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View Full Version : S:TAS "Fun and Games" Talkback (Spoilers)


James Harvey
03-16-2002, 03:21 PM
Check out this first season Superman: The Animated Series episode!


http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/superman/reviews/funandgames/03.jpg

Episode #04 - Fun and Games
Original Airdate - September 7th, 1996.

The vengeful Toyman weaves a wicked web that snares two desperate victims: Metropolis thug Bruno Mannheim and Lois Lane. Only Superman can uncover and thwart the Toyman's evil plan.

Comments?
Livewire
03-16-2002, 06:41 PM
This is an S:TAS episode I can't wait to tape! It airs at 2:00am on CN.
Brainiac
03-16-2002, 09:29 PM
Yeah, this episode is probably one of my favorites...I just really liked the way S:TAS handled the Toyman character...he could've come off as a really cheesy, silly villain, but they made him very creepy--especially with the mask! I can't wait to see it again.
Caped Crusader
03-16-2002, 09:38 PM
Originally posted by Brainiac
Yeah, this episode is probably one of my favorites...I just really liked the way S:TAS handled the Toyman character...he could've come off as a really cheesy, silly villain, but they made him very creepy--especially with the mask! I can't wait to see it again.


Yeah, I liked the way S:TAS handled the Toyman, too. This is an exellent episode (as were all the eps of S:TAS's first season) and I can't wait to see it.
JohnStewart-GL
03-16-2002, 09:41 PM
i just set my VCR for it. cant wait to watch tomorrow.
The Game
03-16-2002, 10:49 PM
Originally posted by Brainiac
I just really liked the way S:TAS handled the Toyman character...

I may be completley incorrect here, but I thought that Toyman was a S:TAS exclusive character... So how could they have "handled" it improperly?

-The Game
Brainiac
03-16-2002, 10:54 PM
Well, I decided to look it up, and the Toyman was indeed one of Superman's early foes. His first appearance was in Action Comics 64 (1943), in a story arc entitled "The Terrible Toyman." He looked quite a bit different than now, though. He had what appeared to be a huge yellow wig (like what judges used to wear), glasses, and very baggy clothing.

Hope that clears things up :)
CadaverousEyes
03-17-2002, 12:23 AM
The Toyman is a crazy old toymaker in comic continuity. He's been around for a long time. *recalls wonderful silver age Toyman/Prankster/Lex Luthor team up*
The Green Hornet
03-17-2002, 02:24 AM
this episode is pretty good, but it may very well be my least favorite of the first season

i liked his solution to the dopey dough
JTurner954
03-17-2002, 02:37 AM
Eh, it was ok. It was too much of Batman to me (Giant Duck from Batman Returns, always smiling and using toys like The Joker, dressing up people like in "Christmas With the Joker"). But since the origin was different. I'll give it a thumbs up (although it annoys me that you never see his face). C+
The Penguin
03-17-2002, 02:56 AM
I liked it and yet I didn’t like it. I think Bruno Mannheim is an interesting character (a better leader of InterGang than the dad on “Everybody Loves Raymond” imo). I really liked the back-story of the Toyman, but at the same time I found the character a little disturbing. That mask! :eek:
JohnStewart-GL
03-17-2002, 04:06 AM
it was an ok ep. it there was a poll id give it 3 stars.
Toyman was definately disturbing.
Joe Tully
03-17-2002, 06:07 AM
I thought I'd add a poll to this.

Anyways, I gave it 4 stars. I really think that they did an excellent job on both the Toyman's creepy facial expression and his voice. It makes the villain very weird and an eerie feel. I thought that the bouncy ball was a really cool weapon, too. I like the villains who are motivated by revenge against a third party, and though we've seen them done better in BTAS (Mr. Freeze and Clayface) this is still a good story.
The Game
03-17-2002, 12:20 PM
I really like the episode- I thought it was very well done. The Toyman was just so... Creepy! His voice is all weird and stuff... I thoroughly enjoyed this ep.

-The Game
CadaverousEyes
03-17-2002, 03:23 PM
"That same creepy voice... I don't know how you came back from the dead..."

So, Mannheim thought it was the old toymaker, and assumingly, thought the Toyman was just some robot. But since we know that he wasn't, does that mean that the Toyman's an adult with the same voice, who just happens to be a midget (or took drugs to keep his short stature), or just an impossibly intelligent kid with a device that makes his voice sound just like his father's? Weirdness. I like it.
James Harvey
03-17-2002, 03:31 PM
Awesome episodes - one of my favorite. The Tooyman in STAS is considerably different than the comic version. The animated one is the son of a toymaker that was sent to jail by unknowingly taking part on Bruno's criminal activites. The comic version is a homicidal child killer (he killed Cat Grant's son in Superman #83 by cutting his throat open) skin head. I like the animated version better. It's a creepy design to, with that perpetual, evil smile.
GL2k2
03-17-2002, 04:24 PM
I have to agree, I never liked the Toyman from the comics, he just didn't seem to get status for me. But this one is something different from the superpowered fellows, yet, a good adversary for Supes. Something a little bit on par with Batman's villians, but one that could really kill Bats without hesitation. Bats villians are about vengeance and glory, Toyman is simply mad and out for blood. If it wasn't for Lois pushing the Wooden Soldiers, Mannheim would be dead.
Mattashell
03-17-2002, 05:52 PM
I hate that bouncy ball. It bounces all around the room bashing in solid steel walls and armoured cars, yet it never breaks through the glass ceiling.
JusticeLeagueLegion
03-17-2002, 08:36 PM
It's on at two in the morning?
JusticeLeagueLegion
03-17-2002, 08:57 PM
Never mind.
Livewire
03-17-2002, 10:05 PM
5 stars!


I've been waiting for this episode to air. I only have 19 more S:TAS eps to tape before I have the complete collection and this was on of the 19.


It was wonderful watching this ep again. It's been such a long time since I've seen it. The Toyman was a great villain- it's too bad he was only in two episodes.
Karkull
03-17-2002, 11:01 PM
Originally posted by CadaverousEyes
"That same creepy voice... I don't know how you came back from the dead..."

So, Mannheim thought it was the old toymaker, and assumingly, thought the Toyman was just some robot. But since we know that he wasn't, does that mean that the Toyman's an adult with the same voice, who just happens to be a midget (or took drugs to keep his short stature), or just an impossibly intelligent kid with a device that makes his voice sound just like his father's? Weirdness. I like it.

I always figured that Toyman was a remote-controlled robot.
Frank White
03-17-2002, 11:45 PM
I loved this episode, especially the end when all those bombs fell. It was so unpredictable.
CadaverousEyes
03-18-2002, 01:34 AM
I always figured that Toyman was a remote-controlled robot.

Nah, they showed him reading the paper. Why would he read the paper through a robot?
JusticeLeagueLegion
03-18-2002, 06:51 PM
Originally posted by Livewire
5 stars!


I've been waiting for this episode to air. I only have 19 more S:TAS eps to tape before I have the complete collection and this was on of the 19.


It was wonderful watching this ep again. It's been such a long time since I've seen it. The Toyman was a great villain- it's too bad he was only in two episodes.

Really? That's a weird coincidence. "Fun And Games" is the only episode of Superman that I don't have taped.
Caped Crusader
03-19-2002, 06:01 PM
Like I said before, excellent episode. One of the high lights for me was when Clark disabled the toy helicopters with his heat-vision. Very cool!
Livewire
03-19-2002, 06:40 PM
I agree with you, Caped Crusader- that was definitely a cool scene!


And I loved Lois' "Please, let it be flowers" line. Who was she expecting them to be from? Bruce hadn't entered into her life yet. ;)
Caped Crusader
03-19-2002, 08:21 PM
Originally posted by Livewire

And I loved Lois' "Please, let it be flowers" line. Who was she expecting them to be from? Bruce hadn't entered into her life yet. ;)


Maybe she was expecting them from Clark. :D
James Harvey
04-26-2003, 08:47 PM
Superman returns to Cartoon Network tonight, and he's bringing along a playmate! Superman will air at 1:30am (ET) tonight!


http://wf.toonzone.net/WF/superman/tb.jpg

Episode #04 - Fun and Games
Original Airdate - September 7th, 1996.

The vengeful Toyman weaves a wicked web that snares two desperate victims: Metropolis thug Bruno Mannheim and Lois Lane. Only Superman can uncover and thwart the Toyman's evil plan.

Comments?
Digu Volz
04-27-2003, 02:01 AM
Nice to see Supes back, not nice to kick things off with this episode... Strictly average. Too bad they couldn't at least show things in order.
Spidey2099
04-27-2003, 02:11 AM
Yes, but it's a pretty good prelude for the upcoming Static Shock episode (well, at least for those who stay up till one in the morning, like myself :D).

Anyway, whoo-hoo! SVES preserves Superman intros! I'm really starting to like this programming block :) .

I know the animation in this episode is done by TMS, and I used to be pretty adverse to digital coloring, but man! This episode really shows its age! You could see the little chips in paint flitter around the screen. Can't wait for WB to touch this up in some future DVDs (which are happening soon, yes?).
JusticeLeagueLegion
04-27-2003, 09:43 AM
Nice to see Supes back, not nice to kick things off with this episode... Strictly average. Too bad they couldn't at least show things in order.

Actually I think this was the first episode following the three parted "The Last Son Of Krypton" episodes. They probably didn't want to show a three parter, it would be stretched over three weeks and it would be irritatingly drawn out and less enjoyable. So yeah, they are technically showing the episodes in order, it's just that they skipped "The Last Son Of Krypton." Anyway, I stayed up late and watched this last night, because it was the only episode of "Superman: The Animated Series" that I don't have taped. So I recorded it last night...and by the way, during the episode I saw a cool commercial about X-Men Evolution and Justice League...but anyway, I had only seen this episode one other time, and that was years and years ago...so I didn't remember much about it...I did remember the Robot Duck and the flying toy airplanes that shoot people as well as the bouncing ball that tore the crap out of that hideout and almost killed those guys. Oh, and was it just me, or did the animation in that seem kind of anime-ish? I don't know...it was late, maybe that's what it was. All in all, this isn't the best "Superman: The Animated Series" episode, but it wasn't bad...and Toyman's voice is really cool...I've always liked it, of course the only other episode with Toyman is "Obsession," but you just kind of get used to that voice really quick, even after only two episodes. I'll give this episodee three stars. But anyway, now I have every episode of "Superman: The Animated Series" on video. (Now if it could just get released on DVD! Hint, hint!)
Carrieattheprom
02-14-2005, 07:56 PM
Your hints paid off!



This episode is so creppy. Toyman changing their clothes really made my skin crawl. Especially since Lois had only been wearing a bathrobe when she was abducted.:eek:
The Penguin
08-19-2005, 11:56 PM
Tonight at 12 midnight ET, Boomerang airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, Fun and Games. If you do not have Boomerang, you are encouraged to follow along on disc 1 of your Superman: The Animated Series, Vol. 1 (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=132297) DVD set.


http://wf.toonzone.net/WF/superman/tb.jpg

Episode #04 - Fun and Games
Original Airdate - September 7th, 1996.

The vengeful Toyman weaves a wicked web that snares two desperate victims: Metropolis thug Bruno Mannheim and Lois Lane. Only Superman can uncover and thwart the Toyman's evil plan.

Comments?
Crow
08-20-2005, 11:11 PM
If you have the DVD, watch the bouncing ball scene with a home theatre speaker set-up.

I liked this episode, except for the quacking duck.
The Penguin
10-07-2005, 11:41 PM
Tonight at 12 midnight ET, Boomerang airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, Fun and Games. If you do not have Boomerang, you are encouraged to follow along on disc 1 of your Superman: The Animated Series, Vol. 1 (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=132297) DVD set.


http://wf.toonzone.net/WF/superman/tb.jpg

Episode #04 - Fun and Games
Original Airdate - September 7th, 1996.

The vengeful Toyman weaves a wicked web that snares two desperate victims: Metropolis thug Bruno Mannheim and Lois Lane. Only Superman can uncover and thwart the Toyman's evil plan.

Comments?
ROBOTRON
10-07-2005, 11:46 PM
TOYMAN is my JUNK!!!


I love this episode, he is a cool villian...he's retarded but DEADLY. The huge toy duck...the airplanes, now I can't wait for "The Darcy Doll" episode!!!

4 1/2 stars EASY.:D
Peter Paltridge
10-08-2005, 03:17 AM
Like everyone's said, Toyman was creepy and so were his toys. This was the first Superman episode I saw, and the kind of things he did were truly inspired. 10,000 bombs?? Just when I thought I'd seen everything, my jaw dropped.
Mattashell
03-10-2008, 03:26 AM
Did anyone notice how much this episode fits the typical B:TAS formula? You have your ruthless gang boss, and then there's your sympathetic villain who's been harmed by him, presumably gone mad, adopted a gimmick and is now out for revenge. Then Superman actually enters data into a computer to determine his suspect.

Now I realize it's part of Superman's values not to let a person die through inaction, but here I really couldn't help feeling like he had no business interfering. Manheim just comes off as so despicable, I would even have more sympathy for Rupert Thorne or Roland Dagget or any of those B:TAS guys. I guess it's because the toy maker really was an innocent. Supes and Lois seemed to cop an attitude that Toyman was really the only one in the wrong here, and treated Manhiem like a victim. Whatever his intent, Toyman hadn't killed anyone yet. This couldn't be said for Manheim, and some of the things he says show he has no remorse for anything he's done. Yet who did Superman save, and who was left behind in the explosion?

I didn't mean to get into splitting ethical hairs, but I couldn't help rooting for the bad guy when I watched this, and wishing that Superman would stand aside and say "G'head, he deserves it."
FightingDreamer
07-15-2009, 09:13 PM
God, this episode is so much fun. The toys are all really inspired and cool (gotta love that bouncing ball), and the TMS animation is wonderful as always. I'd also like to give major props to Bud Cort for making such a creepy Toyman; that high voice can be so calm most of the time and then slip into a fit of rage: "You spoiled my fun!"
Bobbywoodhogan
01-02-2011, 10:02 AM
A great episode, very fun, Toyman was very creepy. 4/5