New Images from "The Batman" Season Premiere

[CBR News]

Warner Bros. has provided CBR News with images from "The Batman/Superman Story," the two-part season premiere of "The Batman" on Kids' WB on the CW.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11781

[The Batman]

Those look great. I've always liked the visual style of the show.

[The Zapper]

I've never cared for the show and those images aren't doing anything to change that. Put out some screen caps of a real Joker and then I might change my mind.

[OverMaster]

"The Batman/Superman Story"?

Is it me, or this series has a real knack for lame episode titles? (Not to mention this one lends itself to so much innuendo...).

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

"The Batman/Superman Story"?

Is it me, or this series has a real knack for lame episode titles? (Not to mention this one lends itself to so much innuendo...).

It's a homage to an old team-up title from way back. :/

[Totoro Man]

"The Batman/Superman Story"?

Is it me, or this series has a real knack for lame episode titles? (Not to mention this one lends itself to so much innuendo...).

that punctuation mark really does THAT much for you? :confused:

hahahahahah, well, I guess some people just have dirty minds? you're not a copy-editor by chance are you? ;)

[Kristofer]

Am I the only one who noticed it says:

"NEW IMAGES FROM "THE BAMTAN" SEASON PREMIERE"

Just who is Bamtan ?

[xnef1025]

Am I the only one who noticed it says:

"NEW IMAGES FROM "THE BAMTAN" SEASON PREMIERE"

Just who is Bamtan ?
lol... didn't see it until you pointed it out. CBR's editor needs an editor.

[SAMAS]

that punctuation mark really does THAT much for you? :confused:

hahahahahah, well, I guess some people just have dirty minds? you're not a copy-editor by chance are you? ;)

Too many trips to Fanfiction.net, maybe.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I've never cared for the show and those images aren't doing anything to change that. Put out some screen caps of a real Joker and then I might change my mind.


I've never cared for this show, either. It's a total insult to the Timmverse shows.

From seeing the images, Superman looks very similar to the Superman (Superboy) in the Legion of Superheroes cartoon.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

How the hell are they insulting the Timmverse?

[Kristofer]

lol... didn't see it until you pointed it out. CBR's editor needs an editor.

I see they fixed it...

[Shellhead]

Will they be referring to him as The Superman in this episode?

[The Batman]

How the hell are they insulting the Timmverse?


Because they're doing their own thing and not slavishly imitating the Timmverse beat for beat I imagine?

[monkeysweat]

I've never cared for this show, either. It's a total insult to the Timmverse shows.
Let. It. Go.

[The Zapper]

Just to be clear, I've never liked the show for many reasons. None of them are because it's not the Timmverse. Timmverse put the bar high, and yes, The Batman is horrible in comparison, but it's got plenty of things going against it other than not being Timmverse. The bad stories, horrible character design, horribly written characters, bad animation, etc. I keep giving it chances, and it keeps failing. The Harley Quinn episode was the best I've seen, but any time Joker shows up I want to rip my eyes out due to the wretched character design, and rip my ears out for the horrible voice acting.

[Young Avenger]

I never cared for the show neither. My reasons are pretty much the same as Zappers. I watched the first two season of this show and didn't like a single episode. I watched some of the newer episodes when I read replies about how good it got and I still found myself not liking them. I may give the Supes episode a shot but expections will be low.

[Winslow]

How the hell are they insulting the Timmverse?

It's not.

I think it's a great show, and I'm a fan of Batman TAS.

[Black Atom]

I don't really get why everyone knows Kung Fu. Really, Penguin knows Kung Fu? It's okay for some people to not know Kung Fu. Yoda doesn't have to know Kung Fu. Penguin and the Joker don't have to know Kung Fu.

[Shellhead]

I don't really get why everyone knows Kung Fu. Really, Penguin knows Kung Fu? It's okay for some people to not know Kung Fu. Yoda doesn't have to know Kung Fu. Penguin and the Joker don't have to know Kung Fu.

I wonder if this episode will include Lex Luthor using Kung Fu against The Superman?

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

I don't really get why everyone knows Kung Fu. Really, Penguin knows Kung Fu? It's okay for some people to not know Kung Fu. Yoda doesn't have to know Kung Fu. Penguin and the Joker don't have to know Kung Fu.

Everyone fights themselves because they think viewers would be more interested in seeing villains fight themselves rather than having grunts in suits do it for them.

[Black Atom]

Everyone fights themselves because they think viewers would be more interested in seeing villains fight themselves rather than having grunts in suits do it for them.

Kids: "Less talky, more punchy. Where's the Ritalin?"

[Christopher Cross Is God]

How the hell are they insulting the Timmverse?

By making such a crappy show.


Let. It. Go.

I'm not holding on to anything in the first place. Merely liked the Timmverse, watched an episode or two of The Batman, and didn't care for it. No big deal, really.

My kids like The Batman, if that's worth anything. It seems to be a very young child-oriented show.

I don't like Teen Titans or Legion of Superheroes, either, but those two shows are far more tolerable than The Batman.


Just to be clear, I've never liked the show for many reasons. None of them are because it's not the Timmverse. Timmverse put the bar high, and yes, The Batman is horrible in comparison, but it's got plenty of things going against it other than not being Timmverse. The bad stories, horrible character design, horribly written characters, bad animation, etc. I keep giving it chances, and it keeps failing. The Harley Quinn episode was the best I've seen, but any time Joker shows up I want to rip my eyes out due to the wretched character design, and rip my ears out for the horrible voice acting.


Correct. It didn't HAVE to be a part of the Timmverse, I'm not infatuated with Bruce Timm or his creations. It's just that The Batman is a crappy show.....I even find the intro song to be rather irritating (The one by The Edge).

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

By making such a crappy show.

I missed the memo where they owed the previous series anything.

Kids: "Less talky, more punchy. Where's the Ritalin?"

It's not just that. I can see how that's more than a bit visually boring.

[Black Atom]

It's not just that. I can see how that's more than a bit visually boring.

No, it's pretty much just that. Kids like The Batman because it's wall-to-wall action. Some of the the best episodes of Timm's series didn't even have fight scenes. The Batman, Teen Titans and Legion of Superheroes are decent action cartoons (better than the ones we had as kids, really) but Timm's Batman series was much, much more than that, really. Which is why The Batman gets judged so harshly.

[The Batman]

I still fail to understand how The Batman, other than in the way fanboys are able to interpret anything they don't care for as an insult rather than a question of taste, an insult to the Timmverse.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

No, it's pretty much just that. Kids like The Batman because it's wall-to-wall action. Some of the the best episodes of Timm's series didn't even have fight scenes. The Batman, Teen Titans and Legion of Superheroes are decent action cartoons (better than the ones we had as kids, really) but Timm's Batman series was much, much more than that, really. Which is why The Batman gets judged so harshly.

That... is an extreme misjudgement of all three shoes.

Teen Titans was just "wall to wall action"? Have you even seen episodes like "Haunted", "Aftershock", or "How Long is Forever"? Hell, "Things Change" has the fight scenes taking a complete and total backseat to two characters just TALKING.

Legion isn't like this either, as there's a healthy amount of character interaction and building towards a larger, season wide arc, with characters growing along the way.

Admittedly, The Batman does skew a far bit towards focusing on fight scenes, but even under that there's stuff that relies on character and some degree of emotional resonance. There's the episodes dealing with Clayface, some of Batgirl's struggles defining herself as a heroine, and hell... I'll be honest, Robin's introduction in season 4 is my favorite animated version of his origin story.

Nevertheless, Batman: The Animated series was a significant piece of work in that it was one of the first series to actively cast off the hackneyed story telling concepts that had been ingrained in children's entertainment since the day Hanna Barbera thought up the idea behind "Space Ghost." It redefined the action animation genre because it was one of the very first to do so.

But at the same time, a new Batman series shouldn't try to beholden itself to this legacy. Why? Because that limits and forces creators to try and become something they're not - Sam Register isn't Paul Dini, he's Sam Register. And yes, there is some crossover of staff between the DCAU and these newer shows, but nowhere near enough to make it so that their "artistic vision" has the ability to become identical.

But why, you might ask, can't it take the extra mile as it were? Because, that frontier has largely already been crossed. And even then, The Batman is still animated and written competently. Is it fantastic? No. Does it need to be? Hell no, and it certainly doesn't need to be because some other show based on a licensed property decided it was going to reinvent kids' entertainment. And there's nothing wrong with finding an audience that's younger, either, because they deserve to entertained.

Looking at the over half a decade legacy of Batman, I can't find anything in TB that insults the mythos in comparison to what has gone on before. What people thinks The Batman insults is a fanboy crafted image of what things should be, in a self-defined world where any licensed property has to fit a narrow set of criteria, where general audiences are immaterial and something has to fit what fans prefer. Batman isn't just Bruce Timm, The Killing Joke, and gritty detective stories; it's a grown man running around in a cape, for crying out loud, with a sidekick dressed in red and green. The Batman IS Batman, as is the Superfriends, and a myriad of other reinterpretations over the years.

If we're so concerned with the vaultedness of the medium, hell... then we might as well spurn comics and television altogether and go look at some "real" art.

[Shellhead]

I don't like The Batman cartoon, in and of itself, but I do understand that it's aimed at a much younger audience then either the "Timmverse" version or even the 70's version that included Batmite as a regular cast member. Modern fans have forgotten that the original and best audience for superhero comics or cartoons are the kids. That's why most superheroes and villains have colorful costumes and flashy powers instead of just trenchcoats and guns. That said, I believe that the "Timmverse" version of Batman was entertaining for kids of all ages, even if the overall writing was aimed at intelligent viewers.

[Black Atom]

That... is an extreme misjudgement of all three shoes.

Teen Titans was just "wall to wall action"? Have you even seen episodes like "Haunted", "Aftershock", or "How Long is Forever"? Hell, "Things Change" has the fight scenes taking a complete and total backseat to two characters just TALKING.

Legion isn't like this either, as there's a healthy amount of character interaction and building towards a larger, season wide arc, with characters growing along the way.

Admittedly, The Batman does skew a far bit towards focusing on fight scenes, but even under that there's stuff that relies on character and some degree of emotional resonance. There's the episodes dealing with Clayface, some of Batgirl's struggles defining herself as a heroine, and hell... I'll be honest, Robin's introduction in season 4 is my favorite animated version of his origin story.

I never said The Batman, Teen Titans or Legion were completely devoid of character development. The fact remains, though, that they are heavily action-oriented shows and when those character moments do pop up, there isn't much beyond the same cliches that've been in cartoons for years (Character X learns about teamwork, Character Y learns to trust the other team members, Character Z always screws up and is full of self-doubt). And that's fine, really, I didn't say otherwise.

Nevertheless, Batman: The Animated series was a significant piece of work in that it was one of the first series to actively cast off the hackneyed story telling concepts that had been ingrained in children's entertainment since the day Hanna Barbera thought up the idea behind "Space Ghost." It redefined the action animation genre because it was one of the very first to do so.

But at the same time, a new Batman series shouldn't try to beholden itself to this legacy. Why? Because that limits and forces creators to try and become something they're not - Sam Register isn't Paul Dini, he's Sam Register. And yes, there is some crossover of staff between the DCAU and these newer shows, but nowhere near enough to make it so that their "artistic vision" has the ability to become identical.

Why would you not want to live up to a legacy that most people associate with high quality cartoons? No one says they have to draw just like Bruce Timm or do the same stories, but do you really want to stand out by being the guys with the shitty Batman show? Why not try to do a show that's even better than Timm/Dini's?

But why, you might ask, can't it take the extra mile as it were? Because, that frontier has largely already been crossed. And even then, The Batman is still animated and written competently. Is it fantastic? No. Does it need to be? Hell no, and it certainly doesn't need to be because some other show based on a licensed property decided it was going to reinvent kids' entertainment. And there's nothing wrong with finding an audience that's younger, either, because they deserve to entertained.

That rationale is a little shaky. "The whole 'good cartoon' thing has already been done, so we're not going to trot that old horse out again with our show." You can't expect everyone to have the same low expectations for what they watch, especially when a cartoon has come before that has set the bar really high.

Looking at the over half a decade legacy of Batman, I can't find anything in TB that insults the mythos in comparison to what has gone on before. What people thinks The Batman insults is a fanboy crafted image of what things should be, in a self-defined world where any licensed property has to fit a narrow set of criteria, where general audiences are immaterial and something has to fit what fans prefer. Batman isn't just Bruce Timm, The Killing Joke, and gritty detective stories; it's a grown man running around in a cape, for crying out loud, with a sidekick dressed in red and green. The Batman IS Batman, as is the Superfriends, and a myriad of other reinterpretations over the years.

If we're so concerned with the vaultedness of the medium, hell... then we might as well spurn comics and television altogether and go look at some "real" art.

If you don't expect quality, you won't get it. Doesn't matter what the property is.

[The Zapper]

That rationale is a little shaky. "The whole 'good cartoon' thing has already been done, so we're not going to trot that old horse out again with our show." You can't expect everyone to have the same low expectations for what they watch, especially when a cartoon has come before that has set the bar really high.

That's pretty much how I feel too.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

I never said The Batman, Teen Titans or Legion were completely devoid of character development. The fact remains, though, that they are heavily action-oriented shows and when those character moments do pop up, there isn't much beyond the same cliches that've been in cartoons for years (Character X learns about teamwork, Character Y learns to trust the other team members, Character Z always screws up and is full of self-doubt). And that's fine, really, I didn't say otherwise.

And in BTAS, everyone remained fairly static as things went on. Yes, you got origin stories, but afterwards, even tragic villains like Clayface remained set in their ways. Justice League was where the Timmverse started building up to a larger whole (Harvey Dent and Mr. Freeze in "Sub-Zero" being notable exceptions). Is this bad either? No. Because a lot of the best episodes are characters dealing with challenges that test them mentally, even if they end up mostly the same by story's end.

And even then, how is "Haunted" in Teen Titans is far from what you would call "standard" and "the same cliches we've seen in cartoons for years." Robin is frikkin losing his mind, for heaven's sake. And in LoSH there's Superman and Brainiac Five's entire relationship, the issues of what Brainy can or can't tell his friend, and the hinted at legacy behind his name. The Batman has the entire story of Ethan Bennet, and there's also Riddler's origin episode.

Why would you not want to live up to a legacy that most people associate with high quality cartoons? No one says they have to draw just like Bruce Timm or do the same stories, but do you really want to stand out by being the guys with the shitty Batman show? Why not try to do a show that's even better than Timm/Dini's?

Trying just to make an ok show isn't a crime. And you're not "the shitty" Batman series just for wanting to appeal to a different kind of audience. Indeed, feeling like you have to push yourself to out-do another show is, in my opinion, dangerous, because... hell, that's not what art should be about. There's challenging one's self to bring something new to the medium, but what you're talking about is one-up-manship.

That rationale is a little shaky. "The whole 'good cartoon' thing has already been done, so we're not going to trot that old horse out again with our show." You can't expect everyone to have the same low expectations for what they watch, especially when a cartoon has come before that has set the bar really high.

And I'm saying the bar isn't set very high at all. The show is fifteen years old to the day. It's passed out of the main public consciousness; the Timmverse was losing steam, as shown by its slow dying out with JLU. And shows since then have a diverse set of tones and target audiences.

If you don't expect quality, you won't get it. Doesn't matter what the property is.

Or maybe there's different levels of quality? Or different standards. I'm sure a "serious artist" would turn his nose up at BTAS the same way people do TB. And that's not fair either.

[Spidey-kid1]

Man I'm looking forward to th flash...

[Christopher Cross Is God]

And I'm saying the bar isn't set very high at all. The show is fifteen years old to the day. It's passed out of the main public consciousness; the Timmverse was losing steam, as shown by its slow dying out with JLU. And shows since then have a diverse set of tones and target audiences.



How was the Timmverse losing steam? Just seemed like Cartoon Network was trying to focus on a more adolescent style of shows, and they gave JLU shifty scheduling and a total lack of advertisement towards the end.

It seemed like it was a popular show, but just got shafted by the network. Hell, if it wasn't for the internet, I wouldn't have known what sporadic scheduling JLU was receiving. And even then, I missed a few episodes here & there.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

Oh yes, they marginalized a show for no reason. The change in focus is in absolutely no way related to the performance of what was going on before. It's all the evil networks not knowing what they're doing.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

the Timmverse was losing steam, as shown by its slow dying out with JLU.

I was under the impression that JLU was getting pretty good ratings.

But CN cancelled it anyway.

[The Zapper]

I was under the impression that many factors lead to JLU getting canceled. No advertising, shifting schedules, high cost to produce, and yes, ratings.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

Oh yes, they marginalized a show for no reason. The change in focus is in absolutely no way related to the performance of what was going on before. It's all the evil networks not knowing what they're doing.

Considering that the first few epsiodes of season three of JLU did very well in the ratings, and then CN managed to not broadcast any more episodes for freaking FOREVER, and then when they finally aired it again they basically gave ti no advertising...

YES...Cartoon Network DID screw it up.

JLU was a popular show. JLU was a good show.

And CN cancelled it anyway.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

It's not like a network ruining one of their own shows with stupid moves and poor planning is a new thing, either.

See Fox.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

Oh yes, they marginalized a show for no reason. The change in focus is in absolutely no way related to the performance of what was going on before. It's all the evil networks not knowing what they're doing.


Perhaps what happened is JLU didn't fit into either style of show CN wanted to focus on? (Children shows & Adult Swim).......It wasn't as child-oriented as what we're getting with The Batman and such, and wasn't thematically similar enough to the programming on Adult Swim.

Obviously, JLU wasn't so popular that another network wanted to obtain the rights to the show and make it go on, but it was popular enough to not get the shifty program scheduling it received.

But you can continue with the sarcasm-laced responses, if you want. :D

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I was under the impression that many factors lead to JLU getting canceled. No advertising, shifting schedules, high cost to produce, and yes, ratings.

I forgot to mention the high cost of production being another reason CN did what they did.

But, wouldn't the lack of advertising & shifty schedules be the main cause of low ratings? MegaRaptorScribe is obviously going for the angle that low ratings were the cause of the lack of advertising, shifty schedules, and subsequent cancellation of the show, but I disagree.


Considering that the first few epsiodes of season three of JLU did very well in the ratings, and then CN managed to not broadcast any more episodes for freaking FOREVER, and then when they finally aired it again they basically gave ti no advertising...

YES...Cartoon Network DID screw it up.

JLU was a popular show. JLU was a good show.

And CN cancelled it anyway.

Correct. I remember reading that the Canadian channel (I think it was YTV) was still interested in airing the show, but they didn't have the finances to back the show up on their own. They were wanting to retain rights to future shows while an American broadcasting network would continue with financial backing.

[The Zapper]

But, wouldn't the lack of advertising & shifty schedules be the main cause of low ratings? MegaRaptorScribe is obviously going for the angle that low ratings were the cause of the lack of advertising, shifty schedules, and subsequent cancellation of the show, but I disagree.

I think I agree with you, but I'm not sure. Your post kind of contradicts itself so maybe I don't.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I think I agree with you, but I'm not sure. Your post kind of contradicts itself so maybe I don't.

How does it contradict itself?

I'm agreeing with Astonishing X-Fan that early episodes of the final season had good ratings, but then Cartoon Network put the show on hiatus, then didn't really advertise the show and sporadically aired it (ie, "shifty scheduling")......Thus, low ratings towards the end.

Whereas MegaRaptorFan is saying the show already had low ratings to begin with, which he says is why CN didn't advertise the show much and sporadically aired it towards the end.

[The Zapper]

You're right. You were not contradicting yourself. Your sentence structure threw me off. So yes, I am in agreement with you.

[Christopher Cross Is God]

You're right. You were not contradicting yourself. Your sentence structure threw me off. So yes, I am in agreement with you.

I apologize on my part, I blame lack of sleep.

[The Zapper]

I apologize on my part, I blame lack of sleep.

I apologize on my part. I was raised by not one, but two English teachers.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

In truth (and I realize this is me chastising myself), we should all talk about what we "remember" ratings being like. However, by the time season 3 rolled around, CN was much less invested in it, and the show was definitely on the decline. Though that, more than likely, is probably due to CN putting a series on the back burner because it was getting on in years (five seasons). The same thing was going on at the same time with Teen Titans.

I was wrong, in that regard, as it's more likely that CN doesn't invest in shows for that long anymore. The fifth season was a die off period for both shows, and it wasn't, say, licensed like a certain long running anime series they've owned and costs them considerably less.

EDIT - Either way, 15 gods darned years. Isn't that satisfying to ANYBODY?

[Astonishing X-Fan]

EDIT - Either way, 15 gods darned years. Isn't that satisfying to ANYBODY?

The thing is, there was no reason to end the Timmverse. It was something so GOOD and it could have lasted even longer.

Even if Timm wanted to move on, I see no reason to pull the plug on such an established, rich universe.

There is still so much potential in it.

The fact that it's been around 15 years makes me want to see it go on even MORE. Because dropping it means dropping 15 years of continuity.

Why NOT continue to make shows in the timeline? Why NOT continue a tradition of truly great, intelligent, mature but still kid-friendly superhero shows? Why not keep building on a solid foundation?

They could have still gotten plenty of mileage out of the DCAU. Instead they ditched it so they could capitalize on the faux-anime craze.

EDIT: And I absolutely HATE how CN ditches shows that are still both good and popular simply because they aren't brand spankin' new. If a show is still good after five years, and still getting viewers, why cancel it? CN seems to have this terrible mindset that cartoons can't be allowed to last.

[The Zapper]

15 years I'm thankful to have had, but I'd take Timmverse over the real DCU any day of the week. So in that regard, no amount of years could have possibly been enough. Timmverse was just that damn good.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

They could have at least kept the BTAS and JLU comic series going.

[The Zapper]

They could have at least kept the BTAS and JLU comic series going.

Yeah, but I never liked them nearly as well. The shows were just great. The animation, the writing, and most importantly the voice acting. Watch a Joker episode of the batman, then watch a Joker episode of BTAS for the best example of how important voice acting is.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

And I thought season three was the weakest season overall and was beginning to show its age, hampered by a weak overall plot. The season finale is best representative of this, with how rushed it is, and the fact that the final scenes are given a deus ex machina ending that only makes sense if you know a bit about the New Gods backstory in the comics. The Legion of Doom only has a few good villains, and those are the ones that are given insight in episodes beforehand - beyond Grodd, Lex, and Tala, the majority of them are total ciphers. And don't get me started on rushed wastes of an episode like "Far From Home" and the overdone adult references. There are some good episodes, but I thought that most of them were disposable. Maybe if they'd spent some time leading up to the finale and not taking a bat to Darkseid's character by resolving him in ONE EPISODE, then it would have been stronger.

For the record... what's wrong with Richardson's Joker? Yes, it's not iconic as Hamill's, but it's at least acted competently.

[The Zapper]

For the record... what's wrong with Richardson's Joker? Yes, it's not iconic as Hamill's, but it's at least acted competently.

It's just my opinion, but to answer your question. Everything. Everything about the character being called The Joker on The Batman sucks. It might be acted competently, but it's so wrong for The Joker that no matter how competently it's acted, it still sucks long and very very hard.

[MegaRaptor Scribe]

And yet, that doesn't fit the definition of poor voice acting. You could argue it's a mis-cast, which is arguable, but it's certainly nowhere near what poor acting actually is.

[The Zapper]

And yet, that doesn't fit the definition of poor voice acting. You could argue it's a mis-cast, which is arguable, but it's certainly nowhere near what poor acting actually is.

Miscast or misacted (not a word, I know) either way I don't like it. I said it was just my opinion, I wasn't claiming it as absolute fact.

[Sean Whitmore]

They could have at least kept the BTAS and JLU comic series going.

Is the JLU comic not coming out anymore?


SEAN

[Sean Whitmore]

Everything about the character being called The Joker on The Batman sucks.

Purple suit, green hair, makes crappy jokes...seems like Joker to me.


SEAN

[The Zapper]

Purple suit, green hair, makes crappy jokes...seems like Joker to me.


SEAN

A giant hunch back with no shoes that does some sort of super Kung-Fu makes and has what appears to be dreadlocks...doesn't seem like Joker at all to me. But as I've said before, it's just my opinion. I don't want anyone that enjoys it to not enjoy it.

[Sean Whitmore]

A giant hunch back with no shoes that does some sort of super Kung-Fu makes and has what appears to be dreadlocks...doesn't seem like Joker at all to me. But as I've said before, it's just my opinion. I don't want anyone that enjoys it to not enjoy it.

And that's fine, I'm just befuddled why a hairstyle and a lack of footwear is taken as a betrayal of the character or something.


SEAN

[cactusmaac]

JLU got decent ratings but was expensive to produce and didn't shift nearly enough merch as was hoped for. So Cartoon Network decided to make the new series more kid-oriented since they're the ones mostly buying toys.

As for the rest there's plenty of superhero stuff in comics and movies that's geared to more adult tastes, so it's not like we're going underserved.

[Patient Boy]

And I thought season three was the weakest season overall and was beginning to show its age, hampered by a weak overall plot. The season finale is best representative of this, with how rushed it is, and the fact that the final scenes are given a deus ex machina ending that only makes sense if you know a bit about the New Gods backstory in the comics. The Legion of Doom only has a few good villains, and those are the ones that are given insight in episodes beforehand - beyond Grodd, Lex, and Tala, the majority of them are total ciphers. And don't get me started on rushed wastes of an episode like "Far From Home" and the overdone adult references. There are some good episodes, but I thought that most of them were disposable. Maybe if they'd spent some time leading up to the finale and not taking a bat to Darkseid's character by resolving him in ONE EPISODE, then it would have been stronger.

For the record... what's wrong with Richardson's Joker? Yes, it's not iconic as Hamill's, but it's at least acted competently.

I'm quite sure that the creators of JLU were told that season 2 of the series (season four if you're counting from the original JL series) was going to be the last which is why so much was put into tying up loose ends and going out with as big a bang as possible. The possibility of an extra season was pretty much sprung on them after how well the series was received.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

Is the JLU comic not coming out anymore?


SEAN

It is at the moment, but it's ending soon.

[Black Atom]

And that's fine, I'm just befuddled why a hairstyle and a lack of footwear is taken as a betrayal of the character or something.


SEAN

How about it's just a shitty design? Other than that, it doesn't really reflect the sense of showmanship we've come to expect from the Joker, who's actually always been a rather dapper-looking gentleman for the most part. Matsuda's Joker looks like a thuggish psycho--someone who might be a henchman of the traditional Joker. Then there's the whole Kung Fu thing.

But, hey, no one's saying The Batman should be taken off the air or anything. Okay, maybe people are saying that, but I wasn't. My point of view (and I know there are some that agree) is simply that The Batman is utterly superfluous when I have much better Batman cartoons sitting on my DVD shelf. I, personally, don't need it. If the best thing that can be said about a show is that it was "put together competently", then I'll wait for one someone has bothered to pour their heart into.

[Sean Whitmore]

How about it's just a shitty design?

Oh, I'll grant you that, it's ugly as crap. I just happen to think that's as bad as the character's flaws get.


SEAN

[The Zapper]

How about it's just a shitty design? Other than that, it doesn't really reflect the sense of showmanship we've come to expect from the Joker, who's actually always been a rather dapper-looking gentleman for the most part. Matsuda's Joker looks like a thuggish psycho--someone who might be a henchman of the traditional Joker. Then there's the whole Kung Fu thing.

But, hey, no one's saying The Batman should be taken off the air or anything. Okay, maybe people are saying that, but I wasn't. My point of view (and I know there are some that agree) is simply that The Batman is utterly superfluous when I have much better Batman cartoons sitting on my DVD shelf. I, personally, don't need it. If the best thing that can be said about a show is that it was "put together competently", then I'll wait for one someone has bothered to pour their heart into.


Once again in agreement with you Black Atom. You summed up the Joker on the Batman quite well. I'm also not saying the show should be canceled. I just choose not to watch it for the most part. I keep giving it chances and it keeps sucking. I'd be enterested to see how they do scarecrow. Has he been in it yet? and if so, does he use Matrix Kung Fu?

[The Batman]

The Joker's neither a giant nor a hunchback. He's ususally the same height or shorter than Batman, except for the episode where he took Venom, and he's shown hunched over, not at a hunchback. But yeah, on this show the designs for the classic villians - Joker, Penguin, Riddler - look pretty bad but the designs for guys like Freeze, Firefly, and Bane I think look great.

[Sean Whitmore]

I'd be enterested to see how they do scarecrow. Has he been in it yet? and if so, does he use Matrix Kung Fu?

He hasn't, probably because of the movie. If he ever does appear, I imagine he'll be a fighter too (which, funnily enough, would be in line with the comics).

Is Matrix kung fu a style of martial art now?


SEAN

[The Zapper]

Is Matrix kung fu a style of martial art now?

It's just what I call the type of fighting that became popular after the Matrix. Jumping around all over the walls and stuff...but I'm guessing you all ready knew what I meant.

[Sean Whitmore]

It's just what I call the type of fighting that became popular after the Matrix. Jumping around all over the walls and stuff...but I'm guessing you all ready knew what I meant.

I didn't, and still don't, honestly. If I had to compare the fighting on the show to anything, I would call it "Smash Bros. kung fu". :)


SEAN

[Rupertmetal]

"The Batman" is just re-doing everything haha. I mean I can understand re-doing something in a comic book in a different media (animation).

But, Batman: TAS and Superman covered all of this already.

What's next? A new Batman Beyond?

Also, in "The Batman" Robin and Batgirl look even more anarexic than the Teen Titans look in their show! How skinny can you draw a bunch of kids haha.

[OverMaster]

To be fair, 'The Batman' got one thing right about Joker than most interpretations fail to fully grasp: he is TOTALLY INSANE and UNPREDICTABLE. I mean, that idea of having him dressing up as a twisted Batman and 'sorting out justice' was a great twist. Comics Joker should be more imaginative and wild like that at times.

A shame TB Joker, while got the 'insane' part of 'insane genius', totally dropped the ball on the 'genius' part.