Have you ever wondered why one iconic villain from the Batman comic books didn't appear in the iconic Batman: The Animated Series? Well, you're not alone, as there are lots of people who adore this incredible series.
This animated show gave the iconic heroes, villains and sidekicks an awesome look that really set it apart from other films and shows, too!
Batman: The Animated Series
We were treated with some unforgettable characters. From the amazing talents of Kevin Conroy who provided the iconic voice for Batman. Of course, The Joker voiced by Mark Hamill made such an impact on everyone.
While Batman: The Animated Series might be regarded as an excellent way to bring to life those well-known and loved Batman figures. Not every part of the lore could make its way onto our screens. For anyone who really dives deeply into these movies. The iconic character Firefly, a villain who burns with fire, might just be one of the more surprising characters to be absent!
Why Firefly Was Banned
It appears that those at Fox Kids were determined to keep Batman: The Animated Series pretty much safe, clean, and friendly for kids.
But that doesn't mean they weren't able to give us dark elements. What made The Animated Series a bit different was the focus on taking creative liberties to really give these dark characters a fun new spin!
- Batman's series made a good attempt at showing how intense and wild The Joker's murders could be!
- The Joker’s big secret- a super lethal "Joker venom."
This means that those in charge, had to get very creative. Even those watching it as kids, may have been shocked with how this was interpreted.
There was another barrier though! Firefly was the character that fans just couldn't get a glimpse of because it's a super pyromaniac villain that's out for some big flames and the censors at Fox Kids felt the character would make it a bit too intense!
Firefly Debut In The New Batman Adventures
Those who have enjoyed Batman for a while may remember an iteration of this series, called The New Batman Adventures.
If you were a kid you might have known what network aired the show, and a key point in the evolution was how much Firefly became such a key character. It appears that there was a bit of change with the network and the censors gave those making this show more control!
With a less intense feel to Kids’ WB. What it enabled for fans was a special moment as Firefly got to be included in this new series, which made some very fun moments and those in charge loved it so much they brought Firefly to other DC Comics Universe adaptations, especially the awesome Justice League!
For a time there, those censors that originally said no. Now it seems as if those in charge were giving more to fans with an updated, darker take on this show that went well beyond anything that could be shown earlier. What really pushed it even more was the intensity of The Joker! And it became an important part of "The New Batman Adventures."! Even though "The New Batman Adventures might not have been as popular, for those fans, it might still be pretty special!
You'll find lots to love about Batman: The Animated Series for anyone! Even though it may not have Firefly. But you should be glad this big change did happen! Fans were given another new look to see those dark stories in the Batman universe come to life!
