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REVIEWS
Episode #7 - The Big Heat
Original Airdate - November 13th, 2004
While on the trail of Firefly, an arsonist/supervillain who uses refined
flame-throwing technology and a jet-pack, Bruce Wayne must tend to issues
with Mayor Grange and the Wayne Foundation. With Firefly at large, how can
Bruce be at two places at once?
Review by The Penguin
Media by Bird Boy |
Credits
Supervising Producer Duane Capizzi
Supervising Producer Michael Goguen
Producer Linda M. Steiner, Jeff Matsuda
Associate Producer Kimberley A. Smith
Written by Christopher Yost & J.D. Murray
Directed by Seung Eun Kim
Music by Thomas Chase Jones
Animation Services by Dongwoo Animation Co., LTD.
Voices
Rino Romano as The Batman
Alastair Duncan as Alfred
Jason Marsden as Firefly
Adam West as Mayor Grange |
Screen Grabs
Additional HD Images
Pans
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Review
"Like the others, Wayne Industries will go down in flames."
I must say the first shot we had of Firefly made me think he was going to look
like a complete idiot with that giant bug ass. Once it became clear the glowing
cylinder was part of his jetpack I felt a whole lot better about it. I liked
that the jetpack made a buzzing that sounded very much like a bug. It was a
clever little addition that went well with the character rather than being
annoying.
It could just be something for the kiddies, but with Mr. Freeze and now Firefly
I like how their weapons have been worked into their suit rather than messing
with a gun. In Firefly's case it made him more mobile and rather than fumbling
with a flamethrower type weapon he just had to point at Batman. I also like the
concept of Firefly being a corporate saboteur, which is an improvement over the
other time we were introduced to fire-powered villain.
As much as I love both the animated and live action work of Jason Marsden his
voice was not what I envisioned when I first saw the Firefly design. Don't get
me wrong, in the end I liked his portrayal and it did work for me, but I always
envision Firefly being more ominous than smart aleck.
The jet pack duel was greatly enhanced by the blue and yellow lighting as the
two men flew through the city. No one can touch Firefly in the sky and I liked
how despite all his power in the air he was no match for The Batman on the
ground. It may make him seem weak, but since Firefly is the villain I can
appreciate his superiority over Batman in one air but the match-up being almost
laughable in another—sort of a "keys to victory" if this confrontation took
place in the squared-circle.
If you ask me, it was a good move to have the subplot with Mayor Grange and the
Children's Hospital in this episode. Not only did it give Firefly more of a
direction, but I honestly question whether or not he could have held the episode
up by himself.
It was great hearing Adam West's voice come out of the mouth of Mayor Marion
Grange. I like the character concept that Grange was one of Thomas Wayne's
closest friends and now he is trying to be a friend to his son Bruce while at
the same time hoping to see more from him. While Bruce already has a second
father in Alfred, I would be very interested to dig a bit deeper into the
relationship he has with the Mayor.
"Or a full-time Bruce Wayne."
Some folks are down on this series' version of Alfred and I would imagine that
this comment when Bruce is contemplating what his future should be will be cited
as part of that. I have always been a fan of the Alfred character in general
because he is often Bruce's conscience or minimally the voice of reason. This
version of the butler, having raised Bruce more recently into the younger adult
he is now, will always see the boy before he sees Batman and his constant
support of Bruce over Batman is part of his adjustment period that he is not out
of yet. Alfred is willing to help Bruce in any way he can, but deep down he
wants what is best for Bruce Wayne the man, not what is best for The Batman.
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