Dear Friend,
I think I may have written to you about Batman before. Perhaps around the time that a certain highly anticipated film came out this past summer, perhaps around the time that a certain animated show came out on a children's television block. All I know is, I talk about Batman from time to time.
The subject of this particular "super hero" came to my mind this time because my father turned on the TV and Batman was on. You may be familiar with this particular Batman, played by Micheal Keaton, against Nicholson's Joker. I was already familiar with this little film because my parents had it on VHS and one of those summer nights that my brother was home from college we watched it together.
I cannot say that if this had been my first exposure to this character I would have ever sought any more exposure to him. I can't quite put my finger on why I dislike this movie, casting or design or plot, but I know that I don't like it. At all.
Thankfully, "my Batman" came in the form of a Fox animated series, at just about the silver age of Warner Bros. animation. Back in 1992 I started watching Batman: The Animated Series. Now, if you do your math, that was when I was 9 years old. I'm not sure if many 9 year old girls were watching superhero cartoons back then, but I had an older brother and had been "sharing" his TV shows most of my life. (If you hear him tell it, though, we watched nothing but Rainbow Brite and My Little Pony.)
It certainly wasn't my first encounter with action/crime fighting cartoons, I had been obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before this.
Anyway, it was a new cartoon, and being young me, I made sure to watch it. Little did I know that I would wind up a bat-fan for life. Even when the show switched from Fox to Kids WB and became the Batman/ Superman Adventures, and I had to tape it while my family was at church, I still watched. I even remember my shock at the episode "Over the Edge" when I thought everyone now knew that Bruce Wayne was Batman.
I even "followed" Bruce Wayne to Batman Beyond, which brought us Terry McGinnis in the batsuit. Of course, though old and "decrepit" Bruce was still my batman.
In between shows, of course there were the movies, with Val Kilmer and George Clooney, but these, in my opinion, all sucked. Frankly, for the longest the only batman I would say was worth anything was one that was drawn.
However, I had never, at a single point in my life read a Batman comic. Not a one. I'm not into comics.
Then came along Justice League on Cartoon Network. I however, never got into that, too many of those other people in tights running around (or flying as the case may be).
Fox, then, came up with The Batman, which is supposed to take place at the beginning of Bruce's career as Batman. I had several problems with this series, as you can see if you go way, way back in my blog. I disliked character designs and voices. I've heard that it improved greatly, but I still haven't given it a chance. I mean, come on, that design for the Joker is terrible, and the voice of Batman in the show will forever be the liar of two episodes of Due South to me, not Batman.
How pleased I was when Batman Begins came out. Finally, a live action adaptation that didn't make me roll my eyes until they were in the back of my head.
Then the sequel came along and I was rather disappointed, since it was so depressing and evil I couldn't in anyway enjoy it.
Now, Cartoon Network is starting the process again by bringing us Batman: The Brave and the Bold. I like it. I enjoy the fact that this show doesn't take it self as seriously as the recent films. Because, though tragic in storyline, and dark by design, Batman, if you step back and look, is very ridiculous. This show has a sense of humor, and lots of guest starring heroes. I think, even though the voice isn't Kevin Conroy, I will be watching this one.
Wow, that was long. Did you even finish it? Congrats if you did.
