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===Adaptations===
The series adapted classic [[List of Batman comics|Batman comic]] books tales into memorable episodes including "The Laughing Fish" brought [[Joker (character)|Joker]]'s antics from ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #475-476 to life as he tried to copyright Jokerized fish. In "The Cape & Cowl Conspiracy," Batman faced deadly traps inspired by ''Detective Comics'' #450. "Moon Of The Wolf" saw Batman investigating werewolf attacks based on ''Batman'' #255. "The Demon's Quest" introduced [[Ra's al Ghul|Ra's Al Ghul]] from ''Batman'' #232 and #244. "Two-Face" delved into [[Two-Face|Harvey Dent]]'s backstory, while "A Bullet For Bullock" had detective [[Harvey Bullock (character)|Harvey Bullock]] teaming up with Batman to crack a dangerous case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rector |first=Seth |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Batman: The Animated Series — 10 Episodes Based On Comic Book Stories |url=https://screenrant.com/batman-the-animated-series-episodes-based-comic-book-stories/ |access-date=July 17, 2024 |website=[[ScreenRant]] |language=en}}</ref>
The show also featured numerous adaptations of various Batman comics stories. The following episodes were adaptations:
* The episode "Appointment in Crime Alley" is based on "There Is No Hope in Crime Alley" from ''Detective Comics'' #457 (March 1976) by writer [[Denny O'Neil]] and artist [[Dick Giordano]].
* "Dreams in Darkness" is loosely based on "[[Batman: The Last Arkham]]" from ''[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat]]'' #1–4 by writer [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]] and artist [[Norm Breyfogle]] (June–September 1992). This episode adapted the comic book story with the inclusion of the [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]] instead of [[Victor Zsasz]] and Dr. Bartholomew instead of [[Jeremiah Arkham]].
* "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy" was an adaptation of "The Cape and Cowl Death Trap!" from ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #450 (August 1975), written by [[Elliot S. Maggin]] and drawn by artist [[Walt Simonson]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rector |first=Seth |date=2021-09-17 |title=Batman: The Animated Series — 10 Episodes Based On Comic Book Stories |url=https://screenrant.com/batman-the-animated-series-episodes-based-comic-book-stories/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref>
* Part 1 of "[[Robin's Reckoning]]" takes its cues from "Batman and "Robin the Boy Wonder"" in ''Detective Comics'' #38 (April 1940) by writer [[Bill Finger]], artist [[Bob Kane]] and illustrator [[Jerry Robinson]].
* The episode "The Laughing Fish" was based on three Batman comics, blended together; "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge" from ''Batman'' No. 251 (September 1973) by [[Denny O'Neil]] with art by [[Neal Adams]], followed by "The Laughing Fish" and "Sign of the Joker!" from ''Detective Comics'' #475–476 (February–March 1978), both by writer [[Steve Englehart]] with art by [[Marshall Rogers]]. During a spotlight podcast from [[San Diego Comic-Con|Comic-Con]] 2007, [[Paul Dini]] explained that the reason why the episode combined those stories was that the show's creators could not adapt them separately, because their content and thematic elements would not have been cleared by the censors.<ref name=":1" />
* "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne" was based on the comic stories "The Dead Yet Live" and "I Am the Batman!" from ''Detective Comics'' #471–472 (August–September 1977) by [[Steve Englehart]].
* "Moon of the Wolf" is based on the comic story of the same name by writer [[Len Wein]] with art by [[Neal Adams]], from ''Batman'' No. 255 (April 1974).<ref name=":1" />
* The episode "Terror in the Sky" is loosely based on "Man-Bat Over Vegas", originally presented in ''Detective Comics'' No. 429, by writer and artist [[Frank Robbins]]. The setting has been shifted from [[Las Vegas]] to Gotham Harbor, and in keeping with the family-friendly rating of the television show, the She-Bat is not a vampire in the adaptation. The final line of the episode, "the nightmare's finally over", is similar to one of the final lines from the original comic, "Now Fran's vampire nightmare is about over".
* The episode "Almost Got 'Im" appears to be influenced by a four-issue story arc in ''Batman'' #291–294 (1977), entitled "Where Were You on the Night Batman Was Killed?". All four stories were written by [[David Vern Reed]] and drawn by [[John Calnan]] under the direction of Batman editor [[Julius Schwartz]]. In each of the four issues, one of Catwoman, the Riddler, and the Joker all recount their claims to have killed Batman. However, the plot for "Almost Got 'Im" is quite different (six stories in the show, and four completely different ones in the comic book), with only the Joker as an overlapping antagonist.
** Two-Face's strategy in "Almost Got 'Im" (strapping down Batman to a giant coin and flipping the coin in the air) was taken from the comic ''World's Finest Comics'' No. 30 (September 1947) by writer [[Bill Finger]] and artist [[Bob Kane]]. In a backup tale, both Batman and Robin were tied to a giant penny that was catapulted onto spikes by a lesser-known villain, the [[Penny Plunderer]]. That is the same giant penny which is part of the decoration of the [[Batcave]].
* "Off Balance" is a direct adaptation of "Batman: Into the Den of the Death-Dealers" from ''Detective Comics'' #411 (May 1971), written by writer [[Dennis O'Neil]] and drawn by artists Bob Brown and [[Dick Giordano]]. Famous for the first appearance of the mysterious character [[Talia al Ghul|Talia]].
* The two-part episode "The Demon's Quest" is a direct adaptation of "Daughter of the Demon" from ''Batman'' No. 232 (June 1971) and "The Demon Lives Again" ''Batman'' No. 244 (September 1972), written by [[Dennis O'Neil]] and drawn by artist [[Neal Adams]]. Famous for introducing one of Batman's deadlier foes; [[Ra's al Ghul]], the father of Talia.<ref name=":1" />
* The episode "Sideshow" is loosely based on "A Vow from the Grave" from ''Detective Comics'' No. 410 by writer [[Dennis O'Neil]] and artists Bob Brown and [[Dick Giordano]]. This episode adapted the comic book story with the inclusion of a separate [[Killer Croc]] story.
* "A Bullet for Bullock" is based on the comic of the same name from ''Detective Comics'' No. 651 (October 1992), by writer [[Chuck Dixon]] and artist [[Graham Nolan]].<ref name=":1" />
* The feature film ''[[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm|Mask of the Phantasm]]'' is also an adaptation. The film's flashbacks were inspired by "[[Batman: Year One]]", whereas the character of [[Andrea Beaumont]] and the storyline itself were modified from Mike Barr's story "[[Batman: Year Two]]", which ran in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #575–578 in the late 1980s; the villain in the comics was named the [[Reaper (DC Comics)|Reaper]].<ref name=":1" />
===In other media===
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