#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!

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Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/graphic-novelism/id1005133566
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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

GRAPHIC NOVELISM REMEMBERS... ADAM WEST (1928-2017)

On a tragic day that is long to be remembered, the world of superheroes and the world at large lost a true caped crusader - Adam West, the first actor to truly inhabit the role of Batman for entire generations of fans. Join Graphic Novelism's Alex, James, and Mike as they reminiscence about West's life and career as everything from superhero to mayor, their earliest memories of the 1966 classic that shot West to stardom, and what West's role as the cowled crimefighter did to transform the medium of comic books into what it is today.

So long, old chum. From all of us.



Click here to donate to the Adam West Memorial Fund for St. Jude's Children's Research

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/

Musical cues and clips property of 20th Century Fox and Cartoon Network

Header image originally created by E-SPACE-Productions

#22: "And Then There Were X-23's!" (Challenge Of The Supertoons Part VI)

or "Walk On The Spidercide!"

In the penultimate part of our animated retrospective, the dawn of a new millennium brings a new beginning for Marvel's most-animated mutants, and a mixed bag for everyone else, as we enter THE WB YEARS. From 2001-2009, hear all about the second Spider-Man show to avoid Spider-Man at all costs, the most un-fantastic Reed Richards possible, SURPRISE Gammazons, and quite possibly the best superhero cartoon ever made (and it's not the one you're thinking of) . How did Avengers: United They Stand accidentally SAVE Marvel animation? What incredible plans were in store for the next season of Spectacular Spider-Man? And just what, exactly, do we all need to understand about Toad?

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
Showrunner Boyd Kirkland on X-Men Evolution

Director Frank Paur on X-Men Evolution
Take A Walk On The Wild Side
Look At How Well-Animated Evolution Is. LOOK AT IT.
Chris Yost on Fantastic Four: Worlds Greatest Heroes
Director Brandon Vietti talks Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
Showrunner Greg Weisman on The Spectacular Spider-Man
Writer Andrew Robinson on The Spectacular Spider-Man
The Many, Many Things Planned For Spectacular Spider-Man Season 3, And Beyond...

"Also Sprach Zarathustra (Metal Cover)" by Dillon Sienko

#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?

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 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

#18: "When Shaq Met Static" (Challenge of The Supertoons Part II)

or "Slade Wilson's Carnival of Despair!"

In part two of our retrospective of animated adaptations, we look at the modern age of DC shows, from the dawn of the Timmverse to the second coming of Beast Boy. Why doesn't Static Shock get the respect it so dearly deserves? Where does Superman: The Animated Series land within the ranks of superhero television? When will fans learn to stop judging new shows by a single piece of promo art? And what is the tragic fate of the poor, disgraced Ocean Master?

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
The Death of Dan Turpin
Dwayne McDuffie's thoughts on Static Shock
The greatest team-up animation had seen since Superman and Aquaman
The Joker's Five-Point Cuisine
Young Justice season 3! Something not-horrible happened this year!