An auction night takes an interesting turn with the inclusion of a witch boy named Klarion, and Jason Blood, an old friend of Bruce Wayne. Both of them equally interested in a certain branding iron...
Tropes:
- All There in the Manual: While a case of "Remember the New Guy?" within the series itself, Batman and Etrigan first met in The Batman Adventures Annual #2, as detailed by series producers Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.
- Adaptational Villainy: Klarion's portrayal in the comics generally ranges from an annoying troublemaker (Jack Kirby's version) to a well-meaning anti-hero (Grant Morrison's version). He's clearly evil in this version.
- All Witches Have Cats: Not only does Klarion have one as a familiar, it can turn into a savage cat-humanoid.
- Artifact of Doom: A branding iron that can control a demon.
- Auction: The episode starts with one.
- Beam-O-War: Between Etrigan and Klarion after the former re-fuses with Jason Blood.
- Cats Are Mean: Klarion's pet cat. It's stated that Klarion turned his parents to mice, and then implied that his cat killed them.
- Creepy Child: Klarion, at least physically and in personality. It's all but stated that he's actually Older Than They Look.
- Cut Lex Luthor a Check: Seriously, Klarion now has a powerful demon as an obedient slave, and he's using Etrigan to steal ice cream and cake? One gets the idea that, despite his skill in magic, he's nothing but a Spoiled Brat.
- Evil Orphan: Jason mentions that Klarion turned his parents into mice. There is a good chance his pet cat ate them as well.
- Honorary Uncle: Subverted. Klarion only calls Blood "Uncle Jason" to annoy him.
- Literal Split Personality: The reason why Klarion is after the branding iron — to rip the demon Etrigan out of Jason.
- No Immortal Inertia: Jason begins aging rapidly when Etrigan is separated from him.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Both Blood and Etrigan speak with American accents despite hailing from England.
- Outside-Genre Foe: Klarion wasn't the first supernatural foe Batman has had to deal with (Thoth Khepera has that distinction) and it wouldn't be until Justice League that Batman would gain more experience with the supernatural. But by this point in the DCAU, magical enemies were still uncommon for him and Klarion is the first magical enemy Tim Drake has had to face. The end result is that both Bruce and Tim are out of their element fighting Klarion.
- Punny Name: Donald Shaltenpepper.note
- Pretty in Mink: A socialite at the auction wears a white fur wrap.
- Psychopathic Manchild: One would think Klarion would use his newfound control over Etrigan to go on a conquest or at least take over Gotham City. But no. He would rather use Etrigan for a petty spree as he robs a pastry shop and destroy cinemas playing movies he doesn't like. Still, it doesn't make his actions any less dangerous or villainous.
- Remember the New Guy?: Within the series itself, this is Jason Blood and Etrigan's debut and he already has a history with Batman. However, as noted in "All There in Manual", Timm and Dini did do an annual detailing their first meeting.
- Straight Man and Wise Guy: Etrigan winds up forced to play the Straight Man to Klarion’s Wise Guy after being enslaved.
- Special Guest: Etrigan, naturally, making his debut in the DCAU.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Bruce and Tim are Badass Normal, but are totally out of their element in dealing with magic. Klarion nearly kills Bruce multiple times, and he spends most of the fight running and hiding until he gets an opportunity to steal the brand. Meanwhile, Tim has to watch over a rapidly aging Jason because he doesn’t stand a chance against Klarion or Etrigan, and is easily defeated by Etrigan in a fight.
- Take That!: People run out of a movie theater screaming, albeit fleeing from Klarion and the possessed Etrigan. The movie playing starred a "Donald Shaltenpepper", undoubtedly referring to Batman & Robin, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.Klarion: I hate sequels.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Double subverted. Although Batman initially seems accustomed to magic, he proved to be out of his depth dealing with Klarion and an enslaved Etrigan. He only survives with Jason's help.
- You Are Grounded!: When Klarion is finally stopped, we get this gem:Etrigan: Mother's grief, father's shame, soon he goes to whence he came.
Robin: What's that mean?
Etrigan: I'm sending him to his room.
