Episode 10 - 'The Eyes of Despero!' Discussion Thread

[Mister J]

The Green Lantern Corps is MIA after a battle with Despero and Batman must team with G'Nort, Guy Gardner and Sinestro to defeat Despero before he turns the living Green Lantern planet into a weapon.
Airing: February 6

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Despero, a Sinestro team-up and a Mogo appearance? Nice. :up:

[KatarHol]

Mojo is also appearing? Cool! But you know,he doesn't socialize...........

[Mister J]

Yeah, 'Mogo Doesn't Socialize'. :funny:

[SHADOWBAT69]

Despero looks pretty cool, I like the character design.

Also, was that a shot of Dr. Fate I saw in the preview?

[Mister J]

Yep. :up:

[KBX]

sweet, always like Fate.

Now they need an episode for Fate, not just the teaser. Maybe team him up with Zatanna.

[KBX]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0902/02/index.htm

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0902/02/haljordan.jpg
looks like Hal Jordan shows up!

[GamerSlyRatchet]

http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/bravebold/guides/reviews/10eyesdespero/

World's Finest brings new screenshots and videos.

[Captain Planet!]

I think this could be the best episode yet.

[Cain]

I loved the JLI homage


http://i39.tinypic.com/35avssh.jpg

[Syncos]

It was an alright episode. Not exactly as good as fall of the blue beetle. but better than journey to the center of the bat.

We get another green lantern episode with Guy Gardner getting the focus. but at least Hal was in this one. Nort was annoying as all hell.

It was nice to see a series show Sinestro as a Green Lantern, not just start off as a nemesis. I'm eager to see if they show him return and get his yellow ring.

[Superman Prime]

I wasn't too enthused about this series when it was first announced, and some character designs shown. Now that I've caught all the episodes so far, I'm going to say: IT'S FUN!

This Silver Age take on Batman is certainly refreshing. Him being the main hero of heroes is pretty new... and the Christmas episode that showed child Bruce being a spoiled brat was a very intriguing angle to work off of, and I liked it. Shows he's not just an avenger, but also somewhat of a penitent for how he might have treated his parents.

I laugh several times an episode, Journey Into the Center of the Bat especially so.

While really light-hearted stuff here, you can tell it was written with talent.

It has my stamp of approval.

[SuperFerret]

It was an alright episode. Not exactly as good as fall of the blue beetle. but better than journey to the center of the bat.

We get another green lantern episode with Guy Gardner getting the focus. but at least Hal was in this one. Nort was annoying as all hell.

It was nice to see a series show Sinestro as a Green Lantern, not just start off as a nemesis. I'm eager to see if they show him return and get his yellow ring.


G'nort saved the Earth, you ingrate! :cmad: You don't even care enough to spell his name right.

[Daredevil_2003]

^ I really hope that was sarcastic :funny:

[Drz]

The episode was pretty sweet, does anyone have pictures of Green Lantern armored Batman? =) I liked how they displayed Sinestro and his change to villainious side. Hal Jordan was awesome to see and hope we see alot more of him.

[Two-Face=Badass]

This episode was absolutely awesome, easily one of the best so far for me, up there with Dawn of the Deadman, Terror on Dinosaur Island and Fall of the Blue Beetle. Despero was a truly great villain here, and I loved how the themes of the teaser (no matter what powers [or lack of] you have it only matters who you are) carried on to the main ep.

Doctor Fate's voice was awesome, I love the way the Library of Infinity is portrayed, it was also good that it explained why Batman was there, giving Fate lessons on hand-to-hand combat.

The main event was even better, the fight with the Cavalier is one of my all-time favourite B:TB&TB scenes so far: "Some where Shakespeare is spinning in his grave" :pal:

G'Nort was greatly portrayed I felt, I always loved his character as he was the one who was never smart nor ultimately that great at fighting, but he always had the spirit and goodwill. Plus his lines were flipping hilarious:
"On Labor Day, On Halloween Night, No nose hair shall escape my sight!"
"Hang on! I forgot about my cheatsheet! *reads Green Lantern oath off his wrist*

Guy Gardner is great as always, as previously mentioned the JSI homage was excellent. I also liked the way Sinestro was portrayed, he sort of mirrored Despero but felt he was working for good, trying to rd his sector of evil. It establishes him well as villain who believes he is doing the greater good.

So yeah, fantastic episode in my eyes, really fun. I hope we get more ones like this in the future, with expanding themes and teamups with more than one hero.

[Captain Planet!]

I loved seeing Guy get punched in the face. This ep proved we need a Green Lantern Corp. TV show.

[Kal-El 8]

"One Punch" ROFL !!!!!

[Kal-El 8]

I was hoping to see Bats like this in this episode
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x201/Kibagami_Tenrou/green-lantern-batman.jpg

although the suit he was wearing was pretty cool .

[Spider-Bat]

Finally an episode I truly liked. It was awesome to see Hal Jordon, he's the one true Green Lantern who needs more screen time, and he should have been in the Timm JusticeLeague instead they had to throw in Stewart, just to have a black guy on the team, so stupid.

Hal needs more respect he's the main man!

Anyway, the Episode was cool. A fun show. I give it an 8 out of 10.

Batman's GL armor was pretty cool, I loved that one thing they did where he was a GL I'm not sure what it was from but I've seen pics and his suit looked somewhat like that.

I think some might know what I mean.

I'm not much into Guy Gardner but I always like that jacket he wore. nice to see it again.

G'nort was funny, sometimes got annoying but not too much, since the tone of the show's kind of goofy.

Batman deserves a better series than this one, I don't know why they had to go with camp again, someone needs to tell these morons that DC's done alot to erase that part of Batman's past and image.

But out of all of them this has been the best show.

They still should have done the show seriously.

[Spider-Bat]

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x201/Kibagami_Tenrou/green-lantern-batman.jpg
[/quote]Oh, here's the suit I meant.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

First in the teaser, Batman and Dr. Fate stop the evil Wotan (whom I shamefully mistaken for Mordru and Universohttp://forums.toonzone.net/images/smilies/sweat.gif ) from stealing from the Library of Infinity. The teaser was nice, but a little boring. I'm usually not a fan of magical characters, but it was still nice.

The main story has the Green Lanterns sending Hal Jordan's ring to Batman to help them defeat Despero, while Batman is busy defeating The Cavalier. I never thought we'd see Cavalier in animated form, but I was wrong. Batman soon teams up with an odd bunch of Green Lanterns to fight Despero: the hot heated and egocentric Guy Gardener, the incompetent G'Nort, and the morally ambiguous Sinestro. The chemistry between them was interesting, and a fresh change from the usual John Stewart or Hal Jordan appearance.

This version of Sinestro is my favorite, with the one from The Batman in second place. I liked the fact that he served as a secondary villain by being a Green Lantern, and his fall from grace, while predictable, was interesting. G'Nort was amusing, Mogo showed up, and Guy Gardener got punched by Batman. Good stuff all around.


NEXT EPISODE: First, Batman helps Jonah Hex in taking out the Royal Flush Gang. Then, Batman and former assassin Bronze Tiger team up when the Terrible Trio try to steal a powerful Chinese artifact.

[Bruce Wayne]

Batman deserves a better series than this one, I don't know why they had to go with camp again, someone needs to tell these morons that DC's done alot to erase that part of Batman's past and image.

They still should have done the show seriously.

They've also done alot to bring elements of it back, in recent years. This series is following DC's regime, as of late, so I don't see what you're trying to get at.

Something tells me that you haven't even watched a good portion of this show, either. If you did, you'd know that there are several little Easter Eggs within that not only treat the character of Batman with respect, but several elements are infact taken seriously, within just about each episode. Is the overall tone of it a harkening back to the campy days of Batman? Absolutely. But it's also harkening back to the tone of the original Brave and The Bold era of comic books, something that DC's NEVER tried to 'erase' from the past.

Oh, but I'm sorry for your loss. I guess if Batman isn't wearing black and constantly brooding, he's not being treated with respect.

[Evil Twin]

It's a mistake to conflate lightness with camp. There's a difference.

[Cain]

It's a mistake to conflate lightness with camp. There's a difference.

It's a lost cause bro, no matter how many times it's repeated people just won't get it.

[Evil Twin]

It's a lost cause bro, no matter how many times it's repeated people just won't get it.

Perhaps, but it's still a correct point. And, I find it hard to take the criticisms of the show seriously when so many seem to be unable to grasp that concept.

At the very least, it's worth noting that the show presents the various threats and foes in a serious manner. It's even gone to the well on death imagery and themes a few times.

[Superman Prime]

The longer you're on the Hype the more you realize there are arguments that will see no end. There's always going to be people who shout "WHY CAMP?! DAMMIT!", and no matter how many times you try explaining to them, they'll just keep stupidly shouting it.

So it's advisable to not even waste your time discussing anything with some of these posters.

[Daredevil_2003]

Right.

Anyway. Just watched this one. The teaser was terrible. I wasn't into it on any level. Just....eww.

But, the rest of the episode was above average. I really enjoyed all the Lanterns and the finale was great. Cool fights and many lulz from G'Nort trying to remember the speech. :lmao:

As usual, the only thing that really took me out of it was the art, the music...all those OTT, "campy" elements. Particularly the latter, during the fight between Gardner and Sinestro, for instance. I'm getting all into the action on screen and boom! Cue the cheesey and bad jazz! Ugh...

The fact I was still so satisfied at the end even with the aforementioned 'fun' elements really speaks volumes to the scripting and direction of this one. Acting? Meh...not bad, never really is, and it fits with the goofy images.

Anyway, in spite of the corn, this one gets an 8/10. Very enjoyable.

[Syncos]

It's a mistake to conflate lightness with camp. There's a difference.

You're correct. There are however, plenty of campy moments in the series. For example when Batman turns his utility belt into a full sized lightsaber. Or when he pulls his insignia off of his chest and uses it as a batarang.

There's plenty of little ridiculous moments that bring the camp to an otherwise pretty well written Batman.

[Dread]

It appears that characters featured in "teasers" eventually get an entire focus episode from this show more often than not. And so it is this week that Guy Gardner, played by James Arnold Taylor (who also plays another green hero, Green Arrow, on this show) returns with other Green Lanterns for a space adventure with Batman.

The teaser has Greg Ellis voicing Dr. Fate as he and Batman take on the evil wizard Woten. To imagine, a teaser with Kamandi would end up being better, but it was. I didn't care for Ellis' short performance as Dr. Fate, although I did like how he beat Woten by boxing him out. The tidbit, of course, was there to reinforce the Bat-moral of the episode; it isn't the weapon (ring or magic helmet) that makes a hero, but the man who uses it. I noticed some Kirby/Ditko style influences on the mystical dimension's background.

The Green Lantern Corps adventure starts immediately. Despero (Kevin M. Richardson) is using his third eye to enslave the wills of seemingly the entire GL core aside for the noble Hal Jordon. Hal is played by Loren Lester; a DCU animation veteran as he played Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing for a good 5-7 years on B:TAS. His last reprise of the role was in the 2003 forgettable PS2 game "RISE OF SHIN ZU" and I am glad he hasn't been forgotten by WB/DC animation. He served very well voicing the stoic (and kind of bland) Hal Jordon. Hal acts as he should be; strong willed, bellowing the oath before a big power moment to deny Despero his victory. Still, I have never been the biggest fan of Hal. With Despero fooled into thinking that Hal would sacrifice his comrades rather than leave them in Despero's clutches, the villain departs. Hal Jordon's ring flies off for assistance from Batman.

If this little plot sounds similar, it is; GL's episode in THE BATMAN is almost the same, with Hal being beaten by Sinestro and sending his ring to Batman. However, I can say that this show's version is superior.

Batman is having an amusing time, at least for this viewer if not for the Caped Crusader himself, thrashing the bizarre criminal Cavalier. Batman encounters the ring and allows it to take him to Oa, where seemingly all of the Green Lanterns have been vanquished. Only several remain in the brig: the aforementioned Guy Gardener, locked up for a mess hall scuffle; Sinestro (Xander Berkeley, who plays Mysterio over on SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN in Season 2), an arrogant and aggressive GL who is imprisoned for attacking enemies who had surrendered, and G'Nort (Alexander Polinsky), who haplessly locked himself in there, and serves as token comic relief. Left with no options, Batman teams with the three Lanterns to thwart Despero's plot.

G'nort of course was created by Kieth Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, who wrote this episode (as well as several for BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD as well as several JLU episodes). Becoming a Green Lantern as a favor to honor an uncle who was a famed member of the Core, G'nort is something of a sign of DC of years past. He stemmed from a time back towards the Silver Age when it seemed any schmoe could use a GL ring to some degree, and they had a lot of downright goofy and childish Green Lanterns (the easiest to spot was Ch'p, the friggin' giant squirrel with a white BOW TIE). This was back when the idea of Green Lantern Corps members being comic relief at time was embraced and part of the genre. Now, of course, Geoff Johns and DC have noted that any GL feat requires an incredible amount of willpower and focus; even Green Arrow could barely handle a ring for long. Nearly every GL Corps member has to be hardcore and whatnot. Types like G'nort have lost their place in modern, bleak is good DC.

Fortunately, this is BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD, which acts as if BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS never happened, which takes all the camp of the SUPERFRIENDS era and updates it for the 21st century with stronger animation, action, acting, and writing. Therefore, this is a show where G'nort can go on with his lack of confidence and his awkward jokes, but you KNOW he will save the day in the end anyway.

Sinestro has been featured quite a few times in DC animation within the last 11 years or so, and his origins as a former GL who went rogue and joined their enemies the Quardians has often been stated. This show, however, seeks to one-up the others by presenting Sinestro as a Green Lantern first, and allowing us to witness his corruption and fall to infamy. That is naturally a clever and interesting approach. While Batman is at first impressed by Sinestro's military precision, often thinking him to be the better of the three Lanterns he is stuck with, it soon is revealed that Sinestro is a merciless tyrant, who sees the Corps as a mere stepping stone to conquest. Berkeley naturally puts in a different performance as Sinestro as he would as Mysterio, but it works all the same, and is convincing.

In some ways, the only awkward bit was Batman's armor. Not allowed to use Hal Jordon's ring, Sinestro and Gardner embue Batman with enough of their ring's energy to form him a constant suit of armor. The armor is linked to Batman's will like their rings, only apparently didn't weaken or vanish if either of them were hurt or defeated, a part I didn't understand. Part of me wonders if it would have been easier to just give Batman a ring for the episode. I mean, this is BRAVE AND THE BOLD, where his utility belt houses a LIGHT SABER.

Gardner, of course, is a complete jerk, refusing to listen to Batman's orders and making sarcastic remarks at every turn. At one part the episode infamously recreates the famous "one punch fight" between Batman and Gardner from the Matteis and Giffen JLI era, trading Blue Beetle for G'nort for the background commentary. It was appreciated, although my memory is still abuzz with the more serious "IF THIS BE MY DESTINY" homage from SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN this week from Teletoon.

After fighting a mental illusion of Despero, and learning that G'nort's power ring is low on energy, the heroes learn the villain's true quest is to take control of Mogo, a living planet who is also the most powerful Green Lantern, to transform the peaceful world into a "death star". I was grateful the show didn't try to have "influences" from Marvel's more memorable Ego the Living Planet with Mogo. While Batman tries to distract Despero with a head-on battle, G'nort attempts to drain Mogo's power battery while Sinestro and Gardner attempt to protect the Earth.

This leads to an extended bit where G'nort keeps messing up the Green Lantern Oath with bizarre takes on it. Some were genuinely funny, but I felt the bit lasted a little too long for my liking. While a bit of a clod, G'nort naturally has enough will for the task when it counts, living up to Batman's moral and encouragement. Yes, Batman actually ENCOURAGES superheroes in this show. Daffy, huh?

Sinestro, of course, zealously wants to blow Mogo to bits, not caring about the lives of the planet or G'nort to complete the mission, and reveals that out of the Lanterns, he is the closest to being Despero's willing lackey. He reveals his motives as a tyrant and how he oppressively conquered the segment of the galaxy he was sought to patrol. This leads to a fight with Guy which is clearly the highlight of the episode. After years of generic constructs from JLU's John Stewart, I was thrilled to see more imaginative Green Lantern creations in the duel of the lanterns. The fight degenerates to fisticuffs, and the plucky Gardner resorts to biting to win. Guess he learned that from Mike Tyson.

Batman break free from Despero's embrace from sheer willpower, Earth and Mogo are saved, and it turns out that Jordon had simply teleported the Corps inside his ring, kind of like that DUCK DODGERS episode. While I understand that Jordon has his fans, and Lester played him well, Gardner is more interesting to me as a giant jerk. At the end, though, Batman encourages the GL's celebrate G'nort's courage. The bit about the licking was a bit weird. Again, G'nort was a GL of a different era; out of place in today's postmodern bleakness, but fits in nicely in this show.

This episode was on par with most of the rest of the series. Not the peak but not bad at all; some light action and one-liners, good animation and as always, a satisfying popcorn DC adventure.

[CLARKY]

I think the episode was pretty cool, but could have been better. I really enjoyed sinestro and for the most part of the episode, I thought that it was a beautiful example of how Sinestro works. too bad he was treated like a villain in the end.
All in all the episode was not that well written, I mean, there is no actual GOOD plot. Come on. But I enjoyed it for what it was, and I liked batman attitude in particular. For once, since there is a debate about lightness&camp, I thought this episode showed a lighter batman but not a camp one. I really appreciate this and I'm certainly not part of those who want a control-freak-paranoid-stupid-son-of-the-"beach" kind of Batman like one has used over the last years. But I do not like camp neither. This episode showed a good characterization.
This being said, there were some serious stupidy campiness too ! I accepted the "don't lick" once but come on ! two times ! 2 times !! the second time, I was oMG do not tell me this is the last line ..... :(
And of course, the highlight for the episode : "one punch, one punch" :up:

[Superman Prime]

It's a mistake to conflate lightness with camp. There's a difference.

This is still camp.

[signalman]

I was thrilled that THE CAVALIER made a brief appearance.
I love these old-time goofy Bat-Villians. I hope more show up.

[Mistah K88]

I REALLY enjoyed Sinestro in this one. He has more character here than he did in the DCAU. I hope we see more of him. The Cavalier was fun to see as well...I hope they use him, Egghead, and King Tut again in the future.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

I REALLY enjoyed Sinestro in this one. He has more character here than he did in the DCAU. I hope we see more of him. The Cavalier was fun to see as well...I hope they use him, Egghead, and King Tut again in the future.

Agreed with Sinestro. This is easily the best and most interesting version of the character. Even his version in The Batman was much interesting than the DCAU.

Cavalier might reappear, but I think the Egghead and King Tut thing was a one-time deal.

[Mister J]

I hope there's a follow-up later on that deals with Bats being brouht in (or just happening to be a targer) when Sinestro goes rogue.