MovieChat Forums > Superman: The Animated Series (1996) Discussion > Why such a lack of Supervillains?

Why such a lack of Supervillains?

posted 17 years ago by COMICBOOKWORM
23 replies | jump to latest

I grew up with SUPERMAN comics since I was brainwashed by the 60's BATMAN until I saw how many cool villains BATS had due to BTAS and started collecting more BATMAN comics.
But I was so much more familiar with the Villains in SUPERMAN's world SILVER BANSHEE (My favorite, since she can turn one of supes powers into a weakness with her wail), ATOMIC SKULL, RAMPAGE, CONDUIT, THE HELLGRAMITE SPAWN, ANOMALY? What gives? Were they too graphic and violent for the series?

[–] Journeyman1 17 years ago

Were they too graphic and violent for the series?

In a word, yes. Plus, they wouldn't use a character with the name "Hellgramite" in a show for kids, unless they changed the name, just like in Teen Titans they had to change the name of Deathstrike by using the character's human name because they didn't want to use the word "death" in a kid's show.

[–] Cyborg89 17 years ago

Atomic Skull, Hellgrimite, and Rampage all showed up in JLU as members of the Secret Society. But I think the name Hellgrimite was too harsh for TV because I don't remember them ever refering to him by name.

Besides the villians used in this show are way better.

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

You listed all the c villains nobody wants to see.

Bizarro, Metallo, Parasite, Toyman, Luthor. These are the Superman villains that make the A list.

Besides, we also got Lobo, Jax-Ur, Mala, Darkseid, Kalibak, Sinestro. These guys blow all those others away.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

Maybe this is why SUPERMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES was not as successful as BATMAN.

"You listed all the c villains nobody wants to see."

Then why did they suddenly appear on Justice League? And did you take a poll or something? They decided "I don't want to see Silver Banshee?", "Toyman and Intergang are more powerful than the Atomic Skull or Conduit?"

Plus, you prefer villains like Livewire who can't hold her own? Why is she only ever seen in the company of other villains? Or Luminus who is basically a one-timer?

And Bruno Manheim isn't just as annoying as Mxy? (But in a bad way? Plus, needs Darkseid to make him threatening?)

F.Y.I.: Sinestro is a "Green Lantern" villain. Superman couldn't stand on his own? He had to bring in other heroes and their villains to make the show interesting?

Superman is "The Man of Steel", shouldn't he have a cast of heroes and villains that is equally as strong?

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

Superman was not as successful because WB kept shuffling the show around and throwing in reruns and not showing new episodes for weeks, sometimes months at a time. Pretty much the samething CN did to JLU.

Why were they on Justice League? Because Timm and co. wanted to throw in as many villains as they possibly could to be a threat to the league. It's pretty much the same reason characters like Gypsie, Hawk and Dove were in the League. They're C listers who were needed to fill in space.

I'd rather watch Livewire doing her thing than see a no-personality c lister like Silver Banshee. Hell, Banshee was also always in the company of other villains. At least Livewire got her own episode. And plenty of dialogue.

Of course a human like Manheim needs someone like Darkseid to be a threat against SUPERMAN.

I know Sinestro is a GL villains. Doesn't change the fact that he was on the show. I'd rather have an DC a lister like him than some of the guys you mentioned.

His cast of heroes and villains was strong. GL, Flash, Aquaman, Dr. Fate, Luthor, Brainiac, The New Gods, etc. What show were you watching?

And I know Jax-Ur and Mala weren't from the comics or the movies. Doesnt' change that they were powerful villains. Two Kryptonian criminals are much bigger threat than Atomic Skull. And far more interesting

And nothing the show did took away from the comics since this show is NOT the comics. Not sure how you confused the two? Show=moving pictures. Comic=still pictures.

Don't compare the two.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

"Why were they on Justice League? Because Timm and co. wanted to throw in as many villains as they possibly could to be a threat to the league. It's pretty much the same reason characters like Gypsie, Hawk and Dove were in the League. They're C listers who were needed to fill in space."

"I'd rather watch Livewire doing her thing than see a no-personality c lister like Silver Banshee. Hell, Banshee was also always in the company of other villains. At least Livewire got her own episode. And plenty of dialogue."

Given the opportunity to be introduced into S.T.A.S. she could have, and has proven formidable.

P.S.: You do realize what you said is contradicting? LiveWire started out in T.A.S. The animated Silver Banshee was introduced into Justice League, which was not about origins of SuperVillains, they just assume people who are familiar with the characters can enjoy the show. People who have never picked up a "Flash" or "Superman" comic wouldn't know who the hell Heatwave or Silver Banshee was unless it was from the comics.

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

I'm not contradicting anything. I don't think you know what that means.

The reason dialogue is important is because this is a tv show. Characters need personality. They need to pop and appeal to kids first and foremost. The fact that she has no personality is the reason she was relegated to just mostly background action on JLU.

One post is plenty. No need to post twice. Just go back and edit if you think of something else.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

Yes Mrs. Tingle, I know what "contradicting" means. I also know what "reprehensible", "incorrigible" and "insufferable" mean as well.

PreachCaleb claims that a villainess like Volcana is a cool SUPERMAN VILLAIN, but it is "contradicting" because Superman is immune to fire. Or that Conduit is in "contradiction" a better villain than Titano.

You mean you'd like it if a villainess like Silver Banshee was more like Two-Face and Mr. Freeze in Joel Schumacher's movies?

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

Wow, I never even mentioned Volcana or Titano or Joel Schumacher.

Guess you've got nothing left so you resort to making things up.

And seeing as how you continue to misuse contradiction(as you used it relating to Conduit), I doubt you know what those other words mean.

Face it, Silver Banshee is at the bottom of Superman's villain list.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin2 17 years ago

I never like it when adaptations make up characters, especially when it's really just a rip off of someone who is in the comics.

My Voting History.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14630264
Enjoy!

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

You said all those villains they did use in SUPERMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES are A LIST VILLAINS? Titano and Volcana (Who by the way was "not" in the comics) was created by the writers were used in the SUPERMAN SERIES.

I may "not" know what "contradict" means, but I know Comics. I don't put up blogs so antagonistic "brainless" a@#holes like you who couldn't hack it in a real fight and couldn't get l@#d in a morgue (which is where you're going to end up if you keep "contradicting" me.) and have to come here and rip on people who come to discuss Comics, have something to do in between watching porn, j@#k off or smoke weed or whatever. I put them up to have "intelligent" conversations with Comic Book Fans.

Also, please look up the word "analogy". Because clearly, "you" didn't understand the statement I was trying to make when I used Schumacher to describe your love of "over the top" villains.

F.Y.I. hypocrite, if you want to know who I am, I'm JIGSAW, and if you keep it up, I'll give you a new definition of the word "pain".

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

No, son, I did not say all the villains were A listers. If you can't read properly, get someone to help you.

I said the ones I listed were the A listers. Brainica, Luther, Metallo, etc.

Wow, little boy. You really need a girlfriend other than your two hands there. Your whole post just screams "I'm a virgin!" Good luck with that.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

I'm a virgin? Who's afraid of strong women?

[–] PreachCaleb 17 years ago

You? I don't know what a ridiculous question like that has to do with your whiney rant above.

I'm not afraid of Silver Banshee because she's a strong woman. I don't CARE about her because she's a crappy character. Even in the comic books, she's never done anything memorable.

Always-Severus Snape

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

F.Y.I.: Mala is a spin-off of Ursa and was created for The Animated Series, not from the comics. Jax-Ur was an inventor, not a General Zod impersonator.

Just as Ursa and Non were created for the 1st two Superman movies. It isn't until recently that they were integrated with the "comic book". Which I loved, but I just want to clarify again that so much was reinvented in the SUPERMAN ANIMATED SERIES it took away from the movies and comics.

The only aspect I liked was BRAINIAC being on KRYPTON and SUPERMAN'S 1st meeting with JOHN CORBEN who later becomes METALLO.

[–] Journeyman1 17 years ago

F.Y.I.: Mala is a spin-off of Ursa and was created for The Animated Series, not from the comics.

If you want to get technical, BOTH Mala AND Ursa are based on the Superman comics character Faora.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] COMICBOOKWORM 17 years ago

What does having plenty of dialogue have to do with anything?

Being funny isn't part of Silver Banshee's personality, she is a vengeful spirit, she only talks when she wants to be heard. She's not The Joker, she isn't going to make a bunch of funny, sarcastic comments before she kills you.

[–] dmoneys2 17 years ago

I think they went right and used most of Superman's classic rogues gallery. I also think the Banshee was probably too dark to be used as a regular character.

[–] gunforanarm 14 years ago

Dialogue doesn't have to be funny.