Some questions about The Batman

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 01:10 AM

Now that the DCAU is completely done (meaning it is all out on DVD), I have decided to give The Batman a second chance (with a more open mind) and picked up the first season set. One thing I need to mention is that I've noticed that a lot of the character designs look more like their current comic designs. Like for example, Killer Croc. In the comics in the 90s he looked like a human in form, so that is how he was in BTAS. In the current comics, he looks like an alligator, as such, that is how he is in The Batman.

Anyway, I do have some questions:

1. Is it true that Season 4 got a lot darker and more mature, especially with the introduction of Black Mask?

2. Has Ras'al Ghul been introduced into the series yet?

3. Is Joker still the same loser from the first season?

4. Did they ever show what happened to the Kabuki twins from the first episode with Penguin?

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 01:45 AM

Some Answers

1. Yes, season 4 got "darker." Not just because of Black Mask. Most of episodes in season 4 are closer in tone to B:TAS; closer but not the same by any means. Some really great eps are "A Matter of Family," "Strange New World," and "Artifacts".

2. No Ra's yet. I believe he and Scarecrow have been under the "Bat Embargo" imposed by the WB film division.

3. Defining Joker as a loser is a subjective analysis, I don't really remember too much about his 1st season appearance other than the 2 part finale, but "The Laughing Bat" from season 2 and "Two of a Kind" from season 4 are pretty good Joker eps.

4. The Kabuki Twins continue to appear frequently with Penguin all the way through season 4 episodes.

I think many on the boards will agree the Season 1 of The Batman, is not representative of future seasons. The creative team really turned out some quality stuff in season 2, and season 4 is filled with gold. Season 3 is a matter of taste, some hate it some love it. I didn't have any major problems with it. But they definetly ramped it up in season 4. Hopefully the quality will stay up there during season 5.

Ciao,

PD

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 01:52 AM

What about the Nightwing and Superman rumors? Thanks by the way.

Oh yeah, and did Clayface ever meet up with the Clayface that was supposed to be in Season4 (Hagen I believe they said he would be)?

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 01:56 AM

Nightwing does show up.
I haven't heard any Superman rumors, but the 2 part finale has yet to air (at least in the US)

There is an excellent season 4 ep called "Clayfaces," plural so I'll let you do the math on that one. Though, again it is different than B:TAS.

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 02:08 AM

So I was looking over this site someone gave me here on info on the JLU figures, which has episode info for this series, and holy crap, PAUL DINI DID AN EPISODE!!!!

Oh yeah, it does not look like Two Face has shown up yet, which is very interesting. As for Ras, shouldn't the "Bat Embargo" be done with him since he is not going to be in the next movie? IF anything, Joker and Penguin should be embargoed for they get used way too much.

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 02:09 AM

Yep, "Two of a Kind"

**Batlaw** · 04-16-2007, 02:13 AM

I stoped paying any real attention to The Batman by the end of season 2. I only caught a few eps of season 3. Unlike some, I failed to see any changes in the series for better or worse until now (this fourth season). Even now however, I still consider half of what Ive seen to be similarly less than great as with the first 3 seasons. I wouldnt Nec. call this season "darker"... at least not overall. Some inctances certainly are when compared to the 1st season, but mainly its just the writing / story telling as a whole has improved and "matured" (by comparison).

As stated, no Ra's.

I dont personally see anything whatsoever different about the Joker as he appears or is portrayed now Vs. throughout. No origin or further information on his character has been shown either to my knowledge.

I cant say about the Kabuki Twins really, but I have noticed they appear here and there. Like the Joker, no new details or anything regarding them has surfaced to my knowledge.

I am giving this season a chance and I have been quite pleasantly surprised a couple of times now. Still some dud eps and sprinkled with dud moments, but greatly improved by and large and much more watchable and enjoyable IMO.

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by Batlaw

I dont personally see anything whatsoever different about the Joker as he appears or is portrayed now Vs. throughout. No origin or further information on his character has been shown either to my knowledge.

Joker in this series is definetly a different interpretation of the character. I personally don't mind him and really enjoy Richardson's voice work, but that's me. I missed "JTV" so I can't comment on that ep, but the only Joker ep that really bothered me was "Topsy Turvey." While the playcard gag looked kinda freaky, the whole scheme was too silly.

There some pretty decent stuff about the "Batman/Joker realtionship" in the DTV "The Batman vs. Dracula." I'd acutally recommend it as a rental, at least. Sure it's a little more supernatural than most Batman stories, but animation and battles are really great.

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 10:57 AM

I wouldn't mind supernatural if it didn't deal with Dracula. Or if it was an experiment gone wrong that created Dracula, but if it is really straight out Dracula, I can't watch it. This is Batman, no Blade. Heck, if the movie at least had Dr Fate or Etrigan in it, I'd have no problem with it.

Anyway, thanks for all of the replies guys. I wish Season 4 would come out on DVD now, since that is what I really want to see. Has a fifth season been confirmed? I remember reading somewhere that they were ending it at 4.

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 01:18 PM

A fifth season has been confirmed.

http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=14832

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 04:37 PM

I hate to ask another question, but has the Season 2 DVD been recalled? I went to Best Buy looking for it, they only carry 1 and 3. Same thing at Target, Wal-mart, and Comp USA. Circuit City is the only place left to check, and it pains me to have to hand my money to them.

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 04:44 PM

I haven't heard anything about a recall on season 2.

You could just chalk it up to season 2 being more popular than 1 or 3 and thus sells out faster.

You could also check Barnes & Nobles Bookstores, they do carry DVD's at many locations.

And there's always online retailers.

You could also check blockbuster or Hollywood video, might be able to get a previously viewed copy for cheap.

**Hades** · 04-16-2007, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Palin Dromos

I haven't heard anything about a recall on season 2.

You could just chalk it up to season 2 being more popular than 1 or 3 and thus sells out faster.

You could also check Barnes & Nobles Bookstores, they do carry DVD's at many locations.

And there's always online retailers.

You could also check blockbuster or Hollywood video, might be able to get a previously viewed copy for cheap.

No, I had an employee at every store check their system, and it did indeed show they were no longer carrying it. The guy at Best Buy showed me the computer, which had DELETED listed on their record, which means they don't carry it anymore. THe guy at Target check their catalog, and the second season is not listed in there anymore, but 1 and 3 are.

I do know there are online retailers, but seeing how it is $13 in stores, I would not be able to get it for that price online when shipping comes into play. And I refuse to ever buy used movies.

**Palin Dromos** · 04-16-2007, 05:01 PM

Huh, weird.

Post this question in the DVD talkback thread, see if anyone there has a thought.

Well now I feel a little bummed that I didn't pick it up when I had the chance.

**adoptedBatpuppy** · 04-16-2007, 07:38 PM

I own The Batman and Teen Titans season 2 DVD.
I don't think there was a recall on the sets, because they work perfectly fine.

**AdamYJ** · 04-16-2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Hades

Oh yeah, and did Clayface ever meet up with the Clayface that was supposed to be in Season4 (Hagen I believe they said he would be)?

They never said it was Matt Hagen. People assumed it was Hagen because he was in B:TAS and the producers said there would be a more "traditional" Clayface. The thing is, there have been about four Clayfaces in the comics. It is one of them.

To spoil or not to spoil?

Aw heck, the episode has already aired. It's a version of Basil Karlo, who was the Clayface from the '30s and '40s. Though, he has the more familiar Clayface powers rather than just being a master of disguise.

**Bird Boy** · 04-16-2007, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Hades

No, I had an employee at every store check their system, and it did indeed show they were no longer carrying it. The guy at Best Buy showed me the computer, which had DELETED listed on their record, which means they don't carry it anymore. THe guy at Target check their catalog, and the second season is not listed in there anymore, but 1 and 3 are.

I do know there are online retailers, but seeing how it is $13 in stores, I would not be able to get it for that price online when shipping comes into play. And I refuse to ever buy used movies.

DeepDiscount.com has it shipped for $13.24.

It hasn't been recalled. The stores likely just stopped carrying it in favor of season three.

-BB

**CyberCubed** · 04-17-2007, 10:30 AM

Here's some advice, don't let Season 1 turn you off from the show.

The first season was mostly bad aside from the Clayface episodes, but the following seasons are all much better. Season 2 was kind of hit or miss, but it did have some really good episodes. From what I've seen of Season 3, its pretty much the same as Season 2, some eps are bad but others are quite good.

Season 4, however, is amazing and almost all the episodes range from above average to very good.

**creativerealms** · 04-17-2007, 10:51 AM

Season four has an episode where everyone in Gotham dies, ok at least most of them. Anyway yeah it does get dark. They also put more focus on character origins, "Ridder's Revenge was a great origin episode" Joker and Pengy are less over used. Their appearances make sense (A clayface episode, Two of a Kind and rumors for Joker) Team Penguin and Rumors for Penguin.

Yeah the show has gotten darker, and the writing much better. Strange Minds for instance is brilliantly written. Everything is covered in the episode at the end dipite seeming odd though batman's eyes.