Originally Posted by MinLShaw

I've soured on the whole "fictitious universe" concept. Between comic stories requiring seventeen subscriptions to follow, the Star Wars EU building its own infrastructure of fiction and Star Trek stories becoming so self-referential they're incestuous, I just have no real enthusiasm for stories that "build on" one another unnecessarily.

For instance, I like that the two Superman/Batman movies share continuity, but I don't see any reason why Under the Red Hood should be overtly connected to them just because both feature Batman. If anything, the varied voice casts and character designs are what makes these DTV animated features interesting to me. Plus, they've been able to get a lot of talent that wouldn't have been willing or able to commit to an ongoing series, but can make time for a one-off production. I dig that. I loved Anne Heche as Lois Lane in Superman: Doomsday, Bruce Greenwood as Batman in Under the Red Hood and I'm looking forward to Eliza Dushku as Catwoman in Batman: Year One.

Originally Posted by Mike86

I suppose it is true that they can become complicated if they rely too much on continuity. I think it's more or less that a lot of voices they've got to replace actors haven't done as good a job as people they're replacing so I'd rather they just kept them the same. Personal preference I guess. It doesn't bother me enough that I won't be checking this (or future titles) out though.

Originally Posted by MinLShaw

For all the talk about Conroy as Batman, I have to say that the one voice that spoiled me was Efram Zimabalist, Jr. as Alfred. Even David McCallum--who would make a fine live action Alfred--just felt second rate to me. Any word on who's voicing Alfred in Year One?

Originally Posted by Mike86

Honestly the entire cast of The Animated Series was damn good if you ask me. That series basically cemented my love for the Batman universe and I imagine those voices in my head when I'm reading comics.

Originally Posted by Mike86

Honestly the entire cast of The Animated Series was damn good if you ask me. That series basically cemented my love for the Batman universe and I imagine those voices in my head when I'm reading comics.

Originally Posted by MinLShaw

The writing was outstanding, as well, especially as it was really the first mainstream "kid's show" to try to do something other than frequent action bridged by pontificating heroes with sidekicks popping off pithy catchphrases. "Heart of Ice," "Two-Face, Parts I & II," "Robin's Reckoning, Parts I & II," "It's Never Too Late," "Vendetta"...great stuff by any standards.

It wasn't until I heard Hector Elizondo as Bane that I began to truly appreciate that the character is, in fact, from Latin America. I read the comics, knew his story and all that, but for some reason I never thought to hear his voice with a Spanish accent until Elizondo. I'll be stunned if we get something that authentic out of Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises.

Originally Posted by Rypro 525

Listening to Eliza on one of Kevin Smith's podcasts, and she said this comes out in October (no exact date mentioned) and there's also a Catwoman short as well on the dvd

Originally Posted by davidh777

I know Sackhoff but not Cranston, probably because I watched BSG but not Breaking Bad.

I have to give credit to DC for featuring low-tier characters on JLU and Batman Brave and the Bold. And I do remember our previous conversation about the aborted Batgirl: Year One project, which I would have loved (and would still love) to see.

I love Kevin Conroy but would love to get to the point where the first reaction to any new project isn't "No Conroy, no sale."