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Post by J.Sykes on Jun 25, 2019 3:37:55 GMT
I linked up with the writer of SOTB on twitter through a mutual love of the once great El Generico, and I am proud to say that he joins the ranks of Terence, Tobias, and Travis here in that he has given me a whole new outlook to storytelling and crafting television.
For many of us as comic fans, Batman the animated series is the holy grail. I have long been clamoring for returns to the Timmverse, and upon inviting SOTB featured here, I've gotten the opportunity to get exactly what I've longed for. Diving in headfirst, this story gives us my favorite take on the relationship between Bruce and Dick. Subsequently the building of this bond and the way it progresses Dick forward as a character naturally rather than feeling repetitive because of course we all know DIck just has to become Robin. Rather the work is put in to show us what draws these two characters together, and I couldn't help but compare it to a better version of the flashbacks we got in the first season of Titans.
Moving along, another character who gets a spotlight she so richly deserves is my favorite Batgirl, Barbara Gordon. I enjoy the way Babs is written and used here to give Dick an easy alleyway to a friend. On top of that, she's charming and sincere, a combination that makes her a tie for my favorite character in this series. This is the first time a Batman story has made a character other than Bruce Wayne my favorite character, and that is what shocks me the most. But that's the thing about SOTB, it isn't a Bruce Wayne story. This is about Dick Grayson, and if I'm keeping it a whole buck, its probably a top 3 Dick Grayson story of all time for me.
Stay tuned as I continue to read along here
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Post by transformthebat on Jun 25, 2019 4:40:06 GMT
Not quite sure how to respond to such effusive praise without sounding like a massive douche so I'll just hit a few bullet-points you may have already heard from me:
- It's a story about people; I think all stories should be. - Even though I love Batman, my personal take on him has always been a bit... boring? Shifting focus onto the surrounding cast gives the show life and allows for new(ish) avenues of storytelling and deeper dives on characters who deserve it. - El Generico REMAINS GREAT, and he's doing God's work at that Catholic orphanage in Tijuana. I too wish he hadn't retired, but rassle takes a toll and we have to respect his decision. ...uuhh, I mean "Ole!" - I considered making the tag-line for the show "IT'S ALL ABOUT DICK", but then thought better of it.
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Post by transformthebat on Sept 1, 2019 15:43:37 GMT
He must be waiting until he's read all thirteen episodes of Chapter 1 before posting his next review...
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Post by J.Sykes on Sept 10, 2019 16:32:47 GMT
As I sit here ready to dive into Episode 10, I take a look back at how far I've come in this particular Gotham story. I say Gotham story and not Batman because I feel transformthebat has done the best job I've ever seen at bringing to life a thriving ensemble around Batman. I also say this as not a slight against the work but much more praise, Batman's arc isn't the focus to me here, and that works not just absolutely fine, but very well in service to a better story. But before I dive into that, I will keep focus on how Gotham and the people in it are the foundation of this story. We see bold examples of this with how DIck deals with Maroni's son and his goons. Such a seemingly small cog in the wheel of the city that creates so much chaos. Its such an effective way to paint exactly what Gotham is, and transformthebat uses a style I've heard Scott Snyder discuss he took from Paul Dini, which is dripped in all kinds of irony there. The style being that he truly makes a Gotham of his own imagination, something unique and one of a kind where these characters fit and cross into a beautiful puzzle that is an absolute joyride to be a part of.
The themes of Fatherhood are not only well done and nuanced, but don't feel forced in the slightest. Everything about relationships like Bruce and Dick, or Jim and Babs let us know how much these character mean/need to each other without overshadowing anything else in each episode. Transformthebat just hits certain, gentle well-placed beats to drive home that theme but not hit you over the head with it, and that is something that so many shows should take a hint from.
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Post by J.Sykes on Sept 10, 2019 16:35:25 GMT
Needless to say, I think Episode 9 is the best so far. And much more to my surprise, it wasn't because of the amazing fight scene between Deadshot and Batman, but rather the way the story built to that ultimate showdown. I loved Dick figuring out Gordon was in a world of trouble and breaking all the rules to keep him alive. I enjoyed deeply Gordon's interaction with the crime doctor, which is also a great way to remind us this story is set in the animated series universe. This story felt like the cementing of Batman and Robin, and once again it was done with a graceful nuance that cannot be shawn michaels oversold.
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Post by transformthebat on Sept 10, 2019 18:09:11 GMT
I use a little bit of the technique that JMS used in B5, but is probably more famously used by Tolkien in the LotR books, where everything and everybody has a history.
This might be the first time the audience has seen this character, but they didn't pop into existence right before walking on screen. They've had a whole life, interactions, decisions, that inform who they are, how they act, and how people act toward them.
When the audience is seeing something happening in one part of town, that isn't the /only/ occupied part of the city, let alone the world. Stuff is happening literally constantly, literally everywhere.
Keeping that in mind, one can allude to bigger/older/distant goings-on in a way that feels natural without distracting from the characters and happenings in a particular story of the moment. It's often used to slowly build a kayFabe where things are very different from our real world, but the technique can also be used to bring a sense of place and cohesion to even a mundane or modern setting.
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Post by transformthebat on Sept 10, 2019 18:14:10 GMT
I should mention that SotB is not set in the DCAU, merely inspired by it.
Sykes knows that, he only misspoke. But I don't want any of you other mufuckas gettin' confused!
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