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What A Cartoon! - Batman: The Brave And The Bold "Rise of Blue Beetle!"

This week's podcast subject was chosen by premium Patreon supporter ShyRanger, and it's a comic book adaptation too many overlooked when it was new. Bob and Henry take a deep dive into Batmania as we look at the retro postmodern vibes of Batman: The Brave And The Bold. Not only will we discuss the outrageous writing, animation, and voice acting, we also explore the comic book roots that the show brings to life. Listen and enjoy, chum! 

What A Cartoon! - Batman: The Brave And The Bold "Rise of Blue Beetle!"

Comments

The name of the game for children's cartoons on cable television is still merchandise. Competing with other generic Batman or Superman merchandise is a no go, hence no Batman or Superman led show. Young Justice had a largely older, non-toy playing audience. Green Lantern still had Movie action figures to sell before people would try to sell GLTAS merch. New ventures with Batman are relegated to direct-to-video films that equate to instant merchandise revenue, and Young Justice is only coming back as bait for DC Universe streaming. Any future DC shows on CN are going to be distinct in design and focused on characters there isn't a lot of merchandise of to compete with - meaning anything with an upcoming movie is out of the question since success or fail, those will be the toys lining the shelves first - especially with the cost and production of CGI cartoons.

Teen Titans GO! on the other hand has a very clear distinct style and characterization. Kids want TTGO (or the original Teen Titans) branded shirts and lunchboxes, and TTGO toys. This merchandise goes DIRECTLY towards the revenue of the show and CN, and there's no real competition with a DC Legends comic-design Beast Boy or Starfire toy for them to lose out to. This is why the two new DC ventures CN has launched have been focused solely on toylines and toyline re-launches designed in tandem with the show. Justice League Action, in addition to being cheaper, shorter episodes, follows the Brave and the Bold team-up of the day format - launching with a new line of JLA toys starring 52 various DC characters whose only other action figures were pricier DC Legends figures, making them an easy buy for parents. The new DC Superhero Girls show is a reboot of a toyline, taking a more MLP/Lauren Faust design for a new toyline, with all the girls having a distinct new design so that children will ask for these specific toys - especially over the existing DC Superhero Girls toys.


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