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.