B:TAS "Christmas With The Joker" Talkback (Spoilers) [Archive]

Joe Tully

03-03-2002, 03:41 AM

I really liked this episode when I first saw it, but now I can see more of the problems with it, probably because I am older and have realized how to be more critical (for better or worse :rolleyes: ) Some of the ideas are too absurd, even for the Joker, poor dialogue in spots, and poor animation. The pie was great though. You expect it to be a bomb or something and then it just splats him in the face.

Also, Robin's voice seemed weak, esp. at the beginning of the episode. And we had to deal with the poorer version of Alfred. Still, I think that if you don't let these things bother you too much, you can enjoy the story. I thought that all of the Joker on TV segments were funny. I still wound up giving the episode 3.5 stars....maybe that was a little too generous, but it's hard for me to hate an episode that has such a sense of fun, even if it is weak in the other categories.

JusticeLeagueLegion

03-03-2002, 09:29 AM

Jingle bells
Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
Batmobile
lost a wheel
And Joker got away!

Hey!!

Failure

03-03-2002, 10:46 AM

Poor dialogue, cruddy animation, a plotline that doesn't make too much sense, original Alfred's crappy voice, but still strangely entertaining. Maybe I'd think differently after seeing it several more times, but since this was the first time I'd seen this ep in years, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 2.5 stars.

It's definitely cool to hear how much Hamill and Conroy have improved in their voice acting. Hamill had the Joker down pretty well except for the laugh, which is now perfect. Meanwhile Conroy seemed like he was trying to be too soft, but now he's 100% gruff.

JohnStewart-GL

03-03-2002, 11:15 AM

it was an ok ep i gave it 2 1/2 stars.

The Game

03-03-2002, 11:38 AM

I thought I was the only one that thought the dialogue was a little lame... Glad to see I'm not alone.

I'm not a good judge of what "good animation" is vs. "bad animation" as I thought the animation was okay. I don't know, I always like that episode.

Of course, we did have "ghetto Alfred". Ah well. What's next week- Nothing to Fear right? Now there's an episode I haven't seen in a long time...

-The Game

Terminatah

03-03-2002, 01:15 PM

I don't blame it for being primitive in areas like voice work, dialogue, animation or even plot. This was an early episode and the Timm group was still feeling their way out. Now we have so much more to compare it to, but it's been about 8 months short of a DECADE since it originally aired. When you strip it down, the premise was a good idea and there were hints of what would be classic moments if this episode were done today (probably sleeker, scarier, funnier). But you can see what they were going for, and that's what I kept in mind.

-Terminatah

Heehaw

03-03-2002, 01:27 PM

I don't blame it for being primitive in areas like voice work, dialogue, animation or even plot.

On Leather Wings was earlier than Xmas(1 episode) and it looks fantastic on all fronts.

Giant jack in the boxes, pies, giant toy soldiers, toy planes, rocket ship Xmas trees, and all around silliness make for good cheer and fun!!! :rolleyes: What a lame plot.

Salvor

03-03-2002, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by Heehaw
Giant jack in the boxes, pies, giant toy soldiers, toy planes, rocket ship Xmas trees, and all around silliness make for good cheer and fun!!! :rolleyes: What a lame plot.
Yeah well I'm not ashamed of liking it. I mean, I usually have fun watching this ep, so I don't care about boring technical aspects. Actually it reminds of the Bill Finger/Dick Sprang era: lame plot, but crazy enough to be enjoyable.

Besides it's a Christmas special. And I like Christmas specials. :)

The Dark Knight

03-03-2002, 02:12 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the ending with the Joker singing "Deck the Halls" in his cell and slowly evolving into maniacal laughter, lit only by the moonlight through his barred window (incidentally, lunacy gets its name from the moon). It's pretty powerful in the way it highlights how deep into his insanity he is in an otherwise silly episode, and it's one of the creepiest moments in the series.

The Flash

03-03-2002, 02:51 PM

I gave it 3 1/2. The animation sucked, but the story rocked. :) ...it was one of my favs when I was a lil kid and still is. I always get out my tape and watch it on Christmas.

The Penguin

03-03-2002, 04:32 PM

"Live from Gotham City! The show that nobody wants to see, but everyone will watch! Yes, it's 'Christmas With The Joker'!!!" -The Joker, Christmas With The Joker

I thought this was pretty good episode. I'm not an animation quality debater so I'm going to get into that. (Although even I could pretty easily with parts of this one.)

Robin's sarcasm can really be a lot of fun and this episode is a great example. The pie in the face was just classic. That's a true hallmark of the Joker, it made pretty much no sense. :D I also liked BATman hitting those Joker planes with the bat, that was priceless. Still waiting on the good Alfred. :(

Mattashell

03-03-2002, 09:12 PM

I thought the series went a while before Robin was introduced, but here he is in episode two as if he'd always been there (sigh). Well if Joker blew up that brdge on live tv, and gave B&R enough time to save everyone, you'd think someone would have radioed the conductor and told him to stop the train. I guess no one really cares that much. Okay it was a poorly animated ep, but the drawings were fine and that's all I think really matters to me. Joker was presented very well, (but how did he sneak that rocket into Arkam) He was great being his nutty, homicidal self on tv, and as everyone has said, the pie in the face worked quite well. I guess if this amounted to the sum of its parts it would pretty much suck, but I actually found it very entertaining. I think it's just the Joker being crazy that did it. In the end the Joker alone in Arkam singing was so sad. Poor Joker has no family to spend Christmas with. I feel so sorry for him. :(

I set my vcr to start even earlier this time and it still missed the beginning! How is cartoon network starting these so early. In case your wondering why it was only set for Christmas with the Joker, I already have the first three STAS on tape.

G. Wen

03-03-2002, 10:21 PM

I didn't like it. The Joker appeared more as a joke than a threat in this episode. He was trying to kill Batman with giant toys! That's not the Joker's stlye. And I know the Joker is crazy, but kidnapping 3 people just to piss Batman off seems lacking, even for the Joker. The dialogue was weak. Batman was stating the obvious in most of his lines. Alfred sounded like he had a cold.

Brother Nature

03-04-2002, 05:45 AM

I must be one of the few who quite liked & enjoyed this episode. It's definitely not one of the BEST in the series - that's for sure!, but it's also quite far from being one of the WORST episodes in the series, in my opinion.

To name a couple of the good factors, it portrays how not even a day like Christmas Eve/a holiday like Christmas could prevent Batman/Bruce from swaying away from his duty(of ensuring the protection of the citizens of Gotham City) or relaxing/taking a break.
Also shows that Robin is still quite inexperienced & young, and that it'll take a while for him to fully understand & get used to his career of assisting Batman.

And while portraying how goofy & comical Joker can be - it truly portrays how psychotic/physchologically imbalanced he is, and underlines his sinister/evil/cold/dark inhibitions!
The episode truly captures the characters of the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime!!!

There are also some kewl quotes! ^_^ (I disagree that the script is really lame/weak)

Batman: You know I've never seen that. I could never get past the title.

Robin: He could give lessons to Scrooge!

Dick: It's about how much of a difference one man can make to a city. Sounds familiar?

Joker: Bah Humbug!

I also really like & enjoy:
*. The reactions from Gordon, Summer Gleeszon & Bullock, as Joker introduces them to the audience!
*. Joker's creepy & kewl laugh, just before he plays the Nutcracker music!
*. Joker's maniacal rendition of "Deck the Halls" and laughter at the end of the episode(right before giving into wishing us a Merry Xmas)!

And I don't know about you, but I for one really felt sorry for Summer Gleeson when she said that her mother was on the train the Joker planned to destroy - with tears swelling up in her eyes!!! It was done in a very genuine way, where you can genuinely feel for her!!
(And of course, that bit also shows how insane the Joker really is, and how he has ZERO concept of understanding or caring!! He could very easily give Mr. Freeze a run for his money for being coldhearted!!!)

So I feel that this is another episode that's very underrated & overlooked! It's quite humorous & enjoyable, while at the same time, delving very nicely & well into the character's personalities & subtly telling the audience quite a lot!!

:)

Dark Knight

03-04-2002, 03:40 PM

"Robin, Time for Operation cause and effect!"
"Keep your eyes sharp, Robin!"

HAHAHA! Its been so long since ive seen this episode I had no IDEA the dialogue was so bad! It felt like Kevin Conroy doing Adam West's dialogue at times!

I still liked the Joker scenes with the Awful Lawful family though :D .

Only good line:

"I can't believe you've never seen 'Its a Wonderful Life."
"I could never get past the title."

That was classic. Just about everything from this episode was thrown into that opening level of "Adventures of Batman and Robin" for Super Nintendo too.

...ah memories. God bless Cartoon Network for resyndicating BTAS.

The Penguin

03-04-2002, 03:46 PM

I keep forgeting to comment that I wish they used the BTAS opening theme here. During Batman vs. Superman they did use it after the Toonami opening. To CN I say "You blew it ya jerks!" :)

Caped Crusader

03-09-2002, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by Dark Knight
"Robin, Time for Operation cause and effect!"
"Keep your eyes sharp, Robin!"

HAHAHA! Its been so long since ive seen this episode I had no IDEA the dialogue was so bad! It felt like Kevin Conroy doing Adam West's dialogue at times!

I thought Kevin Conroy's dialogue sounded a lot like Adam West's in this episode, too, Dark Knight! :D
*********************

This definitely isn't one my favorite eps. B:TAS's dialogue, voice-acting, and animation improved a lot after this episode.

(And did anyone else wonder what happened to Batman's grappling hooks in this episode? I thought it looked really funny seeing him go up buildings with a batarang and a rope. :D )

James Harvey

12-24-2002, 10:15 AM

Christmas is upon is so it makes perfect sense to bump up the discussion for the Holiday themed Batman episodes. Without fruther adieu...

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/00r.jpg

Batman #02 Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.
Written by Eddie Gorodetsky - Directed by Kent Butterworth

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

TheScarecrow

12-24-2002, 04:19 PM

I always thought this episode got a bad rap. The animation is horrible, but the story is a great first introduction of Mark Hamill as The Joker, and he nails the part right away (and would get even better as time went on).

I mean how can you NOT smile at The Joker singing the "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" song? That, and other moments throughout the episode, had me laughing like crazy.

And that ending with Joker at Arkham. :eek:

Stu

12-24-2002, 05:04 PM

Not one of my favorite episodes, but I make a point to watch this episode and Holiday Knights every Christmas, sort of out of habit. I can forget about the poor animation, stilted dialogue, etc, for just 20 minutes to enjoy it on a complete fluff level.

My feelings exactly. Still it was better than the next Joker episode.

Barb Gordon

12-25-2002, 07:36 PM

I love it. A classic for me, though it wasn't the best episode, didn't have the best music, or animation, or storyline....but it's just so dang perfect for the holidays! In that sense it does its job well, and it's just pure entertainment and holiday fun. It just makes you laugh and feel good, that's about it. But that's all it needed to do.

~Barb

James

12-25-2002, 08:13 PM

I remember this was the very first Batman cartoon I saw with Robin - and I wasn't over impressed. It was also one of the few I caught with the Joker. I don't know if it's true, but the animation seemed to have visably suffered. The gags were okay, but it just felt as if the tone of the show had been turned down a notch. All from memory, of course...

BeastBoyWonder

12-25-2002, 09:30 PM

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And I thought Robin was great in this one.

Bird Boy

12-23-2003, 03:29 PM

I realize this just aired, but I'm bumping up all the Christmas thread, so bare with me...

It's the week of Christmas, so break out those old tapes with your favorite shows on them. And while you're at it, don't forget to watch the special Christmas DCAU episodes. "What are they, and where can I talk about them, oh sweet Bird Boy who's acting like Santa", you ask? I'll tell you...

On the first Christmas Special, BTAS Gave to me, Christmas With the Joker (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=21707) running the show with a manic laughter and a present for thee...

On the second Christmas Special, TNBA gave to me, Holiday Knights (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=54554) giving us Clayface, Ivy, Harley, and Joker in their new designs all free...

On the third Christmas Special, JL gave to me, Comfort and Joy (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093) filling us with Holiday Cheer and presents Clark couldn't see...

That was annoying, I apologize. Best I could come up with. Enjoy Christmas, everyone!

-BB

dtemplar

12-23-2003, 03:44 PM

I like this episode a helluva lot better than Holiday Knights. The designs were a lot better, the dialogue was funny espically when the Joker gave his Hallmark moment.

"When you really care enough to send the very BLAST!"

This episode should be aired on Cartoon Network next Christmas.

Frank Castle

12-23-2003, 09:53 PM

It's a real shame that Holiday Knights was shown and this was thrown to the side.

David the Joker

12-23-2003, 11:17 PM

"Christmas wih the Joker" showed great character development in Batman and the Joker. Batman proves that he never fights for the safty of innocence, even if Robin wants to watch a movie ("Its a Wonderful Life"). Joker on the other hand, shows true evil in destroying christmas (like the Grinch, but with a smile). He has no compassion for others, and doesnt take a day off his evil crimes (which is the opposite of Batman). If you think about this further, Batman says, "Joker has no family", but maybe in his twisted mind, Joker thinks Batman is in his family because of all their "family feuds", and makes to show just to fight his "family", but that's just a thought. I thought it was great to toss the classic movie "Its a Wonderful Life" in, because the main character is very similar to Bruce Wayne, for one man's fight for a better world. This a very good Joker episode because it showed both of his sides, a twisted and yet comical man, who likes an old joke, like a pie in the face (and Batman knows this all too well).

Alba Aulbath

12-24-2003, 12:46 AM

Some things to be taken into consideration:

This was the second episode of the Batman animated series to be written. In the words of Bruce Timm, they were still "trying to find the voice of the Joker", so this was still very early in the game. Animation is never a problem with me (unless it's so bad I don't even know what's going ON) since I used to watch 80's cartoons and we all know animation was terrible then. So I can overlook it. The acting and lines may seem awkward, just because this was, again, still early. (I mean, for crying out loud, they didn't even really have grappling hooks; they THREW the hook and swung. I found that odd rewatching this.)

The good things, of course, would be the Joker being there. Great villain. This is actually one of his lighter stories. (It was originally gonna be darker, but they had to tone it down. It was still early, y'know.) Anyway, some bits were funny. And it's all Joker, especially the pie in the face.

Needless things, I found, were Robin's 'humorous' lines. I liked his first comparison of Batman to Scrooge. But twice in one scene is too much. Then the "They DO call you Batman" like made me wanna reach into the screen and shake Robin and tell him that I've heard better from Carrot Top on a bad day. Hell, even on a GOOD day.

It was a good episode, if you take things into account. It's traditional for me to watch it every holiday. I still enjoy it, even if some of the jokes are lame, the animation is crap, if you wanna die at a few lines.

James Harvey

12-23-2004, 08:51 AM

The holiday season is now upon us! So why not kick back, relax, and watch some of your favorite DC Animated Holiday episodes!

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/00r.jpg

Discuss Holiday-themed DC Animated comics by checking them out in The Talkback Thread Collection (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=39984)!

John Cage

12-23-2004, 11:55 AM

Hi there.

I treated myself to the Batman season one set and rewatched this the other day. The animation was pretty crummy, but I can actually remember watching "Christmas with the Joker" as a kid and wondering "why are they showing this in October.

True story.

It wasn't too bad, Akom and lame jokes aside. Besides, there's a certain charm to "Big-head" Joker.

Have a good day then.
John Cage, the Mystery Man

shany94a

12-23-2004, 04:14 PM

The pie in the face is still classic 12 years later. Nothing lethal, just Joker being a loon. Time to break out the DVD for the holidays.

Harley Quinn

12-23-2004, 09:11 PM

Seeing the Joker's amusement after Batman got splattered with the pie was just about the most adorable thing I've ever seen in a cartoon show.

Robin

12-24-2004, 03:15 AM

Like alot of you here, I watch this episode every year. While it's far from the best 22 minutes on television, it's still a fun way to spend some time over the holidays. I always make a point to watch this episode, as well as Holiday Knights and now JL's Comfort and Joy. It's become a bit of a tradition for, and apparently alot of other Batman fans. The script isn't that great, the dialogue is horrible, and the animation is almost unbearable, but I love watching this episode. The pie gets ya every time!

Temple Fugate

12-24-2004, 10:21 AM

I liked it.

I think the pie in the face joke was the highlight of Joker's career. He's probably in Arkham right now (or the afterlife, depending on what continuity you follow) telling everybody about the time he got Batman in the face with a cream pie. It's just so classic.

People are complaining about the animation and the dialogue, but this episode is really all about the Joker wreaking havoc on Christmas, and whatever follies were apparent from production, it's a fun Christmas gag episode. So get with the spirit and celebrate!

Batman: The Animated Series 002: "Christmas with the Joker" - ***1/2

Cobblepot1982

12-24-2004, 10:39 PM

I haven't seen the episode in ages, but it IS one of my favorite Joker episodes. One line that pretty much sealed hte deal for me was "and now, the show that nobody wants to watch, but it's not like I'm giving them a choice anyway- CHRISTMAS WITH THE JOKER!" SO dry and sarcastic- gotta love it!

I didn't appreciate the line back THEN, but it's HILARIOUS now.

The Penguin

10-01-2005, 12:40 AM

Live from Gotham City! The show that nobody wants to see, but everyone will watch! Yes, it's 'Christmas With The Joker'!!!

Tonight at 12 midnight ET, Boomerang aired the Batman: The Animated Series episode, Christmas With The Joker. If you do not have Boomerang, you are encouraged to follow along on disc 1 of your Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 1 (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=115616) DVD set.

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/00r.jpg

Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

Batman Fan

10-01-2005, 12:28 PM

This episode is just so much fun. It proves that a story doesn't have to have an intricate plot and a dark mood to make this show good, and I always thoroughly enjoy watching this episode.

To get the negatives out of the way, the animation wasn't all that great. Joker was terribly off model through most of the episodes, with his face looking like it would just slide right off, Batman looked a bit chunky and stocky, and the character movements were kinda off. The story, well, there really isn't one, while that's not such a bad thing, many would argue this episode had no point, and it really didn't, but it was so enjoyable to watch, it made up for it. Also, this was a very interesting choice of introducing Joker into the series, although it wasn't the first Joker episode to air, it's still kinda weird that they chose this for their first Joker episode.

Those things aside, this episode was just pure fun. The Joker was very funny and bubbly. His Christmas show was a fun idea, and there were a lot of humorous moments, from his cardboard audience, to his handpuppet, to little things like tossing his hat onto his skinny Christmas tree and causing it to fall over, seeing that show was just so fun to watch. Batman's whole attitude on the Christmas spirit was hilarious, from his inability to believe that the holiday brings out the good side in everyone, to his attitude on the cheeriness that comes with the holiday, it was all very funny, added to the fact Robin kept on comparing him to Scrooge.

There were some nice action scenes as well. The cannon blasting them on top of that mountain was a nice scene, and at the end where Batman and Robin were fighting those huge toy soilders and planes was fun to see as well. Some of the background scenes had really nice designs, especially during their patrols in the city, Gotham looked really nice in that snowy look, I always like it when the make snowy backgrounds for Gotham, they always look great. The highlight of this episode has to be Batman getting pied in the face, how many superheroes can get pied in the face, and still come off as cool, and Joker's reaction was priceless.

This was the first attempt on a pure fun episode. While it achieved that sense of fun, the animation wasn't all that great, and the plot could've used a bit work, because we got some really great, fun episodes later down the line like Harlequinade and others who achieved that level of fun, but you can see their superiority over this episode. I'm gonna be a little generous on this episode because it was so entertaining to watch. ***1/2

warmachine04

10-01-2005, 03:24 PM

Not the most memorable or best episode of the series but still funny. :p

Joker1238

10-27-2005, 02:58 AM

In some ways, this one, also had a morbin sense of humor.

He took over the airways and was about to commment murder on LIVE TV.

I do loved this one, being the first Joker show, It was almost perfect, we got the killer Joker, (Ok the artwork was a downer)

But when Summer's says, My mother's on that train.

Joker just says

"Well thats differnt than."

Hand puppet "Yeah it will be even more fun when it crashs ha ha ha"

That tells people, Joker has no regard for human life, and finds it funny when people die.

MR.MXYZPTLK

10-27-2005, 05:22 PM

This was one of the first episodes I saw and it kinda made me lose hope for btas the only other episode I had seen was last laugh this episode almost made me abandon it and now its my favourite cartoon ever. Looking back on it it wasn't that bad Joker and his puppet were funny. Robin got annoying but without him we couldn't have had "jimgle bells batman smell robin laid an egg". My only real complaint I have is the animation was terrible.

Movie-Brat

12-16-2005, 10:37 PM

I like this episode, no complaints, I really don't complain about the animation it's just the years were still early so give the animation complaining a rest.

sdp

12-16-2005, 10:45 PM

i actually like this episode, besides the jokers "break out of arkham" bit i like the episode just fine. I also actually liked Robins lines too, it was fun seeing a christmas themed epsode on B:TAS i like it more than the other DCAU ones.

Caswin

01-13-2006, 07:48 PM

Strong plot? No, not really. Character development? Well, fine, it made a halfway acceptable introduction for the Joker. Not as good as Joker's Favor. The Wonderful Life subplot is worth a nod. But most important: is it funny? Won't deny it, this one made me chuckle. "Bridges? I love blowing up bridges!" Maybe the wrong line to find funny, but that didn't stop me. On the negative side, like I said, not such a great plot. Joker just didn't come across as very menacing. Like, almost at all. Did anybody else find the toy plane barrage to be not just ineffective, but comically so? Really, at least the toy soldiers *tried*.

Oh well. That doesn't make the scene with the bear any less funny.

3/5

sdp

12-09-2007, 02:05 PM

I used to hate this episode both as a kid and when I got the DVDs. I watched it again and I was able to appreciate it a bit more, just a bit though.

It starts much different than any BTAS episode, its very slap-sticky, I started enjoying the episode a lot as a cheesy/corny Christmas special but then when they show Summer crying about her Mom kind of conflicted with the "feel" of the episode and so did some other scenes while having other cheesy things. I know Joker episodes are usually "wacky" but this one didn't flow very well in the sense of comedy/seriousness.

I did enjoy watching it this time a lot more though, I appreciate it a bit more, however it is still one of my least favorite episodes.

When Batman was using the super computer the dialog seemed straight out of Adam West's Batman, also when they were fighting the giant robots it seemed like something from the cover of a Batman comic of the 60s.

edit:wow just read my comment from 2 years ago, I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that, I always disliked this episode, I think I wrote that when I had just gotten the BTAS box set so I was enjoying every episode for nostalgia.

ROBOTRON

12-09-2007, 02:20 PM

:sad: - 3 Stars.

The art in this episode was really bad...don't know why. Maybe everyone was on X-Mas break when the y made this eppy. The only part I liked was the "pie in the face" routine. Other than that, it was lackluster.

Michael24

12-09-2007, 03:43 PM

One of my favorite episodes. (I'm a sucker for holiday episodes.) Joker came off pretty ruthless when Summer says her mother is on the train, and he says, "Great. It'll be even more fun when it crashes!" Though I always thought it was kinda odd that, for Joker's first episode, he's already in Arkham Ayslum. I remember at the time thinking that Joker's first episode would show his initial encounter with Batman. (Although "Joker's Favor" did air first, but was made after this one.) Actually hearing the "Jingle bells, Batman smells..." joke in the show was funny, too.

And I love how Shirley Walker incorporated a few Christmas carols into her score. (We need soundtracks for this show already!!)

Alph

12-09-2007, 03:58 PM

I recently watched this episode for the first time sice I was a kid (last time I watched it must have been when I was in the single digits). I have to admit, I really wish Joker had gotten a memorable intro in the same vein that Clayface, Two-Face, and Mr. Freeze had gotten.

It would have been cool if BTAS had had a real intro episode, which showed us Batman's first night on the job as Batman, and ended with a Jack Napier being dropped into a vat of chemicals.

Silly McGooses

12-09-2007, 04:00 PM

The art is terrible, the dialogue is corny, the characterizations are completely off base...and it is an essential holiday classic.

batsy2

12-09-2007, 04:17 PM

i liked this episode i gives me in the christmas spirit so does holiday knights

DerekPowers

12-09-2007, 10:23 PM

I always liked this episode, poor animation and all.

Even w/ all the flaws, it still has some very memorable scenes and visual set pieces, lots of action, and some nice character bits between Batman and Robin/Bruce and Dick. I always liked the whole "Its a Wonderfull Life" bit, and how Batman wants to work on Christmas Eve. It has that special BTAS mini-movie feeling to it as well.

Not the best episode of the series, but nowhere near bad.

dark_knight

12-11-2007, 01:42 AM

dark knight 90

12-11-2007, 02:35 PM

a pretty run of the mill episode overall....its not fair to penalize it since its evident that the creators were still trying to find their tone as far as telling joker stories....what bugs me most is that this is yet another which concludes with the joker tripping over his own 2 feet while trying to escape.

I honestly don't think its that bad... yes, the shows creators were only finding there footing with Joker so that accounts for any flaws.

The animation is also not great - but there is something creepy about the Joker.

Apart from that, it a great, fun christmas episode which i enjoy watching this time evey year - i love it all, flaws and all.

BonyT

12-11-2007, 02:56 PM

:yakko: "Oooh, look what the dog left under the Christmas tree." :yakko:Heh, heh; I can't improve on the eloquence of that critique :) . Painfully bad animation -- some of the worst in the entire series. Couple that with a crap-fest of a story, and you get ... well, what Maxie suggested.

James Harvey

12-21-2007, 11:45 AM

Just a reminder that Jetix is slated to air the Batman: The Animated Series holiday episode "Christmas With The Joker" on Tuesday, Dec. 25th, 2007, at 7:30 pm (ET) and 12:00am (ET).

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/08.jpg

Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

If you're looking to discuss other related DCAU Holiday-themed shows, check out Batman: The Animated Series "Holiday Knights" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54554) and Justice League "Comfort & Joy." (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093)

StormBlue

12-21-2007, 03:01 PM

I'm finding a TV set on Christmas Day and watching this fine episode, even if I have to fight for the remote control.

The sound bites for this episode are classic. I even put the "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" bite on a Christmas mixed CD I recently made. While there was fear that people wouldn't "get it", at a recent work holiday party, everyone chimed in with the Joker. It was great!

Plus, the episode reminds me that I really need to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" at some point. I always hear people talk about it, but I've never watched it. It's my inner Batman that's kept me from doing so :sweat:.

dark knight 90

12-21-2007, 03:04 PM

ShadowStar

12-21-2007, 05:46 PM

I watched this episode tonight, with "Holiday Knights" and "Comfort and Joy" immediately afterwards. This one was just as classic as the others, but it was easily the weakest. Poor animation and substandard dialogue from Batman and Robin that is actually a little reminiscent of the Adam West show brought this one down... but it's very lucky to have such stunning, unique art and music. The Joker was brilliant as usual, but he's seen much better days in the Timmverse. It's funny how I consider this one of the three weakest Joker stories of B:TAS (not counting TNBA), yet it still has some really memorable scenes (Joker's escape from Arkham, "They don't call you Bat-man for nothing!" and, of course, the immortal pie-in-the-face moment that is wonderfully malicious and innocent at once) that wash away most of what is bad about the episode.

3 stars, though it probably would have gotten 3.5 if not for the lacklustre DVD transfer (a few other volume 1 episodes, such as "Heart of Ice", got the short end of the stick as well).

And I MUST watch "It's a Wonderful Life" sometime as well! :D

DisneyBoy

12-21-2007, 06:03 PM

I have to agree when you point out the "dialogue from Batman and Robin that is actually a little reminiscent of the Adam West show". I noticed it immediately when I re-watched the episode sometime this past year. Some of those lines are just doozies.

I'd have to say my favorite moments in the episode are Joker's interaction with his "audience" ("And since I don't have a family of my own..." "Aww" "...I decided to steal one!" "Yay!") and the hand-puppet. Really nice.

I like some of the other stuff too, though. This episode really does feel flat-out crazy, and I think that's in large part due to the director. The rampaging robot in the streets before the 2nd title sequence, the Nutcracker-themed robot battle in the observatory, the train sequence...it really does jump around quite a bit, and that helps move the episode along.

But the pie? Never really impressed me. Hamill does make the most of it though with his "I can't stand it...!" He almost gets me to smile there.

StormBlue

12-23-2007, 02:29 AM

I have to agree when you point out the "dialogue from Batman and Robin that is actually a little reminiscent of the Adam West show". I noticed it immediately when I re-watched the episode sometime this past year. Some of those lines are just doozies.

There is nothing mind-bending about this episode at all, and it comes through with the plot and dialogue. However, that's the appeal I have for this episode. It's delightfully simple and there are some great laugh-out-loud moments.

Case in point...

I'd have to say my favorite moments in the episode are Joker's interaction with his "audience" ("And since I don't have a family of my own..." "Aww" "...I decided to steal one!" "Yay!") and the hand-puppet. Really nice.

I love that moment. In fact, I laughed several times while reading and rereading your post. Ah, that scene always cracks me up. :D

James Harvey

12-24-2008, 08:10 AM

The holidays are upon us once again, so there's no better time to check out this holiday-themed episode! Happy Holidays!

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/08.jpg

Batman: The Animated Series
Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

If you're looking to discuss other related DC Animation Holiday-themed shows, check out Batman: The Animated Series "Holiday Knights" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54554), Justice League "Comfort & Joy" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093), and Batman: The Brave and The Bold "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=221497). Check out the Talkback Collection Thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=39984) for more related threads, including holiday-related DC Animated comics!

Don_East

12-24-2008, 09:05 AM

Me and my older brother, who's a Batman fan himself, watched the episode a couple of weeks ago. It's not the best Joker episode, but it's not the worst either, but still I liked it. Not Akom's worst either, Transformers G1 has the (dis)honor of being the worst animation Akom has ever done.

And yeah, it's pretty campy in terms of plot. Like the Joker's escape, no one at Arkham noticed that the Christmas tree had rockets hidden in it. Most of Batman & Robin's dialogue would have been better if they were done by Adam West & Burt Ward(or Olan Soule & Casey Kasem). Even Alfred sounds a little like Charles Napier.

While on the topic of voice acting, Mark Hamill's Joker is probably the best performance of the episode. This is his first appearance right? Then again, every Joker episode, even the bad ones, Hamill never disapointed me when it comes to his performance.

While I liked it, I couldn't help but make a few MST3K-esque riffs to it.

ABrown

12-24-2008, 10:21 AM

To me this was one of the early BTAS episodes that I didn't care for as much. This episode, along with The Forgotten and I've got Batman In My Basement seemed to be before the show hit it's stride.

satam55

12-24-2008, 04:50 PM

Meh, This is a mediocre episode at best!.

This is one of The Joker episodes that were made before Paul Dini started writing all the The Joker episodes.

In fact all The Joker episodes that were made before Paul Dini started writing all of them (Christmas With The Joker, The Last Laugh, and Be A Clown) are mediocre at best.

Michael24

12-24-2008, 05:03 PM

My brother and I will be watching this episode tonight after dinner. It's one of my favorite B:TAS episodes. Joker comes off pretty ruthless when Summer Gleason says her mother is on the train and he replies, "Great. It'll be even more fun when it crashes!" Hearing "Jingle bells, Batman smells..." in the show was funny, too. :D

And I love Shirley Walker's score and how it incorporates Christmas carols into the music. So glad it was included on the new soundtrack. :)

Rick Jones

12-25-2008, 09:43 PM

Just watched it on Toon Disney for the first time in years. Ever since I was 8, I've thought it was a classic and it's still a fun watch. Never noticed how off some of the animation looked until now. I always thought some of the Joker's actions were a bit hokey but thats always how he was in my opinion. Always a split second away from switching from cornball to extremely psychotic. I never had an interest in It's A Wonderful Life before this show and it still took me another 13 years to finally watch it. I especially like the moment at the end of this episode where Joker is sitting in his cell, with a straitjacket on, singing maniacally. Looks pretty creepy to me. I'll always remember this one fondly.

On a sidenote, I think the first time that I heard the Batman smells version of Jingle Bells was on an episode of The Simpsons. It was pretty hilarious to me, hearing them use it on Batman TAS after that. In my 8 year old mind, it almost felt like they were sneaking an adult in-joke into the show or something.

kaine23

12-26-2008, 08:23 PM

Cool episode for a Christmas traditional watching.

GregX

12-26-2008, 11:02 PM

Hanshotfirst113

12-27-2008, 10:13 PM

To me this was one of the early BTAS episodes that I didn't care for as much. This episode, along with The Forgotten and I've got Batman In My Basement seemed to be before the show hit it's stride.

I'd say that you're right, but BTAS managed to pretty consistent thereafter. It had its share of weak outings early on, like "Christmas With the Joker," "Nothing to Fear," "The Last Laugh," "The Underwellers" (What? Just...what?), "The Forgotten" (which does at least boast a really great dream sequence), "Be A Clown" (memorable only in its reasonably interesting-looking and moody hideout for the Joker at what was in this case, the carnvial, something that Mask of the Phantasm and Return of the Joker did far better), "P.O.V." (What a waste of Spectrum; what were they thinking?), and the abysmal "I've Got Batman in My Basement," (devoid of pretty much any redeeming value), and "Prophecy of Doom," to name a few, but the show managed to find it's feet pretty quickly, and thereafter stayed good pretty consistently, excepting the likes of "Moon of the Wolf," "Cat Scratch Fever," and "The Terrible Trio." Really, given how long its run was, I think that the show managed to turn out surprisingly few duds. Granted, then we get onto TNBA, but that's another topic....

Yes, this was before Alan Burnett came in as producer.

I thought that he was involved from the get-go?

PeppeRaskell1

12-27-2008, 10:27 PM

I DVD'd this episode when Toon Disney had its "Batman vs. the Joker" marathon this past summer (I forget when), and it was the first episode on the disc. While the animation was nothing to write home about, I managed to stay with the story. And it's always a hoot to watch the Joker make trouble for Batman & Co.

Mark Hamill is, was, and always will be the animated Joker to me. No other voice actor will ever top him.

GregX

12-28-2008, 12:13 AM

I thought that he was involved from the get-go?

Here's what Greg Weisman has said on this matter:

And once again, the DCAU was not "created" by Timm & Dini. For starters, of course, it was not CREATED by any of these people, it was DEVELOPED. An important distinction in this business. Secondly, it was developed by a number of people, but certainly the two most important were Timm & ALAN BURNETT (who was Paul Dini's boss). I feel bad about constantly doing this, because I think it leaves the (false) impression that I've got an axe to grind against the very talented Mr. Dini, and I absolutely do NOT. Paul is phenomenal and deserves major props for his work on the DCAU. But I'm really tired of Alan not getting the credit he deserves for (a) RESCUING Batman the Animated Series from mediocre writing and (b) being the Executive Producer (alongside Bruce) of the entire DCAU (including THE BATMAN).

Burnett was not involved from the get-go. He came in part way through the first season, and took over as producer.

Wonderwall

12-28-2008, 06:21 PM

Yea in the Batman Animated book they mention getting Alan on board when they were having troubles in the writing process, their old story editor, and we're falling behind. Alan's experience and talent really turned it around and thankfully pretty early on.

CyberCubed

12-28-2008, 07:45 PM

Wolf Boy2

12-28-2008, 08:21 PM

Was it ever explained why Robin was randomly in this episode instead of being properly introduced? Granted Joker didn't get a proper debut ep either, but I always found it odd we saw Robin in this ep as if he's always been here and then he disappeared for the next 30 or so episodes.

I guess Dick became Robin when he was younger, like 15 or 16 or so?
You need to see the episode "Robin's Reckoning."

A flashback explains that Dick Grayson's parents were killed when he was 10 (an extortionist cut the trapeze wires and they fell to their deaths). Bruce Wayne was in the circus audience, and he took the boy in. One thing led to another, and Dick began his training around the age of 10.

They never say when he "became" Robin, but when the series begins, he is already 19 and a sophmore in college. His appearances are sporadic because of being away at school (this gets mentioned a few times in the series).

A clue to when he became Robin is given in the TNBA episode "Sins of the Father", where Tim Drake sees "the real Robin suit" which is much smaller and has different colors than the one Dick wore in BTAS. Since Tim is about 13-15, it can be assumed that Dick became Robin at the same age.

However, Dick is also rather small. Therefore he could've been the same size at 18 that Tim is at 15. It's a small detail that doesn't really matter.

TheScarecrow

12-28-2008, 08:28 PM

James Harvey

12-24-2009, 07:30 AM

The holidays are upon us once again, so there's no better time to check out this holiday-themed episode of Batman: The Animated Series! Happy Holidays!

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/08.jpg

Batman: The Animated Series
Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

If you're looking to discuss other related DC Animation Holiday-themed shows, check out Batman: The Animated Series "Holiday Knights" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54554), Justice League "Comfort & Joy" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093), and Batman: The Brave and The Bold "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=221497). Check out the Talkback Collection Thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=39984) for more related threads, including holiday-related DC Animated comics! For holiday-themed shows starring the best and brightest of Marvel Animation, head over to The Marvel Animation Forum (http://forums.toonzone.net/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=83).

CyclonatorZ

12-24-2009, 01:02 PM

An utterly average Joker centric episode of a show that generally did amazing things with the character. Sure, compared to stinkers like Penguin's debut in "I've Got Batman in My Basement," a fun, mostly plotless romp through Gotham City with BTAS's best villian is a treat, but this episode is no "The Laughing Fish" either.

Most of all, however, this episode proves that The Batman wasn't the first animated Batman show to deal out some rather lame puns. Then again, that "They don't call you Bat-man for nothing" stands out as the most memorable line in the episode kind of negates that somewhat. :p

Michael24

12-24-2009, 01:30 PM

I'll be watching this later tonight. One of my most-favorite episodes of B:TAS. Even when I watch it during the summer, it makes it feel like Christmastime. :)

Donomark

12-25-2009, 01:35 PM

Because BTAS starts out with Batman already having been "on the job" for ten years or so, approaching his prime. Robin's origin is told later on in the series through flashbacks because the show began when Robin was old enough to be in college.

Which is funny because the Bible IIRC states that this is Batman at the beginning of his career. I think at that idea was just dropped from episode two onward.

Spellbinder

03-24-2010, 04:25 PM

I always enjoy watching this episode around the holidays. The silly but fun plot, along with Mark Hamill's top notch voice acting, make this a true holiday treat. It's also a nice break from all of the dark and serious BTAS episodes.

This was one of the first BTAS episodes I ever saw, so for me this one is a classic.

Ethereal

03-24-2010, 06:57 PM

The silly but fun plot, along with Mark Hamill's top notch voice acting, make this a true holiday treat. It's also a nice break from all of the dark and serious BTAS episodes.I actually think there's a lovely balance between silly, fun moments and dark, serious moments in this episode. So many people have bashed it here, when ironically, Batman makes a comment in the episode itself about there being "more to this than meets the eye".

The Joker making reference to having no family of his own is one of the most poignant moments in the series, because there's an inadvertent link to the Clown Prince's arch-nemesis Batman right there - who, of course, wouldn't exist as we know him if he still had HIS family.

I think both the Joker and Batman were characterised to perfection here: the Joker's mania and sadism walk hand in hand with his innate sense of frivolity and humour; Batman is as unrelenting as the character has ever been since his 1939 comic debut, while always maintaining his cool and NOT allowing the Joker to get under his skin.

Unlike other episodes, where the Caped Crusader's attitude towards villains is that of a rabid hunter in ferocious pursuit, it's refreshing to see Batman approach the Joker almost with KID GLOVES here. The relationship between the two is akin to a level-headed schoolmaster (as opposed to a BELLIGERENT, VIOLENT schoolmaster) and a hopelessly immature, unruly child. (The way the Joker knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Batman is watching him on T.V and addresses him directly is priceless).

Batman's completely unaffected, deadpan reaction to being pummelled in the face by Mr. J's spring-loaded pie is in PERFECT counterpoint to the Joker's histrionic laughter - that right there is the essence of Batman's trademark superiority over the Clown Prince of Crime and his kind (whereas later episodes would constantly show Batman grind his teeth or grimace or do something similarly PETULANT and *RIDICULOUS* to evince an annoyance over villainous antics, which he should be above).

And I think one of the darkest and most heart-wrenching moments in the DCAU is the exchange between Mr. J and Summer Gleeson following the heads-up about the rail-bridge explosion.

"Laughy": What's up, Mommy?
Summer: My mother's on that train!
The Joker: Your mother? Well....that's different!
"Laughy": Yeah, it'll be MORE exciting when it crashes! (chuckles away as Summer sheds horrible tears)

The relationship between Bruce and Dick throughout the episode was very genuine and sweet, and I think Bruce's acknowledgement towards the very end that life "has its moments" (with a tentative but pleasant smile) is the finest nod to Batman's humanity in the DCAU.

P.S - Any fan of Victorian Literature will appreciate the fact that Batman is the only DC hero who "can give lessons to Scrooge" (as Robin alleges), while Mark Hamill's Joker is the only contemporary TV character who can get away with saying "Bah Humbug!" and make it sound *COMPLETELY ORGANIC* to the character (and it really is a perfect encapsulation of the Joker's attitude towards anything resembling normal human life).
I think it's DELICIOUS that BOTH a leading superhero AND his primary adversary can be connected to Ebenezer Scrooge. :D

FGfan

03-24-2010, 07:55 PM

I quite liked this episode, the giant nutcracker robots highlight everything that scares me about those things. However, oddly enough, what I liked the most about this is certain dialogue:

"He could give lessons to Scrooge!"

"What, you never saw It's A Wonderful Life?"
"I could never get past the title."

Lois_Lane_Kent

03-25-2010, 06:23 PM

Ethereal, I enjoyed reading your post. I hadn't considered this episode in-depth before, but I certainly shuddered at the moment you describe between Joker and Summer Gleason. It always stood out to me as a reminder of the Joker's true ambivalence toward life in an otherwise (seemingly) light-hearted episode. Joker goes beyond the evil necessary to disregard the value of human life; he actually mocks and finds mirth in its loss! It's so easy to get caught up in his humor and forget what a twisted individual he is, but moments like the one in question are chilling reminders.

That said, I do enjoy this episode... and I can never stop myself from laughing at Batman's unchanging expression while the pie drips down his face. Joker chortling to himself ("Oh, I can't stand it!") makes it all the more hysterical!

P.S. I'm a big fan of Victorian literature, and Robin's reference to Dickens didn't go unappreciated on my part. :) Might you happen to be a fellow English major?

James Harvey

12-24-2010, 11:00 AM

The holidays are upon us once again, so there's no better time to check out this classic holiday-themed episode of Batman: The Animated Series! Happy Holidays!

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/08.jpg (http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/)

Batman: The Animated Series
Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

If you're looking to discuss other related DC Animation Holiday-themed shows, check out Batman: The Animated Series "Holiday Knights" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54554), Justice League "Comfort & Joy" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093), and Batman: The Brave and The Bold "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=221497). Check out the Talkback Collection Thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=39984) for more related threads, including holiday-related DC Animated comics! For holiday-themed shows starring the best and brightest of Marvel Animation, head over to The Marvel Animation Forum (http://forums.toonzone.net/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=83).

RoyalRubble

12-24-2010, 10:50 PM

This was the first episode I ever watched of Batman: TAS, and thus my introduction to the series and the future DCAU. It's a pretty cool episode.

It's just a fun episode, with some amusing moments, and some great lines. Especially liked Bruce's comments on how he never got past the title of "It's a Wonderful Life" (incidentally... I never saw that movie either :sweat:) and I liked the Joker's plan to throw a pie on Batman's face.

JTMarsh

12-25-2010, 02:12 PM

Love this ep. It's a classic. The animation's a little weak but even that can't defeat the flamboyant energy Mark Hamill puts into the Joker.

klammed

12-25-2010, 03:04 PM

Merry Christmas everybody!

Ah, I remember that 'It's a Wonderful Life' line. Incidentally, wasn't this one of the first few Joker episodes?

J Knight5

12-26-2010, 03:31 PM

Merry Christmas everybody!

Ah, I remember that 'It's a Wonderful Life' line. Incidentally, wasn't this one of the first few Joker episodes?

This was the first produced Joker episode, but not the first one to air.

I've always liked this episode, even though the animation for this one isn't the greatest, but I found this one to be one of the more fun Joker stories.

Manhunter

12-26-2010, 03:43 PM

One thing I never understood was how those candy canes were viable to gag Gordon, Summer and Bullock. Couldn't they have just spit them out?

Santino

12-26-2010, 04:49 PM

One thing I never understood was how those candy canes were viable to gag Gordon, Summer and Bullock. Couldn't they have just spit them out?

Maybe they were super-sticky in the middle but not on the ends where Joker grabbed them.

James Harvey

12-23-2011, 12:00 PM

Why not check out this special holiday episode of Batman: The Animated Series (the first of two holiday episodes) as a way to ring in the holiday season? How does this episode compare to other Holiday-episodes from other cartoons?

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/08.jpg (http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/christmaswithjoker/)

Batman: The Animated Series
Episode #002 - Christmas With The Joker
Original Airdate - November 13th, 1992.

The Joker takes over Gotham's airwaves and terrorizes the city during Christmas. Holding Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and Summer Gleason hostage, he challenges Batman to find him before midnight, or else the hostages will have a very un-merry Christmas.

Comments?

If you're looking to discuss other related DC Animation Holiday-themed shows, check out Batman: The Animated Series "Holiday Knights" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54554), Justice League "Comfort & Joy" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=97093), and Batman: The Brave and The Bold "Invasion of the Secret Santas!" (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=221497). Check out the Talkback Collection Thread (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=39984) for more related threads, including holiday-related DC Animated comics! For holiday-themed shows starring the best and brightest of Marvel Animation, head over to The Marvel Animation Forum (http://forums.toonzone.net/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=83).