Spectacular Spider-man Vs. Batman TAS

[Persian]

which one is better? I hope you wont get mad at me but I say Spectacular Spider-man!
Spectacular Spider-man is a show that is so very serialized and every episode is related to another and the continuity is so tight. This, to some extent, ties the hands of the writers of the show and at the same time adds to its awsomeness .
But Batman TAS had almost no continuity. I mean you can watch some episode from season 4 and still understand what is going on. The episodes of Batman, while so well-crafted and entertaining, rarely have any interconnectedness. As a viewer, you only have to watch the origin of a villain, like Two Face’s, and then it would make no difference continuity-wise to watch either his second appearance in the series or his tenth! And the writers could simply go pick one helluva storyline from the Batman comics and adapt it as a two-parter without the burden of having a huge cast or advancing many other plotlines lingering from the previous episodes at the same time. This way, they could just handpick some of the greatest spider-man stories of all time and turn them into self-contained kick-ass episodes (storylines like Kraven's Last Hunt, the awesome Doc ock story in Spectacular Spider-Man 73-79, The Kid who Collected Spider-Man published in ASM #248, the first Hobgoblin story arc published in ASM 238-251, - Who Killed Jean Dewolfe? In Spectacular Spider-Man 107-110 and many many more). Storywise, it is much much easier to produce a show like Batman TAS than it is to make a spectacular Spider-man (pun intended).

 

[spider-neil]

JL/JLU>BTAS>SSM

but imho the above is far better than anything else I have seen.

 

[carnage899]

Continuity-wise, the only SSM episodes that can be watched as stand alone are the first three (Survival, Interactions, Natural Selection). everything else, especially season 2 eps, has strong continuity and the end of every episode leaves you wanting to see the next.
I'm currently watching Batman TAS and, yes, there's almost no continuity. but the series were intended as "mini-movie" episodes, so thats not a suprise. but there are other things about it - the animation, the action. the series has short action sequences imo and they're kinda slow.

But I am Spider fan, so SSM is better for me.

PS: I have season 1 of Justice League, but havent watched it yet, so I cant comment on that.

 

[spider-neil]

Continuity-wise, the only SSM episodes that can be watched as stand alone are the first three (Survival, Interactions, Natural Selection). everything else, especially season 2 eps, has strong continuity and the end of every episode leaves you wanting to see the next.
I'm currently watching Batman TAS and, yes, there's almost no continuity. but the series were intended as "mini-movie" episodes, so thats not a suprise. but there are other things about it - the animation, the action. the series has short action sequences imo and they're kinda slow.

But I am Spider fan, so SSM is better for me.

PS: I have season 1 of Justice League, but havent watched it yet, so I cant comment on that.

the second season and first season of justice unlimited will blow you away. its freaking incredible.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

If you like story continuity then... The Spectacular Spider-man

If you like a ''mini-movie'' type format then... Batman: The Animated Series


It would be unfair to compare animation between the two. However... in general I would have to say Batman: The Animated Series wins for me.

But TSS only has 26 episodes in the can... let's see where it goes, but no, it has not reached the level or impact of Batman: The Animated Series just yet.

 

[SpaceWay2009]

I say TSSM, but I'm biased, though. I like Spider-Man more, and the animation is better, but that's because BTAS was made in the 90's. I have watched BTAS before, and I thought it was okay. There were a lot of talking and the action was a bit slow.

 

[SpeterMan3]

I grew up on Batman. I used to try to watch Batman TAS at midnight when I was little, and cry when I had to go to bed. I loved Batman before I gave a crap about Spider-Man. But in 4th grade, I met a Spider-Fan, who hooked me. SSM is easily the best superhero cartoon of this decade, IMO, and it can stand up next to the 90's cartoons. Can I call a tie?

 

[Webhead2006]

We had this debate awhile ago lol its always going to get compared to the classic that is BTAS. I love both equally.

 

[Pep]

We had this debate awhile ago lol its always going to get compared to the classic that is BTAS. I love both equally.

Well, when it started, SSM was always getting compared to "The Batman". The fact that it's now being compared to BTAS says quite a lot.

 

[Panthro]

Why does everyone hate shows where the episodes are essentially stand alone continuity?

 

[SpeterMan3]

Well, when it started, SSM was always getting compared to "The Batman". The fact that it's now being compared to BTAS says quite a lot.

 

[SpeterMan3]

Why does everyone hate shows where the episodes are essentially stand alone continuity?

Maybe they don't seem as engaging.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

SSM for me, but i guess im biased.

However, Batman: TAS is incredible, ground-breaking, and i have tremedous love and respect for it. That, and JLA, along with SSM, are easily the best animated comic toons of all time, imo.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Well, when it started, SSM was always getting compared to "The Batman". The fact that it's now being compared to BTAS says quite a lot.

Indeed.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

TSSM all the way, IMO!

I have to say thuogh, B:TAS was an awesome show, and honestly, I will always think it's the definitive Batman show.

 

[The Joker]

BTAS.

But it's not a fair comparison. BTAS has waaaaaaay more episodes, and several spin off movies. Not to mention an emmy.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

BTAS.

But it's not a fair comparison. BTAS has waaaaaaay more episodes, and several spin off movies. Not to mention an emmy.

Ohhhh... ouch!!

 

[Persian]

so far Spectacular Spider-man has not had a bad episode; heck, it hasnt even had an average episode! Batman TAS (which I like tremendosuely and have a great respect for) however, had a few stinkers in its first 20 episodes: The Underdwellers, The Forgotten, Prophecy of Doom and, to some extent, The Cat and the Claw: Part I& II

 

[Persian]

And let’s not forget that in Spectacular Spider-man every episode has to be related to another. And this makes it harder for the writers to multitask: create exciting episodes, stay true to the comics, update everything so adroitly for the 21st century and make them look so fresh and at the same time follow the continuity they have firmly established in the show!

 

[Prison Mike]

B:TAS will always be the best IMO. Probably for nostalgic reasons and it was just damn good storytelling.

 

[SpeterMan3]

And let’s not forget that in Spectacular Spider-man every episode has to be related to another. And this makes it harder for the writers to multitask: create exciting episodes, stay true to the comics, update everything so adroitly for the 21st century and make them look so fresh and at the same time follow the continuity they have firmly established in the show!

 

[MasterGandalf]

I'd have to go with BTAS at the moment, but as others have mentioned the comparison's not entirel fair- SSM isn't done yet (hopefully) while BTAS had a long, full run, and SSM is very much about the ongoing arcs, while BTAS was, apart from the Ra's al Ghul and Mr. Freeze arcs which really built on themselves, almost totally episodic. Still, I hope that given time SSM can equal BTAS and other giants of the animated superhero genre.

 

[Venom75]

I guess I'm biased as well,but for me it's SSM all the way. While I loved BTAS,the were a lot of seperate shows I didn't care for. The animation was bad and the stories were slow;etc. But I've seen every episode of SSM and LOVED each one. I have never been disappointed at all with Spidey.
In my opinion,it's the best animated show ever.

 

[carnage899]

While I loved BTAS,the were a lot of seperate shows I didn't care for.

you're so right. I for one didnt care for the samurai episodes and for Baby-Doll (tell me one SSM villain that you dont care whats going to happen with him).
Actually I think Mask Of Phantasm is better than most of the B: TAS episodes.

 

[Persian]

and apart from a handful of absolutely great episodes("Over the Edge", "Legends of the Dark Knight"," Mad Love"), seasons I & II of the New Batman Adventures (1997-1999) were mediocre at best.