They’ve done it once again over at the offices of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. This team continuously produces clever, well-written half hour episodes of pure classic Saturday morning animated escapism. They make no apologies for reaching back to some of the masterpieces of yesteryear, nor should they.
Lovers of cartoon superheroes everywhere, and specifically Batfans, rejoiced in 1992 when Bruce Timm and company mixed elements of Frank Miller’s “Dark Knight Returns” graphic novel, Tim Burton’s big-screen films and the Fleischer Brothers 1940’s Superman shorts to give us Batman: The Animated Series.
Finally, we exclaimed, a mature animated version of our favorite darkly obsessed midnight vigilante; and we were right to do so. Batman: TAS is a landmark television series, and made great strides for the storytelling process in TV episodic animation. That one series has singlehandedly influenced the genre for the next couple of decades. Conversely, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, celebrates the best of the innocent predecessors that came before Timm, Burton and Miller. At long last there is once again a superhero cartoon show that embraces the fact that it is a cartoon.
“Death Race to Oblivion” made me want to throw on my Snoopy pajamas, grab a big box of Captain Crunch and smile the smile of a hyperactive 6 year-old as I watched Batman, Joker, Green Arrow, et al, race for their very lives. I sat there in wide-eyed delight, oblivious to otherwise painful gashes on the roof of my mouth caused by the aforementioned presweetened sugary cereal. My only regret was my inability to pull my head through the neck whole of my beloved Snoopy pajamas. I must have become a big boy sometime since 1st grade.
There was nothing not to like in this latest episode. From the start, the never-disappointing pre-credits opener once again, didn’t disappoint. There was our pointy-eared good guy battling the hulkish villain, The Blockbuster. And when it looked most dire for our pal Batman, “Shazam,” in pops his superfriend Captain Marvel to save the day.
I have to admit, I was thinking last week it would be great to see The Big Red Cheese in an episode of B&B. My guess is we may never get to see Superman in this series, for whatever reason, but Captain Marvel works perfectly in this particular venue. I hope we see more of him in coming weeks.
If there’s one flaw this episode had, it’s the same imperfection every television show has – not enough Catwoman. I’ve been a devotee of the feline fatale ever since I first saw Julie Newmar seductively glide in four-inch heels through her secret lair during my formative years. Perhaps this is more of my own personal baggage than an indictment on all television, but I’m certain I could find many others on this website who share my fixation with Catwoman.
Other than a lack of screen time for a certain felonious feline, everything else was perfection. The loving nod to Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races, the appearance of Plasticman’s bumbling sidekick, Woozy Winks, the Batsformer tribute to Mark Waid and Alex Ross’ “Kingdom Come,” and Guy Gardner’s ironic muttering of, “One punch. What a mook!”
I can’t wait for next week. Batman TAS stars, Kevin Conroy as the Phantom Stranger, Mark Hamill as The Spectre - Plus Adam West as Thomas Wayne and the one and only Julie Newmar as Martha Wayne.
I’m going to take my Snoopy pajamas to the tailors. Maybe they can let them out a little.
Joe Oesterle is an award-winning writer and illustrator, but what he often fails to mention is that many of those awards were won on a New Jersey boardwalk. And if you enjoy stories of naked women being hunted with paintball guns, be sure to check out Joe’s latest article on his own blogsite, http://joeartistwriter.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/442/
NotAFan, glad you're on board. This is an amazing show. I haven't heard much positive or negative about this show, but as a guy who grew up on Adam West, Burt Ward and the lovely Julie Newmar, I can't get enough of this show.
Hope to hear from some other B&B fans. Come on, show your love. This is one of the best shows on the air. Seriously!
Aren't you a little sickened that the show designs are somewhat influenced by Schumacher's gayed crusader?
Look at the fin on the car? I remember being really baked watching Batman Fornever and seeing that thing flop around like a kite from the dollar store. At least there are no obvious nipple placements in this show but the fin could be a car nipple.
Yeah I know in the 40's the original bat mobile had a tail fin but a better batmobile would incorporate the Batmobile from SUPER POWERS and The Tumbler from Batman Begins and The Bark Knight.
Spectre be a Jedi Tonight, Spectre be a Jedi Tonight. Use The Sporks!
Why doesnt Harrison Ford do voice work?
SONYMANswallows, I don't see the Schumcher influence that much in this show. Maybe the car, but I love the fact that they use the old Adam West car often.
I think they are influenced much more by the old Batman TV show, comic books of the mid-sixties and Saturday morning cartoons of the mid-60's to mid 70's. That's my wheelhouse man. Love it.
Are you saying you don't like the show itself of just the car designs of this episode?
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I completely agree, it's a great show! All those people whining that it isn't enough like BTAS are the same people who were whining the "The Batman" was trying too hard to be like BTAS! Just take it for what it is! BTAS was a great show but it is over! Evolve or die!