Fresh Question May 2001 - Is Batman Beyond A Fad

[James Harvey]

Hey everyone,

What a great way to start off our boards, hunh? Well, a new thing I'd like to do with the FQ's is get suggestions (via email) from our regular posters about which questions they'd like to see. I hope to mix these in with the ones that myself and the mods come up with. The first Fresh Question for the new boards comes from "Failure":

With the cancellation of the BB tv series and comic, do we think that BB has made a big enough impact so that in 10 years or so it'll still play a part in the Batman continuum in some way or whether many will forget about it, kind of like a great idea vision that just faded away.

Great question, Failure! Enjoy the question, and the new boards!!

--DG

[joker]

its hard to say. there was some pretty cheasy stuff in there. but there was a lot more good than bad though. i guess it all depends. you never know with wb. there good at making somthing great really suck.

[Inque]

it depends on what you define a fad. If a fad is something that starts of in one medium, and then branches out to a lot of other mediums, and everybody is in to it, then I'd call that a fad. A perfect example would be the dreaded show of Pokemon. It started out as a harmless Gameboy game. But then fad-itis (as i'll call it) kicked it and it blew up into TV shows, Movies, Pencils, pens, stationary, lunch boxes, fruit snacks, ect. That is definitley a fad. Most of fad-itis comes from overhype.

I wouldn't call Batman Beyond a fad because it isn't overhyped like beanie babies, tickle me elmo, tamagotchi.

[James Harvey]

I think the show had a nice existance. It definatly reached it's peek at the beginning of season two back in the fall of 1999, I think. I mean, a season full of 26 mediocre episodes (some great) and it still kicks butt in ratings. Then all the watered down shows start to kick in, and the ratings slip. I watched an ep today and just admiored at how daring it is compared to stuff like STATIC and ZETA, which rarely show a connecting punch.

[Fish]

A fad? yes maybe it was. I mean of course the people who watched the show religiously, future animator/artists, and kids in general who watched the show will remember it, but it's not like it has made a really big impact in the world. I'm kinda talking about the impact the original Batman had. He has been known for 60 years and is still going strong. Everybody I know, know who Batman is. Not in details but that he is a hero, and that kind of stuff. Thanks to the cheesy 60's series he has to a certain extend been imortalized in people over 50 mind.
If you say "Batman Beyond" normal people will recognize the "Batman" and not "Beyond"


I'm afraid that BB may be just another idea. To compare it I think of X-men and the Age of Apocalypse (wasn't it called that?)
Anyways, I loved that part of the X-men saga and wanted it to continue, like, forever.

But the most stupid thing ever, is that they are canceling everything! That sure isn't like they are contributing with anything to keep the phenomenon BB alive!!

I remember when the show first aired. Many people thought the show was stupid (including myself) because there was no way that Terry could become Batman...in a way that is true because if BB is canceled now and never to emerge again, he will be forgotten and thus he will never be the new Batman.

I know that all the talk about "having impact on the world" is kinda pompous and bla blabla, but that was just to bring it into some kind of perspective...kinda

CYA

<>< F I S H ><>

[Tim Drake]

The series and the comics are over, but we may see it live in other ways. Harley Quinn was an animated character who crossed over to mainstream comics who says Terry can't do the same? Also don't forget we have a live action movie still which may keep BB going strong.

[Bird Boy]

It's Batman we are talking about. Batman is never a fad. Batman is just.. Batman. I mean, say we don't have a new movie or TV show or anything advertised on TV of batman, nothing but comic books. Their will always be the Batman fans. Batman Beyond WILL go down as a great TV show, and not just another Power Rangers spin-off (what are they at now? #7?). All I know is, I'm a Batman fan, and that's IT. I am one, and always will be, it's not somthing that went away (like GI Joe and Ninja Turtles w/ me), but will always be around. And I would really like to thank Bob Kane for creating Batman in the first place. May he Rest In Peace.

-Bird_Boy

[DanaTan]

[COLOR=darkblue][FONT=arial]
Hey, DG

I love the new look, by the way! Heh, it's Etienne. ANYWAYS...

In response to your question... I think it depends on the person. Most likely, people who are as dedicated as us will not view Batman Beyond as a fad. As long as we keep the memory alive, Batman Beyond will be more than a fad or anything that will not last. However, to those who are not as affected by Batman Beyond... then it will be merely a fad. In my opinion,... it is a way of life.

Heh! Kidding Although, not quite ;-)

I feel so strongly about Batman Beyond that it's definately more than something that's merely a fad.
[FONT=courier new][COLOR=purple]
E'tienne

[redDragon]

First off....BB hasn't had the traits of a fad....ex: overpopulation of massive items that include rather disturbing things like pokemon and harry potter have created...

I think it will be remembered because upcoming bat fans will eventually find out about it and buy/rent tapes of the eps and find the cool stuff 'bout it.

[c320]

no i think batman beyond will be around for awhile just like this board

[Inque]

well if batman and superman can have a board running after this long after the series is over, why can't this board?

but, this board and the old batman superman board are combining to become that batman, superman, and beyond board.

[Robin III]

I don't know how popular it will be in ten years, but it definitely won't be forgotten. It did well in it's time and will definitely be a good detailed chapter in some 70th or 80th anniversary of Batman book. If the show bombed out in the first season (Like, oh, say, Spider-Man Unlimited) it might just be forgotten like the many incarnations of Batman in cartoons during the 70's and 80's (much more than Superfriends despite what people think!)

[Failure]

I dont think fad's the right word. I also think of a fad as something that's like Pokemon or Power Rangers was.


However, I do hope that the live action BB movies turn out to be a success, hopefully bringing back the cartoon series (which hopefully wouldn't sell out and try to be too kid friendly like everything else on KidsWB). I really wanna see BB live on and on. Maybe it wont last as long as the decades and decades regular Batman has lasted and will last for, but I hope it makes enough of an impact so that one day, people will consider the BB Batman right alongside with the rest like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. Ok, maybe that's a little optimistic, but y'all know what I mean.


P.S. These vB codes and smilies are awesome!

[Fish]

Wow, did the Royal blue and crimson red look like 3D?!!

<>< F I S H ><>

[Mr. Obsession]

Sure I've been one of those fans who's been in love with Batman Beyond since Rebirth first aired and I still hold on to that faint glimmer of hope that BB may be brought back.

In the end if all we get was three seasons, which had their ups and downs, and a move (two, once the live action one hits the theaters) I'd have to say BB had a good run.


Back to the question: Was/is BB a fad? If in 10 years BB is still airing on TV (most likely on Cartoon Network) in either new episodes of repeats then no, it wasn't a fad. If not, well ask me again if BB was only a fad.

[Domino]

Batman Beyond was the best Spider-Man cartoon I ever saw. Teen angst, flashy fights, acrobatics, lifting heavy things, clinging to walls, snappy fighting patter, girlfriend problems, what more could you want, except maybe a Spider-Man costume? And even then, the Batsuit somewhat resembled the costume of Spider-Man 2099...

Consider also that most of the villains that Terry faced were rehashes of Bruce Wayne's foes; Mr. Freeze, the Jokerz, Kobra, the Royal Flush Gang, Ras Al Ghul, even Blight was based on Dr. Phosphorous. So what lasting impact will Batman Beyond leave on the Batman Mythos? I can think of only one time I really got excited about Batman Beyond and although ROTJ was excellent in the original cut, I wish a TNBA movie could have been made with the same quality in its place.

I vote fad.

[AlexPower]

Someone created a world here...this cannot be just a fad....

[NewMaxFranklin]

It was a nice little show, with an interesting premise, a good pilot, some good episodes and a great movie. But most of the episodes were forgettable and a lot of them were just lame. All and all I'd say it was just a drip in the Batman pond and the ripples are almost gone. Because it really is just a spin-off. It could never have the impact, or inspire nearly as much interest as, the original Batman. It may have some influence as a novelty, like Frank Millers "The Dark Night Returns" or "Knight Fall" but that's it.

A week or so ago I mentioned a Batman graphic novel called "Arkham Asylum." It was published in the 80's as one of the batch that launched the graphic novel craze and was a huge seller. But no one seemed to have heard of it. And even I haven't read it. I think Beyond will be dead before the decade is out.
Insert Disclaimer Here: ~Of course I may be wrong.~

[Man of Steel]

Hey:

I don't think that Batman Beyond was a fad at all, sure the show had some really bad episodes and some very pointless episodes. But I don't think that people will forget the show at all, cause it was the only time we got to see the great Bruce Wayne in his 80's and it was the only time when we got to see what happened to most of Bruce's arch enemies. And if the show ever comes back I hope that it will be as darker as BTAS and TNBA, cause with the bright animation it just killed the mood for Batman.

[Blight]

No, I don't think Batman Beyond is a fad. It's a great show, but nothing more. Actually, i'd hate to see it get overhyped like Pukemon. Batman, in all it's forms, should be left as it is, WITHOUT making a million products with his name on it.

See ya!
Blight (man I love these smiley faces!)