With the end of the Kids’ WB! franchise, viewers were left wondering what would happen to animated series like The Batman, Legion of Super Heroes and the newly debuting Spectacular Spider-Man.
The Batman, of course, bowed out last weekend with a one-hour series finale. But what about the other two?
Well, The Legion Omnicom says no news is bad news for the Legion cartoon, which is winding down its second — and, perhaps, final – season. Omnicom’s Michael talks to several named and unnamed sources, and nothing that they say sounds promising.
“Don’t hold your breath,” an unnamed Warner Bros. Animation source tells the Omnicom. “Unofficially, what you’re watching are the last of the Legion episodes. There’s a new Batman series in the works, but other than that the only DC Universe stuff they’re working on is for movies.”
That leaves Spider-Man, which debuted just last weekend. Surely it will make the jump to the 4Kids programming block. Right?
March 11th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I’m curious… Another new Batman series in the works? Stop one, then start up another? Unless they bring back the Timm-verse and Kevin Conroy — and keep the sophistication of B:TAS — what’s the point?
Good riddance to “THE Batman” though. I watched the series finale last week, and that was sure a wasted hour I’ll never get back. Hugo Strange (THAT was Hugo Strange?) and the aliens somehow steal everyone’s powers, without explanation. Umm… Hawkman’s wings are part of his body, but now he can’t fly? GL’s power comes from his ring. Couldn’t he just recharge it? How do you steal Flash’s speed? Didn’t Supes just need a blast of solar radiation? That show was total crap.
The new Spidey ‘toon was far from perfect, but it has some potential. The new Electro was pretty lame, but I liked the set-up for The Lizard next week. Characterization was pretty good (for a kiddie show), though Liz got on my nerves (I wanted to slap her everytime she said “Petey”) I hope we’ll get to see Peter take some revenge on Flash & Co. soon! I don’t like the big-eyed “Kim Possible” heads on the characters, but Spidey’s fight/swinging scenes looked great. Looks they modeled those scenes from the movies?
Oh… But change that awful theme song NOW. The music was OK, but the vocals/words were inane. I’d prefer a modern, rocked-up remake of the old “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can…” song. Hey, kids know it from the movies. Why not?
March 11th, 2008 at 8:42 am
“Another new Batman series in the works? Stop one, then start up another? Unless they bring back the Timm-verse and Kevin Conroy — and keep the sophistication of B:TAS — what’s the point?”
I presume it’s a reference to the rumored Brave and the Bold cartoon.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Ah yes, I remember reading about that now… Thanks, Kevin! I’d say I was looking forward to a B&B series, but if it’s anything like all the team-ups they did in this final season of The Batman, then forget it. No doubt it’ll be closer to that than it will the Timm/Dini/Kevin Conroy Batman.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am
My daughter and I will certainly miss the Legion on Saturday mornings. She was very excited to have a new episode to watch this past weekend, especially since it brought back her favorite Legionnaire Saturn Girl.
I hope these rumors are wrong.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:20 am
That sucks, the Legion cartoon has actually grown on me this season, and I’m not a fan of the comic or characters really at all.
Warner Bros is the worst, here’s hoping for a Catwoman sequel, sheesh.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:21 am
It may be worth noting that the only two cartoons she is interested in currently are the Legion and Avatar. Batman is too scary, and Spider-Man is for boys. Her words. She’s four.
March 11th, 2008 at 10:58 am
While I’m not a Legion fan, I feel your pain Greg. Specifically, what the %*$@ is going on with Avatar?
First off, season 3 took a big dip in quality (trying too hard to become more of a comedy) and then there was that lackluster conclusion to “Day of the Black Sun.” All that build-up to the solar eclipse and then… Nothing happens?
We should’ve gotten more new episodes by now (apparently, season 3 has resumed in Canada but not in the States?), yet Nick hasn’t aired a new episode since last year. They show reruns of seasons 1 & 2 about ten times a day on Nicktoons, so where’s the new stuff??
Worst of all — and I hate to break this to you and your daughter — but I read on a really good fan site somewhere that this third season is apparently the LAST season, and they’re gearing up for the live action film from M. Night Shamalama-ding-dong.
I wish Newsarama would do some investigating and report on all of this… Avatar (recent flaws aside) is one of the best animated shows ever, and I can’t believe Nick would end it so soon. I thought it was a big success for them. What do you say, Kevin?
March 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Thanks for the update Shaun, that makes our record about perfect.
The good news is we get the most basic cable available, and Nick isn’t among our channels. We are watching Avatar on borrowed DVDs. I have the second season in my hand, so I have no idea what you are talking about!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Ah, well… Then at least you’ve been spared checking each week to see if Nick’s FINALLY putting new episodes of Avatar on.
I’m no way certain that Avatar’s truly ending after the 3rd season (whenever we get to see it)… But the fan site I looked at — http://www.avatarspirit.net — is a wondeful site and they seem to know what’s going on. Worth checking out.
As far as season 3 goes, I’ll let you and your daughter watch and see what you think. Being only four, she might not be nearly as disappointed as I’ve been.
Smart thinking, BTW Greg… If I had to do it all over again, I’d get really basic cable too. The educational channels for kids are good, but now my daughter (age 9) is wrapped up in the really bad live action stuff on Disney and Nick. Ugh… It’s become a hassle trying to limit her TV time!
May you never have to learn who “Zak & Cody” are…
March 11th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I regretfully admit that I not only know who Zak & Cody are, but sometimes Hannah Montana songs get stuck in my head. “You get the beeeeeeeeest of both worlds…”
March 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
There really oughta be hospitals for people like us, Eh Steve?
March 11th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
When The CW sold off the Saturday morning block to 4KidsTV last fall, the writing was on the wall for every show on the block this season. I have a feeling that every show except for Spectacular Spider-Man will be gone completely when the fall lineup is announced. A new Yu-Gi-Oh and TMNT series has already been announced by 4Kids to air on the new CW block. Dinosaur King is likely to join the new lineup as well.
Oh, and did I mention that 4Kids will also continue running Fox’s Saturday morning block next season as well?
Meanwhile, Warner Bros., a component of Time Warner, the MOST POORLY RAN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY ON THE PLANET, has not only abandoned Saturday mornings, but also cutting costs throughout the animated side of the company. Less animated shows on Cartoon Network (which is slowly becoming 30% live-action, more than appropriate for a channel whose first name is Cartoon) and nothing animated from Warner Bros. on broadcast television, everything animated is coming to their online endeavors Cartoon Network Video, In2TV, and soon T-Works. Brave and the Bold is likely CN-bound, but in this day and age, you’ll never know.
Looney Tunes are no longer on the air in the US, and that’s troubling. LOSH will likely be CN-bound, but I wish Techwood would pony up some funds to keep the series going another season or two.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Rassum frassum, stupid Time Warner.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
hi i think that there should be a whole neww avatar with more caracters and a new problem because avatar is the best show or moive ever made by man