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strredwolfIn my now rare viewing of Cartoon Network, I watched my first episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold with the voicework of Wil Wheaton as the Blue Beetle (assuming Ted Kord).
Some say this has mixes of Adam West and Frank Miller. I didn't see that. It has none of the campiness of the Adam West Batman and the only grittiness that highlights Frank Miller's work is the voice acting on Batman himself.
The storyline needed work, like there was something cut out. It could of been an easy hour-long. Only the Ted Kord Blue Beetle flashbacks were any good -- I want more of that and some better tweaking of the glue between them. This is below the Paul Dini level animated series (or Batman: The Animated Series aka Batman TAS).
The artwork also needs improvement. Batman's face isn't a flat LED screen! You should indicate depth, or never NEVER make him go face-on until you can.
And finally, I can only guess that since they're bringing everybody in the DC universe, this is a Justice League centered around Batman.
It's not an absolute failure, but it's got annoyances. It's got flaws. And unfortunately, those flaws make it fall below Batman TAS, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited; however, it's above Adam West's campy Batman. Thankfully, it's got enough to float -- the previous attempt by Cartoon Network to do a Batman was the Jackie Chan Adventures style The Batman (which can be summerized as The Crapman).
Watchable? Yeah. Addictive? No. This hook's bait is half baked.
Edit, s/Cord/Kord/
Some say this has mixes of Adam West and Frank Miller. I didn't see that. It has none of the campiness of the Adam West Batman and the only grittiness that highlights Frank Miller's work is the voice acting on Batman himself.
The storyline needed work, like there was something cut out. It could of been an easy hour-long. Only the Ted Kord Blue Beetle flashbacks were any good -- I want more of that and some better tweaking of the glue between them. This is below the Paul Dini level animated series (or Batman: The Animated Series aka Batman TAS).
The artwork also needs improvement. Batman's face isn't a flat LED screen! You should indicate depth, or never NEVER make him go face-on until you can.
And finally, I can only guess that since they're bringing everybody in the DC universe, this is a Justice League centered around Batman.
It's not an absolute failure, but it's got annoyances. It's got flaws. And unfortunately, those flaws make it fall below Batman TAS, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited; however, it's above Adam West's campy Batman. Thankfully, it's got enough to float -- the previous attempt by Cartoon Network to do a Batman was the Jackie Chan Adventures style The Batman (which can be summerized as The Crapman).
Watchable? Yeah. Addictive? No. This hook's bait is half baked.
Edit, s/Cord/Kord/
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Date: 2009-01-24 06:05 pm (UTC)Now, I can't say it needs another season or not given this is the first and most likely only time I'll see it. If they can refine it down and not look like the rough edges of Win Vista in comparison with Win 7, then give 'em another season. How many seasons did Batman TAS go for?
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Date: 2009-01-25 06:54 pm (UTC)I'm pretty sure it was at least 5 seasons, though. The whole series is out on DVD, though. Gonna be picking that one up eventually.
I know what you mean about how they render him in "Brave & the Bold". But, that's a style choice. You're right, it does look flat. But, it's definitely a throw-back to that McCarthy-era, sterilized Batman design. The difference being that this is probably what that Batman would have been if the Comics Code Authority hadn't been so strict in those days.
A lot of people didn't like the Max Fleischer-influenced style they used for TAS when it first came out, either. But, again, it all comes down to personal tastes. :)