Superhero face-off

Na na na na Batman!

Batman: The Animated Series (1992) The most popular of all the series to have ever come out from the franchise, Batman: The Animated Series received rave reviews and critical acclaim. This includes being called the second-best animated series of all time, right behind The Simpsons. Not only does the complexity of the characters and storyline catch your attention, Mark Hamill’s rendition of the Joker and his iconic laughter make the series stand out. In an interview, the cast and crew also stated that the Joker in the series is the perfect yin to Batman’s yang and a balance between comic and killer. We agree!

Batman Beyond (1999) The first animated series to show Batman as a teenager (Terry McGinnis) while an elderly Bruce Wayne mentors him, Batman Beyond is easily one of the best portrayals of the hero of the night. The show explores darker themes and delves into the depth of emotions and psychology of the caped crusader, that are otherwise not seen in the other series. And the bonus There’s an all-new set of super villains and allies, along with old foes like Mr. Freeze and of course, the Joker.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008) This is a lighter version as compared to the rest of the list but does have its own charm. Not only does Batman’s wit shine in this series but he also teams up with other DC superheroes to thwart crimes. Why we chose this show to be on our list above The Batman is because of the fact that, even though there are Batman vs Superman stories in both, this rendition uses the Frank Miller armour pictured in the upcoming movie. There could not be a better time for you to revisit the series!

A special mention to the 1966 Batman for making a theme song that has remained stuck in fans’ heads ever since.

The Last Son of Krypton

Superman (1940) This series will always be fondly reminisced as the first Superman animated series ever. The Fleischer and Famous production not only received an Academy Award nomination, but the company also was named among the 50 influencers to make DC great. The series of shorts, despite the limitations of 1940s animation, was responsible for making Superman fly, because until then, he could only leap from place to place! Fleischer decided it looked too silly so they had him fly instead. There’s some trivia to process.

Superman: The Animated Series (1996) One of the most brilliant pieces of work, according to fans, when it comes to the Superman universe, the animated series introduced several new characters and delved into more plots than ever before. Oh, and the burgeoning romantic escapades between Superman and Lois Lane also made for interesting viewing! They also, surprisingly, made Superman more vulnerable than he was in the comics, making it slightly more believable that he could be defeated. Even though bullets did not affect this Man of Steel, cannons and missiles did cause pain, unlike the comics’ invincible superhero avatar. Justice League (2001) Hawkgirl, The Flash, Green Lantern, The Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Batman and of course, Superman. Dream team We think so too. The series is one of the biggest collisions within the DC Universe, with the group fighting together against the bad guys such as Lex Luthor, Brainiac and even the Joker from the Batman side of town. From an aged Superman to a Hawkgirl-Green Lantern romance, this show had it all.