Red Tornado tries to experience human joy and other emotions while helping Batman stop a supervillain from unleashing robot Mooks disguised as Christmas toys to rob thousands of households.
Tropes:
- Always on Duty: In the face of a faux alien invasion, a reporter notes that Batman is the only hero on the scene. Red Tornado only joins in because it's his hometown under attack. When asked why he's away from home on Christmas Eve, Batman simply says, "Crime doesn't take a holiday and neither do I."
- And the Adventure Continues: After seeing Alfred left him a Christmas present in the Batmobile, Batman gets another alert and speeds off.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Literally, as Red Tornado lists Fun Haus's assorted prior crimes, with jaywalking being the last one.
- An Asskicking Christmas: Batman and his associates interfere with two supervillain plots to loot and pillage during the Christmas season.
- Book Ends: The beginning of the episode after defeating the Sportsmaster with help of the Blue Beetle, Batman says that crime doesn’t take a holiday and neither does he. Then at the end of the episode, after Fun Haus is defeated, Batman once again states that crime doesn’t take a holiday and neither does he.
- Comically Missing the Point: After Red Tornado shows up to help out, during the faux invasion.Red Tornado: Merry Christmas, Batman.
Batman: Now's not the time, Red Tornado.
Red Tornado: But isn't Christmas tomorrow? - Cynic–Idealist Duo: During the final showdown, Batman (who has been acting like The Grinch because his parents were killed right around Christmas) is preoccupied with stopping Fun Haus's villainous plot, while Red Tornado is more concerned about the villain ruining Christmas.
- Exact Words: Red Tornado tells a college student that his job is very boring right before saving a child from being hit by a truck, but since he's talking about his cover identity job as an archaeologist and not his superhero work, he isn't technically lying.
- Fair-Play Villain: Averted. Sportsmaster says playing fair in sports is one thing, but he's more than happy to have mooks to gang up on Batman.
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: The Waynes take Bruce to a movie titled the Mark of Zorro for Christmas.
- Freudian Excuse: Between his tantrum over not getting the toy he asked for and his parents dying shortly afterwards, Batman has no interest in celebrating Christmas.
- Harmful to Minors:
- While we don't see it, Young Bruce witnesses his parents killed in the alleyway.
- Batman and Red Tornado have to trash a bunch of robots that look like Santa. Fun Haus acknowledges how that will leave quite an impression on any children that see it. Batman ends up having to pull an Off with His Head! on one robot right in front of two startled kids.Batman: Pretend you didn't see that.
- Hypocritical Humor: Professor Ulthoon tells a student that archeology is mostly quiet research, as opposed to what action-packed movies would lead one to believe. He then immediately has to slip out and change into Red Tornado to save a couple kids from an oncoming truck.
- Jerk Jock: In the teaser, Sportsmaster robs a bowling tournament, threatens the bowlers, and mocks bowling as a pretend sport.
- Noodle Incident: Red Tornado notes it is not the first time the Jones children played in the street and had to be rescued.
- Nothing Is Scarier: Bruce and his parents walk into the alleyway, leading us to hear what happens next and only see two gunshot flashes.
- Parting-Words Regret: Thomas gave Bruce a nutcracker for Christmas, saying it's a cherished family heirloom. As it wasn't the swashbuckler toy he had asked for, Bruce throws a fit, as well as the nutcracker against the wall. He's still in a sour mood after the folks take him to a swashbuckler movie to make up for it and begin walking down a certain alleyway.Batman: Sometimes what you wish for most is the one thing you can never have.
- Rhetorical Question Blunder: Upon Fun Haus revealing himself.Fun Haus: I was just playing around with my new toys, Batman. Is that so wrong?
Red Tornado: Based on criminal records, most of your actions are wrong. Felony robbery, parole violation, felony assault, jaywalking.
Batman: Not now, Tornado. - "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: Fun Haus uses some remote control UFOs and clips from an old Show Within a Show called Holiday for Neptunians to distract Batman from his plan by pretending that aliens have invaded Earth and are demanding that Santa Claus surrender himself to them so they can experience Christmas.
- Show Within a Show: The faux alien invasion was inspired by a cheesy '50s sci-fi flick, Holiday for Neptunians, that Fun Haus was familiar with.
- Wham Shot: After taking Bruce to see Zorro failed to cheer him up, the Waynes head home down an alleyway... Cue two flashes and muffled gunshots.Bruce: MOM! DAD!
- Worth It: While being loaded up to get taken to STAR Labs for repairs, Red Tornado feels he finally experienced the holiday spirit.Red Tornado: Observation: it was an amazing feeling, Batman.
