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Is TAS version of Batman the best version of Batman?

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With a few exceptions, New Batman Adventures just seemed like a step down in quality across the board. The animation and character designs weren't as good and the stories weren't that great either. Technically that era of the series did help user in the Worlds Finest animated film - the Batman v Superman we deserved.

Growing pains holds the whole series up. But i agree on the quality taking a hit. I hate what they did with bruce
 
All-Star Batman is best Batman

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edit: seems I was late on the joke. Oh well, can't be posted enough.
 
Yes, TAS is perfect, and not only with Batman, but the majority of the characters and stories. And the best Batman music. Shirley Walker, we miss you :(
That and the brave and the bold. Although that is more of a silver age Batman, but thats ok for me.
 
With a few exceptions, New Batman Adventures just seemed like a step down in quality across the board. The animation and character designs weren't as good and the stories weren't that great either. Technically that era of the series did help user in the Worlds Finest animated film - the Batman v Superman we deserved.

My biggest gripe with the New Adventures (other than the ugly, jarring changes to the character designs) was that it seemed like they sort of 'flattened' the dimensions of the personalities most of it's characters. Where in 'Batman: TAS', the characters, both heroes and villains, seemed more layered and fleshed out and made to be more human, 'The New Adventures' seems to take a few steps back in that regard. I recall an episode where Two-Face was the villain, and he's taken over Gotham's TV stations to announce to the people that he's threatening to spread gas to poison everyone. But at no point in the episode is any of the relationships or character build-up from the previous show mentioned. Like Harvey's friendship with Bruce, his struggles with his duality, or his fiance. He's been reduced to villain-of-the-week status. You could substitute Two-Face for any other gangster and it wouldn't make any difference.

The show is still really good for what it is, but on the whole it just feels really dumbed-down compared to the previous series. I was really disappointed by it when it first aired.

I also really dislike Batman in the show. He's just a grump now. Batman could be grumpy in the old show, but he had so much more personality. I can't see the Batman of 'The New Adventures' featured in "Beware the Gray Ghost", one of my favorite episodes of the original series.
 
I also really dislike Batman in the show. He's just a grump now. Batman could be grumpy in the old show, but he had so much more personality. I can't see the Batman of 'The New Adventures' featured in "Beware the Gray Ghost", one of my favorite episodes of the original series.

Yeah, I actually kind of forgot how cheerful Bruce/Batman can be at times during TAS. Like, he's not afraid to smile once and a while and crack some jokes with Robin. New Adventures Batman feels grumpy and senile in comparison.
 
GOAT cartoon.

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Still can't believe Bruce banged Barbara though. One of the oddest things to come out of that universe.

Tbh I kind of love this and it makes sense. I don't think Bruce is that much older than Barbara in this universe. Once Dick graduated college and it was just Barbara, Tim, and Bruce, it kind of made sense that there'd be some romance there.
 
GOAT cartoon.

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Still can't believe Bruce banged Barbara though. One of the oddest things to come out of that universe.

Growing up I thought it was weird that one of the episodes had Barbara flirting with a just-not-getting-it Bruce, and then in Beyond there was a conversation between her and Terry that confirmed something was going on. Definitely not expected.
 
Yeah, I actually kind of forgot how cheerful Bruce/Batman can be at times during TAS. Like, he's not afraid to smile once and a while and crack some jokes with Robin. New Adventures Batman feels grumpy and senile in comparison.

He feels like a caricature of the old Batman. I remember reading about why they did it in an old issue of Wizard - they thought making Batman monotone and deadpan all the time would make the show 'darker'. Well, it didn't, really. It just made it feel more like a show for kids with less human characters.
 
Nah Dennis O'Brien and Neal Adams Batman run is the best.

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I grew up reading the O'Neil/Adams Batman stories. I strongly recommend the TPB 'Tales of the Demon' to everyone. Those were the original comics by Denny O'Neil that were the direct inspiration for the Batman: TAS two-parter, "The Demon's Quest" with Ra's al Ghul.
 
I'm partial to the Grant/Breyfogle and Starlin/Aparo eras.

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Never got into TAS. I'm one of those weird people that can't connect with cartoons, no matter how great they are.

I also have a really big soft spot for the weird ass Moench/Jones era and their callbacks to the EC horror comics. The Scarecrow arc in particular was brilliant.

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I'm partial to the Grant/Breyfogle and Starlin/Aparo eras.

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Never got into TAS. I'm one of those weird people that can't connect with cartoons, no matter how great they are.

Close your eyes and open them every 10 seconds and pretend it's a comic book
 
Of course, easiest question I will answer all day.

TAS is the best version of Batman
and the Joker
in cartoons or the movies.
 
Also, personally, Batman Beyond took a bit to get going but I thought it was a well done bookend on the TAS canon.

And even though it's Terry's show, the episode with Bruce hearing the voices was such a good one for his character.

And then the lazarus pit episode
they had to tug on the strings with the one where Bruce is made young again
 
Of the different versions of Batman I've been exposed to over the years nothing has come close to matching the tone and execution of TAS. They were able to shift from dark and serious to more lighthearted and fun without it being jarring or distracting. TAS has been the definitive version of Batman in my eyes for two decades. Kevin Conroy's voice is a big part of that.
 
Wholeheartedly agree. Beautiful animation and character design, as well as genuinely one of the most faithful adaptations of the character. Still baffles me that they followed this up with a dark-tone CGI thing to even less success.

B:TBAB and Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated are two of my greatest cancellation woes.

Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated wasnt cancelled. It had a sotry ark and an ending. And a rather good ending at that. It was mistreated, but not cancelled.


This warms up my heart.
 
Grant Morrison's Batman is the best Batman, and it's not close. TAS and its related movies are the best depiction of Batman outside of comic books, though.
 
The whole show is a perfect example imo of how not to do Bats correctly as well. Always getting beat up... almost gets his mask exposed in every other episode. All the villains are now fighting monsters. Penguin knocks out Batman. Penguin! you've never heard a 6 year old and a 32 year old say "Cooooooome ON!!!" in perfect sync like we did.

He does get knocked out/beaten up by random thugs quite often though.

Miller/Morrison/Waid are the ones who tried to change that and instill the Batgod philosphy into the comic world
 
The whole Timmverse is many of the best representation of DC heroes I've seen. Superman and Batman for sure. I love their take on Flash/Wally West. Wonder Woman especially is exactly how I love the character. BvS'
wonder woman hurt my brain. "I've shunned the modern world for 100 years and but hey, Bruce Wayne, this file is encrypted" just make my head hurt.
 
GOAT cartoon.

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Still can't believe Bruce banged Barbara though. One of the oddest things to come out of that universe.
Bruce and Barbara doing the dirty and having an assumedly short attempt at a genuine romantic relationship made sense to me. Getting pregnant, though? That's the dumbest fucking thing there is.
 
Come to think of it. Its kinda sad how we don't see a the Batfamily a lot in more media.

I think because beyond Dick and Babs, it gets really weird with their origins and background.

Jason dies and comes back to life

Damian is his son... through rape

Steph and Cass are legacy characters

And really just a packed... packed roster for a loner
 
Never got into TAS. I'm one of those weird people that can't connect with cartoons, no matter how great they are.
I'm the opposite. I stopped reading superhero comics because I was constantly disappointed and found animated superhero shows to be considerably more entertaining.
 
The whole Timmverse is many of the best representation of DC heroes I've seen. Superman and Batman for sure. I love their take on Flash/Wally West. Wonder Woman especially is exactly how I love the character.

Gonna have to watch some episodes again. I don't remember anything significant about WW in the show at all. Even Timm said he didn't quite know what to do with the character.
 
I kind of prefer the second/later art style.
It's a style I like. Even the weird Joker eyes/Mr. Peanut Penguin.
I also think all the females got an upgrade. The females were more attractive in that style.
 
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