Topic: Batman: The Animated Series

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23. Vendetta
Detective Harvey Bullock is framed for suspected murder and goes to jail. Batman, though he has no great love for Bullock, thinks he's innocent. His investigation reveals that the real criminal is Killer Croc, a mutant hit man who wants revenge on Bullock because Bullock sent him to jail years ago.

My Thoughts:

I remember Killer Croc from when I went through this before. I prefer the take on him in the Batman more than I do in this series. He just wasn't drawn right. He looks more made of rocks or something than some scally creature, and if you do think that's what he looks like you have to admit he doesn't live up to his namesake for looking like a croc. At least this one isn't from the Lousiana bayou. The plot line was an old "payback for putting me in a cell" deal - kinda getting me sick of it - but overall nicely done.

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24. Fear of Victory
The Scarecrow has come up with a fear chemical that is triggered by the release of adrenaline. He uses the chemical on Gotham's greatest athletes, then bets against them to rake in the winnings. Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin, learns about this scheme after his college roommate, a football star, inexplicably becomes terrified during a game. While trying to help Batman track down the Scarecrow, Robin is infected by the chemical and becomes stricken senseless with fear every time his adrenaline pumps. In the end, Robin is placed in a position in which he must overcome this overwhelming fear in order to prevent Scarecrow from spilling his formula over a stadium filled with spectators.

My Thoughts:

Ok, my first thought, what the heck?!?!?!!? They never showed an origin for Robin!! If it is somehwere in this set it's out of order. Just shows up out of nowhere. It may be just me, but I find that an important detail, don't you??

But, moving on, Robin also seems a little old for it to be his first appearance in the series. I mean ... he's in college! Still, the story was ok. Fear gas making all the athletes scaredy cats. Worth watching.

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25. The Clock King
Temple Fugate, a maniacally punctilious man whose life and business are ruled by the clock, is persuaded by then-attorney, Hamilton Hill, to shatter precedent and deviate fifteen minutes from his rigid, self-imposed schedule. Chaos for Fugate results as a result of this, culminating in a court case going against Fugate and for Hill's firm. Fugate is financially ruined, and swears revenge on Hill. Five years later, after Hill becomes Mayor, strange things begin happening in Gotham, all having to do with time. Synchronized traffic lights go awry, subway trains collide, etc. These disasters are a result of Fugate (who now calls himself the Clock King) attempting to discredit Mayor Hill.

My Thoughts:

Uh, wow. Just wow. In the opening, they certainly created the wound-tight character nicely and how a simple suggestion from Hill ruined him, though he was so close to the edge anything would have done the same. And just Batman's luck that the Clock King turns into a wanna-be Riddler. "The 9:15 is always 6 minutes early." I'd also like to point out that Robin is absent this episode. And I was surprised Batman would be the one making cheesy jokes. "I'm here to cleean your clock, Fuget."  "It's only a matter of time."


Still, seeing someone going so cookoo over being late is very entertaining! Seeing him in pushed in a fountain by a dog is better.

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26. Appointment in Crime Alley
Every year at the same time, Batman makes a pilgrimage to meet Dr. Leslie Thompkins, the woman who took care of the young Bruce Wayne after his parents were brutally murdered in Park Row. But this time a series of dangerous distractions keeps the Batman occupied, causing him to miss his appointment. This is too bad, because Roland Daggett, a ruthless land developer and entrepreneur, has hired arsonists to make sure that the part of Park Row called Crime Alley goes up in flames to make way for his new condo development. And Dr. Thompkins is taken prisoner by the arsonists when she stumbles across their plans. Unless Batman can reach Crime Alley in time, the buildings -- and Dr. Thompkins -- will go up in smoke.


My Thoughts:

Well, it's a nice change that there is an episode about the place where Bruce's parents died and its not all flashbacks and introspection. I always got the feeling that Alfred raised Bruce alone so the good doctor is new to me. Despite the change in plot I find myself drifting in and out of the story. Guess I just get bored easy with this kind of thing. The roses at the end were a nice sentimental touch though.

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27. Mad as a Hatter
The Mad Hatter develops a form of mind control which he implements by placing devices in people's hats. He uses this to impress Alice, a woman he's smitten with, turning all of Gotham into a wonderland to please her every whim. When he learns she's in love with another, the jealous Hatter decides to use his mind control power to do away with her beau. He then kidnaps Alice and takes her to Gotham's Central Park. Batman must fight his way through a bizarre chess board composed of living pieces, all under the Hatter's power.


My Thoughts:
 
Mad as a Hatter? One of my fav sites!! Madasahatter.freeforums.org!! Meet my OC, SwiftKill the Kid Mercenary there along with all my online pals!! 

Ok, enough shameless plugging, back to Batman.  But, wow, the dude with the microchips is screwy! Dressing up as the Mad Hatter to impress a girl named Alice. Something tells me this guy read too many fairytales. My only question is why Alice fell for all of that. Wouldn't she think the fairytale/Wonderland theme of their date got a little strange? Impression aside? Does heartbreak dull the senses that much?? Her date came in full costume for crying out loud!! Though I have to admit I must be foggy on the story. When he introduced his henchman he called them the Walrus (which I do remember) but then the other was the Carpenter. Must be from one of the first versions or something. Gotta give this episode credit for research.

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28. Dreams in Darkness
When Batman attempts to thwart the Scarecrow's plan to poison Gotham's water supply with a chemical that induces non-stop nightmares and hallucinations, the Dark Knight is infected with the concoction. Unable to tell reality from fantasy, he is committed to Arkham Asylum. He must find a way to escape and stop the Scarecrow from plunging the people of Gotham into a nightmare without end.

My Thoughts:
 
Yup, back to the Scarecrow again. Batman in Arkham is a nice change of pace. Interesting hallucinations, and again Robin is only a hallucination. 

The breakout was fun to watch and I loved how in the end there was an excellant show of safety, a home, in the darkness. Of all the nonsense Batman sees, though, I still can't understand what makes him afraid. The gas makes you see this, but he knew almost from the start that he was exposed so would be able to understnad that none of it was real, something he couldn't get a hold of until the end. 

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And that compltetes volume 1!!!! 

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Finally! 

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And I have 3 more to go.....

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You will have to finish up in college! 

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  I'll have it all finished either before or during summer!!

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OK everyone... I am taking bets.... what do you think? 

[Rogmeister]

Regarding "Appointment In Crime Alley", I believe that is based on an actual popular Batman comic book story.  I am hoping Brit does continue with the series (and as quickly as possible), especially regarding volume 2 which contains my personal favorite episode of the series, "Almost Got 'Im".   

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ah, so that's where the doc came in? like I said, I never saw her before

yeah, like I said v. 1 was especially hard to get through cuz I saw all of them before. Should get through them faster now that I have some "new episodes" to look forward to.   And yes, I can't wait to see "Almost Got'Im"

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29. Eternal Youth
A health spa which advertises a 'back to nature' rejuvenating potion lures Alfred and his friend, Maggie Paige, there. It is in fact being run by Poison Ivy, who is using a new form of chlorophyll to turn people into trees.

My Thoughts:
 
Aw, Al's got a girl! That's not been established, at least not from anything I've seen, but then again I don't keep tabs on Bats.

First side effect you see of Eternal Youth? A green lifestyle. Plants in the Batcave? Drinking spa water at home? Oh boy. Something's addictive there. So there stuff makes you a tree. It should be no surprise Poison Ivy was behind this to get revenge on companies shredding rainforests. Ironic, Bruce had his company pulled out of that scheme before he got the vengful invite. Pretty cool episode, but there was no part that really stood out. It was an average aventure.