Firefly: The Obsessed Pyromaniac | The New Batman Adventures

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  • čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
  • In this video I take a look at a classic Batman villain, The Firefly, and show how he went from a jokey nobody to a menacing pyromaniac in the comic books before he made his way to The New Batman Adventures.
    With most of the hard work already done, the writers on the show added an extra dimension to the character, making him one of Batman's most disturbing foes.
    Special thanks to Manly Bands for providing viewers with a discount code. Simply head to www.manlybands.com/SERUMLAKE and use the discount code "SERUMLAKE" to get 20% off your order.
    #batman #batmantheanimatedseries #thenewbatmanadventures #firefly
    Chapters:
    00:00 Introduction
    01:03 Manly Bands Promotion
    01:55 Firefly's Comic Book Origins
    03:31 Firefly's Glow-Up
    05:13 Firefly's Animated Version
    07:15 Torch Song
    10:50 Firefly's Other Appearances
    12:34 Conclusion
    13:15 Self-Promotion
    13:44 Next time!
    Join this channel to get access to perks, including early access to my next video essay:
    / @serumlake
    Music by @Katt Strike - listen to the whole track here: • Ambient Batman Music b...
  • Krátké a kreslené filmy

Komentáře • 287

  • @SerumLake
    @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +66

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  • @The_Phantasm
    @The_Phantasm Před 3 měsíci +599

    I think when it comes down to it, one of the reasons why The Batman's Firefly seems to be more fondly remembered, is because he just has a more fun personality. His arrogant hot shot temper and the fun of Batman taking him down a peg just made it more fun and made people watching more excited to see him in future episodes.

    • @zemox2534
      @zemox2534 Před 3 měsíci +77

      And the fact that he would transform into a more dangerous threat, Phosphorus, in the final season and almost destroyed Gotham. The Batman version of Firefly was arguably more sympathetic than the comic book version

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +67

      Oh yes, comic book (and TNBA) Firefly isn’t at all relatable to most people. He’s an awful person.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +18

      Here's to hoping we get a video or two on how certain post-DCAU works and even the DCAU tie-in comics did some things better than the otherwise "godly" DCAU itself. Case in point, Hugo Strange in The Batman Adventures and The Batman 2004.

    • @UltraVioletKnight
      @UltraVioletKnight Před 3 měsíci +9

      They had their cake and at it too with the episode "white heat" turning their firefly into a tragic figure.

    • @MILDMONSTER1234
      @MILDMONSTER1234 Před 3 měsíci +3

      Most people who talk about firefly talk about the 2004 one. Hell he’s the reason most people know him

  • @alexlemonds2838
    @alexlemonds2838 Před 3 měsíci +349

    I can see why they barely used him after. Focused on the wrong aspect, depicted him as an unhinged simp stalker rather than a pyromaniac who worships flames. Just nothing there that warrants many revisits.

    • @tylerbertram7065
      @tylerbertram7065 Před 3 měsíci +51

      Yeah, it's kinda why I prefer his incarnation in The Batman (2004) not only having better design but also making him cocky hot tempered mercury with a flame obsession.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +8

      Design's cool, but I think it's too flashy. At least the DCAU version has the right sense of pragmatism.

    • @UltraVioletKnight
      @UltraVioletKnight Před 3 měsíci +21

      Mad Hatter is a unhinged simp stalker done right. Firefly was boring. Maybe they should have fleshed out their relationship and it would have worked.

    • @burnslee1164
      @burnslee1164 Před 3 měsíci +12

      I think the reason why is that they didn't plan on him being firefly, more the inciting incident for the next Firefly (Cassidy) as the video suggested she would have been in a later episode that never happened.

    • @KadeStringer2.0
      @KadeStringer2.0 Před 3 měsíci

      You know nothing

  • @KingNerdius
    @KingNerdius Před 3 měsíci +294

    I prefer the insane pyromaniac version of Firefly from the comics. The animated version is a weird creep who’s broken because a woman didn’t reciprocate his interest. Comic Garfield is much more entertaining as a snarky mercenary with an obsession for burning down everything that gets in his way rather than retreading Mad Hatter’s steps.

  • @The_Phantasm
    @The_Phantasm Před 3 měsíci +238

    Honestly, I would have liked to have seen more of Garfield's obsession with fire than with Cassidy. The fire motif seemed a bit secondary to Firefly in the episode.

    • @jordanloux3883
      @jordanloux3883 Před 3 měsíci +23

      I can see why, since pyromania is ultimately a sexual fetish and there were clear lines that the censors would not allow on the air.

    • @KadeStringer2.0
      @KadeStringer2.0 Před 3 měsíci

      @@jordanloux3883oh be quiet

    • @brodiethomlinson9042
      @brodiethomlinson9042 Před 3 měsíci +5

      @@jordanloux3883its not purely for sexual gratification, which we know now, but we only learnt that in the early 2000’s, so your probably right about that.

    • @caramel9154
      @caramel9154 Před 3 měsíci +5

      @@jordanloux3883 tbf pyromania's more so a developed relief to tension, which while it can be a kink thing, ain't inherent to it's nature as a disorder.
      Maybe the writers could've flipped the romantic dynamics with this line of thought in mind, like perhaps some guy faces actually traumatizing abuse at the hands of a lover (ngl im sick of 'man got rejected'), so he turns to fire to not only replace all human intimacy but burn it away.
      Like vibe wise i'm thinking a sadder tf2 pyro.

    • @sarafontanini7051
      @sarafontanini7051 Před 14 dny +2

      it would've been neat if after the initial incident where he sees cassidy surrounded in flames he starts to go mad, the memory mixing in his mind as he mixes the image of cassidy surrounded in flames until he sees the flames AS cassidy, culminating in him becoming obsessed with burnign everything to create his 'goddess of flame'
      "Look at her batman! Isn't she beautful!? The more i burn the brigther she becomes! MY Cassidy!"

  • @tashibalampkin8555
    @tashibalampkin8555 Před 3 měsíci +50

    "Angels...but they look like nudy women to me." For Firefly, they're one and the same. 😂

  • @maxwellleebrennan
    @maxwellleebrennan Před 3 měsíci +73

    In Hatter's case, he wasn't even directly rejected/ told no because he never asked. Alice had no idea how he really felt until after he went too far. She thought he was just being a good friend trying to cheer her up after a bad breakup. He just assumed. Like, Jervis, buddy, how do you expect Alice to become your girlfriend if you never ask her out directly? Communication is key, Tetch :P

  • @FischerFilmStudio
    @FischerFilmStudio Před 3 měsíci +21

    I was introduced to Firefly thanks to The Batman. This version was more casual and had more confidence, but his appearance in Batman Arkham Origins is my all time favorite

  • @TylerGoatMan
    @TylerGoatMan Před 3 měsíci +82

    I love how Fire fly is a slightly more down to earth version of pyro tf2.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +4

      What about the TF Classic take?

    • @foldabotZ
      @foldabotZ Před 3 měsíci +28

      Pyro has the Arkham Knight Firefly cosmetic for a reason. They even have similar delusions, though Lynns is aware it's indeed fire and not bubbles and rainbows like Pyro.

  • @mellowyello1478
    @mellowyello1478 Před 3 měsíci +21

    I think the symmetry with Mr Freeze is interesting. Hes made out to be the polar opposite to Freeze in every single way; from motif to motivation. One with fire, the other with ice, one with genuine love and revenge, the other with obsession, possession, and anger at not getting his way.
    Very interesting.

  • @jacktoma21
    @jacktoma21 Před 3 měsíci +55

    After his accident I like to imagine Lynn’s has a very damaged gravely voice, like his vocal cords have been severally damaged. It helps add a greater level of menace to the character

    • @moblinmajorgeneral
      @moblinmajorgeneral Před 3 měsíci +13

      Arkham Firefly sounds like a severe smoker for very similar reasons

    • @jacktoma21
      @jacktoma21 Před 3 měsíci +9

      @@moblinmajorgeneral yea I do really like Arkham firefly but would personally prefer him talking in a menacing whisper vs the boisterous yell

    • @moonwhooper
      @moonwhooper Před 8 dny

      ​@@moblinmajorgeneralarkham firefly should be the default

  • @mandalorianhunter1
    @mandalorianhunter1 Před 3 měsíci +24

    I honestly do like Gotham's take on Firefly where it was the abused sister who then became corrupted then wanted to burn the world down for those who oppressed her

  • @CapnAlces
    @CapnAlces Před 3 měsíci +38

    Despite not standing out narratively or anything, this episode stuck with me because of the ending. We don't often linger with the trauma Batman's villains leave on civilians, and Cassidy's full-blown PTSD freeze in the final shot is a perfectly haunting way to close the episode. And no, not every villain has to be more than the hired muscle, and I wish they'd used Firefly more in that regard. Some other villains, too.
    By the way, congratulations on the sponsorship! I'm glad to see someone paying you for your talents! Just don't sell your soul. Seriously. You read comics! I don't have to tell you the kooky shenanigans someone can cause with one of those things. No, best to keep your souls in a safe, or at least a lockbox.
    (for real, good on ya)

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +11

      Haha don’t worry I’m very selective about who I will work with. I’ve had some shady companies reach out about promoting dodgy looking products and I’ve responded with a polite “HELL NO!” The Manly Bands team are friendly people and I dig their Batman rings! I wish I could afford their replica One Ring from Lord of the Rings, but even with my discount code it is still out of my price range 😂

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +5

      Careful with getting a One Ring. We don't some Gollum-esque to bite off a finger.

    • @CapnAlces
      @CapnAlces Před 3 měsíci +7

      ​@@SerumLake Oh, dang, that IS a nice ring. It's gorgeous. It is... precious to me...

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +5

      Mary said if it was anyone, it’d be her 😱

    • @sarafontanini7051
      @sarafontanini7051 Před 14 dny

      to be fair the reason is 1) the planned idea of building on it to have her fall into the same madness as firefly and 2) to show the consequences of her own petty, bullshit behaviour, a punishment for being not a good person who relied on her status too much

  • @jocastadidntknew5980
    @jocastadidntknew5980 Před 3 měsíci +7

    The scene with Firefly’s shrine to Cassidy feels so disturbing to me to this day. I think the music of the scene plays a huge part, but seeing his apartment makes you forget you’re watching Batman for a second and are instead watching a true crime drama or something like that.

  • @mechajay3358
    @mechajay3358 Před 3 měsíci +12

    Firefly does have a solid design that I like. And even though I enjoy his debut episode, I like comics interpretation a bit more since him being an arsonist make sense than being a psychotic stalker.

  • @TheLuxray8
    @TheLuxray8 Před 3 měsíci +35

    I THOUGHT FIREFLY WAS SICK AS SHIT AS A KID I FORGOT HE EXISTED

  • @scotttrammell3913
    @scotttrammell3913 Před 3 měsíci +29

    Cassidy as a second Firefly, would've been cool. I do really like the Animated version of Firefly.

    • @Isaac-gh5ku
      @Isaac-gh5ku Před 3 měsíci +8

      Yeah, too bad it had to be scrapped because WB was working on Batman Beyond.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +7

      Not that Batman Beyond was a big mistake, all things considered.

    • @scotttrammell3913
      @scotttrammell3913 Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@Isaac-gh5ku I know.

    • @mechajay3358
      @mechajay3358 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Yeah, wish they explore it more in the Batman Adventure Continues comic instead of having the 2nd Firefly be Deathstroke's sidekick.

    • @scotttrammell3913
      @scotttrammell3913 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@mechajay3358 Yeah, I liked her, but she needn't have been Firefly.

  • @shapeswitch_mood7221
    @shapeswitch_mood7221 Před 20 dny +3

    Having Cassidy becoming the second Firefly to deal with trauma would have been interesting to explore.

  • @belmont_gr
    @belmont_gr Před 3 měsíci +15

    Maybe a bit off topic but I really enjoyed Firefly's adaption in the Arrow TV series where Firefly burned his former members of his firefighter squad alive because they left him in a fire to die.

  • @andydrew3834
    @andydrew3834 Před 3 měsíci +44

    Ah yes Firefly.
    I haven’t watched much TBNA but I liked The Batman 2004’s take on Firefly and that’s how I found out about him

    • @lol-fc9kg
      @lol-fc9kg Před 3 měsíci +5

      I wish they did more with phosphorus.

    • @andydrew3834
      @andydrew3834 Před 3 měsíci +4

      @@lol-fc9kg yeah, I hope they bring back Phosphorus in some way in any future Batman media

  • @hattoripool1533
    @hattoripool1533 Před 3 měsíci +17

    God I loved that fire lightsaber this version of Firefly had

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +4

      Just how advanced is the DCAU Earth's tech if they're able to have such weaponry in the late 1990s? Dang, Vandal Savage's time travel nonsense on WW2 really did quite a number.

    • @hattoripool1533
      @hattoripool1533 Před 3 měsíci +4

      @@michaelandreipalon359 did they ever explain where the sudden laser weaponry and tech that’s eventually used in Neo Gotham came from because I remember hearing a theory that all of that is actually reverse engineered tech from all the alien attacks from characters like say Braniac

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci

      @@hattoripool1533 Most likely from Imperium, Thanagarian, and especially Apokoliptian tech. Gotta thank those evil aliens for invading Earth and sweetening it with such a gold mine of advancements.

  • @Xehanort10
    @Xehanort10 Před 3 měsíci +6

    That fireproof suit Batman wore looks like the one from Batman Beyond that Bruce uses to save Terry from Inque.

  • @The_Phantasm
    @The_Phantasm Před 3 měsíci +23

    The DCAU's Firefly, while decent, is also not terribly compelling or memorable. Firefly as not only pyromaniac and serial arsonist, but a depraved stalker as well, doesn't come across as terribly original. His introductory episode, while in some ways frighteningly realistic, is forgettable and his character equally so. To be fair, it's not like there was too much to work with (though I guess the same could be said about Mr. Freeze before Heart of Ice) since the character's presence in the comics didn't exactly leave much of an impact. His reinvention in Knightfall was definitely an improvement over his original Golden Age design and origin, but I think you'd struggle to find anyone saying Firefly is their favourite Batman villain. The lack of personality was partly why Firefly's depiction in The Batman series really resonated with people. Jason Marsden’s voice for the character as an arrogant but fun hot shot along with his spectacular and unmistakable black and yellow design just made the character more fun. It made people watching excited for him to appear again which wasn't really the case for the DCAU Firefly.

    • @metal87power
      @metal87power Před 3 měsíci +4

      He had a personality. He was a normal guy who used his engineering skills to earn a quick and easy buck. Also, he was childish.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +5

      I . . . actually liked Firefly when I saw him in TNBA as a kid. Maybe it was just the lightsaber, but I just thought he had a cool design.
      Then _The Batman_ kinda blew this version out of the water, and I still can't believe that DC never updated his comic design to be closer to that one.

    • @caramel9154
      @caramel9154 Před 2 měsíci

      bro should work with scarecrow

  • @user-yp6vy1oq5d
    @user-yp6vy1oq5d Před 3 měsíci +10

    Firefly in Batman Arkham Origins was by far the best adaptation. Costume, attitude, boss fight, music - everything was great.

    • @saudalarfaj88
      @saudalarfaj88 Před 2 měsíci

      I agree I really liked him in
      Arkham origins

  • @eway44
    @eway44 Před 3 měsíci +12

    Something that The Batman (my favorite Batman show) FINALLY has something fans prefer in that over the BTAS version

    • @Quackervoltz
      @Quackervoltz Před 2 měsíci +3

      Hmmmm I also kinda like Ethan a lil better than Matt.

  • @metal87power
    @metal87power Před 3 měsíci +34

    The Batman presented FF as a mischief crook who wanted to escape from poverty with his supportive girlfriend. Not so bad charactership

  • @tyrannozilla
    @tyrannozilla Před 3 měsíci +7

    Batman's fire armor almost looks like a prototype of the Batman Beyond suit. Really cool (if un-intentional) hint of what was to come.
    Also, Firefly's costume kinda reminds me of The Rocketeer, and some of the other pulp fiction and film serials that inspired that character.

  • @GrievousReborn
    @GrievousReborn Před 3 měsíci +8

    The original Firefly outfit makes me think of Killer Moth

  • @dedalionarts6077
    @dedalionarts6077 Před 3 měsíci +11

    5:09 even tho I understand you comparison, imo, he fits better with the "color themed" (ex Crazy Quilt, Polkadot man) villains rather than "bug themed" ones.
    And as far as "character incarnetion" are concerned, the "2004 The Batman" version is the best take on Firefly I seen thas far. Bouth character and desighn wise.

  • @ajerjavec4723
    @ajerjavec4723 Před 3 měsíci +8

    I think firefly is one of the villains who was done better in the Batman cartoon at first, he’s just a higher gun it’s not into his final episode, where he’s basically turned into Phosphorus and what happened was tragic beforehand. He got a girlfriend, and was sick of just being mistaken called bumblebee so after the accident he goes crazy and just wants to be remembered and at the end he can’t turn it off and his girlfriend leaves him that’s how you make him tragic

  • @rosegirl3220
    @rosegirl3220 Před 3 měsíci +9

    The Batman's firefly had the best costume out of all of them

  • @SellavinAtoms
    @SellavinAtoms Před 3 měsíci +14

    This episode is really dark because it's also grounded in reality, I recently watched an episode from one of my favorite anime series Case close/ detective Conan The episode is literally called the stalker. I'm not gonna tell you how it ends but it's not a happy ending.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +3

      Gotta love the "Mundanger" trope.
      If I have a favorite type of show and episode with such a morbid sense of realism, I'd pick Paranoia Agent's "Mellow Maromi", where a Japanese animation team suffer oh so much because of time constraints, too much stringent ambition and neutered passion on the higher-ups' and team's part, and a clumsy, monkey-like, and slowly unhinged co-worker named Saru (not that he's the only one who snaps in the story).

  • @Meme033094
    @Meme033094 Před 3 měsíci +8

    I love the firefly design from the batman

  • @tylerbertram7065
    @tylerbertram7065 Před 3 měsíci +18

    I personally prefer the Firefly from The Batman (2004) manly because I like his suit.

    • @dedalionarts6077
      @dedalionarts6077 Před 3 měsíci +6

      Me too. The desighn and the fight scenes were fun to watch. Especially in the episode where he became a flame throwing metahuman.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci

      Design's nice, but feels too flashy for me. The DCAU take is more comfortably pragmatic.

    • @CapnAlces
      @CapnAlces Před 3 měsíci +6

      Flashy was definitely the entire design philosophy of The Batman. That particular style didn't quite click for me, personally. But it is refreshing to have a version of the characters that embraces the camp and stylization of the genre, whole heartedly.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +6

      @@CapnAlces As always, every animated Batman iteration should always have a certain something that makes it extremely far off from the DCAU, yet also feel as consistently on par with it in return. Cases in point, The Batman 2004 is more energetically youthful and thus flashy, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is entertainingly campy yet also showcases an emotionally and physically stable veteran Dark Knight, and even The Wayne Family Adventures webcomics are down-to-earth yet loose enough to feel right with its character and world interconnections.
      Who knows what works like Caped Crusader will bring? Bets on having themes not unlike the Black & White comics.

    • @CapnAlces
      @CapnAlces Před 3 měsíci

      @@michaelandreipalon359 Perfectly said. And I cannot wait to see what is in store for us in Caped Crusader.

  • @Xehanort10
    @Xehanort10 Před 3 měsíci +5

    6:56 Hatter was so obsessed with Alice that when DA Janet Van Dorn pointed out he could have left Alice alone in Trial Tetch said "I'd have killed her first."

  • @user-eg9ko9zw4c
    @user-eg9ko9zw4c Před 3 měsíci +5

    Fun Fact: Ventrix the Invisible Man from "See No Evil" is actually based on the comic book villain Floyd Ventris aka Mirror Man. The reason his suit turns invisible is because it reflects light when heated. I recommend you look him up. Could you do an analysis for him? Thank you, love your videos & have a good one.👍

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Hope said analysis also has a shout-out to The Invisible Man 2020. One will be surprised on how that movie seems to be a love letter for "See No Evil", especially in regards to who plays Ventrix's daughter.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +2

      Way to spoil my upcoming video on him 😛

    • @user-eg9ko9zw4c
      @user-eg9ko9zw4c Před 3 měsíci

      @@michaelandreipalon359 true that

    • @user-eg9ko9zw4c
      @user-eg9ko9zw4c Před 3 měsíci +1

      @michaelandreipalon359 I see your point with the 2020 Invisible Man film. Now that I think about it, both "See No Evil" and the movie seem very similar to each other.

  • @ThatOneKidInMathClass
    @ThatOneKidInMathClass Před 3 měsíci +10

    One of my favorite villains gets a video…. This is amazing

  • @alexandrefrauches132
    @alexandrefrauches132 Před 3 měsíci +11

    Despite his motivations in the show being more personal, I feel comic book Firefly (the one from 90's) still better than BTAS/TNBA version. The idea of him being a pyromaniac lashing out on the city because of his miserable childhood makes him a dark reflection of Batman, who also had a tragic childhood but chose a different path. There's even a story (that was written by Paul Dini) in which Firefly tried to burn Gotham citzen, claiming that the city is already doomed by corruption and the only solution is to buried it's people with the flames, unlike Batman, who always belives that he can make Gotham a better place.

  • @datbo7974
    @datbo7974 Před 3 měsíci +20

    For me I remember seeing firefly as a kid when playing Batman (2004) on the leapfrog. Something about him struck me and has always stuck in my mind. He’s one of my favorite underrated villains

  • @thebigdork8030
    @thebigdork8030 Před 3 měsíci +3

    "he's awkward and lumbering, a threat"
    Bro, friendly fire T_T

  • @CorbinLeonard-rp4et
    @CorbinLeonard-rp4et Před 3 měsíci +8

    I really like the Batman fire fly suit cause it's cool

  • @DoctorSanity
    @DoctorSanity Před 3 měsíci +3

    🎩We're becoming the meme of the anime girl holding up a beer going "[BLANK] mentioned!!!" with a city but with Annie, ahaha.
    But yes! Firefly, fun to learn it wasn't BTAS to reinvent this wheel. I daresay we agree that Killer Moth and Firefly have blended together in our minds at points, so the distinction is appreciated. We'd say he's a character more about the spectacle of fire than the actual, well, character himself. And like you expressed, sometimes a character just works like that. Simple and sweet.

  • @jorgnocke991
    @jorgnocke991 Před 3 měsíci +5

    Thank you very much for that, have a happy and blessed day

  • @thehonoredone2361
    @thehonoredone2361 Před 3 měsíci +8

    Dis is gonna be one hot video. Love firefly.

  • @Gatorade69
    @Gatorade69 Před 3 měsíci +2

    7:40
    Jeez, way to call me out. Just cause I'm awkward and lumbering doesn't mean I'm threatening 😢

  • @PixelFusionProductions
    @PixelFusionProductions Před 3 měsíci +3

    I'm happy to see this video getting so many views.
    Firefly is an interesting villain to me, but you are right that he really only needed one episode dedicated to him. I gotta say, that song Cassidy sings is terrible, no wonder she put up with him, his pyro is what made her a star.
    I had no idea about the history of the characters in the comics. Again Tim Bruce's direction with adapting comic material proved to be the best course of action. This Firefly is really the only one I know and is the version I like the best. Also, I thought that Fire Sword of his was pretty cool.

  • @FirstLast-cg2nk
    @FirstLast-cg2nk Před 3 měsíci +6

    If every villain represents an aspect of Batman's personality, then Firefly is Batman's obsession. Where Firefly is obsessed with a woman, Batman is obsessed with Gotham. No matter how many times Gotham fails him, disappoints him, betrays him, Batman will not stop trying to "save" a city that, in all honesty, can't be saved.
    There's a Joker side-comic where the Joker himself tells the story of a madman who believed that he could drive a car around the world, and every time he tried and the car broke down or ran out of gas, the madman would blame the car for failing him, rather than acknowledging that what he was trying to do was impossible, and the Joker admits that he always respected that. It is made clear in context that the Joker views Batman the same way.
    That's Batman: Batman believes that Gotham is a city that can be made into a better place, so he dedicates all of his efforts to make it so, even as the city fails over and over again, seeming to get worse instead of better. We've seen cities like Metropolis, huge cities that are shining beacons of utopian beauty, even if they have a rot and corruption that must be fought. But Gotham is different. Gotham is the city deeply rotten that no one can save. Gotham is the city that should be left to die so something better can be built on its ashes that only endures because Batman does not give up on it.
    Batman could abandon Gotham, find another city that can be saved and leave the rotting city to finally collapse as it was always meant to. He would suffer less and his actions would have greater impact and meaning. Instead, he shoulders the burden of the city on his shoulders like mighty Atlas, unwilling to shrug no matter how painful the burden becomes.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Hmm, what comic was that?
      If it were me, I would just "sunbomb" Gotham and make it a no man's land when I'm finished on it.

  • @manuelgrothe608
    @manuelgrothe608 Před 2 měsíci +3

    3:09 Volcana and Firefly Make a pretty good duo

  • @CodesTheOtaku
    @CodesTheOtaku Před 3 měsíci +7

    Minor note, but I legit thought the word “toyetic” was a made-up word from a Freakazoid episode involving the Freakmobile.

    • @Elfenlied8675309
      @Elfenlied8675309 Před 3 měsíci +3

      It was created by the CEO of Mattel. He apparently used to say the word toyetic a lot and nobody knew what it meant until much later. Basically a toy that looks fun to play with.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci

      Super-dude extraordinaire . . .

  • @bujilou
    @bujilou Před 3 měsíci +5

    Always been interested in this character since they revamped his look during knightfall

  • @KnightLineArtYT
    @KnightLineArtYT Před 3 měsíci +3

    I liked this take on Firefly too. Not sure if it's my favorite one though. I found his 2004 series version also pretty fun. He's more in line with being a merc for hire, but they add more of the idea that he's also a thrill seeker and tends to talk a lot of trash and make jokes. I think that works since you can get that he would simply choose this life-style for the sake of the game itself. Though he does power-up into Phosphorus in that universe, which is a bit of a shame since his Firefly look in that show was one of his best.

  • @barriehannon6857
    @barriehannon6857 Před 3 měsíci +2

    he's probably my favorite B-Tier batman Villain his concept is cool and i like his design, his boss battle on Arkham Origins was awesome

  • @StollenBunz
    @StollenBunz Před měsícem +1

    i definitely needed more firefly and volcana team ups. it was so cute.

  • @Chadius
    @Chadius Před 3 měsíci +3

    1:55 And to think I criticized the TNBA Firefly costume for being too simple... Nah it's a big improvement.

  • @krvgames9258
    @krvgames9258 Před měsícem +1

    The Outsiders Firefly walking into a room full of women in their underwear trying to find a way to escape has to be THE biggest Epic Fail in all of DC Comic Book history.

  • @felixflorb9051
    @felixflorb9051 Před 3 měsíci +4

    I've just found your video essay's and I'm deeply impressed! I really love how you break open each character, or episode you talk about to just pick apart all the little bits and pieces. Like a 4 course meal of interesting observations, summary, opinion, and analysis.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Welcome aboard, and bon appetite!

  • @iguanaboi3921
    @iguanaboi3921 Před 10 dny +1

    I remember being in a discord server with a guy who thought Firefly was sympathetic and something of a role model

  • @EasyE3939
    @EasyE3939 Před 3 měsíci +15

    I'd argue that the existence of BTAS also loosened up the censorship rules just as Batman 89 had done for BTAS.
    And a sense of trust and familiarity with the censors over the years judging by the Heart of Batman documentary.
    Bruce Timm also mentioned padding the episodes with things that they knew would get shot down so they'd get away with more on one of the commentary tracks on the blu ray set. (I think it's dated as 2004 at the end so likely brought over from one of the DVD releases.)

    • @Chadius
      @Chadius Před 3 měsíci +2

      They were really good at planting censor decoys that they knew would be rejected so they could sneak in the real raunchy stuff.

    • @EasyE3939
      @EasyE3939 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@Chadius 💯

  • @unknownfrequency7024
    @unknownfrequency7024 Před 3 měsíci +5

    Fun fact: firefly was voiced by Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +7

      Not in The New Batman Adventures!

    • @zemox2534
      @zemox2534 Před 3 měsíci +5

      He was voiced by Mark Rolston who would voice Lex Luthor in YJ years later.

    • @unknownfrequency7024
      @unknownfrequency7024 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Oh dang IMDB got me messed up then lol

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Regardless, Ron Perlman voiced quite A LOT of DC characters over the years, most notable being the DCAU Clayface and Teen Titans' Slade.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +1

      ​@michaelandreipalon359 also Killer Croc from _The Batman_ (the Cajun version), Orion from JLU, "Heavyman" Koenig on _Static Shock_ . . . I'm pretty sure that I'm missing a few, but they're the other standouts.

  • @Victor-qx3vx
    @Victor-qx3vx Před 2 dny +1

    7:21 I knew she looked familiar!
    Thanks for pointing that out.

  • @coneheadzigity
    @coneheadzigity Před 2 měsíci +1

    Honestly I feel like Firefly and Volcana can be a great duo together.

  • @LowellLucasJr.
    @LowellLucasJr. Před 3 měsíci +4

    Sure Firefly was obsessed with Cassidy...but she was a real Firecracker 🔥❤!

  • @deathseekr1537
    @deathseekr1537 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I think firefly could be a good member of the suicide squad or a team like it, along with characters like black manta, deadshot, killer Moth,bthese villains for hire could make a great anti hero group like the squad, just for money and not because they're forced to

  • @zemox2534
    @zemox2534 Před 3 měsíci +3

    I wish Firefly appeared in BTAS. I would have loved to see how the team would have reinvented him. On the topic of obscure bat rogues, any change of you making a video essay about Maxie Zeus?

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +4

      He’s on the list 🫡

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Gotta love Maxie Zeus in his sole appearance in B: TAS. Don't understand why some people think "Fire From Olympus" is quite forgettable.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +1

      ​@@michaelandreipalon359the version from _The Batman_ is the only one that ever clicked with me, probably because they reinvented him rather than sticking with the same failed attempt to make a legally-distinct King Tut that he'd always been up to that point.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@nicholasfarrell5981 Hmm, guess I need to rewatch the show and its implied sequel accompaniment Teen Titans sometime.
      To be frank, I DO NOT remember much of Batman 1966's King Tut. He's one of those villains that didn't pique my interest there.

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@michaelandreipalon359 that's . . . honestly a little sad, considering that Victor Buono (the actor who played him) loved the role so much that the writers kept bringing him back; he's the only villain outside of the Big 4 to appear in all 3 seasons of the show, and only didn't get promoted to the comics because Fox owned the rights to the character at the time (which is why Maxie Zeus was created, because DC wanted to make King Tut an official villain but weren't legally allowed to use the concept).

  • @Riley-ub2tf
    @Riley-ub2tf Před 19 dny

    8:44
    “Listen lady, I only got eyes for one girl and she’s a cat.”
    -Bman, probs

  • @GR-ic7mt
    @GR-ic7mt Před 3 měsíci +1

    Honestly I think I like the comic one before the animated series a little more then the BAS one like just a weird stalker isn't nearly as much fun or has as much room for stories as a pyromaniac who spent there entire life in captivity so know he just destroys the things he could never have I feel like that has way more places it could go

  • @takenname8053
    @takenname8053 Před 3 měsíci +1

    "Some men just want to watch the world burn."

  • @curtisleblanc5897
    @curtisleblanc5897 Před 3 měsíci +1

    It's crazy how many times I thought "Just like Frollo" in this video.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Disney’s best villain!

    • @curtisleblanc5897
      @curtisleblanc5897 Před 3 měsíci

      @@SerumLake
      Debatable.
      I really like Bill Cipher, Oogie Boogie, and Frollo. But Jafar is a top tier disney villain as well.

    • @Xehanort10
      @Xehanort10 Před 3 měsíci +2

      Firefly would probably sing an obsessive "if she won't love me I'll kill her" song in front of a fireplace like Frollo.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      I think even Frollo has more of an awesome edge compared to OB and Bill though. Am somewhat more into mundane yet extremely dangerous foes when it comes to Disney storylines... a theoretical case in point, I'd rather have sequel saga to the Disney cartoons Gravity Falls, Amphibia, and The Owl House have its primary antagonist not be a bloody godlike Collector being and instead be an American (later, NATO/UN) commander (who may suddenly be successful enough to become POTUS and/or *Secretary General)* who LOVES fighting a justified, interdimensional expeditionary war by way of leading their own roughshod, and slowly but surely experienced, multi-organization that pays homage to XCOM, Third Echelon, First Encounter Assault Recon, the Global Defense Initiative, the Global Occult Coalition, Task Force 141, the National Space Defense Force (the Battlezone one), Grendel Squadron, and more... which will eventually lead to them, as mentioned, becoming extremely influential and ending up declaring a "liberating crusade" on their own Earth and WINNING against, say, the Ruskies, the ChiComs, the Iranians, the NoKors, and so on (though said victories may feel like overpowered hypocrisy, considering they might have hired the help of a Multiversal defense force who sympathizes with their ideals and motives... long story on that); this then follows a long, hard, and brutal overthrow against the guy, but even then, did that do any more good than what they did, no matter how exploitative and crass?

  • @kobeedragonking3800
    @kobeedragonking3800 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Comic book firefly in the past is ridiculous, but the firefly today is amazing and twisted. Instead of light, he is a pyro maniac.

  • @EasyE3939
    @EasyE3939 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Black Mask Full Space Society? Not sure what that is but I would have loved to see that in a DCAU cartoon. Tho with that Tiger Man, it might fit in more Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +2

      False Face Society 😂

    • @EasyE3939
      @EasyE3939 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@SerumLake I mean that works too... The Phantasm got me more excited than the space part haha

    • @daviddaniels4020
      @daviddaniels4020 Před 3 měsíci

      Now I'm wondering what a 'Full Space Society" would be up to. Would they launch thousands of evil satellites into orbit? Establish sinister bases on all planets? 🤔

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci

      Sounds like they’re dedicated to filling up as much empty space as possible. A legion of hoarders, perhaps? I can almost hear Black Mask getting angry at someone trying to throw out decades old newspapers…

  • @pennydreadfulthe13th
    @pennydreadfulthe13th Před 3 měsíci +2

    Just subscribed! Huge fan of Batman the animated series and of Batman’s rogues gallery. Will you ever do an episode on Maxie Zeus? He had one episode in the series. I really enjoyed watching that insane and delusional villain and enjoyed his several of his comics stories as well. He’s one that doesn’t get mentioned often. They haven’t even made a figure of him which always made me feel like the BTAS figure rogues gallery is incomplete.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +1

      He is on the list - fairly low on the list, granted, but on the list nonetheless 👍

  • @ericgaskins571
    @ericgaskins571 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Great video, like always. Thanks man

  • @hunter5822
    @hunter5822 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I fucking love the outdo music you use dude!!!!

  • @Gantros
    @Gantros Před 3 měsíci +1

    I believe that Batman’s fire suppression gun uses the same design model as the original BTAS freeze gun.

  • @toonbat
    @toonbat Před 3 měsíci

    Taking a lighthearted character and making an 'edgier and more badass' version of them is the sort of mentality that pretty much guarantees I will hate the final product... but this is a rare exception. While still not a particularly deep character, the reinvention of Firefly is still a vast improvement.

  • @shadowman_44
    @shadowman_44 Před 3 měsíci +3

    Unlike The Pyro, we _can_ imagine what inhuman thoughts lie behind that mask... _inceldom_

  • @Dfturcott
    @Dfturcott Před 3 měsíci +1

    Dude thought he could just drop a “toyetic” reference and we wouldn’t catch it. Wooooosh

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci

      Sorry, I’m not following. Toyetic is just a word that’s in my vocabulary 🤷‍♂️

    • @Dfturcott
      @Dfturcott Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@SerumLake I apologize, I thought you were making a freakazoid reference

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci

      @@Dfturcottmaybe that’s where I heard the word! I remember Bruce Timm using it when talking about Superman’s various costumes in STAS being a request from the toy companies

    • @Dfturcott
      @Dfturcott Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@SerumLake if you look up freakazoid and toyetic there’s the clip I thought you were referencing. Ether way, love this deep dive into Batman you’re doing. It’s great and I love watching them.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci

      It has been a looooooong time since I watched Freakazoid so I’ll have to look it up to remind myself 🫡

  • @mtaro8658
    @mtaro8658 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I think the best thing this episode had to offer was the pinky and the brain joke from Barbara...😋

  • @sharkdude7
    @sharkdude7 Před 2 měsíci

    Firefly will always be one of my favorite villains. His design sand voice in TNBA was cool, even his short appearance in JL. But making his obsessed over his ex more than fire was disappointing. It made more sense to be in love with Volcana. Even his appearance in The Batman he had a somewhat better relationship. I still think the Arkham games has the most accurate representation of him. I would’ve loved to see what Brendan Fraser could’ve done with the character.

  • @daviddaniels4020
    @daviddaniels4020 Před 3 měsíci +1

    "Torch Song' was the first episode of TNBA I saw, during my freshman year of college. And that ending--WOW. 😳
    I do wonder, though: if Fox didn't want fire-themed villains, how did Pyro manage to show up on X-Men? 🤔

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Fox Kids was so full of bull, I'll say.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +2

      Looking back on X-Men, I don’t think that Pyro actually set anything on fire, he could just control fire and turn it into different shapes.

  • @moonwhooper
    @moonwhooper Před 8 dny +1

    My favourite batman villain

  • @Megalon-qc8pf
    @Megalon-qc8pf Před 3 měsíci +1

    I will always know him as the guy who got that tf2 pyro hat

  • @funkyweapon1981
    @funkyweapon1981 Před 5 dny

    I like how there's also a G.I. Joe villain called Firefly.

  • @nicholasfarrell5981
    @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +1

    5:26 - oh man, that's a topic _The Animaniacs_ used to have a field day with.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      The OG one, I presume?

    • @nicholasfarrell5981
      @nicholasfarrell5981 Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@michaelandreipalon359 yeah, I remember a lot of jokes about how the network censors wouldn't let them tell the actual joke.

  • @davidburnett5049
    @davidburnett5049 Před 2 měsíci

    Those rings seem pretty expensive for a circle, but then i have always been poor

  • @theworstspeedrunner
    @theworstspeedrunner Před 3 měsíci +2

    Cant wait for the next video

  • @animetime6610
    @animetime6610 Před 13 dny +1

    I feel like firefly could have had a better life if he’d known who Cassidy was and had went to therapy to deal with his issues

  • @mlgodzilla4206
    @mlgodzilla4206 Před 3 měsíci +1

    What’s with cool characters being pyromaniacs: Pyro, Dingodile, Firefly etc

  • @1000jjwalker
    @1000jjwalker Před 3 měsíci +2

    you mention love as a motive but every example of love in gotham is warped to the extreme. perhaps a good topic would be how the city its self seems to alter the people within it.

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Always appreciate the idea that the place has been cursed since the beginning of time, to be honest. Pity said concept means that purging it will be in total vain.

  • @senoritatorres
    @senoritatorres Před 18 dny +1

    I remember firefly from The Batman (2004). It was an interesting adaptation of the character. I would like to know your opinions about the character adaptations in The Batman (2004)

  • @babysinclairfan
    @babysinclairfan Před 14 dny

    One thing worth noting is that the GI Joe character gave marvel the rights to "a villain named firefly" for a while.

  • @meltedcopper9247
    @meltedcopper9247 Před 3 měsíci

    A good video would be a comparison on how 90s Spiderman and batman with health with the same censors. Like batman gotta away with guns where spidey has to have lazers

  • @dogguything3242
    @dogguything3242 Před 3 měsíci

    I feel as if Garfield had given Cassidy everything only for her to take it and maybe even verbally abuse him only for him to figure out who she truly is and feel a burning hatred for her and want to get ride of her would be way more interesting and still dark

  • @DarkAngelBluejay
    @DarkAngelBluejay Před 3 měsíci +2

    Any chance you'll ever cover "The Batman" and its versions of the rouges gallery?

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci

      Never say never, but I doubt I’ll do lots of videos about that show. Maybe a handful?

  • @changvasejarik62
    @changvasejarik62 Před 2 měsíci

    I prefer the arsonist version of firefly, but I do think brave and the bold having the original light-belt take on firefly be connected to the rainbow batsuit was clever.

  • @tylerdamelondragon
    @tylerdamelondragon Před 7 dny

    I watched this video in a hospital bed on my birthday, This and a small bowl of corn flakes was the only memorable thing that happened

  • @marcusblackwell2372
    @marcusblackwell2372 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Can you please do one on Anarky? I've only known him from Arkham Origins, but he's fascinating just because of how little I know of him

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +2

      He technically wasn’t in the DCAU (outside of one appearance in Batman Adventures)

    • @michaelandreipalon359
      @michaelandreipalon359 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Interesting character, but I do think his schtick is overrated and too preachy.

    • @SerumLake
      @SerumLake  Před 3 měsíci +1

      If I ever get around the covering Beware The Batman Anarky will definitely be mentioned 🫡

  • @Nicknam316
    @Nicknam316 Před 3 měsíci

    Fun fact: This was the first episode of this show i watched in the hospital

  • @charles24852
    @charles24852 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Firefly is one of my favorite villains i prefer the Arkham version of having him be an assassin for hire to fuel his love of arson. The batman's take is also similar but i don't like that version as much because he uses lasers instead of fire and he is missing the wings otherwise great character motivation. Btas is the only version i don't like his stalker angle is interesting but its been done before and better plus while the flame saber is a nice touch a flare gun is not a flamethrower his idea for the flame gel that could burn through anything was cool its a shame no one thought of using it in the comics. Over all I think he is an underrated villain and should be used less as a main attraction and more of a henchman for hire or a psychotic assassin for hire.

    • @Xehanort10
      @Xehanort10 Před 3 měsíci

      Arkham Origins has a great Firefly boss fight on a bridge. Unfortunately in Knight he becomes one of that game's repetitive tank battles.

  • @odd9965
    @odd9965 Před 2 měsíci

    honestly batman has my favorite depiction of firefly he's just such an asshole with extreme proficiency and some of the best fight scenes in the show also notably always has to defeat batman once before being defeated by batman in a episode because going into a fight with firefly unprepared is simply impossible in that show because he's simply to fast and has strict aerial superiority