The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

LastSilmaril — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:13:13 -0000

I actually just rediscovered Bruce Timm, and finished watching all of Justice League and JLU a few weeks ago. This is the man who introduced me and millions of others to Batman, Superman, and the whole array of DC comics superheroes and supervillains. The Timm, Dini &c team was a huge part of the cartoon renaissance of the 1990s. Their shows were typically more complex and better animated than, say, the X-Men and Spiderman shoes on Fox. I really hope the DCAU gets revisited and Timm and the rest go back to that style; it's really the only DC universe I know even half-well.

Also, I'm pretty sure Genndy Tartakovsky got his start as an inbetweener on Batman, so the show continues to pay dividends today through his work, IMHO.

I'm looking fwd to go out and buy the DVDs of all his shows just to have nice, pristine versions on hand with commentaries and extras; till then I've been making due with some solid-quality torrents. Haven't seen those new movies as yet, either.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Paul Wartenberg — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:11:15 -0000

I had all the Justice League seasons on DVD, but I loaned them to some friends of mine who made the mistake of loaning them out further and then whomever they loaned em to refused to give them back.

I spent about ten minute seething in anger, but let it go. DVDs are just things. Friends are friends. But I lectured them for 30 minutes about why you shouldn't loan out things that belong to other people.

I can remember when Batman first came out. The artwork may look clunky today but back then it was light years ahead of the standard Hanna-Barbara xeroxed-cell stuff. I even got my dad watching it for a few nights when Fox experimented with airing it as a prime-time show (he normally derides cartoons as kid's stuff even today). And the stories!!! My God. "Heart of Ice" must be named as the episode that showed cartoons were fully capable of Hill Street Blues-like mature quality. And that's not even my personal favorite ("Harley and Ivy" is more fun).

Every character done in the Batman-Superman-JLU series fits and re-fits their places in our comic hero pantheon just right, and the new characters (Harley!) iconic in their own rights.

...Normally at this point I'd be switching over to Amazon and re-ordering the DVDs to my collection, but unemployment/lack of funds is tamping that urge down... sigh...

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Embassy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:58:08 -0000

Profound agreement with Ragamuffin. For McDuffie at his best, and especially for watching with your son, go find his great series "Static Shock."

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Midland — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:39:49 -0000

Speaking as someone who has been trying that upside down kissing thing with my wife after seeing it on Spiderman . . . I find myself compelled to rent this series.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

T Harris — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:45:38 -0000

That is indeed Weyoun.

And I cme out of lurkdom specifically to co-sign on the lauding of Bruce Timm. There was a JLU marathon on boomerang this weekend. Loved it!

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Shawn — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:07:32 -0000

Was the Question's voice done by Jeffry Combs (a.k.a. Weyoun a.k.a. Dr. Herbert West)? That's whose voice it sounds like.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

kikaider01 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:07:14 -0000

ah, the Question. one of my all time favorite characters, due in part to JLU.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Neil — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:43:10 -0000

Bruce Timm is amazing, but you can't forget the work of Paul Dini and Dwayne McDuffie either. Even in the lesser geek animated shows out there today, the best episodes are always written by Dini.

Batman: TAS, Superman: TAS, Justice League, JLU, Justice League: The New Frontier, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern: First Flight are all superb. Green Lantern: First Flight is even drawing parallels to Training Day which the writers admitted was partly their inspiration for it. I can't wait for Batman/Superman: Public Enemies.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Evan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:33:36 -0000

I love pretty much everything Timm has produced, his best being Batman TAS. I also highly recommend the new and currently running Spectacular Spider-Man series. It remains to be seen if it can keep its quality going, but right now it's on par with the best of America animation and maybe even equal to Batman TAS.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

sansouci — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:27:25 -0000

My oldest son is turning 5 next month. Try as I might I cannot get him interested in Marvel characters. He likes Aquaman, I suggest Sub-Mariner. No dice. He likes The Flash, I suggest Quick Silver. He's not hearing it. So the Justice League Seasons 1 and 2 are being ordered for his birthday. What's a ghetto geek father to do?

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Ragamuffin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:23:00 -0000

I think Dwayne McDuffie had something to do with the awesomeness of that show towards the end.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_mcduffie

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

nomadimp — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:20:24 -0000

Wow, I had never seen the JL but those clips were awesome. I dunno if they can beat the nostalgia of his batman series though.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Dwood — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:09:56 -0000

Haven't posted in a while, but when I saw this.....

TNC, you're, imo, right on the money with Bruce Tim. I'm an older nerd (hell, I'm an older a LOT of things) and am happy to say that I have pretty much all of his stuff on disc. And, therefore, as I haven't seen it mentioned yet (and understanding that you want to get through ALL of the Justice League presentations - and you SHOULD).....

You HAVE to see his latest - Wonder Woman. EXcellent genesis story and some of the best fight scenes EVER. Including....

Girlfriend goes straight up with this demon while she is dressed in a business suit (not her Wonder Woman costume, though that does appear a bit later). But, before she starts whompin' on his ass, she KICKS OFF HER SHOES!!!! More, I believe, need not be said.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Andrew — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:00:19 -0000

Bruce Timm rocks!

My TV was out during most of the 2nd JLU season, and I remember how much of a funk I felt when I heard that was going to be the last season, as well.

It took over a year and a half before I was finally able to catch them. I still felt down because I knew that this was the end of that, but I've caught some of the movies he's made, since then, and have been very happy with the results.

Be sure to rent Justice League: The New Frontier. It's a retake of the Silver Age of DC set in the 60s that's faithful to the characters of that era while, never the less, showing a more mature depiction of them.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Evan Narcisse — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:50:59 -0000

I especially loved how JLU gave these nice moral gray tones to the traditional superhero portrayals. Also, the way they signed a spotlight on B- and C-listers was the best. Booster Gold? Mr. Terrific? Dr. Fate? The Question? All used in exactly the right ways.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Lisa J — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:45:33 -0000

I don't have kids, but if I had one, I would do this as a nerd Mom. Loved Justice League and Batman: The Animated Series. They were so good, and could be related to on an adult level and on a kids level too (I assume b/c I was 20 something when they first came out). I even remember my Mom visiting me once when Batman was on and she got soooo into it and she was so bummed at the end b/c it was the creation of 2face episode and she just KNEW Harvey would be ok in th end. And she is totally not into "nerd" stuff.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

dragnet — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:40:51 -0000

COATES! My heart practically leaped out of my chest when I saw this. Bruce Timm and Paul Dini changed my life and my sons (and daughters too dammit!) will bear witness to their excellence. And almost all of the Justice League, Superman, JLU and Batman Animated Series episodes are posted on YouTube, so anyone who hasn't seen this and wants a taste can check them out.

One of my favorite scenes from Justice League is from the episode "The Terror Beyond" where three intense battles are juxtaposed with each other. I don't know why, but that sequence has been going through my head recently. I think I'll watch that one when I get home.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

jchas — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:18:18 -0000

TNC---I've read this blog for a few months now, but never had the desire to post until this topic. Bruce Trimm and his team have created some of the best work on tv the last 20 years. From Batman to JL to the new movies they've been producing, he's probably had the longest streak of quality work that no one talks about. Glad to see someone give him his due.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

R0ME — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:13:52 -0000

Justice league was probably on par with batman The Animated series which I think should be included, if it is not.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

invisible_hand — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:47:39 -0000

Justice League was great.

JLU was even freaking better. season 2 was honestly one of the best things i have ever seen on TV.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

leonardhatred — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:21:44 -0000

I still watch all his series. It's amazing how mature the writing is in what many consider a "saturday morning cartoon." I never thought about there possibly being sexual tension in the Justice League cartoons until I saw the Green Lantern confronted with the budding friendship between his ex, Hawkgirl, and his current girlfriend, Vixen. It was awkward, weird, and great.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

Persia — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:14:14 -0000

Bruce Timm is just amazing.

Re: Things All Nerd Fathers Must Do Before They Die Pt. 2

bding7 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:11:44 -0000

Batman: The Animated Series spoke to me as a kid. Owning the first two volumes on DVD, they still do all these years later.