Bat Ban?

[ThePersonMan]

I remember reading something awhile back about the "Bat Ban" which restricted the use of Batman and related characters from appearing in media (such as Justice League) other than new Batman movies and "The Batman" because WB though that some viewers might be confused. I was looking at wikipedia (where I thought I had originally saw it) recently and couldn't find anything about it. Searching on Google didn't give too much either. What is the Bat Ban exactly (any difference from my understanding)? Is there some official WB press release about it?

[BCVM22]

No, you won't find any press releases regarding it. Why would Warner Bros. or any other entity with any sort of creative control issue a press release detailing a set of internal parameters given to their creative staffs regarding which characters can and cannot be used?

At any rate, the set of parameters, or the "Bat-Embargo" as some call it, barred the JLU creative staff from using any of Batman's allies or rogues gallery - basically, any member of the Batman family save for Batman himself - effective beginning with JLU, "Initiation". This was done by WB, as you surmised, to prevent any confusion they were concerned would arise if viewers saw two different versions of a character flitting about on The Batman and JLU.

Some exceptions did slip through, however. Dr. Milo and Dr. Hugo Strange, both characters who appeared on B:TAS, had cameos in JLU, "The Doomsday Sanction" with Dr. Milo's role being a brief speaking part, likely due to their minor status as characters. Although a new version of Hugo Strange appeared around the same time on The Batman, his appearance on JLU was only seconds long, and the character was not named in dialogue, and therefore most of the demographic shared by The Batman and JLU would not have recognized the JLU appearance as being another version of the same character. The Clock King is classified by DC Comics as a Green Arrow villain (which isn't wholly inaccurate; he blamed Green Arrow I for the death of his sister and made him the target of his first villainous schemes in the comics) and was made available for his role in JLU, "Task Force X" despite making his first animated appearance on B:TAS. Most notably, Nightwing made a very brief, non-speaking cameo in JLU, "Grudge Match", appearing as a very dark but recognizable silhouette among a row of gargoyles on a rooftop in the city of Blüdhaven, observing the Huntress enter the city on a motorcycle.

Less publicized was a similar embargo on Aquaman and his smaller sphere of associates, which forced Aquaman's role in JLU, "Ultimatum" to be his last animated appearance. This was instituted due to Aquaman's planned usage in a pilot for a live-action series featuring a younger version of the character. It's worth noting that the pilot stage is the furthest that particular endeavor reached.

[Arrakhat]

It's also worth noting that we got more of Batman's rogues from the comics this way. We ended up with at lease Dr Moon, KGBeast, and Blockbuster (original).

[James]

I suggest you read the World's Finest FAQ which covers the Bat Embargo without the fan fury that normally tails it. The Embargo is not a unique situation, just an industry way of maintaining the complexity of a variety of different studios handling the same product and his related characters.

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/sections/faq/boardfaq.php

[GuardianKid13]

Less publicized was a similar embargo on Aquaman and his smaller sphere of associates, which forced Aquaman's role in JLU, "Ultimatum" to be his last animated appearance. This was instituted due to Aquaman's planned usage in a pilot for a live-action series featuring a younger version of the character. It's worth noting that the pilot stage is the furthest that particular endeavor reached.
Are you talking about "Mercy Reef" which was suppose to be picked up by The CW?

[creativerealms]

Well there is also the ban, sort of, of Sandman and Electro from the early seasons of the Ninties Spiderman toon. At the time the show started Electro and Sandman were planned on being used in the Spiderman Live action movie that was in the planning stages back then. By the final season that movie was never going to happen and those villains were free to use.

[Saru]

Ra's al Ghul and Scarecrow were also banned from both JLU and The Batman due to Batman Begins; I guess that's a small price to pay for such an awesome movie.

Actually, Aquaman's last appearance wasn't "Ultimatum"- He was also in "Wake the Dead" and a few other cameos.

Even though we did get some new Batman villains, unfortunately they didn't get much screen time or tragic backstories like the other Bat-villains. They each were only in a handful of scenes.

[BCVM22]

Actually, Aquaman's last appearance wasn't "Ultimatum"- He was also in "Wake the Dead" and a few other cameos.

Color me forgetful, you're right. I somehow juxtaposed Ultimatum and Wake the Dead in episode order as I was writing earlier. That's what I get for posting at 4 AM.

[Harvey Two Face]

Who ever came up with the title BatBan must of thought they were so clever when infact it's quite ridiculously lame.

[GuardianKid13]

It's a pun, don't go crazy about it.

[HaagenDas]

They should have lifted it for Destroyer. When the LOD was first introduced, the Bat villains should have been seen in the background, but not heard of in speaking roles. Have them in the whole Lex v Grodd melee. Killer Frost then kills off some of them then and there resulting us in never hearing again of those select Bat villains in Batman:Beyond.

[BigFatHairyDeal]

From what I gather, the upcoming Wonder Woman movie (if that ever comes out) is what prevented Wonder Woman from appearing in Smallville. There were some other weird legalities that prevented the character from appearing in STAS.

[Antiyonder]

I suggest you read the World's Finest FAQ which covers the Bat Embargo without the fan fury that normally tails it. The Embargo is not a unique situation, just an industry way of maintaining the complexity of a variety of different studios handling the same product and his related characters.

Understandible, but they should at least have a rule that the embargo takes effect only if they are following through with a character project. I'm refering of course to the Aqua Embargo.

[BCVM22]

Understandible, but they should at least have a rule that the embargo takes effect only if they are following through with a character project. I'm refering of course to the Aqua Embargo.

They did follow through with it. Pre-Aquaman Orin made an appearance on Smallville, and Mercy Reef got as far as a completed pilot. By the time The WB/CW rejected the pilot, JLU was long out of production.

[Stu]

It's worth noting that DC Comics is the one who instructed the embargo, no WB Animation or Cartoon Network.

The Wonder Woman on Smallville thing doesn't surprise me, they've always been very protective of thier big 3, as Bruce Wayne isn't allowed to appear on Smallville either.

[HaagenDas]

They had legal issues with WW in STAS and cartoons for a while. They wanted to use her for The Call but they didnt have the rights to her thus used Barda.

[zonian1989]

I always figured Bruce Wayne would be traveling the world training, though they could always have Lex coming into a scene complaining that he lost the bid to damn Fox over at Wayne Enterprises.

[Simpler Simon]

I wonder what the status of the embargo is now...The Batman could definitely benefit from Ra's and Scarecrow popping up if another season is ordered.

[Saru]

Scarecrow was supposed to be the villain of "Strange New World" but was ixnayed, so the embargo's still in effect.