Current Events > What are you thoughts on adaptation-specific character interpretations?

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Like, there was one Batman cartoon that turned the Riddler into Marilyn Manson. And then there was a Transformers series which turned Arcee into a motorcycle when she's usually depicted as a robot which transforms into a medical vehicle. Going back to Batman, Batman Returns was the only interpretation I know of in which the Penguin is a sewer dwelling figure of urban legend.

That creates kind of an odd niche for that character as their attributes and mannerisms are specific to that one spinoff of a greater franchise. When it's done well, does it become a fresh new take? Or does it just create confusion about who a character should be? And if it's done really well, should the main continuity adopt the look or attitude of the character from this one specific interpretation?

Feel free to give your own examples of other times this has happened.