First revealed by Warner Bros. Animation Executive VP - Creative Affairs Sam Register at the MIP Junior conference in Cannes, France last year, the next DC Comics superhero to join Cartoon Network's DC Comics-based DC Nation block will be the Dark Knight in his latest incarnation, Beware the Batman. Executive produced by Register with Batman Beyond's Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated's Mitch Watson, the forthcoming animated series will be a CGI affair and feature a rogues' gallery that will surely appeal to longtime Batfans, with a press release namechecking such cult favorites as Anarky, Professor Pyg and even Magpie.

Besides the obscure villains, Beware the Batman will elevate the once unsung DC Comics heroine Katana to the status of Batman's sidekick. Originally created by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo, the sword-wielding Tatsu Yamashiro has a comic book history with Batman that goes all the way back to the beloved 1980s series The Outsiders, and recently joined the Gotham-based Birds of Prey as part of DC's New 52 initiative. Katana previously appeared animated in the great Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

It was thought that Beware the Batman wouldn't debut until 2013, but SuperheroHype reports the show will hit Cartoon Network later this year. We're trying to get final confirmation on that.

A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman's core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City's criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a "Batman show." Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, Batman steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for an entirely new generation of fans. With WBA's Sam Register executive producing, and Batman Beyond's Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated's Mitch Watson producing, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network!