Leashed in their respective cages, KareKano columnists Matt Yamashita and Stephanie Sheh readied to tear into "Batman" and "The Big O" like a couple of acetate-starved hyenas. But sounding the challenge - which is better, "Batman" or "The Big O?" - Akadot sits mouth agape at the veiled civility of its prime fighting writers. However, instead of ripping into each other, both lash out at everyone else, from Hasidic Jews to pre-pubescent boys who think Roger Smith is cool. Of course, that means they open themselves up for ridicule. Please feel free to respond by email to info@akadot.com.

"Batman" and "The Big O." Two heroes connected in the minds of viewers by a string of unavoidable similarities and a shared page in the Justice League phone directory. But are these two shows really that alike? Picture two columns, on the left all things "Batman," on the right "The Big O." Left side: Millionaire Bruce Wayne. Right side: Ultra-wealthy Roger Smith. Left: Butler named Alfred. Right: Butler named Norman. Left: Long black car with cool gadgets and armor-plated keyless remote. Right: Long black car with cool gadgets, armor plated keyless remote, and comfortable seating for four. And the list goes on, each person, place or thing on the right with its corresponding noun to the left. At first look "Big O" appears to have achieved what every lazy college student dreams of - the perfect plagiarism.

Which brings me to Hasidic Jews. Aren't they just like gang members? They wear baggy pants. The males travel in packs, cruising the sidewalks of our inner cities, surveying their well-defined turf. Aren't Hasidic Jews and West Coast Crips basically the same thing? Or, more to the point, aren't Jews and Crips as similar to each other as "Batman" and "The Big O." Because in this world of 6 billion, it's not what you do (eating, working, sleeping) that makes you different, but how you do it (at Carl's Jr., only when I have to, and in a pool of my own vomit). So I submit the following hypothesis; despite its similarities to the older and better-known "Batman," "The Big O" can and should be judged as its own show with its own strengths and weaknesses. And judged harshly at that.

The creative overlap between the two shows is both obvious and well documented. But what sets "The Big O" apart? What does it have that "Batman" doesn't? It's got a big robot called "The Big O." And mega-deuce. It's called that, too. One name makes me think of breakfast cereal, the other makes me think of a woman who really, really doesn't "feel fresh." Basically, this robot sucks. And (not to sound like a grumpy young man) all the giant robots suck today. When I was a kid we had Robotech and Voltron and Optimus Prime - now those were giant robots. As far as innovations over "Batman" go, score the robot a giant, metallic zero.

What else? There's Dorothy, the android. Pleasant faced and sharp-tongued, she provides the show with moments of sexual tension as she develops a romantic relationship with her boss and partner. Isn't that what Robin did for Batman? Yes. And if the rumors are true, that's not the only thing Robin did for Batman. If you want your sidekick to wear tights and slide down your bat pole, better an android girl than an art major. Shake off the doubts about your sexuality, and award this round to "The Big O."

But the real difference between these two heroes is in their respective villains. Batman battles a panoply of deranged lunatics bent on destroying the city by the bottom of the hour. Their plans are diabolical and foolproof, and they are so proud of their evil-handiwork that they disclose the details of their plots to crime-fighters and audience at the drop of a top hat. Then it's back to the asylum, to escape in another episode with no memory or regard for this week's foiling. Batman may be haunted by his past, but his show is grounded entirely in the present. Not so for Roger Smith and Big O. Like most anime, this show is serial in nature. And like most anime, this is both a blessing and a curse. How interesting is the over-arching plot of "The Big O," with its mysterious city-wide amnesia and X-filesy government conspiracies? How terrifying are the secrets buried in the subterranean depths of the city and the lead characters' subconscious? My response to these questions is a shrug of the shoulders and an uninspired "eh." Sometimes the serial elements of "Big O" work for me, sometimes they just get in the way. No call.

Final score? Call it a tie game: one to ichi. "The Big O" is just like "Batman," except it's Japanese. The show is more romantic, the characters are more intertwined and interdependent, and the lines between right and wrong are a little fuzzy. Play these themes out in front of a backdrop of apocalyptic urban decay, and you cater to a conventional anime purist. Replace these themes with rugged individualism and a millionaire vigilante who uses his own skills and money to step in where the state and the community have failed, and package it in an action packed half-hour (or the occasional full length movie) and you cross an ocean of cultural taste. Which will you like better? Do you prefer pizza or sushi? Animated characters that dress up like girls, or animated characters that turn into girls when they get wet? Argue amongst yourselves. Or better still, be happy that there is a version to fit both tastes.

And if you happen to be a bi-racial fence-straddler like myself, you're probably too busy fantasizing about a girl on girl encounter between Catwoman and Angel to fret over which one you want more. Now quiet. I'm trying to concentrate. (Matt)

Round two in the Kare Kano Column with Matt and Stephanie. Subject matter: the Caped Crusader vs the Negotiator. Yes, this month's battle of the sexes is the battle of the shows about wealthy mysterious men with double lifestyles - "Batman" vs "The Big O." Surprisingly enough I agree with a lot of what Matt has to say, including his stance on eating at Carl's Jr. However, in this close race, I think "Batman" comes out ahead, but not by much. And though I am about to gripe a little about "The Big O," I actually enjoy watching both shows.

Ever since "The Big O" began airing on the Cartoon Network everyone has been telling me that I have to watch the show. Well, I don't have cable, so thank god for anime DVD releases. My first reaction upon being handed the DVD was, "Geez, this looks just like 'Batman the Animated Series.'" Understandable since apparently a lot of the same creative team worked on both shows. But the similarities run much deeper, well, surface deep if you know what I mean. In addition to their visual resemblances, character and story-wise the two shows seem to be working from the same base formula.

So let's move on to the first element in this formula, the main characters. Matt has already pointed out the basic components - wealthy bachelors, dark clothes, large cars, old butlers, secret lairs, yadda yadda… Bruce Wayne and Roger Smith are definitely cut out of the same fabric that created both their square jaws and slick hair.

But it seems that Smith was stitched together loosely from Wayne's leftover scraps. Both characters are also obviously supposed to be cool. With his cheesy one-liners and flagrant womanizing (not to mention strangely shaped eyebrows) Smith instead comes across as someone desperately trying to be cool, which (note to Matt) is not cool. Smith is also indiscriminately mean to people, including his butler. Most of the time Smith embodies a suave and arrogant hero, but there are moments when he is just a big loser.

Moving on to the most obvious difference between the two shows, "The Big O" has what all good shounen anime have, giant robots. However, I have to echo Matt's sentiments here. "The Big O" just isn't doing it for me. While I think the mecha's interior is well designed the exterior is nothing special. "The Big O" also seems to be lacking good weapons - no blazing sword just a few explosives here and there. All of his battles boil down to metallic fistfights.

But my primary issue with "The Big O" is that I don't get it. Smith talks to it like it's a living entity, but in the episodes I've seen so far it hasn't exhibited any of these signs. It's no Eva if you ask me. Also, "Ye not guilty?" Say what? Is that supposed to be something like "Thou art not guilty?" Even if it was I would have no clue as to its significance.

And as far as villains are concerned, "Batman" has a whole bevy of colorful and interesting characters while Smith and his robotic buddies are left to battle a gang of unmemorable creatures and machines with very uninspiring motives. The serial nature of "The Big O" should provide the tools to create plenty of back-story for a slew of interesting nemesis. With the exception of Angel, most of the characters in "The Big O" are just bland. It also probably doesn't help that one of its main characters is a stoic android.

In summary, all of these grievances are fairly minor. The animation in "The Big O" is excellent and, in my humble opinion, surpasses that of "Batman." And I find the concept of a city without a past very intriguing. But when it's all added up though, "Batman" comes out ahead, but just by a hair, a hair from one of Smith's strangely crooked eyebrows. (Stephanie)

The views and opinions expressed in The KareKano column are solely those of Matt Yamashita and Stephanie Sheh and do not necessarily represent the views of Digital Manga, AKADOT or its sponsors.