Genre – Animated Superhero Series
Movie Total Runtime – 9 Hour 38 Minutes
Spoilers: No
Growing up, I was the target audience for Batman the Animated Series. It came on after I got home from school and before my parents got home from work. I’m not sure how none of my siblings took over the TV at that time – probably because there was nothing on that appealed to them. I watched the original broadcast run of that series, and later tracked down the subsequent series and spin offs to see them. What worked best with those was that for the bulk of the run they treated the audience as thinking beings able to handle sophisticated stories and themes.
Legion of Super Heroes is nothing like that.
While a DC animated property, it is not part of the “DC Animated Universe”. The staff, the animation, the focus, it feels nothing like the product I grew up with and can still watch to this day.
For those of you who have not fallen down the pit of geekdom and have no idea what the Legion is, let me sum it up. It is a Silver Age idea that never had the sense to die. I don’t think I’m going to spew a dissertation in geek studies on the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Dark Ages of Comics, so I’ll truncate it down to this – There was a moral panic about the corrupting influence of comic books, and the industry responded with stories that veered so far into the silly and absurd that it became a thing of legend. Sophisticated story lines are not something you’ll find in great quantity. Insanity is. It was also a period where at lot of ideas were thrown at the wall. One that ran for a while was a Superboy title about the time before Clark Kent left Smallville. This was not the era of decompressed storytelling, so when the main story would not fill out the issue, there would be a backup story to fill out the page count. In Superboy, this would often be the Legion of Super Heroes.
In-universe, the Legion was an organization from the 30th Century whose members tended to be [something]-[sex identifier]. For example, those selected for this animated series were Bouncing Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Phantom Girl, Superman, and Brainiac 5. Brainiac 5 is another topic that could be its own dissertation in geek studies, but this one is a robot, somehow ‘descended’ from the 20th century Kryptonian Supercomputer Brainiac. Other incarnations were cybernetic or fully organic, which makes it even more confusing. Superman needs no introduction (even you normies should know him by now). Bouncing Boy is a fat kid who turns into an oversized rubber ball. Saturn Girl is your all-purpose psychic. Lightning Lad has electrical powers. (Shocker, I know). Phantom Girl can phase herself and stuff she touches through solid objects. And in episode two, they pick up Mad Cat Timberwolf, a furry werewolf.
Jokes aside, I had trouble forcing myself to watch the episodes. To the point where it’s starting to cause trouble for my efforts to review stuff. So, I began asking myself why. What is making me pause and wander away repeatedly per episode? Why can’t I even let it just run in the background?
My problem is that they A: made a kid’s show, and B: have no respect for the intelligence of kids. Every concept, if not repeated was at least delivered like a bat to the face. And they weren’t even well-constructed moral messages. Mr. “Truth Justice and the American Way” blows off his responsibility towards trying to stop a violent criminal gang to hang out with a new friend and Brainiac gets his arm blasted off. (Standards and practices doesn’t care about robot injuries). While I am biased in favor of responsibility to one’s own duty, I don’t think that’s the message the writer’s intended. The follow up was devoid of the idea of duty. It wasn’t even the more kid-friendly problem of balancing different friends who didn’t mix. Indeed, the message seemed to be “Don’t make new friends because they’ll turn out to be villains.” Oh, and the bog standard “Rich people are evil.”
The characters were childish to the point of being infantile, and I simply couldn’t force myself to watch more. It was not the painful “please stop” from “Hero Tales” more of a grinding apathy. I couldn’t force myself to care. I wouldn’t even subject children to this series, I’d show them the classics I grew up on. Those stories stand up.
Dull is worse than bad. And this series was dull.
I can’t believe you watched the whole thing. It sounds horrible. I had trouble making it through your article. That’s not a poke at you. I read the heros’ names and was ready to check out.
Batman the Animated Series
I remember that series. It was high school/undergrad years for me, so I missed many episodes because of work/classes.
B:TAS and the rest of the spin offs/shared universe are well worth watching. Batman Beyond is amazing for what came out of “Batman, but in high school” direction. The Justice League (and the Unlimited series after it) built out the universe in amazing ways, and stayed watchable for kids and entertaining for adults.
Old man Bruce Wayne worked exceptionally well.
UCS:
The fact they got Kevin Conroy to play him in the Arrowverse crossover for that time frame made it even more epic.
Just after college graduation for me. I did catch a few, not many. Not motivated to seek it out but I do recall it being pretty good.
Itās worth the purchase.
Ah, a more enlightened age when 5 was a recognized gender, before the 5-phobes took over and started oppressing them.
Robots are weird.
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Not having kids of my own has largely spared me the experience of children’s television since I was a child (with the exception of indulging in some episodes of PeeWee’s Playhouse and second-hand exposure to Masters of the Universe when I worked in daycare centers.) Since kids’ weekday TV seems to have been banished to dedicated cable channels and PBS, I wonder which, if any, current series treat kids as intelligent beings and/or have dialogue that Mom/Dad/babysitter can appreciate, even if it goes over the heads of the kids (a la Rocky & Bullwinkle.)
Kids are generally smarter than they get credit for, and can appreciate not being talked down to.
Bluey is the closest to that in the young kids section.
The rest of the shows for the younger kids are either āeducationalā in the worst possible way or theyāre formulaic drivel.
I canāt speak to the older kids stuff.
If you’d like some recommendations, I’d start with Ren and Stimpy, Rocko’s Modern Life, Invader Zim, Beavis and Butthead, South Park, King of the Hill, American Dad, Rick and Morty, Common Side Effects, and the Tick!
I’m familiar with these to a greater or lesser extent, and I don’t consider them to be aimed at kids. š Likewise other titles from Fox’s Sunday evening “Animation Domination,” of which Bob’s Burgers is far and away my favorite.
Fun fact: we have stuffed Ren & Stimpy toys that fart when you squeeze them.
Phineas and Ferb
Now that you mention it, I recall my high school bestie, who became a teacher and had four kids, mentioning that one as a kids’ show she liked to watch.
Yeah a lot of those are adult shows lol
But of course I would have preferred that over anything targeted at kids at that age.
rhywun:
To go down that route, Ducktales (both the 90’s and recent reboot), Gargoyles, Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and most of the other childhood animation still holds up.
I’ve never seen the first two but yeah Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry weren’t targeting kids so it helps them stand the test of time.
rhywun:
I’d say they were targeting children, but not exclusively children.
Its my understanding that most of the Bugs Bunny cartoons were run before the movies in theaters in the 40’s and 50’s
So they had an adult or mixed audience. Specially during the WWII years. Which is why they appeal to kids and adults.
Also GT- Dexter’s Lab and Ed, Ed and Eddie.
Growing up without TV was a blessing. Neighborhood sports, later fishing/hunting/farm work.
No one talked about what they had watched on TV. How did we survive?
Weāre replicating some of that here.
Our girls spend tenfold more time outside than on screens. Now us adults need to control our addiction.
Good for you and them. That’s how you encourage a healthy childhood.
Is it wrong to want to hang a picture of Adolph Hitler or Charles Manson next to the “No Human is Illegal” sign by the progressive church?
That depends – did you actually do it?
If you did, then it wasn’t wrong. If you resisted the temptation – shame on you.
I did not do it, but have a friend in the printing business that could make it happen without any icky paper trail.
“without any icky paper trail.”
Too many security cameras these days. You’d be nailed; the church couldn’t take such a joke.
Frankly, if you get nailed by the church, ya should gain access to the sanctified wine, that good shit they save for the truly anointed. That’s halfway to being Christlike. Just make sure to wake up from your nap on the pew by the end of service. Perhaps make a loud noise to draw attention to your reawakening.
In like a biblical Flynn.
Do it.
Do it and I’ll salute you.
No.
So, I did something uncharacteristic of me today – I bought beer.
Druthers Brewing “Apple Cranberry Blonde”. It earns the high praise for Beer of “I can drink it.” It’s still quite bitter, but doesn’t have the rot odor or hoppiness that makes regular beers unpalatable. It says it’s brewed with apple, cranberry, orange peel and “fall spices” so it’s probably the same stuff that’s in pumpkin spice, but none of those flavors come out. Druthers is local to the New York Capital region.
You ventured out and bought beer and ya decided to add apples and cranberries to it?
Uh. I’m glad you enjoyed it. That sounds something I’d taste to confirm if is as anti-Ev palette as I imagine. Cranberries (and most berries) suck and fruit really doesn’t belong in beer. I don’t think ‘More hops’ = ‘better’, but I rather enjoy just hops. KISS with most food n drink. Things taste good. Muddling about flavors tends to go way too far way too fast.
I also used to take tongue-bumps of salt off my hand as a kid, sometimes w a dash of pepper. I’m fairly certain others’ mileage doesn’t match mine. That’s how wrong they all are.
Hops == disgusting. If you keep them, you have to cut the odor and flavor with something.
I did not add anything – I opened the can and poured it into a glass.
Yes, you did. You purchased a beer that had apple and cranberry additions. You didn’t need purchase such. Those additions carried the day.
Hops are tasty. Like everything, one can under and over-do it. If one doesn’t like them, then you shouldn’t be drinking beer, advice you’ve previously kept with wisdom, considering. Grapes are disgusting. (Raisins, worse. Rubbery tires w disgusting flavor. See also: Purple candy.) When I was drinking, I made sure to purposefully avoid the shit I found to be shit. Wine is for blizzards when it’s the only drink left in the house.
Watermelons are also useless unless you’re thirsty and like color. Far too much work for very little reward. Me no understandy.
Sorry, Evan, you just keep piling on more wrong.
My favorite episode from the animated series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAc9xhtpevc
That one taught me the word “rictus”.
A laughing fish indeed…
I grew up loving the X-Men Animated Series, but beside such, I’ve heard is clearly inferior to the Batman version, which is apparently actually good but I never even watched (perhaps knew of?) as a kid. Mark Hamill as Joker is magnificent, so I’ve heard. Glad he found some good work post Star Wars.
Reading now. I rather enjoy these. I missed a call from Munchkin at 3pm cuz I passed out *right* when I got home, to reawaken at ~7pm. Sleepy Mode still activated, but food needs eatin’. Sunday mornings? Remarkably chill. Post-Church? Not that. Yeesh.
No remaining winless teams in the NFL. The Bungles had one job.
I have nothing against the Jets but lol yeah I do like a tragedy.
At least Buffalo used their time off wisely.
OMWC is happy.
And he has to root for the Packers tonight.
You fucked up. You trusted the Bungles.
I care not for football, but my ‘local’ radio stn is outta Cincinnati and I heard the game on the radio coming home. What, 34-10 in the first half? I’m sure I’ll hear much bitching over the waves tomorrow.
HELLO. I need to talk to the supervisor immediately.
There are only regular visors on duty.
Please file a ticket with our Mumbai helpdesk. Your request will be processed in 2-5 months.
I have a hypervisor standing by.
Users are not permitted to speak to hypervisors.
As long it’s not a hypovisor.
AND DO NOT REDEEM!
You’re #3,628,882,327 in line. Please take your number and a seat!
Mr. Paul Warrens the First, Esq. will be with you in the not so near-term! Please have some grape juice!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPre7hNxqj0&t=396s
Donāt even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.
Poe’s Law?
The next Dem will be too busy on DAY ONE opening the border, emptying the prisons, and redefining “male” and “female” to find time to restore the East Wing to its temporary WWII grandeur.
I hope they stay in the political wilderness long enough to be skinsuited by a saner political party.
Using union labor on the tax payers dime.
B:TAS and the spinoffs and other Bruce Timm shows were by and large well worth watching. Justice League and JL Unlimited were just exceptional.
I was confused for a moment because I has the Super Friends inflicted on me as a younger man. This sounds similar and just as vomitous. The Super friends did stupid crap like stop the Joker from littering, etc… and had the odious pair of young twinks, Wendy and Marvin and their dog, Wonder Dog. Whenever I saw that crap I found myself hoping that some thug would just beat them all to death with a hammer and the series would end.
Even I have not slogged through Superfriends.
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Super Best Friends is good.
wonder twink powers activate
That was another version of SuperFriends. See Wendy and Marvin in action below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa_LWR1PfWI
After decades I had forgotten about that horrible show. Thanks R.J.
My curse is that I canāt forget anythingā¦
Still not as bad as Captain Planet.
#metoo
lol Super Friends was glorious Saturday morning cheese. Worth it for the Wonder Twins alone.
I used to play Wonder Friends with my toys as a child. The Wonder Twins were killed off in my head canon and never spoken of.
Robot Chicken did an episode where Zan turned āInto Wonder Womanās Bathwaterā which I wish I could find.
The Wonder Twinks were right up there with Scrappy dog doo.
Even as a child I hated all of them.
Spent a few hours today shooting the Turkshit 9mm double-stack 1911 (that is, the Tisas B9R 5″ model). Despite my snobbish mockery, this thing shoots flat and fast, and it doesn’t malfunction with cheap-ass ammo. It’s not a $3500 MPA or a $6000 Atlas or Accuracy-X custom gun, but it’s easily 90% of the way there, for under a grand out of the box. EvilSheldon recommends.
9mm, double stack, 1911. One of these things is not like the other…
I have no respect for tradition; only performance.
Oh, and apparently ā2011ā is a trademark, so Tisas canāt use it. Meh.
Solomon Grundy smash Superfriens.
Also since the subject is light hearted fare, I give you Wacky Races (2025) | First Live-Action Trailer | Jim Carrey & John Cena | Concept Version.
I’m rooting for Dick Dastardly. I like the mustache.
Dudley Do-Right?
Looked like none of that is live action. All of it was computer generated.
All of this. Sad. Predictable. I hope for a pendulum.
Im having way too much fun with this..
https://www.glibertarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/download-3.mp4
Thatās great. I really need a crossover of Oscar the Grouch and The Ace Attorney next.
My spider plant is thriving,
https://www.glibertarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251026_194910-scaled.jpg
Nice! My mom had those all over the living room.
This one has taken over the catio up high, quite a treat
We have 9 guys qualified for the National Amateur
Disc golf Championship from San Diego this week, lets rock. Im sponsoring my guy Brandon Smith, lets go Brandon!
I had no idea that there were spinoffs of Batman the Animated Series.
Which of course is the BEST Batman.
Totally agree, the animated was the best
It came out at a perfect time for me as well. I was in Jr High. I probably would have liked it a bit younger but I really appreciated it at the age I was.
I’ve come to enjoy watching the Steelers get humiliated.
My Friday begins before your Monday does. I’ll be at home well before your day is over. (I suppose that’s a saving grace?)
Go Game 3 –> 7. (Toronto, regardless, failing that.) Odd ease about today. I hope it lasts. For you and yours as well.
Good going Argentinians. The Milei Experiment continues after confidence vote.
Ugh. The fuck? How is it Monday already?
š¤¬šš©
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMX2lPum_pg
š¶š¶
Because yesterday was Sunday.
It’s a conspiracy.
Good morning, Sean, EfE, U, Roat, Ted’S., and EvilS. (somewhere up there)!
Morning, GT.
3D printer goes… well it’s pretty quiet.
Not even a hypnotic hum?
Well, it’s in the other room too, I monitor it through a raspberry pi camera that doesn’t do sound.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/10/26/faa-announces-halt-of-flights-to-los-angeles-due-to-staffing-issues-during-schumer-shutdown/
Make it permanent.
Iām more worried about flights out of Los Angelesā¦can we shut those down too?
Not to worry – if they arenāt flying into LA, pretty soon they will run out of planes to fly out of LA.
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/easton-baristas-demand-fair-contract-from-starbucks-amidst-national-movement-and-rallies/article_c093006c-e0eb-46fb-9314-26dff40a2ac3.html
Learn to code.
Start your own business then.
Workers say the company’s refusal to negotiate fairly leaves them overworked and underpaid.
“Not negotiating fairly” = “Not just giving us whatever we want.”
They should pay enough to support an upper class family.
In that circumstance you’d get one tech to a few hundred barista robots.
Your terms are acceptable.
…and to pay off the student loans for my Grievance Studies degree.
Oh, no at those rates we can’t hire Grievence Studies graduates.
Artificially inflated salaries>pricey coffee>fewer customers>no salaries
I prefer one third priced coffee from Circle K that doesnāt taste like charred motor oil anyway.
Clearly that location isn’t following the policy of fobbing off used motor oil as coffee.
lol
These idiots drove Starbucks out of my town. Your town can be next!
Argentina’s Milei wins big in midterms with ‘chainsaw’ austerity
afuera mas
I read that getting 35% of the vote would have been considered a good day for Milei.
The narrative right now is that the Argentinian voters want to avoid economic turmoil.
I suspect that there were fewer āvoting irregularitiesā this election than in prior elections.
The media sure were buttering us up for his downfall and a return to glorious utopia.
I am once again liking OpenSCAD. Just scripting out a shape is easier for me than using graphical interfaces. I don’t know why.
I did not think I would need to pack an eye mask when camping at a CoE campground, but while I chose a site with picturesque views of the lake I discovered at 7pm that I am under the campgroundās sole lamppost (which is using daylight strength bulbs)
Church of England has campgounds?
He’s obviously staying at a Come on Eileen campground.
And you’re all welcome.
They did, but most of them have been taken over by Muslims.
Us army Corps of Engineers š
Good morning GT, Sean, ucs and all
Morning.
Good morning, T&T. Sorry about the lamppost disturbing your sleep.
I need food for breakfast.
I have steak.
Steak is food.
I shall have steak for breakfast.
š„©
suh’ fam
whats goody
In classic Trump fashion, the president is pursuing a reasonable idea in the most jarring manner possible. Privately, many alumni of the Biden and Obama White Houses acknowledge the long-overdue need for an event space like what Trump is creating. It is absurd that tents need to be erected on the South Lawn for state dinners, and VIPs are forced to use porta-potties.
https://archive.is/Jdni4
They’re right. Porta-potties are ridiculous.
Give them a shovel, a roll of paper towels, and point them to the south lawn.
Jarring = Trump, otherwise, its reasonable.
In classic anti-Trump fashion, people are freaking about a reasonable idea in the most jarring manner possible.
lol Don’t dare speak a kind word openly. Assholes.
Damn, that thing is huge.
GM š
How are things in TCP over Telegraph land?
It’s like a bunch of tubes.
Charlie Sheen is on both Adam Corolla and Bill Maher. That might be too much tiger blood for one day.
Winning!
On Rogan too, a few weeks ago. I’ve watched the first bit of his Netflix docu out. Good so far. Nothing shocking? Been a bit.
“YouTuber Tyler Oliveira branded āracist,ā dragged through the muck after filming Indian villageās messy āpoop-throwingā fight”
https://nypost.com/2025/10/26/world-news/youtuber-tyler-oliveira-branded-racist-dragged-through-the-muck-after-filming-indian-villages-messy-poop-throwing-fight/
He’s not even sari.
I’ll have naan of this shit, thank you.
The moral of the story is don’t leave your country and don’t interact with anyone who does not look and think exactly like you do.
Or we will destroy you.
I actually read the article, just now.
āDonāt make new friends because theyāll turn out to be villains.ā
I wish I had learned that lesson earlier.