The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special with a Touch of Magic is a television special that combines the humor and satirical style of Robot Chicken with the iconic characters and stories of DC Comics. The special takes the form of several sketches and skits, each poking fun at different aspects of the DC Universe. One of the highlights of the special is the introduction of a magical element into the DC world. This allows the writers to take creative liberties with the characters and their powers, resulting in hilarious and often absurd scenarios. For example, Superman turns into a used car salesman who uses his powers to make unbelievable deals, and Wonder Woman becomes a fast food worker who uses her lasso of truth to get customers to order more food. The special also features many beloved DC characters, including Batman, Robin, The Flash, Aquaman, and more.
The special also features many beloved DC characters, including Batman, Robin, The Flash, Aquaman, and more. Each character is given their own comedic twist, with Batman being portrayed as overly brooding and angsty, and Aquaman being ridiculed for his seemingly useless powers. In addition to the sketches, the special also includes parody advertisements and interludes, adding to the overall comedic tone.
The Lack Of Wonder Woman, And Women Generally, In The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special
The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special aired this weekend on Cartoon Network, and it was kind of meh for me. I know comedy is all sorts of subjective, but usually Robot Chicken is amusing… their Star Wars stuff was funny. DC is ripe for parody, but the show didn’t really amount to much other than some tired Aquaman jokes and Superman kissing dudes. The Bane breaking Batman’s back gag was a little bit funny, but I don’t think I actually laughed out loud once. The whole thing felt like a missed opportunity to me.
Comedy value aside, the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special also continued the troubling trend of not giving female characters much to do. I know that being serious about a comedy show is never very fun, but we see this all the time with superheroes. Female characters get marginalized, wherever they may appear.
Case in point, Wonder Woman. First off, how they went a whole half hour without making a bondage joke I have NO idea. Second, Wonder Woman is part of DC’s Big Three, and their most famous female character, and she only had four lines in the entire show.
In her first scene, she made fun of Aquaman with Superman and Green Lantern. You can check out that scene here:
In her second scene, she again made fun of Aquaman with Superman. Her two lines consisted of mocking cruise ship passengers and congratulating Superman on his Aquaman burn.
Finally, in the big brawl at the end of the show, Wonder Woman busted up a bunch of villains and exclaimed “Yeah, droppin’ motherf***ers!! Who’s next?!” while looking like this:
And that was it.
She was also in the background for a few other scenes, but she had very little to do in the show. Mr. Freeze had more lines. Mirror Master had more lines. Firestorm had more lines. The smelly guy from the mail room of the Legion of Doom headquarters had more lines. Wonder Woman was little more than an afterthought.
This was true of all of the other female characters in the show. Lois Lane had two lines setting up a bit where Superman kisses all of his villains to wipe their memories. Abby Arcane had a line in a four second Swamp Thing bit. Ice closed an all freeze-related villain sketch that went on for a few minutes with all male characters before she popped up to do the closing line. Giganta stole Aquaman’s pants. Cheetah called Catwoman a bitch. Harley Quinn implied that the urine in the Joker’s flower that just sprayed Batman was, in fact, hers. All quality bits…
All told, seven female characters spoke eleven lines of dialogue in the entire show. A few more appeared in the background, like Catwoman and Zatanna and Stargirl (of course, since Geoff Johns was involved), but for the most part there weren’t many female characters and those who were there spoke very little.
Also, while most of the major male heroes were in the special, a lot of well-known female characters weren’t, particularly those headlining their own books. Batgirl, Batwoman, Black Canary, Huntress, Power Girl, and Supergirl were nowhere to be found. Nor was Hawkgirl, who a lot of people know from the Justice League cartoon. The show was pretty much wall to wall male characters, some of them rather obscure, with a lady very occasionally.
Ultimately, it’s bad enough that the show wasn’t funny. They didn’t need to do absolutely nothing with Wonder Woman and exclude female characters generally too. And good lord, people, Aquaman jokes are PLAYED OUT. Get some better, more diverse, material.
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All told, seven female characters spoke eleven lines of dialogue in the entire show. A few more appeared in the background, like Catwoman and Zatanna and Stargirl (of course, since Geoff Johns was involved), but for the most part there weren’t many female characters and those who were there spoke very little.
These segments further demonstrate the creativity and wit of the show's writers, as they find new and unexpected ways to mock the superhero genre. Overall, the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special with a Touch of Magic is a hilarious and entertaining tribute to the DC Universe. It combines the irreverent humor of Robot Chicken with the beloved characters and stories of DC Comics, resulting in a unique and enjoyable television experience. Whether you're a fan of superheroes or just looking for a good laugh, this special is sure to deliver..
Reviews for "When Magic Meets Comedy: The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special"
1. John - 1/5 stars
This special was a complete disappointment. I am a big fan of both Robot Chicken and DC Comics, but this crossover fell flat on so many levels. The humor was forced and lacked the cleverness that the show is known for. The sketches were poorly executed and felt rushed. The addition of magic was unnecessary and did not add anything substantial to the overall plot. I was expecting so much more from this collaboration, but sadly it did not deliver.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars
As a fan of both Robot Chicken and DC Comics, I was excited to watch this special. However, I found it to be quite underwhelming. The jokes seemed repetitive and lacked the usual wit that the show is known for. The animation, although in the style of Robot Chicken, looked sloppy and rough. The inclusion of magic felt like a forced attempt to add something new, but it didn't mesh well with the overall storyline. Overall, I was left disappointed and feeling like this collaboration didn't live up to its potential.
3. Tom - 2/5 stars
I was expecting a fun and entertaining crossover between Robot Chicken and the DC Comics universe, but unfortunately, this special didn't hit the mark for me. The humor felt tired and lacking the edginess that usually makes Robot Chicken stand out. The plot seemed disjointed and rushed, leaving little room for character development or engaging storylines. The addition of magic felt out of place and unnecessary. Overall, this special fell short of my expectations and left me wanting more from this collaboration.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars
I have been a fan of both Robot Chicken and DC Comics for years, but this special failed to impress me. The jokes felt forced and repetitive, lacking the cleverness and satirical edge that I love about Robot Chicken. The use of magic as a plot device felt like a desperate attempt to add some excitement, but it only ended up feeling out of place. The sketches were poorly executed and disjointed, leaving me confused and unamused. Overall, this special was a disappointment and did not live up to the high standards set by both Robot Chicken and DC Comics.