Batman the Animated Series Volume 4

[Luchastyle]

I noticed this board is actually suitable for making fairly useless threads in which to ask questions =) And i have one


Is Volume 4 worth buying? And I don't mean buying it just because it's batman, i mean is it any good? When I was a kid I didn't watch the new adventures because it just didn't have that same feeling to me. And the creators themselves have mentioned that it was a lot lighter.

So are the later episodes even any good? Or should I just keep watching my original episodes from the first 3 volumes?

I'm just curious how many people thought the new adventures were still high quality and how many don't like them as much.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Definitely worth buying. Overall it's not as good as the original TAS but it was still pretty good. There's a lot of awesome episodes including "Mad Love" and the darkest episode of the entire series, "Over the Edge." The most disappointing thing was the revamped character designs of many of the villains like Joker, Freeze, Riddler, but some of them were an improvement like Scarecrow and The Penguin. Anyway, I'd say it is certainly worth picking up if you like Volume 1-3.

Also, it depends if you like Batman solo or not. TAS it's just him fighting crime, The New Batman Adventures is very Robin and Batgirl heavy. So it was a bit lighter in tone overall.

 

[deathshead2]

I own vol 1-3. I never liked vol 4 when I was a kid and 10 years later I still hate it. Besides the creeper episode there wasn't one good thing to watch that whole season.

 

[Mister J]

I echo a lot of what Socko said. I find Volume 4 to still be thoroughly enjoyable, even though the first 3 volumes are better. OVer the Edge is one of my favorites from the entire TAS run. There are some underrated eps in there as well; Judgment Day, Demon Reborn, Old Wounds.

 

[Joker]

I love Volume 4 for totally different reasons than Volumes 1-3. It was a great action season, which had a few unique episodes like the x-mas special featuring different members of the bat-family doing there thing.

And Mad Love alone is worth the price. Also, it was a great end to the Mr. Freeze storyarc.

 

[Luchastyle]

thanks for the feedback guys. i'd still LOVE to hear some more opinions. but it sounds like it might be worth getting. i definitely prefer the darkness and grit of the original run. in fact, some of the episodes in volume 3 are even a little too clean for me. (but hell, some of the episodes on volume 3 are my very favorites as well =D)

so i'll definitely consider buying it. my friend has it downloaded. so maybe i'll watch a bunch of them, and then if i like them i'll buy it.

 

[Soundwave88]

I own vol 1-3. I never liked vol 4 when I was a kid and 10 years later I still hate it. Besides the creeper episode there wasn't one good thing to watch that whole season.

same. and thats the only episode iv seen from that season haha

 

[Angeloz]

In Australia we can only get Volume 1 and I wish I could get all four volumes. But it's their anti-piracy policy (OK I'm joking). But why am I supposed to respect getting things the official way when they don't respect the rest of the world and refuse to release stuff here? I don't have any pirated copies but I don't object to such a thing. Because they don't make things available (for over three years this year for some things). That said if they released them this year because of the new film I'd get them. I want box sets not individual discs (unless it's something like "Superman: Doomsday"). Oh well.

Angeloz

 

[CFE]

Get it for 'Legends of the Dark Knight'

CFE

 

[BatMatt]

worth buying? of course
weakest volume? yes, and I don't like the cheaper animation

 

[Luchastyle]

Get it for 'Legends of the Dark Knight'


CFE

good point. i've seen that episode. and it's great. do they have commentary for that one?

worth buying? of course
weakest volume? yes, and I don't like the cheaper animation

i don't like the cheaper animation either. i don't like the designs much. was it digital? because the first run was traditional animation. the new adventures look cleaner as if they were digital. i don't know if they were though

 

[CFE]

Yeah, there's commentary on both 'Over the Edge' and 'Legends of the Dark Knight.'

CFE

 

[The Joker]

Animation aside, the writing is generally excellent for volume four's episodes. Some great new takes on old villains, like Two Face's Judgement Day episode, Mr Freeze's arc being concluded with a surprise twist, and The Ventriloquist finally standing up to his Scarface persona.

Catwoman's two episodes were fab. Especially the one where where she teams with Nightwing. The Calender Girl episode was really good, and a hundred times better and psychologically powerful than the Calender Man counterpart in the comics.

I think my favourite episode of the bunch is 'Old Wounds', where Nightwing tells Tim the story of how his days as Robin ended badly, and how strained his partnership with Batman had become.
Plus, we see how Batgirl came to be a regular member of the team.

And, it was the only Joker episode on this volume that didn't feature Harely. I love Harley, but Joker needs to be solo sometimes. This was a very welcome episode.

I think the only really dud episode was the 'Critters' one.

 

[Mister J]

I think the only really dud episode was the 'Critters' one.

I try to not think about that one.

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

...id (and did) get 1-3 first...just to watch the progression. not a fan of the 'new style' ...but some of the stories are brilliant...legends of course...and mad love wasnt bad...hate hate HATE the new joker design.

 

[Mee]

Vol 4 is great. It's not like 1-3 are perfect. Baby Doll, I've Got Batman In My Basement, etc.


Over the Edge, Legends of the Dark Knight, Mad Love, and the black/gray suit with pouches and no oval.

 

[Comics N' Toons]

ummm threads aren't useless if they help you find what you are looking for!

 

[Doctor Baywatch]

The episodes are better but the style is worse.

 

[Bat Attack]

I LOVE parts 1-3 they are classic. Vol. 4 on the other hand is just meh. It never felt whole for some reason.

 

[Green Goblin 1964]

Get it for 'Legends of the Dark Knight'

CFE

Hell yeah, I have Vol. 4 and this is my second favorite episode of the volume. First being Over The Edge. Buy it...complete the collection. It's not the BEST but it's no where near bad.

 

[Edward Nigma]

i actually think this was the best of the series. i remember watching them all when i was younger and when i got vols 1-3 i was disappointed to be missing alot of my fav episodes, only to find them later on vol 4.

and i really like the art style of vol 4.

def worth the buy.

 

[SHADOWBAT69]

I think everyone has pretty much said it all. It is an essential part, you must own it. It has some of the best stories of the series.

 

[RogueDK]

I enjoyed it probably more than the usual fan, especially the art tweaks to alot of the characters. Well...with the exception of a sickly looking Commissioner Gordon and a Joker with no red lips...

I felt the stories were better and the action was clealy more harder-hitting.

 

[Numez]

Volume four is underrated. In no way is the animation cheaper.

 

[deathfromabove]

I own vol 1-3. I never liked vol 4 when I was a kid and 10 years later I still hate it. Besides the creeper episode there wasn't one good thing to watch that whole season.

already mentioned are "over the edge" and "legends of the dark knight" at the very least.

I enjoyed it probably more than the usual fan, especially the art tweaks to alot of the characters. Well...with the exception of a sickly looking Commissioner Gordon and a Joker with no red lips...

I felt the stories were better and the action was clealy more harder-hitting.

the designs are streamlined and i prefer the look of batman, scarecrow, and catwoman among others. it also has a few of the very best episodes of the whole series.

buy it now.