I’m just starting this, and it will likely take years for me to get it just right.
Batman: The Animated Series – Year 01 (1991)
Batman: The Animated Series – Year 02 (1992)
Batman: The Animated Series – Year 03 (1993)
Batman: The Animated Series – Year 04 (1994)
Batman: The Animated Series – Year 05 (1995)
1993:
BTAS 45 S01E37 Terror in the Sky
Robert March, Kirk & Francine Langstrom all return here. The episode features snow, playing off the reference in “White Christmas”, this suggests a January 1993 setting.
BTAS 43 S01E36 Moon of the Wolf
Dr. Achilles Milo returns from “Cat Scratch Fever”. Anthony Romulus / The Werewolf introduced.
The Batman Adventures Vol.1 #21 House of Dorian (06-01-94)
Emile Dorian, Tygrus, Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom), Anthony Romulus / The Werewolf & Selina Kyle (who, despite the cover art, never dons her Catwoman costume) return. It is revealed that Dorian was once colleagues with Kirk Langstrom. Dorian, Tygrus, The Romulus Werewolf & Man-Bat (Kirk Langstrom) are presumed dead, though Batman suggests that one of them may have survived – and Kirk has, as he’s featured in several more stories.
Batman & Robin Adventures Vol. 1 #11 Windows to the Soul
Set years after “On Leather Wings” (so at least 1993); this also takes place after “The Beast Within”, “Terror in the Sky” & “House of Dorian” – with all of those adventures referenced here. Robin also doesn’t seem to recognize the Manbat at all. The Manbat is Kirk Langstrom and he wishes to remain Manbat.
Bruce lists Kirk Langstrom, Francine Langstrom (“Terror in the Sky”), Dr. Parry (“The Beast Within”), and the unknown Man-Bat from “House of Dorian” as the previous Man-Bat identities – in that order.
The Manbat related characters return in the New Batman Adventures.
BTAS 29 S01E16 Eternal Youth
Poison Ivy is free but captured, which sets up a fun payoff a few episodes from now.
BTAS 30 S01E26 Perchance to Dream
The Mad Hatter returns for revenge; his capture here, like Ivy’s in the previous installment, will lead to a payoff soon.
This installment also features another appearance by Selina Kyle.
A fantastic episode.
BTAS 22 S01E07 Joker’s Favor (Late September, 1993)
This episode features the introduction of Harley Quinn; this is implied when the police don’t recognize her. Also, Harley’s first appearance had to be at least 6 months after Ivy’s first incarceration in Arkham Asylum (per the episode “Mad Love”) and introducing Harley this late also just happens to work out wondrously, though it was a real challenge at the time.
The episode opens with a flashback to 2 years ago, in which Joker steals the license of a man, Charles Collins, who will then owe the Joker a favor. There are a couple of dates on the license, including an expiration date (03-17-95) and one that’s been interpreted by me as the issue date (09/25/91) which means the earliest this episode can be set is late September 1993, which is where I place it given the need to incorporate so many appearances by Harley Quinn; we just have to assume that Charles Collins got his Driver’s License renewed shortly before the Joker encountered him.
The Joker is captured in this episode, and like other recent (consecutive) captures, there will be a pay-off scene very soon.
BARA Vol. 1 #13 Knightmare [Halloween 1993?]
Crane tried to destroy the city in “Riot Act“. There is a reference to Halloween but the reference is in response to the Scarecrow’s plan to distribute fear via television being compared to the 1938 Halloween broadcast of the War of the Worlds reportedly causing a panic – which the Scarecrow denies, saying this is no Halloween prank – but this COULD reference the fact that it is Halloween, but not a prank. Scarecrow is captured, which is referenced in the next episode.
BTAS 41 S01E42 Joker’s Wild
Poison Ivy, the Mad Hatter, Joker and Scarecrow are all seen in Arkham Asylum, having been captured in “Eternal Youth”, “Perchance to Dream”, “Joker’s Favor” and “Knightmare”. “Joker’s Favor” introduced Harley Quinn, who is referenced here.
Jack Napier is again referenced as being the Joker’s true identity. In later episodes it’s mentioned that it’s one of his many aliases.
1994:
BTAS 56 S01E47 Harley and Ivy
Joker, Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy are all free at the beginning of this episode, which introduces the friendship / team of Harley & Ivy (who are both free); all are captured by episode’s end. Rocco, who was introduced in “Joker’s Favor” returns here. Harley & Ivy’s partnership returns in many future installments, including the upcoming “Trial”.
BTAS 84 S03E10 Deep Freeze
This episode brings back Mr. Freeze, his wife Nora & Karl Rossum. In the episode Mr. Freeze is kidnapped from Arkham Asylum but remains free (with a new sense of hope) at episode’s end. The placement of this installment here explains Freeze’s absence from Arkham in the upcoming “Trial”, which features the majority of Gotham’s villains.
BTAS 50 S01E44 Off Balance
This episode introduces Ra’s al Ghul & Talia. Additionally, the Giant Penny makes its first appearance in the Batcave, suggesting that the encounter between Batman and Two-Face from which the coin originates (told in flashback two episodes from now), actually takes place shortly before this installment – and a considerable amount of time after Two-Face’s introduction in 1992.
Having another installment set between “Harley & Ivy” & “Almost Got ‘Im” also allows more time for Joker, Harley & Ivy to have escaped Arkham before the latter episode.
BTAS 66 S02E07 Sideshow
Croc has been ruled sane and escapes while being transferred to prison. During a fight with Batman, Croc attempts to hit Batman with a rock. Croc is later captured and apparently has his sanity questioned again as we next see him in Arkham Asylum.
BTAS 46 S01E35 Almost Got ‘Im
Joker, Harley & Ivy have escaped since “Harley and Ivy”. Batman is impersonating Croc, who he captured in the previous episode; in that installment, Croc tried to hit Batman with a rock, which Batman as Croc brags about here. This episode gives backstory to the giant coin which was seen in the Batcave two episodes ago. All villains (Joker, Harley, Ivy, Penguin and Two-Face) are captured here, save Catwoman.
BTAS 08 S01E23 The Forgotten
Having all been caught during the previous episode, none of Batman’s main foes appear in this episode, save a hallucination of the Joker.
BTAS 65 S02E04 The Worry Men
The Mad Hatter returns having been released from Arkham Asylum since “Joker’s Wild” and is captured. Joker, Two-Face, Penguin & Riddler are seen in photographs on the Bat-Computer. Replicas of Penguin, Riddler, Harley Quinn, Joker, Scarecrow, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman and what looks like an attempt at Two-Face appear in Hatter’s lair. Veronica Vreeland appears.
BTAS 68 S02E09 Trial
Harley has escaped since “Almost Got ‘Im” (during “The Forgotten” or “The Worry Men”) but is back in custody. Harley & Ivy’s friendship from “Harley and Ivy” is present here. Croc once again seems obsessed with hitting Batman with a rock (“Sideshow”, “Almost Got ‘Im”). Penguin, Clayface, The Clock King, Mr. Freeze & Catwoman are absent; this is because Penguin is kept in Stonegate Penitentiary and Clayface, The Clock King, Freeze & Catwoman are free per “Feat of Clay, Part II“, “The Clock King“, “Deep Freeze” & “Almost Got ‘Im“.
BTAS 17 S01E56 See No Evil
Batman tangles with an invisible man, Lloyd Ventrix.
TBA Vol. 1 #8 Larceny, My Sweet
Batman encounters Clayface again, who is arrested. Before he is captured he’s referred to as The Invisible Man by the press. When Batman tells Alfred that he fought the Invisible Man, Alfred thinks he is referring to Lloyd Ventrix (from BTAS 17 S01E56 See No Evil).
BTAS 73 S03E5 Time out of Joint
The Clock King returns. During the adventure, when Batman & Robin realize what the unseen villain has been up to, they are relieved that they haven’t encountered yet another invisible man.
BARA Vol. 1 Annual #01 Shadow of the Phantasm
Phantasm / Andrea Beaumont, Arthur Reeves, Joker (1994 – 3 years after “Mask of the Phantasm”). Joker has been in Arkham for months.