Upcoming Poll #4 Discussion Thread

[Mattashell]

Episode #031 - The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy
Original Airdate - October 14th, 1992.

Batman investigates a theft of bearer bonds intended for the starving people of Byelocroatia. One suspect is Baron Waclow Jozek, a European nobleman. He confronts Jozek, who tells him that Josiah Wormwood, the 'deathtrap specialist', is responsible for theft. Jozek contacts Wormwood and sets him a task; to use his talents to get Batman's cape and cowl.

Episode #032 - Robin's Reckoning: Part 1
Original Airdate - February 7th, 1993.

When Batman and Robin bust up an extortion, Batman learns the name of the gang leader. To Robin's surprise, he refuses to let Robin continue the investigating with him, preferring to work alone instead. When Robin discovers the truth, he finds that the case is connected with Tony Zucco, a gangster who was responsible for the death of Robin's parents.

Episode #033 - The Laughing Fish
Original Airdate - January 10th, 1993.

The Joker has developed a chemical which induces "Joker" smiles on fish. He makes a visit to the Gotham copyright offices, demanding a copyright for his Joker fish. When the frightened bureaucrats tell him that such a copyright is impossible, he threatens to kill them one by one until he gets what he wants.

Episode #034 - Night of the Ninja
Original Airdate - October 26th, 1992.

Wayne Enterprises' various companies are robbed by a mysterious figure known as the Ninja. Batman and Robin discover that the Ninja is actually Kyodai Ken, the only man who could beat Bruce Wayne when they studied martial arts together as boys in Japan. Bruce exposed Kyodai's attempt to rob the dojo, which got Kyodai expelled and now Kyodai is back for revenge.

Episode #035 - Cat Scratch Fever
Original Airdate - November 5th, 1992.

While tracking down her missing cat, Selina Kyle uncovers a plot by Roland Daggett and his company scientist, Professor Milo, to infect animals with a disease that will spread through the city's strays and eventually affect the human populace as well. Daggett, of course, has the only cure, which he plans to introduce onto the market at a high price.

Episode #036 - The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne
Original Airdate - October 29th, 1992.

When Judge Vargas, a friend of Bruce Wayne's, is blackmailed by Dr. Hugo Strange, Bruce journeys to Strange's health resort in Yucca Springs to investigate. Strange has invented a machine that can see people's thoughts, and he uses this on Bruce to discover that Bruce is Batman. He then attempts to auction Batman's secret identity to the Joker, Two-Face and the Penguin.

Episode #037 - Robin's Reckoning: Part 2
Original Airdate - February 14th, 1993.

Robin heads off in hot pursuit of Tony Zucco, despite Batman's forbidding him to do it. Some tricky detective work takes him to the crook's hideout at the old amusement pier where Zucco has accidentally trapped Batman.

Episode #038 - Heart of Steel: Part 1
Original Airdate - November 16th, 1992.

High-tech secrets are stolen from Wayne Enterprises by a robot and Barbara Gordon suspects that her father is not herself. Both instances lead to a plan by HARDAC, an Artificial Intelligence computer created by Karl Rossum, to supplant humanity with machines. Batman soon investigates, only to put his identity on the line.

Episode #039 - If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?
Original Airdate - November 18th, 1992.

When Edward Nygma, the creator of the computer game, "Riddle of the Minotaur," demands his share of profits he is fired. Nygma vows revenge, and years later when his former boss is selling his company Nygma makes his move, in a new guise, that of the Riddler!

Episode #040 - Joker's Wild
Original Airdate - November 19th, 1992.

An enraged Joker breaks out of Arkham Asylum when he learns billionaire developer Cameron Kaiser has built a gambling casino exploiting the evil clown's likeness. Batman is also infuriated, knowing the Joker will destroy the casino and everyone in it to avenge his wounded pride.

Well well, Two Batman unmaskings, Robin's greatest arc, the dubuts of HARDAC, Riddler, and Kyodai Ken, some excellent Joker hyjinx and a great Catwoman ep. What to do? What to do?

Who will have your vote and why?

As for me, I'm still deciding.

Matta

[TheHuntressDiana]

Robin's Reckoning Pt. 2....easy.

The flashbacks, Dick basically cursing Bruce for lying to him about where Zucco was, and Bruce telling Dick that he didn't want to lose him to Zucco...

Man, that part makes me cry almost every time.

Yeah, I'm a sap.

[The Dark Knight]

"Robin's Reckoning" was good, specifically part 2, and I liked the ending to "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy", but I think I'll be giving my vote to "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?".

[James Harvey]

My vote is going to Robin's Reckoning Part 1. The animation really doesn't get much better then that, and the death scene is forever burned into my memory.

[Mattashell]

Jim Harvey,
Is Heart of Steel: Part 1 the first Batgirl apearance?

Matta

[James Harvey]

It was Baraba's first appearance, but not Batgirl. That was a good ep though. Nice, if sometimes off-putting, animation.

[TimTwoFace]

ROBIN'S RECKONING (pt 1) will get my vote, but that's a really tough decision, because I have a lot of drive to go for THE LAUGHING FISH (best Joker episode ever) as well.

-Tim

[Naraht]

If you're so smart, why don't you vote for the riddler?

=O

[Joker85]

oooh, that will be a tough choice between Robin's Reckoning part 1 and The Laughing Fish. I'll to watch them both again this weekend at some pointin time.

[Failure]

The Robin's Reckoning 2 parter has been one of my favorite storylines of the whole series. But I've always taken them as a whole and never separated the 2 eps in my mind. I'll have to rewatch them this weekend to pick out which one of those 2 parts I'd vote for.

[The Dark Knight]

Actually, I think the Robin's Reckoning storyline has gotten mixed up in my head and I'm not really too sure what was in each part, so picking the better of the two is harder than I originally thought. Oh well, I'm voting for the Riddler anyway, even though I have a feeling one of the Robin episodes will win this poll in a land slide victory.

[Maxie Zeus]

Hmm. After the current round, we're due for a let down.

Out of all of them, only "Robin's Reckoning" part 1 and "The Laughing Fish" seem worthy, and I think "Laughing Fish" is waaaayy superior.

[Karkull]

I have a soft spot for If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?. After years of spandex and being essentially a Joker clone, the Riddler came into his own. He was portrayed as smart, witty, cold-blooded, and teasingly dismissive of Batman (like he already knew that Batman was formitable and wanted to goad him on). Plus, he looked slick with the minimilist suit and the red hair. And he got away at the end.

[TimTwoFace]

Robin's Reckoning:

PART ONE - Batman and Robin on stake out at the skyscraper. Batman discovers Zucco is back in town, tells Robin not to tag along with him in this fight because he doesn't want Robin's emotions to get the better of him. Robin has flashbacks of the Haley Bros. Circus tragedy - one of the best sequences of the series. This episode had superior animation.

PART TWO - Great current-day action scene with Batman infiltrating Stromwell's mansion, searching for Zucco - without music. Flashbacks of a young Dick Grayson finding out who Batman is, running away, Robin does some cool stuff on his motorcycle, big finale at an oceanfront amusement park. Lesser animation - but still great.

Hope that helps!

(My personal pick is part one.)

-Tim

[The Dark Knight]

Thanks for all the info Tim. I would say part 1 is the better of the two. Man, it's been a long time since I've seen these episodes.

[The Game]

I think Robin's Reckoning is great, but I think voting for one part of a two-parter is dumb (no offense to anyone who did), so I have to go with The Laughing Fish.