The New Batman Adventures
The two episodes I'm covering today are a bit of a departure from the norm and that is a good thing. It's great when shows try new things, even if they aren't totally successful. It shows that they don't want the show to become stagnant. Let's take a look at how successful these formula changes were in this case.
50's Joker: "Now for my next number, I'd like to do a little ditty for you that I've been working on for, oh, it seems like years. I call it "Bat-hoven's Last Movement."
[laughing maniacally]
50's Joker: "For some, I'm afraid, it may hit a sour note."
80's Batman: "You don't get it, son. This isn't a trash heap."
[Batman grabs the Mutant Leader's leg.]
80's Batman: "It's an operating table."
[the Mutant Leader shrieks with pain as a sickening crunch is heard.]
80's Batman: "... And I'm the surgeon."
Buildings are being set on fire in Gotham and a few of the Dark Knight's youngest fans are trying to sneak a peek of him and sharing stories of what they think he's really like. Two of them share very different accounts of Batman but when they stumble into an abandoned theater, will they meet their hero face to face? And will he live up to their legends?
 |
| Old chums. |
"Legends of the Dark Knight" is in my top 3 favorite episodes of "The New Batman Adventures" and in my top ten of we include "Batman: The Animated Series." The format is really entertaining and it gives people a taste of Batman's rich history, especially the young people who were watching the show back in 1997.
The framing device works well. A trio of young Batman super fans, including Carrie Kelly, decide to share stories of what Batman is like. The first is a story relayed by one of the boys' uncles who was a security guard at a music store that sold regular musical instruments along with giant ones. It is an homage to the Batman comics of the '50's and '60's and the '60's Batman television series. It takes inspiration from "Detective Comics" #91 and "World's Finest" #48.
Now, I've griped a bit about the animation changes in TNBA but I have to really commend the animators here. They outdo themselves evoking the Dynamic Duo and Joker of the '50's and '60's. These images could have been pulled directly out of those comics. Chef's kiss. The vignette pays homage and lovingly pokes fun a theme the same time. I love that different voice actors take on the roles of Batman, Robin and Joker. Michael McKean gives Mark Hamill a run for his money. I said what I said. The action is super campy and fun. I love the use of the giant instruments. Joker capturing Robin with a French horn. Batman using a giant violin string to launch Robin on its bow. The old style dialogue which is what eventually brings things back to reality. It's all gold.
 |
| Seeing Red |
Carrie's story transports us to the Gotham City of the '80's where Batman is in his 50's and Robin is a girl. Her. This feels like a fun prelude to the actual animated movie adaptation of "The Dark Knight Returns" that came out a few years ago. The animators continue to bring their A game with the blocky, overly muscled, super gritty Frank Miller style animation. I wondered watching this how many kids in the '90's were inspired to seek out Miller's seminal Batman tale after watching this episode. I also thought about how awesome it probably was for female viewers to see Robin as a girl.
This vignette is probably my favorite mainly because I'm a big fan of the original "Dark Knight Returns" graphic novel. it does such a great job of evoking it, I wanted to pick it up and start reading after I finished watching. I love the exaggerated, bone crunching but still PG violence. The over-the-top fight between Batman and the Mutant Leader complete with Miller-esque dialogue that sounds completely ridiculous in this context. I loved when the camera would shift to the Mutant Leader's perspective and you'd see Batman through his red tinted glasses. It was just a really inspired touch and a great display of the nuances that you find throughout this episode.
The final bit of the episode where the kids find Firefly planting a bomb and see the actual Batman in action is a bit of a letdown after the uniform excellence of the first two-thirds. Luckily, that doesn't do anything to detract from the brilliance we've watched before.
Grade: A
Livewire: [After Harley splashes water on Livewire] "Are you out of your mind?!"
Harley Quinn: [thinks for a minute] "Yeah."
When Livewire escapes a prison transport and begins wreaking havoc on Gotham, it's up to Batgirl to try and stop her solo, since Batman is out of town. Luckily, Superman's cousin, Supergirl, gets wind of this and heads to town to help. When Livewire teams up with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, can the female World's Finest prove that they are just as capable as their male counterparts?
 |
| Say Uncle. |
At the same time that TNBA was airing, they were also airing "Superman: The Animated Series," which was basically B: TAS but with Superman. I feel like it doesn't really get the respect of it's counterparts like B: TAS, Batman Beyond, Justice League, which is a shame. Preview of what's to come, I plan on covering "Superman: The Animated Series" once we finish with "The New Batman Adventures." Batman crossed over on Superman's series, but I believe that this is the only time that characters from S: TAS show up on Bats' show.
I stan female superheroes and villains, so this episode is very up my alley. I was so happy when I realized that Batman was out of town because it was past time for Batgirl to have her own showcase without her male mentor. Supergirl joining into the action was just icing on the girl power cake.
This episode is a ton of fun. We have to tip our collective hat to the voice of Livewire, the legendary, Lori Petty aka Tank Girl. It is such a treat to hear her as Livewire. She brings this biting snark to her and makes a character that could be really grating and annoying (see the live action "Supergirl") and makes her legitimately badass. I mean, she pretty easily takes down Batgirl and Supergirl during their first encounter.
Having Livewire as the episodes only villain would have been kind of boring so why not bring in Harley and Ivy who are suffering some major cabin fever. I love the interactions between the three villainesses especially the jealousy apparent in Harley when Ivy is praising Livewire. It is so funny when she continuously uses her mallet to try to take care of business even when it is apparent that it is not going to work.
The episode is pretty well rounded. There is great action and some nice character moments, specifically between Batgirl and Supergirl where they do the classic envy each other's lives. Some minor gripes with the episode: I didn't love the fight between Harley, Ivy and Livewire, especially since they are made up in the same scene. What was the point? And Bullock's general douchey-ness wasn't really necessary. Otherwise, a top notch episode that doesn't feature the Dark Knight.
Grade: A-
Next up, we learn Harley's origin and Poison Ivy ruins a wedding.
What did you all think of these episodes? Nothing but praise? Some complaints? Let me know in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment