Red Hot Chilli Poppers 3

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible. Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 9

Love is a Croc

 

Baby Dolls is the worst villain in Batman and combining her with Killer Croc did nothing to help it along.  Somehow Baby Doll is living a normal life as a motel clerk after serving minimal time for the kidnapping and attempted murder of at least three people in her origin episode.  It makes absolutely no sense.  Is the judicial system that horrible in Gotham City, NJ?

 

Anyway, she sees on the news that Killer Croc was arrested so she decides to break out her little girl bad guy persona and bust him out of jail.  Croc is a total jerk to her and absolutely does not want to hook up with her because he rightfully thinks it’s creepy.  

 

Baby Doll decides to level up and destroy everything by blowing up a nuclear power plant which is even too much for Croc.  Batman shows up and fights Croc.  At this point Croc is all over the place.  He’s fighting Batman but doesn’t want the power plant to blow up.  Baby Doll is the problem in this episode.  Croc is just doing what he does.  

 

The show couldn’t have Batman beating up a woman who looks like a child so they are painted into a corner with an inconsistent adversary.  Croc is there to up the action and give Batman someone to punch.  

 

As we stated when she first appeared, she sucked as a villain.  Giving her another episode is just torture.  Bringing Croc back could have been fun but he’s bot even consistent from the one we met in BtAS.  It’s one of the worst TNBA which as always, a bad Batman episode is still a high bar compared to others.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 8

Growing Pains

 

Another great Robin (Tim Drake) episode.  Robin comes across a runaway with amnesia, who’s connected to a violent criminal.  Batman wants to chase down evidence while Robin wants to go looking for the girl.  Robin runs off in anger while Batman investigates clues.  

 

Robin finds the girl and names her Annie.  Robin clearly has a crush on her and as they try to outrun her father her memories start to return.  She realizes she’s part of Clayface who sent her out to investigate if it was safe for him to wander around.   Calyface has reformed thanks to chemical pollution in the water. She lost her memory and Clayface is trying to reclaim Annie as his piece of now sentient clay.  

 

He reconsumes her into himself which upsets Robin who starts fighting him.  Robin demands he bring her back but Clayface states it’s not possible.  At which point Robin starts raining acid on Clayface which can actually kill him.  Batman arrives after having determined what the situation is via his detective skills and stops Robin from finishing the job.  

 

Clayface is somehow knocked out in an explosion and as he’s being taken away in a special container.  Gotham PD lists charges against him which is robbery and stuff like that, forgetting the part where he pretended to be Bruce Wayne or the attempted murder of Roland Dagget which shouldn’t have a statute of limitation or at least one that short.  Eventually Robin utters murder should also be on the list for taking Annie away.  It’s a bleak ending and a great Robin episode.  

 

BtAS took Clayface’s character as far as it could go.  Making him a villain who pushes Robin’s story along is brilliant.  He’s truly menacing and it was the setup for a nice twist.  The best part is Annie is seen in a list of missing children images in a Batman Beyond episode.  An awesome and obscure callback that fleshes out the DCAU.

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

The Great Botchini

Watch Long Island's greatest magician premiere his skills at the Somerset Brewery in West Hempstead.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 7

Joker’s Millions

 

The Joker inherits a fortune from a gangster who died, buys his way to freedom, finds out he’s been tricked, refuses to admit it, tries to commit a crime to salvage his reputation, and payoff the IRS.  It’s solid Joker episode, actually more lighthearted than prior stories.  

 

There isn’t much depth to the story but anyone who likes the Joker will like this episode.  It’s got solid gags, a great scene where Bruce Wayne references World’s Finest by being tossed off a building via the Joker.  The ending is amazing with Harley Quinn in the back of the police van, torturing Joker at the end.  She probably shoved that baton up his butt…

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Red Hot Chilli Poppers 6

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible. Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 6

Never Fear

 

The amount of awesome in this episode is exponential.  Batman gets hit with a toxin by Scarecrow which removes his fear.  Since he’s Batman it doesn’t put him in peril.  He’s an ultra badass whose danger meter is off the charts.  

 

When he first gets hit with the gas he runs into a lake filled with viscous alligators and you think he’s dead but in fact he killed those alligators with his bare hands.  He then recruits Robin to investigate where the scarecrow is and what his plans are.  He flies like a psycho through Gotham which freaks Robin out.  It also serves to sell a bunch of toys for the new Batwing.  During Batman’s interrogation of a Scarecrow goon, he almost kills the guy.  This sets off Robin’s alarms.  

 

Robin immobilizes Batman and decides to stop Scarecrow on his own.  Batman almost talks Robin into letting him go but over plays the part.  At which point Robin is in a cave/subway system sneaking onto a train as Scarecrow plans to administer the gas to commuters during rush hour.  He sees an inhaler cure and attacks Scarecrow and almost takes him down until a goon sneaks up behind Robin and knocks him out.  

 

Batman of course, has busted out of his bonds, shows up, and is kicking everyone’s ass.  He makes his way to Scarecrow and the fight is pretty rough.  Robin finds the inhaler and uses it on him.  Batman gets his fear back.  He tells Robin to get off the train which about to run off a cliff (in an underground cave…) and promises to save an unconscious Scarecrow.   The episode wraps up with Batman telling Robin he made the right calls and that a little fear is a good thing.  

 

It’s one of Tim Drake, Robin’s best episodes.  He’s magnificent in the story.  All his decisions are spot on.  He makes tough choices and saves the day in the end.  DCAU has made a worthy successor to Dick Grayson, perhaps a better character in some respects.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Red Hot Chilli Poppers 8

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 5

You Scratch My Back

 

The Nightwing centric episode.  It’s actually really well done once you get to the end. Without the ending the episode would be really crappy.  Nightwing (the original Robin) doesn’t want Batman’s help when busting bad guys.  Catwoman pops in and is manipulating Nightwing for her purposes.  We are made to think Nightwing is a stubborn douche who is putting himself in danger. Well it turns out it was all a scam to bust the bad guys and Catwoman.  Way awesome twist.  Nightwing welcomes the help from Batman and Batgirl and they are a happy crime fighting team.  The character development is spot on.  The entire episode is a nice vibe in the end.

 

The best moment is when Nightwing is chasing a thug and the thug bumps into Batman and scares the crap out of him.  Batman is just standing there and lets the thug go knowing Nightwing wants to do it on his won.  The pure fear the bad guy feels when seeing Batman is brilliant.  The entire animated sequence is done so perfectly from the scare, to the hesitation, and eventual running.  TNBA might have made mistakes on character design but they could still tell an amazing story with just visuals.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Red Hot Chilli Poppers 7

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 4

Double Talk

 

He had to make an appearance and as far as episode choices go it could have been worse.  The Ventriloquist is deemed sane and released from Arkham.  He gets a job at Wayne Enterprises (because Bruce Wayne believes in rehabilitation).  Scarface’s old gang wants their leader back and starts harassing The Ventriloquist until he has a mental break and Scarface returns.  Antics ensue and The Ventriloquist flips out killing Scarface himself.  

 

Batman is truly a side character in this story, which always crafted some of the best BtAS episodes.  It’s probably the best Scarface episode.  Since we’re not fans of the characters we’re glad this was his last featured appearance.  He does pop up again in the DCAU but it’s in an alternate universe in a Justice League episode and actually a welcomed sight to see a bunch of Batman’s rogues.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Black Circle - Bulls on Parade

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 3

Cold Comfort

 

The show always did Mr. Freeze episodes right and this is no exception.  Mr. Freeze is destroying people’s life’s work for no discernable reason.    Well it turns out he’s pissed off at the world because the condition that makes him Mr. Freeze has caused his body to decay off.  He’s now just a head.  His plan is to destroy anything people love since he can never have that happiness again.  Freeze plans to destroy Gotham since that is what Batman loves.  It’s a twisted turn from Deep Freeze where he actually saved Gotham from Walt Disney.  Since the ending of Sub Zero where his wife was saved, she got tired of waiting for him to return and married her doctor.  Dude really had nothing to live for.  Batman stops him but it’s implied he survives.  

 

This episode aired before the release of the Sub Zero movie but takes place after it.  That’s why it’s important to follow our DCAU viewing order.  It’s not about release date or chronology.  It’s about capturing the best story experience for the entire DCAU. 

 

This is a great episode and a twisted dark take on the evolution of a character who was more sympathetic.  He’s become so warped from his quest for revenge that Batman must stop him at all cost.  A great moment in the show is when Mr. Freeze points out the new family Bruce Wayne tries to create in the absence of his parents.  The choice to try and kill Alfred over a child is also a nice touch.  Mr. Freeze is a really bad but but only like 90% evil. 

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Black Circle - Down

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 3

Cold Comfort

 

The show always did Mr. Freeze episodes right and this is no exception.  Mr. Freeze is destroying people’s life’s work for no discernable reason.    Well it turns out he’s pissed off at the world because the condition that makes him Mr. Freeze has caused his body to decay off.  He’s now just a head.  His plan is to destroy anything people love since he can never have that happiness again.  Freeze plans to destroy Gotham since that is what Batman loves.  It’s a twisted turn from Deep Freeze where he actually saved Gotham from Walt Disney.  Since the ending of Sub Zero where his wife was saved, she got tired of waiting for him to return and married her doctor.  Dude really had nothing to live for.  Batman stops him but it’s implied he survives.  

 

This episode aired before the release of the Sub Zero movie but takes place after it.  That’s why it’s important to follow our DCAU viewing order.  It’s not about release date or chronology.  It’s about capturing the best story experience for the entire DCAU. 

 

This is a great episode and a twisted dark take on the evolution of a character who was more sympathetic.  He’s become so warped from his quest for revenge that Batman must stop him at all cost.  A great moment in the show is when Mr. Freeze points out the new family Bruce Wayne tries to create in the absence of his parents.  The choice to try and kill Alfred over a child is also a nice touch.  Mr. Freeze is a really bad but but only like 90% evil. 

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Black Circle - Even Flow

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 2

Sins of the Father

 

Tim Drake’s original story and his creation as the new Robin.  The creators decided to make Tin Drake’s origin a hybrid of Jason Todd and his comic counterpart.  Jason Todd was the second Robin who was a total jerk and was eventually killed.  Jason’s comic origin was darker in nature and he had an affiliation with Two-Face.  Tim Drake’s origin was a bit flimsy; he was able to deduce Batman and Robin’s identity by seeing Dick Grayson as Robin perform a very specific summersault or something.  

 

The creators decided to lean into the more Todd origin and also lean into the more likeable aspects of Drake.  Todd was a total jerk in the comics.  He was reckless.  Drake was a cool cat with a good attitude.   So the Tim Drake we get is an orphan who commits light crimes to survive, bumps into Batman because Two-Face wants something his criminal father has.  

 

His dad is missing, turns out to be dead.  While Batman is investigating Two-Face he takes in Tim Drake who discovers Batman is Brue Wayne.  Batman rushes off with Batgirl to stop Two-Face.    Tim Drake is left behind.  He steals an old Robin costume and shows up to help save the day.  Bruce Wayne agrees to adopt Tim Drake and train him. 

 

The episode is vague about Dick Grayson’s fate until the end of the episode when he shows up and gives some training notes.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Black Circle - Grunge Song 2

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

 The New Batman Adventures

Episode 1

Holiday Knights

 

An anthology story which reintroduces everyone to the world of Batman.  Overall the episode is fun but without knowledge of where the show was going it could leave a sour taste in viewers mouth.

 

Story 1: Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn kidnap Bruce Wayne.  Ivy uses her plant magic to make Bruce take them on a shopping spree.  He eventually bust free from the control and beats them up.

 

Story 2: The newly and poorly designed Harvey Bullock is dressed as Santa trying to catch shoplifters, it turns out to be Clayface.  Batgirl is there to stop the villain.  She has a new voice actress in Tara Strong instead of original Melissa Gilbert.  It’s not a terrible change but we wonder what the true story for the switch was.  Creators claim it was because Strong sounded younger. 

 

Story 3: The Joker plans on killing a bunch of people during New Years Eve using a weapon.  We meet the new Robin in the sequence but with no explanation.  So we’re left to assume it’s Dick Grayson instead of Tim Drake and the new look is so dramatic it would enrage any true fan.  Robin is shorter and younger.  The consistency issues alone would be enough to baffle people.  So watching this you’re left to think the entire series is getting crapped on.  Thankfully we learn in the next episode he’s a different character (one of the best in the DCAU) but playing this episode first could really create some waves.  

 

Story 4:  Batman gets coffee with Commissioner Gordon.   It’s a truly heartwarming moment that leans into their bond.  

 

Overall the episode is a nice one once you realize Robin is Tim Drake and not Dick Grayson.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com

Black Circle Grunge Song 3

Another Cuculi sponsored show. The sound and lights are bad because the venue was horrible.  Don’t blame the band.

The DCAU Weekly Review – The New Batman Adventures

The New Batman Adventures

Batman is back!!!  The follow-up to Batman: the Animated Series and the series that crosses over with Superman: the Animated Series.  When WB started their own network and children’s animated programing block they gradually reacquired the distribution rights for their WB properties from Fox Kids.  Syndication for shows like Tiny Toons and Animaniacs which found success on Fox Kids, moved over to Kids’ WB.  BtAS originally aired on Fox Kids and with the transfer to Kids’ WB it was given a new episode order.  

 

The creators had already moved onto Superman by this time.  With the new series the creators took the opportunity to revamp the art design.  There are lots of theories, interviews, statements about the reasons for the change.  The most practical answer was the new animation style was cheaper and quicker.  It more matched StAS style.  The creators had learned a lot from the original run of BtAS and were able to streamline the process.  

 

There were some improvements made to certain character designs while others were missteps.  Instead of tackling each new character design episode by episode we’ll attack them head on before the episode reviews.    Overall the changes were tolerable but the original versions are the preferred option. 

 

The episode stories were actually much darker in nature to a show that was already rather grim for a children’s cartoon.  It was as if they upped the story quality to make-up for the mistakes on character design. 

 

Let’s take a look at each of these changes.

Batman/Bruce Wayne

Batman’s change isn’t bad, no real complaints.  His costume is all black, his utility belt is a toned down brown instead of bright yellow.  He’s a little bulkier.  Overall it’s still the classic Batman.  The bat insignia on his chest doesn’t have the yellow background either.  

Bruce Wayne is drastically different.  It’s not a bad design but takes getting used to when compared to the original.  I wouldn’t call it an improvement but it certainly wasn’t a terrible change.  This Wayne is a bit prettier, more believable as a billionaire playboy.  

Alfred Pennyworth

A total screw-up, the original was well rounded and this more angular Alfred just looks bad.  There wasn’t much they could do with his redesign if they wanted consistency with the rest of the new character looks but new Alfred is a fail.  Collateral damage of a new style.

Batgirl/Barbara Gordon

There wasn’t much changed here.  They slimmed her down a little and changed the costume.  The original was more gray, blue, yellow.  The new one is more black, blue, yellow.  This is a lateral move.  One could even make the argument that she just changed costumes and wasn’t really redesigned at all.  Her alter ego Barbara Gordon has almost no change compared to the original.  

Clayface

Lateral move, no complaints.  He went from brown to dark brown.  No true changes.  

Ponytail...ugg!

Mullet, angry face!

Nightwing/Robin/Dick Grayson

This was a fail but not for the reasons it should have been.  The new Nightwing costume is pretty cool.  It’s the mullet we all hate and ponytail.  It might be a complaint that’s been regurgitated to oblivion but it’s really that bad of a design.   We hate the mullet!  It was a mistake.  The original Robin hair was fine.  Changing something, just to change it is never a good idea.  We see Dick Grayson as Robin in a flashback and it’s adequate.  Nothing crazy.  That means when they made him Nightwing, that’s where the wrong ideas were implemented.  The mullet almost killed a character who we loved so much in BtAS.  

 

Commissioner Gordon

Such a terrible change.  He looks like the results after bariatric surgery.  His giant head and small body make him far from a menacing police presence.  He’s now a frail old man who shouldn’t be allowed to drive let alone run an entire metropolitan police force.  This is a major screw-up on the creators part and almost a character ruining change.  

 

Harvey Bullock

This was a terrible change.  Wrong on every level.  The original was Bullock was a bit slovenly but still looked tough and menacing.  The new design just has him as fat, no lines, no discernable facial features.  The outfit even lacks any real definition.  All of it was poorly done.  Seeing him in the show is so jarring, it can take you out of the episode.  The creators completely ruined the look of a great character.  It’s changes like this that make people hate the new design.

 

Officer/Detective Renee Montoya

Lateral move, no real complaints.  She was also promoted from officer to detective, which made her changes more digestible.  She wasn’t in the Gotham PD officer uniform anymore.  She was wearing a detective suit.  

 

Catwoman/Selena Kyle

The original Catwoman was h-o-t.  Really hot.  A form fitting gray suit and a mask with black components showed off her facial features and other attributes.  It was one of the more believable costumes in the DCAU.  The change to an all black suit with a whited out jaw and black lip stick works.  She also has white eyes instead of real eyes. She’s is also more petite.  It’s more comic booky and still shows off her womanly features.  It’s a lateral move.  No real complaints. The original is better but the change isn’t anything horrible.  

 

Two-Face

The original is preferred but the change isn’t terrible.  This is another lateral move.  The creators were likely getting lazy and didn’t want to keep changing everyone’s looks.  That’s a benefit to the fans because there were serious missteps.  

 

Mr. Freeze

This is almost a good change but the original was so well done that it was hard to beat.  The original could have been drawn by Max Fleischer himself.  The new Freeze is rather bland in comparison.  It doesn’t fail by itself, it fails in comparison to something that was so well done the first time, it shouldn’t have been changed.  

 

Joker

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG! All of it is wrong.  His hair looks stupid, he has no lips.  Somehow his costume was the same and looks wrong.  The angular features are just horrible. Whoever made this design and whoever approved it should be kicked in the balls.  The original is far superior and actually menacing.  The new look is only salvaged by the fact that Mark Hamill was still the voice of the Joker.  His design is so bad, that if it wasn’t for Mark Hamill doing the voice, it could have tanked all the new episodes.  

Harley Quinn

They didn’t really change her.  So that’s a win for everyone.  

 

Poison Ivy

The new looking Poisons Ivy isn’t terrible but her original version was far better.  She was much sexier looking and more human looking.  The all white look makes her more super power like instead of a human who uses plant-based weapons.  This is mostly a tolerable fail.  We can live with it but would rather have the original version. 

 

Killer Croc

This might be a controversial opinion but the original Killer Croc was a better look.  The creators made the new Croc more crocodile looking with the green and lizard look.  They get an A for effort in the change but while the original Croc didn’t really look like a crocodile with his blue tones, it somehow worked better.  

 

Baby Doll

We hate Baby Doll on all versions, so this redesign doesn’t even matter to us.  She’s just a terrible character.  So they get a win by default.

 

Scarecrow

This was an improvement in spades!!! He’s far scarier and menacing.  The original scarecrow wasn’t very scary.  This new darker one with a poorly lit face could have been one of Batman’s top rogues if he was designed that way in the original run.  You can almost love the redesigns when you see changes like this.  

 

The Mad Hatter

This is a slim victory for the creators.  He’s shorter and weirder looking.  He’s a little scarier, the dark green over blue isn’t a bad choice. The original version might have just been a poor design from the start which probably helped make this new design work out.   

 

Bane

Another lateral move.  They bulked him up and darkened his costume from the original.  He’s a bit more S&M looking in the new design but there’s no complaints about the change.  

 

The Riddler

This was a big fail.  Riddler actually had two different redesigns on the new show.  He looked different in a dream sequence then his actual TNBA appearance.  The Riddler we get is far better than the dream sequence but falls short of the original.  The original Riddler was just so sharp looking.   The anorexic redesign is not a menacing villain or even someone who a person could believe is any type of threat to anyone.  

 

The Penguin

A vast improvement.  They ditched the Danny Devito Batman Returns look and made him a socialite.  He’s sleek with his top hat and tux.  All the choices made were improvements and actually match the voice of Paul Williams.  Nothing but love for this change.  

 

Scarface

His new look makes him terrible.  Much like the Bullock changes, his were all wrong, from the face to the clothes. The original was fine, no reason to make the change. 

The Ventriloquist

Also a misstep.  His head is totally different.  His hair and glasses are all wrong.  They completely screwed up a character who was drawn very well in the original version.  One of the worst changes made. 

 

Talhia Al Ghul

The original was better but her change was tolerable.  Ultimately we’d label this a loss.  She had a better face in her original design.  

 

Ra’s Al Ghul

He wasn’t changed much either.  So no real complaints.  Of all the male villains, Ra’s was the least affected.  Perhaps the creators learned to stop messing with the character designs because they were making them worse.  

 

Veronica Vreeland

No major changes but the original was better looking.  She looks close enough to the original that we’ll call this a lateral change.  

 

Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com