"Batman: Caped Crusader (Amazon Prime)" Animated Series News & Discussion Part 3 (Spoilers)

[21C]

"Bruce Timm's weird obsession with Bruce/Babs making its way into this show too"

Oh please not this tired discourse again.

I just know that no matter how well it's done in Caped Crusader or how different their versions of the characters are, a large number of overly loud "fans" who probably won't even bother to watch the series will yell all over social media "oh Bruce Timm is shipping Bruce with Barbara again, clutch your pearls!" and take a lot of attention from what appears to be a really good show.

The poster does say that there is "nothing explicit" shown, so I'm hoping she's just seeing things when they're not there, and save us all the trouble.

I actually really doubt they'll ever become that explicit with it anytime soon given how closed off this version of Batman is described as being, but I disagree with you there. I'm more than fine with those people being unhappy, especially when they'll inevitably have to admit the show is actually good once they watch it any way (and they'll all 100% watch)

 

[Millicay]

I actually really doubt they'll ever become that explicit with it anytime soon given how closed off this version of Batman is described as being, but I disagree with you there. I'm more than fine with those people being unhappy, especially when they'll inevitably have to admit the show is actually good once they watch it any way (and they'll all 100% watch)

My faith in people on social media actually taking the time to watch the series, judge for themselves and own up to their mistakes instead of just repeat criticisms they've heard is not that strong, but boy I sure hope you're right.

 

[b.t.]

21C, You’re giving me too much credit

The Batman / Barbara relationship in CAPED CRUSADER is purely platonic. Honest! But the whole ‘BT is obsessed with Batman/Babs!!!’ meme is so ubiquitous now that people are going to see what they expect to see. Whatever…

Funny story: early in our development process, one of our Execs enthusiastically asked, ‘Hey, what if Batman and Barbara became romantically involved?’, apparently unaware of the uncomfortable history of that particular topic. I said we weren’t going to be doing that, and explained why. I’m not stepping on that third rail again.

 

[21C]

21C, You’re giving me too much credit

The Batman / Barbara relationship in CAPED CRUSADER is purely platonic. Honest! But the whole ‘BT is obsessed with Batman/Babs!!!’ meme is so ubiquitous now that people are going to see what they expect to see. Whatever…

Funny story: early in our development process, one of our Execs enthusiastically asked, ‘Hey, what if Batman and Barbara became romantically involved?’, apparently unaware of the uncomfortable history of that particular topic. I said we weren’t going to be doing that, and explained why. I’m not stepping on that third rail again.

Please tell me the exec was Matt Reeves 'cause that'd make me laugh very hard.
But I do understand, although like James Tucker said in regards to another thing, if you guys get a ton more seasons, I guess who knows? Especially since at that point I'd hope people would get the point more this is supposed to be an entirely different version of the mythos.

I do wonder if you guys are ever gonna explore romance with Batman in general on this show though, the way you've been describing him as very cold and distant it seems like that'd be very far away if it ever happens (even the Batcat thing I get the sense, at least from your comments, is not supposed to be exactly a romantic thing)

 

[Millicay]

21C, You’re giving me too much credit

The Batman / Barbara relationship in CAPED CRUSADER is purely platonic. Honest! But the whole ‘BT is obsessed with Batman/Babs!!!’ meme is so ubiquitous now that people are going to see what they expect to see. Whatever…

Funny story: early in our development process, one of our Execs enthusiastically asked, ‘Hey, what if Batman and Barbara became romantically involved?’, apparently unaware of the uncomfortable history of that particular topic. I said we weren’t going to be doing that, and explained why. I’m not stepping on that third rail again.

Glad to know, and congrats on the reviews!!

 

[Revelator]

I've always been mystified by the people who go on about Timm being obssessed with Bruce/Barbara. They don't know how TV works and think Timm can just impose these supposed obsessions on his co-producers and staff. Presumably Dini, Murakami, and Burnett approved of the relationship in Batman Beyond, not in a moral sense but as an interesting storytelling angle. In the Burnett-produced Mystery of the Batwoman that relationship was brought-up again, and yet again in the Burnett-produced Killing Joke. Yet Timm gets the flack rather than Burnett (not that I'm suggesting either deserves the sort of flack produced by the nastiest corners of the internet), because Timm's the longest-serving figure in DC animation and, as its public face, the easiest person to blame.

Anyway, if the new show will be giving Bruce/Batman any love interests aside from Catwoman, I hope we might see Linda Page or the delightfully weird Patricia Powell.

 

[21C]

I think Julie Madison and adapting the whole Mad Monk storyline from the Bob Kane/Bill Finger stories and the later reinvention by Matt Wagner would be super cool.

 

[Medinnus]

My attempt at Catwoman.

 

[Frontier]

Honestly I'd like to see them explore the Batman and Catwoman dynamic more but I feel like Silver St. Cloud deserves to be depicted as a serious love interest for Bruce outside her cameo in Soul of the Dragon.

 

[Sparklefan1234]

Catwoman & Harley Quinn teaser is up on X/Twitter.



Mod Note: The video has been uploaded to the WF YouTube channel.

I like this "quiet Harley Quinn" idea a lot + Catwoman in a dress is a cool choice.

 

[b.t.]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that some of the fans who ‘know’ I’m obsessed with Bruce/Babs have never even seen THE KILLING JOKE or the BATMAN BEYOND episode where their prior relationship was mentioned. Maybe they’ve just seen the meme over and over and over again on the internet (like for instance on this here site — and in fact earlier in this very thread) and just accept that it MUST be true. Oh well!

When the first season of JUSTICE LEAGUE was airing, I remember seeing comments here from some fans who were sure that there was something going on between Hawkgirl and Flash — James Tucker, Rich Fogel and I were all like ‘Really?? We’re throwing in all these rather obvious and unsubtle foreshadowing bits about Hawkgirl and GL getting together and they somehow think Hawkgirl and FLASH are going to be an item?!!’

So, if anyone watches all ten episodes of CAPED CRUSADER’s first season and comes away absolutely convinced there are romantic sparks flying between Batman and Barbara, there’s really nothing I can do about it.

 

[21C]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that some of the fans who ‘know’ I’m obsessed with Bruce/Babs have never even seen THE KILLING JOKE or the BATMAN BEYOND episode where their prior relationship was mentioned. They’ve just seen the meme over and over and over again on the internet (like for instance on this here site — and in fact earlier in this very thread) and just accept that it MUST be true. Oh well!

When the first season of JUSTICE LEAGUE was airing, I remember seeing comments here from some fans who were sure that there was something going on between Hawkgirl and Flash — James Tucker, Rich Fogel and I were all like ‘Really?? We’re throwing in all these rather obvious and unsubtle foreshadowing bits about Hawkgirl and GL getting together and they think Hawkgirl and FLASH are going to be an item?!!’

So, if anyone watches all ten episodes of CAPED CRUSADER’s first season and comes away absolutely convinced there are romantic sparks flying between Batman and Barbara, there’s really not anything I can do about it.

Will there be romantic sparks flying between Batman and literally anybody in the show or is that something you guys are not interested on exploring at all?

 

[Trueblade74]

Will there be romantic sparks flying between Batman and literally anybody in the show or is that something you guys are not interested on exploring at all?

I feel like most first seasons of modern kids cartoons are barred from having more romantic drama than just one or two hints that last 5 or so seconds.

 

[Frontier]

I do think it's kind of fun that the show has this major Golden Age aesthetic and vibe to pretty much everything but Catwoman is talking and operating like she's in the Silver Age .

Will there be romantic sparks flying between Batman and literally anybody in the show or is that something you guys are not interested on exploring at all?

We know for sure that Catwoman really throws him and his emotionally repressed crime-fighting crusade off .

 

[21C]

We know for sure that Catwoman really throws him and his emotionally repressed crime-fighting crusade off .

I felt the description to that was more sexual than romantic.

 

[Medinnus]

Honestly I'd like to see them explore the Batman and Catwoman dynamic more but I feel like Silver St. Cloud deserves to be depicted as a serious love interest for Bruce outside her cameo in Soul of the Dragon.

While I don't disagree, I don't think that this version of Batman is geared for exploring interpersonal relationships, let alone romance, with anyone; the emotional evolution may be the dynamic explored in the first two seasons.

 

[Frontier]

While I don't disagree, I don't think that this version of Batman is geared for exploring interpersonal relationships, let alone romance, with anyone; the emotional evolution may be the dynamic explored in the first two seasons.

I think that's definitely going to be the case. Might also be interesting to put people in his life who appeal to him as Bruce Wayne (with a civilian love interest) and appeal to him as Batman (Catwoman).

 

[Medinnus]

I think that, in the beginning, he won't be able to emotionally connect with anyone; too driven, too dedicated, to disciplined for any emotion; this version of HQ (as much as we know) is an ideal foil, as would be a version of Hugo Strange. This is a Batman who does not have the empathy to help Dick Grayson, let alone romance; romance is pretty advanced.

Granted, speculation on my part, but also because those aspects of the Batman gestalt have not really been touched on, aside from a scene in YJ where he talks about his motivation for engaging with Robin (which is perhaps one of the best Bat-moments in his animated career).

 

[Frontier]

I think that, in the beginning, he won't be able to emotionally connect with anyone; too driven, too dedicated, to disciplined for any emotion; this version of HQ (as much as we know) is an ideal foil, as would be a version of Hugo Strange. This is a Batman who does not have the empathy to help Dick Grayson, let alone romance; romance is pretty advanced.

Granted, speculation on my part, but also because those aspects of the Batman gestalt have not really been touched on, aside from a scene in YJ where he talks about his motivation for engaging with Robin (which is perhaps one of the best Bat-moments in his animated career).

And also Catwoman because where he's brooding and driven she's joyful and flighty .

I think they're going to give him a mask of lacking empathy that he projects as a coping mechanism (like a lot about how he operates as Batman is a coping mechanism).

 

[Medinnus]

I think they're going to give him a mask of lacking empathy that he projects as a coping mechanism (like a lot about how he operates as Batman is a coping mechanism).

Lord knows my own mask of stoic non-empathy was my adolescent coping mechanism, and I eventually broke out of it LOL

EDIT - Also, I am very, almost giddy, excited for the series to begin on Thursday.