Of things Batman...

[buzz]

Reporting in...

I totally loved Batgirl: Year One. I would happily buy into an entire series done by this team. I have my sights on Robin: Year One now.

Don't kill me, but... I thought The Long Halloween was okay. I guess I was not all that crazy about the art (though it had its moments), and I didn't find the mystery all that compelling, the end rewarding (I had much of it figured out beforehand), nor could I really buy into the idea that the World's Greatest Detective could be so long stymied by such a mundane crime. Not saying it was bad, but not as fun as other stuff I've read. A good take on Harvey Dent, though!

I've also managed to see Return of the Joker and the first Batman Beyond DVD (the premiere movie and handful of episodes). Great stuff. Hopefully we'll see a proper episode collection at some point.

I've made it through the first disc of the B:TAS season one collection. Very cool, though the animation gets weak in spots, and these early scripts seem a bit more "kid-friendly" than I'm used to with JL/JLU. I noticed that the animation improved towards the end of the disc. Does this trend continue as the series progresses?

Nonetheless, good stuff. The Max Fliescher feel of this early Timm work is very cool.

 

[The Serge]

I've also managed to see Return of the Joker and the first Batman Beyond DVD (the premiere movie and handful of episodes). Great stuff. Hopefully we'll see a proper episode collection at some point.

Did you see the edited or unedited Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker because there are a number of differences (the unedited is much better IMO).

I've made it through the first disc of the B:TAS season one collection. Very cool, though the animation gets weak in spots, and these early scripts seem a bit more "kid-friendly" than I'm used to with JL/JLU. I noticed that the animation improved towards the end of the disc. Does this trend continue as the series progresses?

Yes, the animation (and storytelling) improves as the series progresses. By the end of the third volume, people are actually dying and the art is virtually identical to what we see in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

 

[buzz]

Did you see the edited or unedited Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker because there are a number of differences (the unedited is much better IMO).

I'm honestly not sure. What's the difference?

Yes, the animation (and storytelling) improves as the series progresses. By the end of the third volume, people are actually dying and the art is virtually identical to what we see in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

Only as good as that? Still an improvement, I guess.

I'd love to see a series that looks like the Tim Drake/Batgirl flashback in BB:RotJ. Awesome animation and the black n' grey costume sans-yellow emblem.

 

[The Serge]

I'm honestly not sure. What's the difference?

A number of differences:

Spoiler

Bonk: In the edited release, he's just gassed by The Joker. In the unedited, he's shot with a spear gun and dies.

Flashback: In the edited, original release, The Joker shows The Batman only portions of the film he took on Robin. Also, Robin throws the gun away and struggles with The Joker, pushing him into an electronics room with a wet floor. The Joker slips in the floor, pulls a switch, and is electrocuted off camera.

In the unedited release, The Batman throwss his switchblade at The Joker as he breaks free (you'll notice in the edited version that The Batman breaks free and seems poised to throw something but the camera cuts to The Joker ducking for no reason; there's also a tear in the curtain behind The Joker). The Joker shows The Batman more gruesome images of the tortured Boy Wonder. We see The Joker actually use a knife he draws on The Batman, slashing him across the chest, stabbing his leg (giving him the limp), and knocking him off the blocks. Then, The Joker tosses Robin the gun and tells him "Deliver the punchline" instead of "Make him one of us." Robin pulls the trigger and does a lot of desperate, really sick giggling, and then shoots The Joker in the chest. The Joker gasps, "That's not funny! That's not...!" and dies.

There are a few more adjustments scattered throughout the DVD. I personally prefer the unedited version immensely as it's far closer to the comics rendition of The Joker.

Only as good as that? Still an improvement, I guess.

You won't see anything approaching JL or even The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest for a while into the New Adventures of Batman and Superman. However, the animation is quite good by the second volume of B:TAS.

I'd love to see a series that looks like the Tim Drake/Batgirl flashback in BB:RotJ. Awesome animation and the black n' grey costume sans-yellow emblem.

The black and grey costume is featured in the New Adventures of Batman and Superman; let's hope they release that as a DVD set soon!