate later has Ten reunited with Batman at a local nightclub. However, Batman is out as Terry McGinnis and Ten is Melanie Walker, someone Terry only knows as a mystery blonde. Terry's girlfriend Dana has just dumped him, and this new girl moves fast in making her move.

As the episode unfolds, we discover the teenage Ten is disenchanted with her imposed life of crime. Terry, meanwhile, is chaffing under the heavy restrictions Bruce Wayne has placed upon him. His life as Batman has already cost him his relationship with Dana, and Terry resents Bruce interfering with this new connection.

Sometimes Terry is a teenager in name only on this series, but here the teen angst feels genuine. It adds a Romeo and Juliet quality to the relationship lacking in the Batman/Catwoman dynamic, one that fits the series well.

RELATED: The Forgotten Batman: The Animated Series/Batman Beyond Crossover Story

Ultimately, Ten is unable to break away from her family, and their final confrontation with Batman sees her placed in custody. There's an element of illusion of change here, with Terry apologizing to Bruce (and Dana waiting in the wings to return to her "suffering girlfriend" role). Yet, the final moment actually plays the emotions well. And having Bruce pulling Terry aside to tell him about Selina Kyle...that's just a great scene. Honestly funny, and a clever continuity shout-out, but not gratuitous at all. It fits the characters and the moment.

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Ten makes a few more appearances on the show. But first, there's the matter of the Batman Beyond tie-in comic. Unlike most tie-in books, Beyond had the distinction of having a series writer also assigned as the regular writer of the comic. Hilary J. Bader, joined by penciler Craig Rousseau, created numerous sequels to episodes.

Batman Beyond #4 (February, 2000) continues Ten's story with "Two of a Kind." The issue opens with the Royal Flush Gang, minus Ten, robbing a yacht. Batman isn't able to prevent their escape, but one fact lifts his spirits. Ten wasn't present for the robbery. What's bizarre, however, is that her entire family is incarcerated. How are they pulling off robberies?

Shortly, Batman responds to another robbery, and his one glimmer of hope is dashed. The culprit is Ten. He reassures Bruce that Ten isn't truly dangerous. She wouldn't attempt to kill anyone, let alone Batman. He's wrong.

Upon further research, Bruce and Terry learn the truth. There are currently two Royal Flush Gangs. How exactly? Thank the amazing coincidences of identical twins, cousins, and prison cellmates.

Terry soon learns the new Gang isn't out to spring their relatives -- they want to kill them. He arrives at their parole hearing to save the family. Instead of expressing gratitude, King and Queen attempt to murder Batman. Ten, meanwhile, confronts her doppelganger.

The finale leaves the cast in place for their next animated appearance. The entire family is denied parole, with Ten sent back to juvie. Terry watches from the gallery, unable to help the girl he's fallen for. And as he exits the hall, Ten's belief that there's no one to truly care for her is confirmed. A rather bleak ending, one fitting the tone of the series.

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The Wrap-Up

Design-y

The Royal Flush Gang all have simple, memorable designs. And the design of Melanie/Ten is one of the better female models from this era. She's not as pixie-ish as other females from the late '90s DCAU.

Continuity Notes

We're told in "Dead Man's Hand" that the Gang has existed for generations, a family of thieves. When the Royal Flush Gang later appears in present-day Justice League, however, there's an issue. This Gang is a collection of paranormals who've escaped government custody. There's also a reference to the Gang in a Gotham Girls short called "Hear Me Roar," which predates the Justice League episode.

Hey, I Know that Voice

Ten is voiced by Olivia d'Abo, best known as Kevin's hippie older sister on The Wonder Years. Amanda Donohoe, known for her role as C.J. Lamb on LA Law, voices Queen. And former James Bond George Lazenby voices King. One of King's lines "We have all the time in the world" is an homage to On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Approved By Broadcast Standards & Practices

Jack boasts "mine's bigger than yours" when pitting his weapon against a security guard's. This is typical of the more risque humor Kids WB! allowed in this era.

I Love the '90s

Terry's method of tracing Ten's phone call in the episode has him using some bizarre process involving a payphone and his cellphone. All to track a landline call.

Battle of the Cards

The Batman/Catwoman dynamic has existed for over seventy years now. Establishing  a new take on the concept is tricky. What's admirable is how well the Terry/Melanie relationship works. For starters, it's a welcome contrast to the existing romance of the series. Terry and long-suffering Dana simply aren't that interesting, in part because Dana's just there to play the girlfriend. In the early days of Terry's romance with Melanie, he's the one who's stood up.

He's also the one suffering thanks to his partner's secrets. Discovering the girl he has a crush on is not only a criminal, but also a member of an infamous crime family, is a kick to the gut. Arguably, one he deserves for his treatment of Dana.

Melanie, meanwhile, can exist independent of the Catwoman influence. She's conflicted over her family's actions, while Catwoman portrayals tend to have her reveling in the criminal life. (And the idea that her family genuinely cares for Melanie, reaffirmed in Bader's story, adds another interesting wrinkle to Melanie's life.)

Another element separating Melanie from Catwoman is her lack of ego. She's a true teenager...insecure of her place in the world, doubtful that anyone outside her twisted family could ever care for her. Putting Terry in a position where he can't actually help, another idea reinforced in Bader's follow-up, is classic drama. Regarding Ten, "Two of a Kind" is an enjoyable addition to the original story. Not quite a rival for the original, even though it's enjoyable overall. That gimmick surrounding the fake Royal Flush Gang is hard to forgive, but the character work in the story is solid.

That’s all for now. If you have any suggestions for the future, just leave a comment or contact me on Twitter.