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Saturday, September 23, 2017

#24: "Recyclables Of The Dark Knight"

Or "The Strange Secrets Of This Bane!"

In this second and final edition of Graphic Novelism's epic retrospective of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, Big Bad Alex, James The Squid, and Mike 'The Wheezer' Napier embark on a Demon's Quest of their own through the latter half of production in the classic show to answer lingering questions that have plagued them and the fandom at large for years. And the answers they find? They're the stuff that dreams are made of. Illuminating revelations are given on everything from the production team's many clashes with Broadcast Standards and Practices, culminating into one of the most bizarre censor requests of the show's entire history, to the most perplexing redesign choices going into The Animated Series' spin-off, THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES. But just what did happen when the team ran out of story material for a villain they themselves redefined? Who very nearly gave the Bat-Family a fifth and perplexingly permanent member of the team? What's the story on the series spin-off that almost was? Were the actual origins behind the titular villain of the Caped Crusader's first cinematic animated outing really what we've all come to accept, or was there more to the story all along? And just what, exactly, was up with that version of the maligned villain Bane - and what hidden truths does it reveal about a key member of Batman's allies?! The Strange Secrets Of The Animated Series stand revealed at last! And as Graphic Novelism closes out this retrospective, we pay tribute to the legendary Len Wein, the man who helped give us many of The Dark Knight's greatest adventures and beyond.

To avoid being broken by Gotham's fearsome leatherboy, listen here!

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicNovelism
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/graphic-novelism/id1005133566
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=68076&refid=stpr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraphicNovelism

Music and clips used are all property of Warner Bros. Animation & DC Entertainment

FURTHER READING

'Batman' At 25: Hirings, Firings and Other Last-Minute Changes Behind the Animated Classic
Kevin Nowlan Lifts The Cowl On His 'Batman: The Animated Series' Designs
'BTAS' Turns 25: Why It's Still The Greatest Dark Knight Adaptation Of All Time
Harley Quinn's Maddening 25 Year History

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

#23: "The Strange Secrets Of Batman: The Animated Series"

Or, "I've Got Batman In My Podcast!"

In this special edition of Graphic Novelism, Big Bad Alex, James The Squid, and Mike 'The Wheezer' Napier bare their silicon souls in an effort to transport themselves to a more innovative time in comic book animation. A time where the universe momentarily aligned, the Gods of Superheroism finally looked down upon the medium of cartoons, and uttered a single command - "Let there be vengeance." From it's surprising, often overlooked origins as a footnote on the backlot of Warner Bros. Animation Studios, to it's ascension as legendary Emmy Award-winning television, the super-scholars pay homage to the 25th anniversary of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES by detailing the dreams behind the darkness. How did a 29-year-old storyboard artist turn an innocuous duck into one of the most iconic renditions of The Caped Crusader of all time? What secret benefactor both saved the show as we know it and helped guide the hands of fate towards a ghost most gray? And just why, oh why, did audiences get saddled with the one episode of the series that we all collectively decided never to talk about? Riddles from The Minotaur's Maze are revealed in the first part of a retrospective so epic that it just couldn't be contained in one installment!

To discover the secrets that Hugo Strange's mind machine holds, listen here!

Music and clips used are all property of Warner Bros. Animation & DC Entertainment

FURTHER READING

The Animated Series Bible By Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian
The World's Finest Online: 'BTAS' Section
The 'Batman: The Animated Series' Wikia
Purchase "Batman: Animated", By Paul Dini And Chip Kidd - Amazon.com
...Aswell As All Four Volumes Of The Series, Available On DVD!

Saturday, February 18, 2017

#20: "Uncle Ben, Who Is In Hell..." (Challenge Of The Supertoons Part IV)

or "DANGER! At Mysterio's Disco Palace"

In part four of our retrospective of animated adaptations, we revisit Marvel's own personal quarter-life crisis. From the day Spider-Man made friends to how the X-Men found their pryde, we track the bizarre arc of Marvel Productions from 1981-1989, and once again make everything better with Human Torch. Who is "Sidewinder", and what does he stand to gain? Why does Aunt May have a vial of acid and murder on her mind? And which of your favorite heroes are truly better off as bears?

To find out, well, you'll just have to listen!

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicNovelism
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/graphic-novelism/id1005133566
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=68076&refid=stpr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraphicNovelism
Tumblr: http://graphicnovelismpodcast.tumblr.com/

Music used: Neuro Rhythm by Jens Kiilstofte https://machinimasound.com/music/neurorhythm/
Licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

FURTHER READING
A history of Marvel Productions
Did you know there was a half-hour documentary on Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends hosted by Stan Lee? The world is full of wonders.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

#19: "To Me, Allies For Peace!" (Challenge Of The Supertoons, Part III)

or "Spider-Woman In: Twerk Off The Dark!"

In part three of our retrospective of animated adaptations, we look at the dawn of the Marvel Age Of Cartoons, from 1966 to 1979, as we ask ourselves just how loosely you can use the term "animation" before it loses all meaning. Who are the Allies For Peace, and why do they seem so familiar? What intervention from an animation legend led to Spider-Man tripping the light fantastic? Which second-string character unexpectedly has the greatest animated series you've never heard of? And just what is the nightmare known as Fleshman, The Living Flesh?

FURTHER READING
A look at The Marvel Superheroes, with pages from a 1966 trade journal
H.E.R.B.I.E.: The Ugly Truth
The Merry Marvel Marching Society Theme, via Lego Marvel Superheroes

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

#17: "TUBERMAN" (Challenge Of The Supertoons Part I)

or "The Strange Proposal of The Trevor-Darkseid Team!"

In part one of our new, six-part series on the history of animated adaptations, we get things rolling with DC's contributions to the field from 1941-1992. From the glory of the Fleischer shorts to the utter bafflement of the Superfriends, your hosts sift through one of American animation's greatest dry spells to solve the era's greatest mysteries: Why won't Superman stop moaning? What dark secret is Gleek hiding from the Wonder Twins? And how does it all tie back to the 2002 sports comedy Juwanna Mann?

FURTHER READING
This episode's intro music was "The All New Super Friends Hour Intro 1977 Remix" by Yevheniy Kutsenko
Kaptainkristian's excellent video on the artistry of the Fleischer Superman shorts
And then sigh heavily at the existence of The New Adventures of Superman
The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure! A union that would last the test of time.
The Flash vs. Bugsy Malone: The SLOWEST melee of them all!
SEIZURE WARNING: Batman With Robin The Boy Wonder (no, seriously, seizure warning)
Make out... make out...
OH GOD HE'S HUGE
The Filmations that never were
Our only look at the Wonder Woman that almost was
The dramatic origin of B'Wana Beast, who we swear is a real character
Listen to Paul Dini talk about his sad, sad time at Filmation on his episode of The Nerdist
The time Darkseid became Steve Trevor and turned Wonder Woman into a diamond
One of the only clips from Ruby-Spears Superman we could find. Tremble before El Luthor and his senoritas!
A montage from the show's Wonder Woman episode, with some particularly George Perez-influenced visuals.
An evil live-action Plastic Man with amorous intentions. Good luck sleeping tonight, True Subscribers
Beats for "Penetrate Krypton (ft. Filmation Superman)" by DJ Hipsters
And finally, let's take a fond look back at the greatest hero of them all...

Sunday, July 17, 2016

#14 "Podcast Of The Soul" (Dreams, Hoaxes, And Imaginary Tales Part III)

or "The Iron Lantern's Emerald Escape!"

In part three of our four-part series on the greatest comic book stories never told, we uncover two epics that would have left DC Comics unrecognizable in their wake. Join The Unreal Experts as they trek through the heart of darkness to battle a mysterious adversary with plans to expose their favorite heroes' deepest frailties, are rescued by a cosmic soldier of fortune with a care-free attitude and unsettlingly familiar color scheme, and ponder along the way just how generic a company is willing to make a single character. What story nearly gave the DC Universe its own answer to "Watchmen"?What was the original identity of Guy Gardner? What kind of a name is Trammel Soloman?

To find out, well, you'll just have to listen!

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicNovelism
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/graphic-novelism/id1005133566
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=68076&refid=stpr

Music used: Neuro Rhythm by Jens Kiilstofte https://machinimasound.com/music/neurorhythm/
Licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

FURTHER READING
The original pitch for Crisis Of The Soul
Concept sketch for Trammel Soloman
First ever sketch of Guy Gardner's classic costume (and that name...)
Concept art for The Corruptor
The Corruptor's beautiful Tom Hiddleston face
Be Research Mike and buy your own copy of Back Issue #9 for the full Crisis scoop
An interview with Gerard Jones on his Green Lantern run, and "Emerald Twilight"
The original solicits for "Emerald Twilight"
This episode's cover is an edit of this Parallax sketch by Georges Jeanty

Sunday, March 27, 2016

#10: "Batman Hearts Superman"

or "Cry fraternity! Cry... BESTIES!"

In all the years to come, in your most private moments, we want you to remember this episode in your ears. We want you to remember the one podcast... that warmed your heart. Under the shadow of the biggest movie in DC history, the Unreal Experts take a look at the relationship between the world's finest, and how often the duo are misinterpreted as rivals. What are the real differences between these two characters, and how have they driven them apart and brought them together? Is The Dark Knight Returns a relevant portrayal of their relationship? And what is the terrible secret of the the Drive-By Batman? To find out, well, you'll just have to listen!

All and this more, in the link!

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicNovelism
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/graphic-novelism/id1005133566
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=68076&refid=stpr

Music used: Neuro Rhythm by Jens Kiilstofte https://machinimasound.com/music/neurorhythm/
Licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
The Lady In Red by Chris de Burgh Ⓒ A&M Records

FURTHER READING

We promise you, this actually happened