San Diego Comedian-Con’s ‘Aztec Batman’ Trailer Explores Mythos, Tradition, and Justice In a New Gentle

Throughout San Diego Comedian-Con, HBO Max lastly showcased its upcoming DC Studios animated Batman film, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires.

The movie, also called Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios, provides a brand new tackle the Caped Crusader’s storied mythos. In keeping with HBO Max Latin America‘s press launch, its story will heart on “a younger Aztec boy named Yohualli Coatl, whose father, village chief Toltecatzin, is murdered by Spanish Conquistadors. Coatl flees to Tenochtitlan to warn King Moctezuma and his excessive priest, Yoka, of looming hazard. Utilizing the temple of Tzinacan, the bat god, as a lair, Yohualli trains together with his mentor and assistant, Acatzin, growing gear and weaponry to confront the Spaniard invasion, defend Moctezuma’s temple, and avenge his father’s demise.”

Aztec Batman was first introduced in 2022 in celebration of the DC hero’s 83rd anniversary. The animated movie is being created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation, Specific Crowd, Mexico’s Anima, and Ebook of Life producer Chatrone. Whereas the animated venture has lots of palms concerned, it’s being helmed by a well-known hand in Juan Meza-León, storyboard artist of the Harley Quinn Animated Series fame. Meza-León will co-write and direct the movie.

A brand new legend rises. AZTEC BATMAN: CLASH OF THE EMPIRES is coming to Digital 9/19. pic.twitter.com/YXn8VTzIng

— Warner Bros. Leisure (@WBHomeEnt) July 25, 2025

Aztec Batman will function the second worldwide reimagining of the Darkish Knight, introduced by way of a distinct cultural lens. The opposite of which is 2018’s animated movie, Batman Ninja. Whereas Batman Ninja and its 2025 sequel, Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, set the Caped Crusader in a modern-day setting, isekai adventures however, Aztec Batman presents its model of the DC hero steeped within the interval piece, the place colonialism is intertwined with his vigilanteism whereas sustaining Batman’s essence.

In an interview with Anime News Network, Meza-León elaborated on how their model of Batman, regardless of coming from a rich household, will face challenges from the category system that may have influenced a younger boy in Aztec tradition.

“He goes by way of tragedy by the hands of the conquistadors. In order that’s the place you get the lack of the dad and mom and in addition the lack of his village. That motivates him and pushes him right into a journey that, unbeknownst to him, is being led by the deities that information him into turning into the bat warrior,” Meza-León informed Anime Information Community. “We attempt to be as devoted as we are able to to the essence of the characters, whether or not it’s Batman, Joker, or Two-Face. They’re utterly new characters with totally different origins, however you may nonetheless see the spirit of their comedian counterparts.”

Apart from the apparent cultural and historic influences, Aztec Batman producer García de Letona informed Anime Information Community that the film was impressed by Batman: The Animated Series, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and a bunch of comedian books. DC followers will little doubt should maintain their eyes peeled to identify easter eggs from.

Aztec Batman is slated to launch digitally on September 19.

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to count on the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every part you want to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.