"Beware the Batman" in 2013! New Animated Series

[Christopher]

It was okay, but I kept thinking that Anarky wasn't living up to his name. He was masterminding an intricately detailed and structured plan with a clear goal -- which is pretty much the exact opposite of anarchy.

Then again, the same can be said of the Joker in The Dark Knight. He pretended to be an anarchist and nihilist, but he had every step of his plan worked out in advance.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

It was okay, but I kept thinking that Anarky wasn't living up to his name. He was masterminding an intricately detailed and structured plan with a clear goal -- which is pretty much the exact opposite of anarchy.
.

I get the impression that the Anarky character on BtB was actually intended to be another established or original character instead. His MO, skill set and costume are so far removed from the comic character that only the anarchy "A" on his chest is recognizable.

Much earlier in this thread, I believe it was Christopher who quoted an interview with the show's creators wherein they mentioned how difficult it was to get an original character on the air. My theory is that this character is actually an original to the Batman mythos (with a name like "White Knight" or something of the like) that they were unable to use -- for legal reasons, network interference, studio veto, or something else -- so they decided to slap a circled "A" on his chest and call him Anarky.

The comic version of Anarky would have been much easier to render in CGI with his metal mask having a frozen expression that they wouldn't have to bother animating like they do with the BtB version. I think that if he were intended to be Anarky from the start that they would've opted for the unmoving face option just to save time and effort.

 

[Christopher]

The comic version of Anarky would have been much easier to render in CGI with his metal mask having a frozen expression that they wouldn't have to bother animating like they do with the BtB version. I think that if he were intended to be Anarky from the start that they would've opted for the unmoving face option just to save time and effort.

I doubt it, since that would've been visually boring. Think about how often animators put facial expression into masks like Batman's or Spider-Man's, having the eye holes change shape to convey emotion even though they should be immobile.

I think they said they departed from the comics' Anarky because he looked too much like V from V for Vendetta.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I doubt it, since that would've been visually boring. Think about how often animators put facial expression into masks like Batman's or Spider-Man's, having the eye holes change shape to convey emotion even though they should be immobile.

And then there's Silver Monkey...

 

[Christopher]

^Okay, conceded. But that's all the more reason not to do it with two characters on the same show. Especially since Silver Monkey was just a second banana (sorry, I walked right into that one) whereas Anarky is meant to be more of a Big Bad, reportedly. I found SM's lack of expression to be rather limiting to the character, so I'm glad they aren't doing the same with Anarky.

(By the way... I once saw a piece of graffiti from someone trying to write "anarchy," but they wrote ANANRHCY. That always struck me as hilariously appropriate.)

 

[sojourner]

LOL, two ninjas and a woman in a weird costume walk up to a security desk, "Can I help you miss?"

 

[Christopher]

LOL, two ninjas and a woman in a weird costume walk up to a security desk, "Can I help you miss?"

Maybe Gotham City Comic-Con was being held across the street and the guards thought they were cosplayers.

 

[Mr Light]

I always like the stories where there's two competing sets of villains clashing with each other, it's a nice a winkle on top of the usual story.

 

[Christopher]

Didn't care for this one. Not a fan of Pyg and Toad, and the writing wasn't great. Too toned down for kids, like talking as though the condor-feather dress had only required plucking the birds' feathers rather than killing them. And that deathtrap on the yacht at the end was ridiculously overcomplicated -- how did Pyg install all those coils and that huge "thermometer" trigger without anyone noticing?

Then there was the bit where Pyg was monologuing about how each new guest would raise the temperature, and Batman told him that the guests were being evacuated, leading Toad to try to activate the device manually. Stupid move, Batman! Don't give away that you're subverting his plan -- let him think it's succeeding! As Napoleon said, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

And the limitations of the 3D animation format -- or the show's budget -- really reared their heads here, with the largely empty settings and the fact that we never actually saw the endangered fashionistas. Even when this supposedly big Lady Gaga-esque celebrity came out of the club at the beginning, there were only two paparazzi.

 

[shivkala]

Yes, this episode was a let-down. Professor Pyg is not intended for a kid's show and they seem to be really struggling with that. They intended to kill that fashion designer (who, when I first saw him, I expected a twin to appear and them to be Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum), but they don't, because, well, it's a kid's show.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

And that deathtrap on the yacht at the end was ridiculously overcomplicated -- how did Pyg install all those coils and that huge "thermometer" trigger without anyone noticing?

That seemed in character to me, Pyg seems to have a flair for the anachronistic and theatrical. As to the how, you could probably raise that question for every single episode, that's just superheroes for you.

Then there was the bit where Pyg was monologuing about how each new guest would raise the temperature, and Batman told him that the guests were being evacuated, leading Toad to try to activate the device manually. Stupid move, Batman! Don't give away that you're subverting his plan -- let him think it's succeeding! As Napoleon said, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

Yeah, I thought the same thing there.

Yes, this episode was a let-down. Professor Pyg is not intended for a kid's show and they seem to be really struggling with that. They intended to kill that fashion designer (who, when I first saw him, I expected a twin to appear and them to be Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum), but they don't, because, well, it's a kid's show.

Their intentions were clear, I don't know that it would've added to the story if he had succeeded. I don't read the comics but it seems there's a horror/creepy element to Pyg that might be lost but I think the character works OK as he is presented for the cartoon.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

The episode wasn't that amazing but I enjoyed the card and business front for "Cole Plastics" as a Plastic Man design with the name being a tip of the hat to his creator, the great Jack Cole.

It should be mentioned that at least Katana was given some nice character beats in this episode. Her interactions with awkward science dude and the banana split (?) gave a refreshing counterpoint to the tightly wound bodyguard of previous episodes. I'm liking her more as the series progresses.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Pyg and Toad are just..ugh...boring. I didn't like their first appearance and this was even worse.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

It's interesting that this season seems to be turning out to be quite arc-based, I just wish I found this whole League of Assassins bit more compelling.

 

[DarthPipes]

I just wish they could make Gotham look more crowded. The emptiness does give it a creepy atmosphere/mood but it also makes it look like a ghost town.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Talia can't be happy that Shiva stole her pa.

That'll give us Damien in a time travel episode.

 

[Samurai8472]

Not good news


CN has pulled off this show, both premieres and reruns, off the schedule.



I wonder if no toy line like "Green Lantern" had some effect.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Fracking bastards!

 

[Reverend]

Well that didn't last long.

 

[sojourner]

W. T. F.?????