The New Titans
11-02-2008, 04:04 PM
Hi. Since it's nearly time for The Brave and the Bold to bring an animated Batman back to the small screen, I thought it would be best to review his animated history, and any parts that may tie in - possibly the original four films and the Nolan franchise - but can anybody tell me in case I should not be doing this? Also, I've not seen Superfriends or anything before Batman: The Animated Series, so please don't ask me to do it.
Images used from The World's Finest.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batman is one of the most popular characters in comic books. Almost everybody knows who he is, at a basic form at least. And nearly everybody looks up to him with respect. Especially the guys who write the comics or make the films or TV shows he stars in.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/media/introcredits/btas/12.jpgAnd this happened, when, in order to do a quick TV show tie-in with the mediocre Batman Returns film, they turned, suprisingly, to Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, known for their light-hearted kids TV shows. They quickly bowled over the censorship boards and head of Warner Bros. Animation with a sleak looking 1940's Gotham. It made perfect since A) Batman debuted just before the 1940's and B) it made the show more timeless and could be enjoyed by future generations, unlike today's shows that have a terrible habit of making themselves dated.
And so we begin a look at one of the biggest moments in Batman's history. Each episode opened in a spectacular way - without a single title saying "Batman" at all. It was a simple Batman chases down crooks scene, but it was done in the coolest, most dramatic fashion possible, helped the always stellar score from Shirley Walker, and helped conduct the show's greatest musical tunes. And it hooked me the second it came on.
(The episode order of B:TAS shall be in the production order.)
The first episode was On Leather Wings, and had the task of introducing Batman's world and give it a plot in twenty minutes! But it is pulled off spectacularly, and really set the tone for the rest of the series. The plot involves Batman being mistaken for a giant monster by the Gotham Police, and he sets to clear his name, ultimately culminating in a showdown with the freakish Man-Bat, excellently designed, and given a terrific, shreaking voice.
The second episode had comic's greatest baddie, the Joker, rear his face in this show in a Christmas episode! Although it is often bashed, I personally like it, and it is a lot to do with Mark Hamill's scene-stealing performance as the Clown Prince of Crime. A combination between the light-hearted Ceasar Romero version, and the ultra-dark Alan Moore-"The Killing Joke" version, the Joker had a wonderful personality and a fantastic design to match. It truly is the best version of the Joker in any media. Period. Well, maybe Heath Ledger's take in The Dark Knight. The episode also introduces Robin No. 1 - Dick Grayson - into the show, but more on him when I get to Robin's Reckoning.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/bios/joker/32.jpgNothing to Fear brings one of my personal favourite villains, Scarecrow, into the show. However, as we know, he had a tremendous change during the show's history, and started out in his Denny O'Neill outfit getting back at Gotham University for firing him, with an overly Professor X-style voice that really took the fear away from him. The episode, however, developed Batman as showing him fearing, not bats, but in fact, his own personal belief that he failed to save his parents when Joe Chill or whoever shot them. A very fascinating look at an element of Batman usually ignored for whatever stupid reason in any media.
The fourth episode - the Joker's second appearance - suddenly saw the magnificent Efrem Zimbalist Jr. take over the role of Alfred from Clive Revill, and proves himself from the beginning to be the Alfred in any media - just narrowly beating Michael Caine's version in the Nolan films. Instead the cockney, sarcastic man-servant, here he's an overly British-Jeeves type, with a terrific design and warm personality to match. He also can bring light into any situation, which can help in the show's darkest episodes. Pretty Poison showcased Batman's friendship with Harvey Dent - I'll get to him in the next part - when he's brought within inches of death by the sexy Poison Ivy. Another nab for the show, the red-headed beauty was given a fantastic treatment, with a gorgeous design, wonderful voice in Diane Pershing, and a terrific backstory to match.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/prettypoison/22.jpg
(Lucky fool...)After a disappointing romp in The Underdwellers, the seventh episode introduces something unique to the show - that of an episode focusing on the little guys in Gotham, a very fascinating staple of the show. The episode in question takes a look at a usual day in the life of the Gotham Police Force, in which we see contrasting personalities in the forms of Commissioner Gordon, Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock, as well as a one-shot character named Wilkes.
If you want a Gordon like he appeared in Frank Miller’s legendary The Dark Knight Returns, then this is the Gordon for you, with a grandfatherly voice in Bob Hastings and great DKR-inspired design. Of the three major police officers, Montoya is the one who didn’t get the development needed until she was brought into the comics (she’s now a much saner, but less interesting version of the Question), and just really seemed off no matter what design or show she was in. She wasn’t a bad character, but just didn’t grab you like the others did. Harvey Bullock, however, is outstanding. A fantastic comic relief character, he steals the show from his fellow officers in any scene, and despite occasionally coming off like a dirty cop, he is much more interesting than his other police officers put together, thanks a lot to Robert Constanzo’s performance in every episode.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/onleatherwings/09.jpgThe show was already looking promising. Little did we know that the show was about to get much, MUCH better...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next time - B: TAS, part two - Two-Face, Mister Freeze, Harley Quinn and more!
Mod Note: Watch the language, please.
Images used from The World's Finest.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Batman is one of the most popular characters in comic books. Almost everybody knows who he is, at a basic form at least. And nearly everybody looks up to him with respect. Especially the guys who write the comics or make the films or TV shows he stars in.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/media/introcredits/btas/12.jpgAnd this happened, when, in order to do a quick TV show tie-in with the mediocre Batman Returns film, they turned, suprisingly, to Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, known for their light-hearted kids TV shows. They quickly bowled over the censorship boards and head of Warner Bros. Animation with a sleak looking 1940's Gotham. It made perfect since A) Batman debuted just before the 1940's and B) it made the show more timeless and could be enjoyed by future generations, unlike today's shows that have a terrible habit of making themselves dated.
And so we begin a look at one of the biggest moments in Batman's history. Each episode opened in a spectacular way - without a single title saying "Batman" at all. It was a simple Batman chases down crooks scene, but it was done in the coolest, most dramatic fashion possible, helped the always stellar score from Shirley Walker, and helped conduct the show's greatest musical tunes. And it hooked me the second it came on.
(The episode order of B:TAS shall be in the production order.)
The first episode was On Leather Wings, and had the task of introducing Batman's world and give it a plot in twenty minutes! But it is pulled off spectacularly, and really set the tone for the rest of the series. The plot involves Batman being mistaken for a giant monster by the Gotham Police, and he sets to clear his name, ultimately culminating in a showdown with the freakish Man-Bat, excellently designed, and given a terrific, shreaking voice.
The second episode had comic's greatest baddie, the Joker, rear his face in this show in a Christmas episode! Although it is often bashed, I personally like it, and it is a lot to do with Mark Hamill's scene-stealing performance as the Clown Prince of Crime. A combination between the light-hearted Ceasar Romero version, and the ultra-dark Alan Moore-"The Killing Joke" version, the Joker had a wonderful personality and a fantastic design to match. It truly is the best version of the Joker in any media. Period. Well, maybe Heath Ledger's take in The Dark Knight. The episode also introduces Robin No. 1 - Dick Grayson - into the show, but more on him when I get to Robin's Reckoning.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/bios/joker/32.jpgNothing to Fear brings one of my personal favourite villains, Scarecrow, into the show. However, as we know, he had a tremendous change during the show's history, and started out in his Denny O'Neill outfit getting back at Gotham University for firing him, with an overly Professor X-style voice that really took the fear away from him. The episode, however, developed Batman as showing him fearing, not bats, but in fact, his own personal belief that he failed to save his parents when Joe Chill or whoever shot them. A very fascinating look at an element of Batman usually ignored for whatever stupid reason in any media.
The fourth episode - the Joker's second appearance - suddenly saw the magnificent Efrem Zimbalist Jr. take over the role of Alfred from Clive Revill, and proves himself from the beginning to be the Alfred in any media - just narrowly beating Michael Caine's version in the Nolan films. Instead the cockney, sarcastic man-servant, here he's an overly British-Jeeves type, with a terrific design and warm personality to match. He also can bring light into any situation, which can help in the show's darkest episodes. Pretty Poison showcased Batman's friendship with Harvey Dent - I'll get to him in the next part - when he's brought within inches of death by the sexy Poison Ivy. Another nab for the show, the red-headed beauty was given a fantastic treatment, with a gorgeous design, wonderful voice in Diane Pershing, and a terrific backstory to match.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/prettypoison/22.jpg
(Lucky fool...)After a disappointing romp in The Underdwellers, the seventh episode introduces something unique to the show - that of an episode focusing on the little guys in Gotham, a very fascinating staple of the show. The episode in question takes a look at a usual day in the life of the Gotham Police Force, in which we see contrasting personalities in the forms of Commissioner Gordon, Renee Montoya and Harvey Bullock, as well as a one-shot character named Wilkes.
If you want a Gordon like he appeared in Frank Miller’s legendary The Dark Knight Returns, then this is the Gordon for you, with a grandfatherly voice in Bob Hastings and great DKR-inspired design. Of the three major police officers, Montoya is the one who didn’t get the development needed until she was brought into the comics (she’s now a much saner, but less interesting version of the Question), and just really seemed off no matter what design or show she was in. She wasn’t a bad character, but just didn’t grab you like the others did. Harvey Bullock, however, is outstanding. A fantastic comic relief character, he steals the show from his fellow officers in any scene, and despite occasionally coming off like a dirty cop, he is much more interesting than his other police officers put together, thanks a lot to Robert Constanzo’s performance in every episode.
http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/onleatherwings/09.jpgThe show was already looking promising. Little did we know that the show was about to get much, MUCH better...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next time - B: TAS, part two - Two-Face, Mister Freeze, Harley Quinn and more!
Mod Note: Watch the language, please.