Comics and Shows... How do they relate?

[melibell21]

Comics and Shows... How do they relate?

I don't read the comics, but I was hoping someone did because i was wondering if the personalities, friendships, etc in the animated series somewhat mirrored the comics. I know their definitely different but what are the characters in the comics actually like.

Such as, is Raven really sarcastic, is Beast Boy actually mental, is Starfire really that naive and stupid, is Superman that naive, etc.

If someone can tell me how the comics and shows relate, it will be much appreciated. i figured i'd just ask you guys instead of reading every one of the comics myself. hehe. thanks guys

[Kieralinn]

Comics and Shows... How do they relate?

I don't read the comics, but I was hoping someone did because i was wondering if the personalities, friendships, etc in the animated series somewhat mirrored the comics. I know their definitely different but what are the characters in the comics actually like.

Such as, is Raven really sarcastic, is Beast Boy actually mental, is Starfire really that naive and stupid, is Superman that naive, etc.

If someone can tell me how the comics and shows relate, it will be much appreciated. i figured i'd just ask you guys instead of reading every one of the comics myself. hehe. thanks guys
All I can tell you is no..Superman is not that naive. Batman is "testier". If you can call meaner, darker, more of a loner, kind of a jerk really (of course there are harsher words for Bats at the moment) testier.;)

[James]

I think it's a hard comparison. Especially considering the current line up of, say, The Titans has far more back history and character evolution to the TV counterparts. Add to that, they are older, it makes it even hard to compare. Back when the Teen Titans popped up, yes they were a lot more different. It was a different era. This toon TT Robin is far more obsessive and calculating than Dick Grayson was in the TT conception. Starfire was not naive as she is in the cartoon. Cyborg wasn't so contemporary streetwise.

Again, same with the JLA and JL/U. The backgrounds of a man makes his character and the backgrounds are very different. There rivalry between Superman and Batman has some connection to the comics, as does Batman's parttime connection to the JL. All the characters in the cartoon retain the basic traits of the comic counterparts, albeit maybe a little less deep. The Manhunter is similar although I would say a little darker and isolated in the comics. Those attributes are currently more in play in the comics than I see in the cartoon. Wally isn't quite as airheaded in the comics (again his backstory makes him a little more serious) and John Stewart isn't quite as hardcore and controlled IMO (again, thanks to some major goof ups in his past where his confidence took him out of control of the situation).

I would say the TT is a good update of the basic original TT comic team dynamic, and JL/U captures the general characters and interplay of the comic current JLA team.

[Dakkoth]

I constantly have to remind myself that the script writers for these shows either borrow from or loosely follow storylines from the comics. Otherwise I become deeply disgusted with the show and cannot enjoy it. I think that's what ultimately made me walk away from Marvel as a fan is when they chopped up the stories for animation. The cartoons, for me, didn't have the same effect as the compelling story arcs of the comics.

[melibell21]

thanks guys

[matta2fatta]

was batman beyond comic any good? like did they say what happened to nightwing or other bat characters

[CyberCubed]

You mean the animated Batman Beyond comic? I believe Batman Beyond was first created as a cartoon.

[karasu]

In the Comics:

Beast Boy is exactly the same.
Starfire isn't that naieve, and she's more of an emotionally driven fighter
Raven isn't as obsessed with being gloomy
Robin is Robin
Cyborg is more serious
Superman is smarter
Wonder Woman is alot more relaxed
The Flash has more to him than the one liners (not complaining about JLU)
Batman is more of a butthead for some reason
Vixen is a nobody (thanks for building her up JLU!)
Supergirl is a completely different..hot person
Barbara Gordon is paralyzed by the Joker and now works as information specialist
Batgirl is Cassandra Cain, the worlds best Martial Artist.

Sometimes themes of the animated shows and the comics sync up pretty well. Like at the same time the JLU were dealing with trust issues during the Cadmus arc, the comic book Justice League was dealing with trust issues during the Identity Crisis.

[Jor-El]

Further examples of differences between comics and the shows:


John Stewart not only uses ring constructs, but uses ring constructs so detailed and intricate that you're supposed to be able to see each individual piece of the construct form and function. I like to think that it was one of the best additions to the comic book John Stewart, if only because it had to have been written as a direct slap in the face to the JL fans who thought that not using constructs was somehow cooler, despite its being antithetical to the point of being a Green Lantern. :)
John Stewart is not the token angry black man and is a three dimensional, really likeable character with every bit the responsibility and professionalism (if not more so) of his JLU counterpart.
The Flash comes from a rich legacy of speedsters, most notably Jay Garrick (who debuted in the 1940's) and his uncle Barry Allen.
The Hawkgirl origin is just completely different, although Shayera does have a somewhat similar characterization to Shayera Thal, Hawkwoman.
Elongated Man isn't a loser.
Captain Atom doesn't have nearly as prominent a role in the DCUniverse has he does in the animated univerise.
I'm embarrassed to say that that's all I can right now. I'll come back with more if I can think of it.

[swarlock]

You mean the animated Batman Beyond comic? I believe Batman Beyond was first created as a cartoon.
Then it became a comic book. The stories were loosely based on the cartoon but didn't touch on Nightwing or the others.

The Return Of The Joker was adapted for comic book form though and that's as far it went.

[Kieralinn]

Then it became a comic book. The stories were loosely based on the cartoon but didn't touch on Nightwing or the others.

The Return Of The Joker was adapted for comic book form though and that's as far it went.

Just to add to this......the DCAU comics have nothing to do with the regular comics. In regular Batman continuity...Terry doesn't exsist. None of Batman Beyond does...as well as, what someone said, about Barbara Gordon. She was paralized by the Joker and now is Oracle and bound to a wheel chair. Plus Jason Todd the second Robin and now the Red Hood, and a Batman nemesis, doesn't exsist in the DCAU.

I love both! The comics are way more adult though...it's like comics are no longer written for kids...they are written for fan-boys/girls like me!:D Way darker. The Batman in "Batman Begins" is closer to the comics yet the new movie Bats is still a little nicer than the comics Bats. He still connects with Bruce Wayne.

[Anime]

The BTAS Batman was more forgiving, TNBA Batman was more judge jury and executioner. TNBA had more of the attitude that "he's just another criminal." Where as BTAS had more the Batman looking to find the good side...

JL's Bats was a blend of the two, but leaning more toward BTAS Thank God! Honestly, what were the TNBA writers thinking?!!:mad:

[Justice Lords]

The BTAS Batman was more forgiving, TNBA Batman was more judge jury and executioner. TNBA had more of the attitude that "he's just another criminal." Where as BTAS had more the Batman looking to find the good side...

JL's Bats was a blend of the two, but leaning more toward BTAS Thank God! Honestly, what were the TNBA writers thinking?!!:mad:When you look into the abyss the abyss looks into you. BTAS hadn't been exposed to the abyss (the supervillians) enough to be as he had been in TBNA. In TBNA he has tried to find the good in people like Two-Face, etc. It simply doesn't exist and he finally realized it. This will have a big psychological effect on a person. Besides going from the good in everyone to the they are just another crimal is a natural progression in a character such as this. That's the way I see it. I haven't seen TNBA, haven't seen most of BTAS, but that seems to be the only logical conclusion in an illogical world of superviallians and superheroes.

[Vin]

John Stewart is not the token angry black man and is a three dimensional, really likeable character with every bit the responsibility and professionalism (if not more so) of his JLU counterpart.


Although I don't read the comics, I personally find John Stewart to be a very interesting, likeable character on the animated series. I don't see how he is a "token angry black man" at all. That and I would add that from what we have seen, he's pretty professional overall about his position as Green Lantern and as a member of the Justice League.

[Harley_Quinn]

Although I don't read the comics, I personally find John Stewart to be a very interesting, likeable character on the animated series. I don't see how he is a "token angry black man" at all. That and I would add that from what we have seen, he's pretty professional overall about his position as Green Lantern and as a member of the Justice League.
I agree, I think John Sewart is a very well rounded character in JL/JLU. I think he has a ton of depth.

[Dakkoth]

Captain Atom doesn't have nearly as prominent a role in the DCUniverse has he does in the animated univerise.
There is one point of continuity between the comics and shows: Captain Atom has about the same amount of personality in both... being none whatsoever.

[Justice Lords]

I agree, I think John Sewart is a very well rounded character in JL/JLU. I think he has a ton of depth.I agree to but I think in the show he should be some other kind of superhero, being a GL doesn't really suit him. In comics, GL suits him just fine.

[Revelator]

Elongated Man isn't a loser.
Someone needs to read Identity Crisis....

[Sue]

I disagree. Identity Crisis made me care for him more.

[Revelator]

I disagree. Identity Crisis made me care for him more.
Sometimes having a character's wife bumped off in a "dark" and "mature" fashion so he can be made into a sad-sack just flattens a character. There was more of Ralph to care about pre-IC.

[Stu]

I'm mirroring this on the CBC board, so that the fine folks over there who don't visit here and chime in with thier thoughts. :)

There's a great amount of differences between the comics and the shows. The shows have the ability of heinsight, to a degree. They can see what didn't work for the comics, and either revamp it so it does work, or completly ignore it. For example, in the comics, according to Superman Birthright and the old silver age comics, Lex and Clark were good friends in Smallville, before he became Superman. In the cartoon, Clark and Lex didn't meet until after he became Superman.

I generally prefer the animated version, arguably because, with the exception of the odd Teen Titans episode, I've seen all the episode, so I already know the charaters backstory, whereas a lot of comics can be confusing to new reader who don't know the characters extensive history.

[Justice Lords]

whereas a lot of comics can be confusing to new reader who don't know the characters extensive history.That and the restarts kept me away from the comics. The restarts especially kept me away.

Only reason I was a Marvel fan for a lot longer than DC was because the Marvel shows had a consistent airing schedule in my area where DC shows like BTAS jumped around. If I had TIVO it wouldn't matter but back then TIVO didn't exist yet and I still don't have it.

[Jor-El]

Someone needs to read Identity Crisis....Thanks. I read it. Are you suggesting that he's a loser because he was upset that his wife was killed?

Someone needs to read Starman.

[Trevor Balena]

Thanks. I read it. Are you suggesting that he's a loser because he was upset that his wife was killed?I agree with Jor-El. By the end of Identity Crisis, Ralph had come to terms with what had happened, and even (to the extent that someone can, after losing a loved one) achieved some measure of contentment and peace with his new lot in life.

I don't think Meltzer turned him into a sadsack, nor do I think he's been portrayed that way since (such as in his recent appearance in the current JLA arc).

Oh, and Jor-El's also right about Starman. It rocks.

[Casey Mack]

yea the major difference between the comics and the shows, is the characters are way more iconic and the stories are alot deeper. The shows are great and all, but they are limted by Ytv standards and all that other stuff the makes cartoons....cartoons. lets comparet the animatedDCAU and the comics DC universe. Now comics are more adult and alot deeper, and can tell stories the shows cannot even try to tell.....like Identiy crisis. while the justice League and Titans are great shows, the comics have more a grandesque feel to the DC universe. Now in the comics characters that die unfortunatley come back to life soon afterwards makeing their death seem meaningess and cheap.

I do prefer animated Batman alot more to his comics counterpart, but like all animated shows the other DCAU characters seem to lack something their comic books selves seem to have.
________
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[melibell21]

if i were to start reading comics now, which comics would you guys recommend??

[J. Torres]

if i were to start reading comics now, which comics would you guys recommend??
Teen Titans Go :D

[CyberCubed]

I hate the way all dead characters keep coming back to life in the comics.

It just gets pathetic. There's no reason to read if all they do is kill off characters and then a few years later "magically" bring them back to life.

[Revelator]

I agree with Jor-El. By the end of Identity Crisis, Ralph had come to terms with what had happened, and even (to the extent that someone can, after losing a loved one) achieved some measure of contentment and peace with his new lot in life. We obviously didn't read the same comic, since I saw a shell of a guy telling corny stories to the mirror and talking to his dead wife. Talking to a dead person as though they were still in bed with you doesn't strike me as have reached true peace with one's situation. In that series the character was made a sadsack, all for the sake of a major event storyline. Frankly, the animated shows may not be able to show "dark" and "mature" acts like rape and bloodletting, but this doesn't make them less mature than comics like Identity Crisis, which are not only lousy mystery stories, but try proving their maturity through gratuitous acts and only come off as more puerile. The cartoons are just as mature as the comics, but can show less--which often causes them to think harder and work smarter.

[Jor-El]

Once again, what happened to him in one comic book story doesn't say anything about his character in general. This thread was about how the comics are different from the cartoons. I said that in the comics, Ralph isn't a second-rate loser like he comes off in his few appearances on the show. If you had read Starman, instead of arguing about how Ralph is a loser who's upset about his wife's death (and what a real reason to be be a loser, right? I'm sure we'd all be perfectly normal and come to full acceptance with that fact in 7 issues :rolleyes2 ) you would have simply agreed. He's a truly great detective, he's a really earnest and sincere person, he's brave. He's just an all-around great person. His JLU counterpart doesn't demonstrate any of those qualities.

Do these clarifications help explain away any of the gripes that you had with my original five word sentence?

[Revelator]

Not really, especially since the character in the cartoon isn't a second-rate loser (have you single-handedly taken down Mordru lately? :rolleyes: ) and what happens to a character in a very influential storyline may very well influence his character in general. Ralph was made a loser and shell of himself for a trumped-up tragedy. It's great that the character was well used in Starman, but's also been a highlight of every JLU episode he's been in as well.