Animated Superheroes
A look back at the Superheroes of Marvel and DC Comics and their animated counterparts.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Game Over for Owlman!
Season: 1
Episode Number: 13
Season Episode Number: 13
Production Number: 113
Airdate: March 6, 2009
Writer: Joseph Kuhr
Director: Ben Jones
Voices: Diedrich Bader (Batman, Owlman), James Arnold Taylor (Green Arrow), Tom Kenny (Plastic Man), Jeff Bennett (Joker).
Plot: Batman's good name has been tarnished by Owlman, who is posing as Batman and committing crimes in his name. Batman finds an unlikely alliance in the Joker and the two try to bring down Owlman!
Teaser: Batman returns to Earth to find that he is wanted by the police. This teaser acts as a recap for last episode as well as a lead in to the rest of the episode.
Review (Warning! Spoilers!): Game Over for Owlman is the second part of a special two-part episode. All of the episodes in this series have been building to this point as we see most of the heroes and villains that we've encountered over the past thirteen episode return in what ends up being one of the most exciting episodes to date.
Part of what makes this episode so enjoyable is the excellent interpretation of the Joker. This is a Joker that is unlike any we've ever seen in previous animated series. His design is taken after Dick Sprang's artwork from the 40s as well as his personality.
This Joker is not as off-the-wall-insane as we've seen in previous versions of the character. His is more cartoony, but not like the Joker from The Batman, but he is also more collected than the Joker from Batman: TAS. The result is a 40s style gangster who is dangerous because he's got a screw loose upstairs. Fans of Mark Hamill's Joker may be in for a shock, but this Joker works well in this series and Jeff Bennett does an excellent job providing a voice for the Clown Prince of Chaos.
The costume Owlman uses to pretend to be Batman is actually Batman's very first costume, designed by Bob Kane for Detective Comics #27 in 1939.
In fact, there are many tributes to the early days of Batman in this episode: The Joker's look and personality, a variation on the original Batmobile, the Jokermobile, and a few of the poses that Owlman strikes are taken straight from the panels of Bob Kane's early artwork.
Fanboys will enjoy seeing Batman team up with several Batmen from parallel dimensions. It appears that all the Batmen in this episode are taken from various comic books. Here's what I know:
Bat-Hulk - from the pages of Brave and the Bold #68, 1966
Vampire Batman - from the Elseworlds comic Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, 1991
Captain Letherwing - from the Elseworlds story in Detective Comics Annual #7, 1994
There are three that I'm not sure of. Large Head Batman, Cowboy Batman and Armor Batman are still a mystery to me. If any of you know who these are, please leave me a comment!
Deep Cover for Batman and Game Over for Owlman are must sees for fans of the show as well as those who are on the fence about the series. Brave and the Bold has been getting better over the course of the season and it looks like the writers have now found their groove. The second half of this season should be amazing.
DVD Releases:
Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Volume Three
Back to Episode Guide
¶ 5:30 PM 
Season: 1Episode Number: 13
Season Episode Number: 13
Production Number: 113
Airdate: March 6, 2009
Writer: Joseph Kuhr
Director: Ben Jones
Voices: Diedrich Bader (Batman, Owlman), James Arnold Taylor (Green Arrow), Tom Kenny (Plastic Man), Jeff Bennett (Joker).
Plot: Batman's good name has been tarnished by Owlman, who is posing as Batman and committing crimes in his name. Batman finds an unlikely alliance in the Joker and the two try to bring down Owlman!Teaser: Batman returns to Earth to find that he is wanted by the police. This teaser acts as a recap for last episode as well as a lead in to the rest of the episode.
Review (Warning! Spoilers!): Game Over for Owlman is the second part of a special two-part episode. All of the episodes in this series have been building to this point as we see most of the heroes and villains that we've encountered over the past thirteen episode return in what ends up being one of the most exciting episodes to date.
Part of what makes this episode so enjoyable is the excellent interpretation of the Joker. This is a Joker that is unlike any we've ever seen in previous animated series. His design is taken after Dick Sprang's artwork from the 40s as well as his personality.This Joker is not as off-the-wall-insane as we've seen in previous versions of the character. His is more cartoony, but not like the Joker from The Batman, but he is also more collected than the Joker from Batman: TAS. The result is a 40s style gangster who is dangerous because he's got a screw loose upstairs. Fans of Mark Hamill's Joker may be in for a shock, but this Joker works well in this series and Jeff Bennett does an excellent job providing a voice for the Clown Prince of Chaos.
The costume Owlman uses to pretend to be Batman is actually Batman's very first costume, designed by Bob Kane for Detective Comics #27 in 1939.
In fact, there are many tributes to the early days of Batman in this episode: The Joker's look and personality, a variation on the original Batmobile, the Jokermobile, and a few of the poses that Owlman strikes are taken straight from the panels of Bob Kane's early artwork.Fanboys will enjoy seeing Batman team up with several Batmen from parallel dimensions. It appears that all the Batmen in this episode are taken from various comic books. Here's what I know:
There are three that I'm not sure of. Large Head Batman, Cowboy Batman and Armor Batman are still a mystery to me. If any of you know who these are, please leave me a comment!Deep Cover for Batman and Game Over for Owlman are must sees for fans of the show as well as those who are on the fence about the series. Brave and the Bold has been getting better over the course of the season and it looks like the writers have now found their groove. The second half of this season should be amazing.
DVD Releases:
Comments:
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That was funny when Joker keeps getting knocked out by Batmans spray.
# posted by 
: March 11, 2009 3:30 PM
: March 11, 2009 3:30 PM
Yes Blake, that is a good question. What series has the cowboy Batman? Because I don't think I've seen it.
I always thought that Armor Batman is from a futeristic dimension since his high-teck armor can let him fly and shoot flashes of light.
# posted by : May 7, 2009 1:57 PM
: May 7, 2009 1:57 PM
We really liked the depiction of the sane alternate universe Joker. This whole series has gone costume wild too!
Here is our take on the first 13 ending with this awesome two parter:
http://fortresstakes.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-2008-2009-season-1-13-episodes/
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Here is our take on the first 13 ending with this awesome two parter:
http://fortresstakes.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-2008-2009-season-1-13-episodes/
Links to this post:
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- Animated Superheroes (ASH) is a large project by one man who loves cartoons and superheroes.
Since the site is only a few months old the content may seem sparse but it will be constantly updated with new content, including episode and DVD reviews, characters bios, theme songs and up to the minute news!
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About Kurtis Findlay
- Kurtis has been reading comic books and watching superheroes on television for as long as he can remember. He has created this blog as a means to connect with other superhero animation fans over the world.
kurtis[at]animatedsuperheroes[dot]com
More From Kurtis
- Animated Toast! - Celebrate Christmas all year round! Read reviews of your favourite Christmas cartoons!
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