Justice League on The Batman

[mattzimmer]

Link behind cut

Comments

[timtwoface]

I just want my "Long Halloween" multi-part storyline that I heard rumoured before. Choosing Martian Manhunter as the first guy to be introduced on the show is an interesting way to go, but dang...I'm not really a JL fan anyway. Considering all the excellent unused characters that have yet to be on the show (namely villains like Two-Face, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Ra's al Ghul, etc) and how the show is already often watered down due to the likes of Batgirl and Robin, I think throwing in the JL is a little excessive.

Of course, this show, as good as it sometimes is (and it IS), it's obviously more driven by gimmicks and toylines rather than storylines. The old DCAU went that route eventually as well, but it took them years longer to get there.

-Tim

[mattzimmer]

I don't think JLU ever really got to the point where it was driven by the toyline. And lord knows it COULD have been. But they've consistantly and quite often used characters that had no toy based on them simply because they were interesting.

The Long Halloween is a comic based Batman story, correct? I've never read it but I think I'd like to see it animated.

[timtwoface]

You've never read the Long Halloween? Dude, you should. It would totally fit any Batman continuity. It's a murder mystery set in Batman's first year, and features all of the notable villains in supporting roles as part of a battle between Gotham's Organized Crime and the "Freaks" (Arkhamites). The other major subplot is that it's a detailed retelling of Harvey Dent's dealings with the mob, and his eventual fall from grace; since he hasn't been on the show yet, this would be a perfect way to introduce him into the show without rewriting much of the story. The only changes needed would be finding a way to utilize Robin and Batgirl, since they aren't in the comic version.

Check it out, at any rate. 'Tis a classic and I haven't heard any Batfans disliking this storyline.

-Tim

[mattzimmer]

I've never liked the comics. I've always thought they were too violent and disturbing. That's part of the reason I like the cartoons so much. It sounds like a good story though.

[timtwoface]

PS - Re: The JLU toyline...you're right about that. But I felt that when JL came along, the DCAU was getting more gimmicky, because they were involving too many new characters and weren't giving them the quality backgrounds that happened in BTAS, earlier seasons of STAS, etc. There are excellent exceptions, of course.

[mattzimmer]

The toylines for STAS and Batman Beyond sucked with absolutely NO diverse characters being offered and the JL toyline wasn't too much better. They decided to go for broke with the JLU toyline but the collecters in the line have been having to request their favorite characters instead of the characters from the line being forced into the show. Gorilla Grodd is one of the most important villains on the show but it took a lot of arm-twisting to get a figure of him and that won't be released until the show has been off the air for almost a year and a half.

[style92]

You think Batgirl and Robin water down Batman? dude, I'm sorry but FUCK YOU.

Sorry, I shouldn't say that, but I just get sick of the poseur "Batman is a loner with no sidekicks" mentality. People who say that just don't understand the character.

[timtwoface]

First off, I'd appreciate not being cussed out just based on opinion.

I love the sidekicks but on THE BATMAN (as opposed to the DCAU shows) Robin and Batgirl are rarely used for anything more than what the writers consider to be "witty banter" - they don't really add any thematic or symbolic or characteristic meat to the show. SOMETIMES they do, but I can count those instances on one hand.

I thought in the DCAU the sidekicks (especially Batgirl) were used poorly in the later seasons (whereas Nightwing, while used properly, was used far too sparingly, and Robin was passable to excellent most of the time), but overall it was still done with more reason and purpose than on THE BATMAN in most instances.

-Tim

[mattzimmer]

I think Batgirl is pretty dang cute and Robin is funny. But again, this is speaking as someone who isn't that familiar with the comics and the way Batman is "supposed" to be portrayed. As a layman I really like them.

[timtwoface]

The comics don't always have it right, either, though. I was basing my opinion on how they were used sparingly and only when they added something to the story in earlier BTAS episodes. Then it was a treat to get a sidekick or two involved.

-Tim

[mattzimmer]

I can agree with that. :)

[mattzimmer]

Style, that isn't very kind. Different opinions are what makes the world great.