Batman: the Animated Series - Who Remembers 'Fake Harley'?

This week at CBR, I look back at the botched Joker/Harley wedding from the tie-in comic, and the Joker's brief dalliance with his "Fake Harley" in one of the strangest Batman: the Animated Series episodes.

Before Netflix, Before Affleck, There Was the 1990s Daredevil Film (eh...Scriptment)

This week at CBR, I'm looking back at the J. M. DeMatteis treatment for a Daredevil film. No "bwa-ha-has" here.

When X-Men: The Animated Series Went Full Manga

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting the X-Men: The Manga adaptation of X-Men: The Animated Series...which has some curious deviations from the source material. (And if anyone knows of times the American X-Men Adventures adaptation also went its own path, let me know... )

The Justice League's Non-Controversial Gender War

This week at CBR, I'm looking at the "Kill All Men" episodes of Cartoon Network's Justice League.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series - How Stan Lee Adapted Stan Lee

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting Stan Lee's revisit of Dr. Octopus' origin, for Spider-Man: The Animated Series. 

How Can Jason Todd (and the Red Hood) Exist in the DC Animated Universe?

Hey, another CBR piece this week. Given the recent announcement regarding the return of Batman Adventures, I examine just how Jason Todd can fit into the DC Animated Universe.

Why Did I Subject Myself to This? (The Cancelled Jack Black Green Lantern Film)

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting the Robert Smigel script for a Green Lantern film starring Jack Black. Although, truly, there are no words...

Black Hat Blues - Now on Audible!

This originally appeared on GoL, but I want to make sure the message gets out...

Gene Kendall here, promoting the audio release of my book Black Hat Blues as if I were born with no shame. This is my first excursion into the world of audio, and to be honest, it’s an avenue I never thought I’d explore.

But, I received an email out of the blue, raising the possibility of creating an audiobook through Audible’s ACX site. Investigating, I became intrigued at the prospect, but a little nervous about how this would play out.

Let’s be clear—I wrote a book about a cartoon supervillain with a ludicrous vocabulary entering our world, ranting over perceived slights and tossing off catty little asides as if he were a spurned Bachelor contestant. Making this more daunting is a later shift in the novel—the portion narrated by the villain’s heroic nemesis. I’d have to find someone as believable as Lex Luthor as he is as Superman.

This hypothetical voiceover actor would have to possess the gravitas of a Julliard-trained thespian and the comedic talent of a New York stand-up. And, complicating this even further, was the heart of the novel, woven between this nonsense—the story of a fractured family finally becoming whole.

My narrator would have to do accents, sound convincingly brilliant and sadistic, sell some jokes, pronounce a few words you only find in a thesaurus these days, convey a sincere family drama...and sing a few bars of ’80s karaoke.

Amazingly, I found this guy. Actually, in a way, he found me. He was the first to respond to the open audition. I couldn’t believe I found someone that good the first day the audition was up. But voiceover talent Brian L. Knutson really is that good. Heck, I checked out a dozen or so auditions in the ensuing days. Some fine talent I’d like to work with someday…but none sounded as “right” as Brian.

(Truthfully, I’d forgotten the bit with the ’80s songs when I submitted the book. Reviewing the files, getting to that section, realizing it was coming…I got a bit nervous. If Brian had balked at this nonsense, I wouldn’t have blamed him. But he turned out the best so-abridged-it-was-legally-okay-to-use rendition of “Don’t You Forget about Me” you’ll hear this decade.)

Brian’s performance fits the material perfectly. His Mr. Scratch, in various moments, has a quality reminiscent of brilliant voices like Kelsey Grammer and Barry Stigler. And when Scratch drops his façade of playful condescension—when he’s truly mad—I hear notes of Mark Hamill’s darkest Joker performances. There’s another bit where the narrative shifts to describe a cheesy ‘80s action cartoon—and Brian effortlessly drops into a bombastic hero voice worthy of Space Ghost’s Gary Owens!

I don’t know if Brian was ready to kill me by the novel’s end (he says he had fun…) but his work here is brilliant. Seriously, even if I weren’t in shill mode, I’d tell you that you owe it to yourself to listen to his performance.

And, if you’ve never tried Audible before…we’re both in luck. It’s extremely user-friendly, there’s a free trial period, and if my book is the first you download at this link, I could receive an “Audible bounty” of fifty bucks! Sounds like a fine way to enjoy Brian’s incredible performance and thank me for all of those Mutant X issues I reviewed.

If you are an Audible subscriber, the standard link is here. And I have a few free promo codes to send out. Just contact me and I'll probably be able to help you out.

Seriously, I can’t describe how excited I am for this. If you do take us up on this offer, please let me know what you think. And, as always, thank you for being so supportive (and indulgent of my occasional shilling.)

Did Batman: The Animated Series Kill Off Nora Fries Or Not?

This week at CBR, I look at a bizarre comment made by Bruce Timm a few years back. Puts one episode in a new light... 

Did a Tie-In Comic Resolve a Danging Batman Beyond Plot?

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting Mr. Freeze's Batman Beyond appearance, and his final Batman Adventures story, which (maybe) sets the stage for that episode.

Don't Look for These Spider-Man Shows on Disney+

This week, I'm looking at a few Spider-Man shows you can't find on Disney+. Will we lose Nicholas Hammond's Spidey forever?

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Met (2003 's) April O'Neil

This week in Adventure(s) Time, it's the far more comics-accurate debut of April O'Neil...though in TRL-era fashions.

Twenty (!) Years Since the Finale of Superman: the Animated Series

This week, I revisit the series final of Superman: The Animated Series, and look at some issues of the John Byrne reboot that possibly influenced the story.

The Brutal (Canceled) Masters of the Universe Film

Would fans accept a Masters of the Universe film that's more Game of Thrones than Filmation? This week at CBR, I'm looking at the abandoned 2008 Masters of the Universe script!

Did Armor Wars Save a Struggling Iron Man Animated Series?

This week at CBR, I'm looking back on the Iron Man cartoon of the '90s, and its largely forgotten "Armor Wars" adaptation. (Not to mention the classic run of issues that inspired the story.)

Spider-Man's Hollywood Issues Long Predate Sony

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends for the first time -- an episode that also served as an Incredible Hulk pilot, and was inspired by a silly premise Stan could never let go of.

Did Batman: The Animated Series Waste a Classic Villain?

This week at CBR, I revisit Penguin's strongest showings in both Batman: The Animated Series and the tie-in comic. Hey, is the phrase "Blind as a Bat" problematic today?

That OTHER '90s Marvel Series on Disney+

This week at CBR, I look back at the second season (the good one) of the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon. It's a nice compliment to X-Men once you're finished with that rewatch.