Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 29, 2020 | 3 comments

Welcome to BATMADNESS: The Animated Tournament…

—

Welcome to BATMADNESS: The Animated Tournament — your chance to VOTE for the greatest Batman: The Animated Series episode of all time.

Writer Fred Van Lente, a 13th Dimension regular, and his artistic collaborator Ryan Dunlavey have produced The Comic Book History of Animation — a five-part series whose Issue #2 is out now from IDW. To celebrate, we’re holding a tourney to pick the best episode from the greatest comic-book animated series of them all — and YOU get to decide.

Fred and Ryan seeded eight episodes each for a Sweet 16 and we’re pairing them off until we have a champion in January. (Click here to follow the whole tournament.)

We’ve now reached the FINAL FOUR — where the votes are expected to be very close.

— HOW TO VOTE: You can pick your choice two ways: 1) Note it in the comments below; or 2) Take part in our Twitter poll, also below. Votes will be tabulated and the winner will be announced in the following round.

Here’s FINAL FOUR MATCH-UP #2: THE LAUGHING FISH (Ryan’s No. 1) vs. TWO-FACE (Fred’s No. 3)

Written by Paul Dini. Directed by Bruce Timm.

“With a plot adapted from classic comics by Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, Steve Engelhart and Marshall Rogers, it’s easily the Joker’s best episode, showcasing the Clown Prince of Crime’s signature intelligence, menace and lowbrow ‘humor’ in every scene.” — RD

—

Story by Alan Burnett (Part 1.) Teleplay by Randy Rogel. Directed by Kevin Altieri.

“BTAS did some of its best work in reinventing the villains ignored by Burton and co. — no better than Harvey Dent/Two-Face, played throughout by the bailiff from Night Court, Richard Moll. The climax in the casino is one of the series’ most dramatic — and moving.” — FVL

—

Now, which do YOU prefer? VOTE!

BATMADNESS FINAL FOUR MATCH #2: Which of these is the better BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES episode?

— 13th Dimension (@13th_Dimension) December 29, 2020

—

For the complete BATMADNESS: The Animated Tournament: Click here.

—

NEXT: The BATMADNESS Final is Coming Jan. 4.