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Evil Under the Sea!
Original Airdate - December 5th, 2008
Batman aids Aquaman as Ocean Master and Black
Manta team up to assassinate him.
Written by Joseph Kur
Directed by Michael Chang
Animation by Dongwoo Animation Co., Ltd.
Review by Scott Lochmoeller/"Style"
Media provided by Warner Bros. Animation |
Cast
Diedrich Bader as Batman
Dee Bradley Baker as Faust and Fluke
John DiMaggio as Aquaman
Wallace Langham as Orm and Ocean Master
Kevin Michael Richards as Black Manta
Music
Theme Written and Performed by Andy Strumer
Music by Michael McCuisition, Lolita Ritmanis,
Kristopher Carter |
Media
Review
At this point in the series, one wonders how far the
series can go being as rootless as it is. Consider that
after the tease, this is the second episode in the row
starting us with Batman patrolling the skies of the
endless ocean. The series is so relocating to put him
either in the Batcave or in a Watchtower, (or Hall of
Justice,) it does make one wonder how Batman is
organizing his time. How often is he flying that plane
of his over the ocean?
This lack of roots for Batman is especially illustrated
in this episode, as more so than most Aquaman is given a
spotlight episode spotlighting his whole world. His
home, his allies, and his enemies are all on display
here. The moment he appears on screen, Aquaman dominates
the action very nearly shoves Batman aside in his own
series, which is a first for this show.
And may I say on that note I thoroughly enjoyed this
version of Aquaman. Especially that much of his anger
and distrust of the surface world, (as seen in the JLU
iteration,) is dispensed with. Personally, that fear and
distrust always seemed more like Marvel’s Prince Namor
seeping into Aquaman anyway. Here, Aquaman, (with a
design splitting the difference between his silver and
modern age looks, being both be-shirted and be-bearded,)
is a very happy and very broad old-school Superhero.
Almost like the Tick if played straighter. But it works
well. John DiMaggio lends his voice to the role, and he
continues to impress me with his range. Yes, I’ll admit,
I once considered him an actor with just two voices, (Drakken
and Bender) but now he’s very innovative. In particular,
he seems to have approached Aquaman by channeling John
O’Hurley, (most famously to this generation as J.
Peterman in Seinfeld) the writing and voice recalls
O’Hurley’s niche for joyful, exuberant and heedlessly
innocent self satisfaction that informs Aquaman. It’s
easy to mentally “hear” Aquaman’s dialogue in O’Hurley’s
voice, but stretch that mannerism across DiMaggio’s
raspier chords produces a deeper effect, leaving Aquaman
sincerely, joyfully heroic. And Aquaman remains a joy to
watch as the episode expands with Aquaman’s telepathic
and sometimes controversial “hard water” powers, along
with hints at previous adventures. Mechanical Monsters?
Undercover pirated missions? This episode begs us that
to consider that Aquaman may be neater and full of more
potential than we’ve given him credit for. I’d love for
the series to feature him again.
It was nice to see Ocean Master and Black Manta make
appearances, but there villainy was fairly typical.
Aquaman himself was the real show here.
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