The iFanboy Letter Column – 03.30.2012

Hey guys, I’m Mark Sanchez. The, uh, starting quarterback for the New York Jets?

Friday means many things to many people. For some, Friday means you call up your agent but you get his voicemail so you say, “Hey Dunny. It’s Sanchez. What, uh… what, uh… is there anything I need to know here?” For others, Friday is the time to pace around your multi-million dollar bachelor pad because somehow your back-up quarterback already has more billboards around Manhattan with his face on it than you do! For others still Friday is the day you call your agent back ANOTHER message that says, “Seriously, Dunny! What the fuck?! Am I going to be playing for Jackonsville by October?!?”

For the guys who run iFanboy, Friday is letter column time.

You write. They answer. Very simple.

As always, if you want to have your e-mail read on the any of iFanboy’s shows or answered here, in the letter’s column keep them coming to contact@ifanboy.com

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As of lately animation is being used to produce some really good shows (e.g. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!, Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Fantastic Four, Marvel Super Hero Squad, Spectacular Spider-Man). I haven’t seen the new Green Lantern show but now there’s a new Spider-Man, not to mention the great DC animated movies being put out.

So my question is, which of these is your favourite? And do you think there will ever be “that” show which comic fans can’t wait to watch and is not just reserved for children?

Avinish C.

You’re right that this is a great time for superhero animation. I think that both Marvel Studios/Disney and DC Entertainment see the value in having their superhero properties out there in animated productions (i.e. that’s how kids will experience them) so they really seem to be doubling down on animation. As a cartoon fan, I couldn’t be happier.

What’s my favorite superhero cartoon right now? Well, on a weekly series basis it has to be Young Justice. There’s noting that I don’t love about that show. The characters are great. The designs are great. The animation is top notch. And it’s becoming surprisingly dense. The only real competition that Young Justice has is Green Lantern: The Animated Series (a show I like but don’t love) because Ultimate Spider-Man and season two of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! don’t start until this Sunday. But if you went for favorite overall, I’d have to go with the DC Universe Animated Original Movies that come out twice a year. Those are the best, mostly because the level of technical craft is so much higher than they can do on a series and because they are geared towards an older audience, of which I am a part of, rather than the weekly series which are for all-ages.

Now for you last question, whether or not there will ever be “that” cartoon, the one that every comic fan feels like they have to watch? It seems like you’re asking if we’ll ever have another Batman: The Animated Series, which is the only show I feel like fits that description. The answer to that is: no, probably not. Batman: The Animated Series was revolutionary when it came out, ugh, twenty years ago. It changed everything and the superhero animation landscape is dramatically different because of it. Part of the reason why it was such a must-see event for comic book fans was because never before had an animated superhero series been treated with such love and respect and at such a high level of craft. It was seemingly aimed at adults! Fox started airing it in prime time! It was dark and the bad guys shot bullets! But now, most of those innovations seem commonplace. Because of what Batman: The Animated Series achieved, we come to expect that level of quality and pathos and drama from all of our superhero cartoons, even if those towering heights are never quite met. Batman: The Animated Series was a superhero animation revolution and you can’t recreate that.

Conor Kilpatrick

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Dear Ron, Connor, and Josh (or other recipient)

Seriously, who is Connor?

Long time Member first time e-mailer with just a couple questions:

A couple is 2. You’ve asked a shitload of questions.

1) Are you ever going to do another mini episode?     

No. Maybe. I don’t know. Probably not. How much money do you have on you?

2) For Ron: if you were ever to pick the line-up for the X-Men who would they be? Team Cyclops or Wolverine? Please make it 7-12 members.     

Ron’s not here. But he’d go with Cyclops. What if it was 6 members? Would that not be okay? He’s also put Angel and Nightcrawler on the team.

3. For Conor same question but JLI instead.

Now you get his name right?

4. For Josh who’s your favorite super team?

That’s easy. 101st Airborne, 506th PIR, E-Company.

5. The New Avengers vs. Thunderbolts? Which side would Luke pick? Spider-Man vs. Boomerang? Moonstone vs. Power Woman? Wolverine vs. Troll?

We’ll find out when they see the returns from Avengers vs. X-Men, and they have to think of spinoffs. Luke would go with Heroes for Hire. There’s more cash in it, and he’s got college to pay for. When does Spider-Man or Wolverine lose? I don’t know who Power Woman is, so Moonstone, because she is sexually liberated.

6. Do you think MC2 will ever come back? 

I don’t know what that is, and you couldn’t spell Conor’s name right consistently, so I’m not bothering to look it up.

7. Is Iron Fist still a New Avenger?

Haven’t read the book in a long time. Do they have Wikipedia where you are?

8. Where’s Aqualad?

He’s an unlockable character in this, if you can get your hands on a GameCube, and like terrible video games.

Kade

Josh Flanagan