Batman: The Animated Newsletter

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THE GOLDEN OVAL AWARDS
Phase two: Results

The results are in. Many loyal BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER subscribers responded to our poll, making it the most successful ever. (Ever? There's only been TWO - but hey, it's still the best yet.) The eligible episodes/comics/toys were:

All the BATMAN BEYOND episodes, "Mad Love" from BTAS, and "In Brightest Day", "Superman's Pal", "Absolute Power", "Unity", "Fish Story", and "The Demon Reborn" for STAS. As for toys, it's hard to draw the lines here, but as far as action figures are concerned, all MISSION MASTERS lines of the animated Bat-toys are OK, as well as anything BATMAN BEYOND related.

As for the comic series', all issues of BATMAN BEYOND are eligible, all issues of GOTHAM ADVENTURES from #10-21 are eligible, and all issues of SUPERMAN ADVENTURES from #29-40 are A- OK, too.

THE REALMS OF THE ANIMATED UNIVERSE:

#1. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" EPISODE

There was a really wide range of answers for this category - too many to mention. Leading the pack was MAD LOVE with 23.7% of the vote. A somewhat close second was BLACK OUT with 15.8%.
Tied for third place were the Batman Beyond episodes MELTDOWN, LOST SOUL, and SHRIEK, each with 10.5%.

#2. WORST "BTAS/BEYOND" EPISODE

This category was a lot easier to decide. Two Batman Beyond episodes tied as being the worst of the pack, each with 33.3% of the vote: HEROES and RATS. The other three entries, THE WINNING EDGE, MIND GAMES, and JOYRIDE, each came in with 11.1%.

#3. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" DESIGN

This category is with regards to the design of the visual look of any character or object in the series. The new Batsuit was the winner with 26.7% of the vote; Inque came second with 21.7%, and Spellbinder in third with 15%. Other worthy mentions were Blight, the futuristic Mr. Freeze, and the new Batmobile.

#4. WORST "BATMAN BEYOND" DESIGN

The sure-fire winner(s) in this category are the various members of the Terrific Trio, with 40% of the pollsters hating their guts. Many also said that if there was a runner-up category, they'd choose these people. Nice to feel loved, huh?

#5. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" VOICE

This category came down to a close race between three players. 31.3% of you voted Will Friedle (the voice of Terry McGinnis) as the best Bat-voice. Tied for second were Sherman Howard (Blight/Derek Powers) and Kevin Conroy (Bruce Wayne), with 25% each. Shannon Kenny (Inque) and Stockard Channing (Barbara Gordon) are other worthy mentions.

#6. WORST "BATMAN BEYOND" VOICE

The WORST voice was a much more spread-out category. Ryan O'Donahue (Matt McGinnis) won with 20% of the vote. Other worthy mentions were the guy that does Shriek's voice (how professional of me), Lauren Tom (Dana Tan), and, oddly enough, considering the results of the previous question, Will Friedle.

#7. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" MUSIC SEQUENCE

The opening credits sequence for BATMAN BEYOND was regarded by the fans as the best musical sequence in the show. At least 26.7% of you thought so.

#8. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" VISUAL EFFECTS

The opening credits to BATMAN BEYOND was also regarded as having the best visual effects this season. (Gotta love that spinning Bruce Wayne head, huh?) 38.5% of voters felt that way.

#9. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" 'GOOD GUY'

People still like the REAL Batman a lot more, and it shows. Bruce Wayne stole the show in this category, with 63.2% of the vote. This was FOUR TIMES ahead of the second place contender, the show's star, Terry McGinnis, with a mere 15.8%.

#10. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" VILLAIN

This category played out just as I expected. The two best villains of the series are also the two that won't be appearing AT ALL this season: Blight and Inque. They each recieved 26.3%.
Other worthy mentions were Mr. Freeze (30.8%) and Curare (23.1%).

#11. WORST "BATMAN BEYOND" 'GOOD GUY'

One third of voters absolutely abhor the new character of Max Gibson. (33.3%). Tied for second place at 13.3% were Dana Tan, the Terrific Trio, and Barbara Gordon.

#12. WORST "BATMAN BEYOND" VILLAIN

This came down to a head-to-head race between Willy Watt and Patrick the Rat-Boy, each getting 26.3% of the vote. The Terrific Trio, as I expected, was another highly popular choice.

#13. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" WRITER

I don't understand it, but Paul Dini somehow managed to beat out the competition in this category AGAIN, despite his minimal written contributions to the three series this year. He got 39.2% of the vote. Coming in a close (and unexpected) second was Hilary J. Bader at 28.6%.
Other worthy mentions were Stan Berkowitz and Robert Goodman.

#14. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" DIRECTER

This race came down to two people, resulting in a 50-50 tie. These two were Butch Lukic and Dan Riba. Many people voted for Bruce Timm as well, but, amazingly, he didn't direct a single episode over the whole year - at least according to the episode credits.

#15. BEST "GOTHAM ADVENTURES" COMIC

Ty Templeton is still the best-loved animated comic-writer, and it shows in the results. Two of his stories, GOTHAM ADVENTURES #10 and 11 (the recent Harley Quinn and Riddler stories, respectively) tied with 30% of the vote. Other choices, each with 10%, were Ty's (Two-Face), and Peterson's #15 (Bane), #16 (Alfred), and #19 (Lion/Prairie Girl).

#16. WORST "GOTHAM ADVENTURES" COMIC

The worst comic, voted by 27.3% of you, was , featuring the Lion Man and Prairie Girl.
Coming in second was the Alfred issue, #16, with 18.2%. The others all bottomed out at 9%:
Issues #13, 14, 15, 17, 18 (Man-Bat), and 21.

#17. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" COMIC

A resounding 75% of you felt that Bader's Issue #1 of the ongoing series, featuring the two Batmen going head to head with each other, was the best issue of the series.

#18. WORST "BATMAN BEYOND" COMIC

Likewise, a resounding 57.4% of you felt that Bader's worst work was Issue #5 of the miniseries, featuring the mummy that had the hots for Dana.

#19. BEST "GOTHAM AVENTURES" COMIC COVER

Three comic covers won in this catergory. Each with 18.1% of the vote, the covers to issues #10 (Joker/Harley), #12 (Two-Face the crime-fighter), and #15 (Batman vs. Bane) were seen as the best. Virutally every other issue was nominated in this category as well.

#20. BEST "BATMAN BEYOND" COMIC COVER

Just as in Question 17, everyone loved all aspects of the first issue of the ongoing BEYOND series. 45.5% of you felt this issue had the best BEYOND cover of the bunch.

#21. BEST "BTAS/BEYOND" ACTION FIGURE

36.3% of you felt that the relatively new new-style Riddler figure from the MISSION MASTERS line was the best animated figure of the bunch. Worthy mentioned, all tied for second place, were Mr. Freeze (MISSION MASTERS), Blight, and Future Knight Batman.

#22. BEST "STAS" EPISODE

56.3% of you found the latest Batman/Superman crossover, THE DEMON REBORN, to be the best Superman episode of the season.

#23. WORST "STAS" EPISODE

Go read Question 13 again. Paul Dini was voted as the best writer of the bunch, yet his Superman episode UNITY was the worst of the bunch - at 46.7%. Seems odd. SUPERMAN'S PAL came in a close second at 40%.

#24. BEST "STAS" COMIC

There was no winner with this category. Issues #28, 31, and a Mr. Mxyzyptlk (sp?) issue all tied.

#25. WORST "STAS" COMIC

Same situation as the last category. Issues #33, 34, and an issue where a janitor falls for Lois all tied.

NO MAN'S LAND

#26. BEST OVERALL CHARACTER

Batman kicked butt in this category with 40% of the vote. Two-Face came in second with a fitting 20%. All other entried tied at 10%; these characters were Commissioner Gordon, Nightwing, Huntress, and the new mute Batgirl.

#27. BEST HERO

Batman and Nightwing both tie in this category with 33.3%. Oracle and Huntress get worthy mentions.

#28. BEST VILLAIN

The editor should be happy about this one. His namesake Two-Face won this category with 40% of the vote; the Penguin came in a close second with 30%. Other worthy mentions were the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Billy Pettit.

#29. WORST HERO

The new, mute Batgirl, oddly enough (considering Question 26) beat the pants off the competition in this category. She got 44.4% of the vote. Worthy mentions include Robin, Azrael, and Huntress.