"The Batman" cartoon: any good?

[CURSD BLADE]

I have yet to check out the newest animated incarnation of the Dark Knight and was wondering if it was any good. Anybody like or dislike "The Batman"? Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[1HELLBOY]

I like it.

[orrewhat]

it's not bad. It is getting better i think.

[megladon8]

I don't like it.

Batman: The Animated Series is a pretty tough act to follow.

[Sean Whitmore]

It's very fun, in the same vein as Teen Titans. High on action, low on drama. Kind of like the Silver Age, only Batman is less of a closet case and kicks a lot of ass. :)


SEAN

[colossus34]

:mad: The show SUCKS, plain and simple. I've tried numerous times to sit through entire episodes, but it has yet to impress. The dialogue is horriblly cliche ridden and the story lines feel like they are written by some prozac induced 14 year old high school student. Just AWFUL!!!

[metalhead_dave743]

It doesn't do it for me. It just seems like a complete commercial hypefest for selling toys. Rino Ramano has got nothing on Kevin Conroy and Kevin Michael Richardson, as good as he is, has got nothing on Mark Hamil.

[Young Avenger]

The Batman sucks on very level. Batman's dark persona is nowhere to be found, the redesigns of his classic villains are awful (expect Ridder), the Batwave is campy and it seems that the writers don't like their characters to have origins. Since the series began they didn't bother to gave Batman, Joker, Ridder or Bane any sort of origin story. Compared to Batman: The animated series, it sucks in every respect.

[Sean Whitmore]

The worst thing I hear being said about this show (and I can't go ten minutes without hearing it) is that it's not as good as B:TAS.

Well, very little is.

That's not exactly a crippling condemnation.


SEAN

[metalhead_dave743]

Is there supposed to be a shift in the balance here for some reason?

When TAS was around, the movies were shitty and horrible. But TAS is a groundbreaking amazing legendary cartoon.

Now Batman Begins has restarted the franchise and it looks like good Batman movies will be made. But the TV show is HORRIBLE! What the hell WB? What are you doing?

Why can't we have two good things instead of one good and one shitty?

[colossus34]

Is there supposed to be a shift in the balance here for some reason?

When TAS was around, the movies were shitty and horrible. But TAS is a groundbreaking amazing legendary cartoon.

Now Batman Begins has restarted the franchise and it looks like good Batman movies will be made. But the TV show is HORRIBLE! What the hell WB? What are you doing?

Why can't we have two good things instead of one good and one shitty?


Agreed, TAS was groudbreaking, brilliant and simply timeless storytelling. :)

But why doesn't the WB try making a cartoon that is more heavily influenced by Batman Begins? Maybe grounded in more reality than ANY cartoon superhero show ever made!! That would take it into a completley different direction from TAS and give the new cartoon a chance to get a whole new generation of fans.

Instead we get a lame JackieChan/Batman cartoon with a Hippie/Rastferian Joker who looks like he is on LSD!!!

[Oracle_0128]

It no way compares with TAS. Sleep in on Saturday Mornings. Besides...the Joker looks like a giant monkey.

[The Xenos]

Batman by way of Jackie Chan Adventures, a modern light version of Batman, a generic modern action cartoon version of Batman. If any of that sounds good to you, then you can enjoy this show. I don't. It seemed too toned down and too much of a generic kids show.

Oh yeah, plus now they have Babs Gordon as his first sidekick and she seems a little too much like Yvonne Craig's version. Now I loved that show as a kid, but this one is an odd mix of that show and the last animated series. Either go full camp, which I don't really advise for a mainstream Batman show, or play it more serious. This show is an odd mix I don't think it really comes away with anything too great to stand out.

I gotta confess I never cared for Jeff Matsuda's art too much, but I think it could work better elsewhere. It certainly doesn;t quite fit Batman. I think this show is very missed matched and as much as it tries, it just ends up as an odd duck of a show. This is just another kids show, nothing outstanding. It's not really a significant Batman show. I just ignore it.

-Xenos

[1HELLBOY]

I don't know how you people can sit here and compare what is obviously meant to be different. You can't compare The Batman to B:TAS. The only thing you CAN compare is that they feature the same characters.


The Batman was not meant to try and be as good as or better than B:TAS. It's just different. It's a kids Batman. End of story.

[Lubichev]

I like it. The action sequences are quite good (something B:TAS was lacking in, actually). Certainly, no B:TAS, but for what it is (and some say it is a huge toy commercial) it is entertaining. It is a Saturday morning cartoon show. ON THE WB! Eat it with a huge bowl of Cocoa Puffs in your Underoos. You know what I'm saying.

[megladon8]

It no way compares with TAS. Sleep in on Saturday Mornings. Besides...the Joker looks like a giant monkey.


Yeh what is with that? Have these people EVER read a Batman comic?

The Joker was AT NO POINT a hulking, muscular guy...letalone one with dreadlocks.

THIS is what the Joker looked like early in Batman's career...

http://www.jokerfanpage.mynetcologne.de/images/Sale-Joker.jpg

Not this...

http://www.briankong.com/images/batmanrljokeremail.jpg

[Tadhg]

I agree it's not as good as (most of) Batman: The Animated Series. But it seems that a lot of people here are looking at that cartoon through Rose-colored glasses. It was good, and had a lot of great episodes, but it also had a lot of trash too.

[Sean Whitmore]

Yeh what is with that? Have these people EVER read a Batman comic?

The Joker was AT NO POINT a hulking, muscular guy...letalone one with dreadlocks.


At no point did the comic book Penguin have flippers (BTAS) instead of fingers. But so what? This is how Joker's been reimagined for a manga-looking cartoon.


SEAN

[megladon8]

At no point did the comic book Penguin have flippers (BTAS) instead of fingers. But so what? This is how Joker's been reimagined for a manga-looking cartoon.


SEAN


I blame that on Batman Returns.

[Bloopinator]

I enjoy it. It's different and is pretty entertaining. If you want the regular Super Batdick go watch the BTAS and read the comics fanboys

[Mia]

But why doesn't the WB try making a cartoon that is more heavily influenced by Batman Begins? Maybe grounded in more reality than ANY cartoon superhero show ever made!! That would take it into a completley different direction from TAS and give the new cartoon a chance to get a whole new generation of fans.



Because the cartoon preceeded Batman Begins? Actually the movie and the cartoon both have something very much in common. A likeable Batman/Bruce Wayne.

I don't know how you people can sit here and compare what is obviously meant to be different. You can't compare The Batman to B:TAS. The only thing you CAN compare is that they feature the same characters.


The Batman was not meant to try and be as good as or better than B:TAS. It's just different. It's a kids Batman. End of story.


Very, very good point. People are criticising the cartoon for something it never meant to be in the first place. And you know if the creators had gone in the direction of TAS, people would be complaining that the cartoon was a re-tread and couldn't the creators have come up with something more original. :rolleyes:

[d00m]

I don't like it.

Batman: The Animated Series is a pretty tough act to follow.

I agree with megladon on this one. Batman: The Animated Series was awesome... but "The Batman" is just plain horrible..

[Tadhg]

I enjoy it. It's different and is pretty entertaining. If you want the regular Super Batdick go watch the BTAS and read the comics fanboys

You know, being insulting works a lot better, when you at least have your facts straight. Batman wasn't a dick in the Animated series.

[Sean Whitmore]

You know, being insulting works a lot better, when you at least have your facts straight. Batman wasn't a dick in the Animated series.


Not until the Tim Drake era, anyway. :)


SEAN

[Bloopinator]

You know, being insulting works a lot better, when you at least have your facts straight. Batman wasn't a dick in the Animated series.

Strange I thought so.

[Mia]

Not until the Tim Drake era, anyway. :)


SEAN


Yes, I was struck by the difference in the 1997 version of the show to the earlier editions.

I'll never forget how in the cross over with Superman. When Clarke Kent extends his hand to Bruce Wayne to shake. Bruce ignores him. And later when he places a restraining hand on his shoulder telling him he's done enough in roughing up a mobster. Batman grabs Superman by the arm and flings him across the room.

[Lord Grog]

I always liked the shocked look on Superman's face after he got tossed, though. That took balls the size of watermelons!

[Young Avenger]

I like it. The action sequences are quite good (something B:TAS was lacking in, actually). Certainly, no B:TAS, but for what it is (and some say it is a huge toy commercial) it is entertaining. It is a Saturday morning cartoon show. ON THE WB! Eat it with a huge bowl of Cocoa Puffs in your Underoos. You know what I'm saying.

The new adventures of Batman was a saturday morning cartoon show on the WB and it was darker in tone and Batman was a dick. Being on the WB changes nothing

[1HELLBOY]

Very, very good point. People are criticising the cartoon for something it never meant to be in the first place. And you know if the creators had gone in the direction of TAS, people would be complaining that the cartoon was a re-tread and couldn't the creators have come up with something more original. :rolleyes:



Exactly. I think Gary Oldman said it best: Fanboys just can't be satisfied.

[Sean Whitmore]

Exactly. I think Gary Oldman said it best: Fanboys just can't be satisfied.


Gary Oldman said that?


SEAN

[1HELLBOY]

Gary Oldman said that?


SEAN


Yep. He was talking about the fan's reaction to Batman Begins. He said that this was the closest thing we could get to a more than faithful Batman movie adaptation. And if the fanboys didn't like it, than they just couldn't be satisfied.


I whole-heartedly agree with that. The negative aspect of the "fanboy" could never be satisfied unless they got what THEY wanted. I'm a fanboy, but not in that kind of negative connotation.

[Charagon]

No Kevin Conroy. Strike 1.
No Mark Hammil. Strike 2
No resembalance to any other Animated DC show except maybe Teen Titans in terms of style (and Teen Titans blows The Batman out of the water in terms of story). Strike 3

[Sean Whitmore]

No Kevin Conroy. Strike 1.
No Mark Hammil. Strike 2


There actually are good shows that Kevin Conroy and Mark Hammill have not been in. True story.


No resembalance to any other Animated DC show except maybe Teen Titans in terms of style


There's not supposed to be.


SEAN

[megladon8]

Yep. He was talking about the fan's reaction to Batman Begins. He said that this was the closest thing we could get to a more than faithful Batman movie adaptation. And if the fanboys didn't like it, than they just couldn't be satisfied.


I whole-heartedly agree with that. The negative aspect of the "fanboy" could never be satisfied unless they got what THEY wanted. I'm a fanboy, but not in that kind of negative connotation.


I actually think fanboys CAN be satisfied. It's elitists that'll never be happy.

I'm a certified Batman fanboy, and Batman Begins gave me everything I wanted. There are SO many aspects to the character, it would be impossible to incorporate them all into a movie without making it a mess.

However, elitists take what they're given, and still tear it to shreds no matter how good it is, just to show how they are "so above the norm".

If there was an independent Batman film done in Sweden, I guarantee you, no matter how good/bad it was, it would be considered the #1 Batman film among film snobs.

[dougiemccoy]

I like it. The action sequences are quite good (something B:TAS was lacking in, actually). Certainly, no B:TAS, but for what it is (and some say it is a huge toy commercial) it is entertaining. It is a Saturday morning cartoon show. ON THE WB! Eat it with a huge bowl of Cocoa Puffs in your Underoos. You know what I'm saying.


Adluck you hit the nail on the head...its entertaing and fun. is it good enough to wake up early saturday, hmmm nope thats why i tape it and watch it when i get up.

so yeah it not as good as the old one but it pretty good and i think this batman desigh is better that the old one with the helmet crowl but they miss by a mile on some of the villains

[rickfury188]

I don't like it.

Batman: The Animated Series is a pretty tough act to follow.

YES!!! THE ANIMATED SERIES WAS AWESOME.

[Kirayoshi]

As has been said, comparing The Batman to BtAS is a losing proposition. Heck, comparing the Tim Burton Batman movies(which were good) to BtAS leaves the movies lacking in key areas(characterization, for example).

But in and of itself, The Batman is an entertaining and fairly accurate version of the Caped Crusader. Batman is treatening without being totally inaccessible, and Bruce Wayne gives the impression of being a decent human being; one ep he learned that Dr. Langstrom had been working with a deaf girl, and offered her a state-of-the-art hearing aid. He then learned the girl wasn't really deaf, which led to Bats discovering the truth about Langstrom/Man-Bat.

My main problem with the show had been a lack of name supporting characters; except for Alfred and assorted villains, none of the classic co-stars were on the show. On the plus side, that's being addressed with current eps, with the appearances of Commissioner Gordon and his daughter Barbara, who has taken on the role of Batgirl. And while I have problems with some of the villains' characterizations(especially Clayface, who not only ruined one of the few original supporting characters on the show, but rather negated the possibility of Two-Face becoming a major villain), the new Joker is growing on me. At least he's lost the modified straight-jacket costume.

I wonder if there are any plans for Ra's Al Ghul to put in an appearance?

Oh, and did you notice that they cast Adam West as Gotham's mayor? That pretty much puts him in most versions of Batman to appear on TV(with the possible exception of Superfriends).

[Sean Whitmore]

Oh, and did you notice that they cast Adam West as Gotham's mayor? That pretty much puts him in most versions of Batman to appear on TV(with the possible exception of Superfriends).


West did Batman's voice on Superfriends too, making it a trifecta. :)


SEAN

[Smokin' J]

I don't like it.

Batman: The Animated Series is a pretty tough act to follow.

Werd...


The Animated Series, best comic related cartoon...

[dazzler_slave]

I agree it's not as good as (most of) Batman: The Animated Series. But it seems that a lot of people here are looking at that cartoon through Rose-colored glasses. It was good, and had a lot of great episodes, but it also had a lot of trash too.

Actually, I JUST rewatched all the epsodes available on DVD in the first three volumes and I found maybe two or three episodes that I plain didn't like. The rest were amazing! I haven't watched The Batman. I haven't really been interested. Maybe when the seasons get collected properly I'll check it out. That being said, from what I understand it IS very different from TAS and I'm glad for that. I wouldn't want it to be just like TAS. It is interesting to see different takes on a character that has been around for so long.

[Erebus]

Its alright, not exactly awful, but nowhere near B:TAS. But, i have a lot of 5-8 year old cousins, and they told me they loved it. I guess its more of a kids show.