WORLD'S FINEST - Fresh Question #91: Best Character Intro

[Nightwing]

Salutations, and other big hello words, to everybody. It's new Fresh Question time, so please make sure your masks are securely fastened to your faces.

The purpose of the DCAU for me was to take comic book characters from all of their panels of awesomeness and translate them into a media which not only would provide an interesting spin on them, but also introduce them to an audience that otherwise would have missed out. And aside from the creators, no one else gets more psyched about it than those who are already fans. Those are the people that I need to talk to right now. Tell me:

Which character do you think had the best translation AND introduction, simultaneously, into the DCAU?? Why??

[Trevor Balena]

Hmm. The obvious answer would be Batman. He was translated best from the comics to the DCAU, keeping all of his nuances intact while adding fresh details and characterization. But in terms of introduction, there wasn't really was one in the context of the episodes; he was just there in "On Leather Wings", with no real origin or cool entrance (not that one was needed, in my opinion, but that's not the question).

Some of the best introductions in the DCAU, in my opinion, are Nightwing at the end of "Sins of the Father", Batgirl at the end of "Shadow of the Bat, Part I", and Green Arrow in "Initiation"...

...but in we're looking at best translation and introduction simultaneously, I'm going to have to go with a more esoteric choice: The Question. While his character obviously underwent some changes as he was adapted for animation (his zen groove somehow morphed into conspiracy theories and borderline lunacy), these changes were almost universally hailed as improvements, especially when Jeffrey Combs's superb voice work is added to the mix. And when it comes right down to it, "Fearful Symmetry" made thousands (millions?) of people who had never heard of the character before into diehard fans... and what more could you ask from an introduction?

[Aldrius]

Well, if we're going for most IMPROVED from the comics. I'd have to say Superman.

Up to the point of that series' creation. To me, Superman was always the boyscout who's only struggle was a deal with the fact that he's an alien and he's a cultural icon. Well, he looks human and was raised by humans, so I never saw him being an alien as an issue he'd have to deal with... as for his Cultural-Iconess... that is not something I can relate to at all. Superman brought a real humanity and a very dry wit to him. He's still a big boyscout, but Clark is a real person... not just a role Superman plays. Among other things.

The Joker adapted well, too. I hate the Joker in the comics, and the Animated Series brought alot more tangible elements to the character. (As opposed to the crazy killer who just likes to kill people for no reason other than he finds it funny.)

[Crow]

Atom's walking out of the haze in Dark Heart, that was good. Watch it, you'll see.

[Captain Clown]

...but in we're looking at best translation and introduction simultaneously, I'm going to have to go with a more esoteric choice: The Question.

That's who I was going to say.

But really, we're three replies in and nobody's mentioned Heart of Ice yet?

And although he didn't get "translated" into the DCAU I'll go with Terry McGinnis.

[Atomic_Duck]

Hmm. The obvious answer would be Batman. He was translated best from the comics to the DCAU, keeping all of his nuances intact while adding fresh details and characterization. But in terms of introduction, there wasn't really was one in the context of the episodes; he was just there in "On Leather Wings", with no real origin or cool entrance (not that one was needed, in my opinion, but that's not the question).

Some of the best introductions in the DCAU, in my opinion, are Nightwing at the end of "Sins of the Father", Batgirl at the end of "Shadow of the Bat, Part I", and Green Arrow in "Initiation"...

...but in we're looking at best translation and introduction simultaneously, I'm going to have to go with a more esoteric choice: The Question. While his character obviously underwent some changes as he was adapted for animation (his zen groove somehow morphed into conspiracy theories and borderline lunacy), these changes were almost universally hailed as improvements, especially when Jeffrey Combs's superb voice work is added to the mix. And when it comes right down to it, "Fearful Symmetry" made thousands (millions?) of people who had never heard of the character before into diehard fans... and what more could you ask from an introduction?
They also moved him back into his Randian Objectivist roots, which is the best interpretation of the character IMO.

[MR.MXYZPTLK]

If she counts a charachter, Krypton. I always hated the Byrne Krypton and I felt Timm got it right.

[Arsenal]

Roy Harper.

Nobody saw him coming. He just pops down with his atomic arrow and I personally couldn't believe it. And now a short rendering of my reaction:

Me: That's Roy freakin' Harper!

My indifferent fiancee: Who?

Me: Roy Harper! He was Speedy, then he was a junkie, then he was Arsenal and now he's on TV; but he was always Roy freakin' Harper!

Fiancee: That's nice, honey. Keep it down. I'm on the phone.

[Crow]

Can't believe I forgot!

Hawkman!!!

The great scene setting it up, the cinematography, the music, Remar and Canals' performances, damn that was the best character intro of all. I get goosebumps every time I see it.

[Cortez2301]

Bane.Darkseid.Deadman.Wonder Woman.Alot of people did.Drakseid was really great in his intro.Very Dark stuff.