Trick or Treat!

A Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain to you all!

If you're looking for a good Halloween read, hunt down Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson's Beasts of Burden. Helluva good series about neighborhood pets who fight the supernatural. Way less twee than you would ever suspect and damned creepy in parts. A damn fine read. Failing that, check out these pugs in superhero costumes! (I am easily amused)

If you want something to just give you the flat-out creepy-crawlies, I suggest hunting down the manga Uzumaki. It's the creepy tale of a town haunted by a spiral that makes people into freaks and lunatics via anything remotely "spiral" shaped. Some portions are just laughable (Deadly curly hair!) but the bit about the human snail . . . brrrr.

Lastly, enjoy this creepy Bonus Video Content! If you haven't played Batman: Arkham Asylum yet, btw, it's a terrific game . . . and the Scarecrow is one of the best parts. :D Enjoy these easter eggs - little taped interviews from the so-called Master of Fear in Arkham Asylum.

A Musical Interlude

Please enjoy these geeky nuggets of musical joy while I attempt to create actual content.







And lastly, on a non-musical note, Adam West begs for cash:

Batman Garage Sale with Adam West from Adam West

Batman? Batman.

In lieu of real, intelligent commentary or content, I give you Batman:







Meanwhile, in real life, a heroic bat tried to travel into outer space. Sadly, not even Batman himself can travel into outer space without a Zeta Beam. Space Bat: R.I.P.

Orson Welles' "The Batman!"

Totally fake but it makes me smile -



Remember, kids - Batman is even better when you're dead! Also, in the real world of people doing fun things with Batman, did y'all see the four-page preview of Neil Gaiman's upcoming Batman two-parter? Color me most intrigued.

The LookOut - Still On the Cutting Edge

Your brand new favorite Videogame for the Nintendo Entertainment System (Spoilers for all 2 of you who still haven't seen The Dark Knight):



Many thanks to Kevin Church for the tip.

A moment in which we discuss Final Crisis

So, I'm tradewaiting Final Crisis and hoping it reads better as a whole story, but coming across huge spoilers is kind of inevitable on Teh Interwebs. I haven't even been to the comic shop today but I still heard a little something about Final Crisis #6 that made my eyebrow quirk.

To keep the rest of you who might be unspoiled, er, unspoiled, my only response will be the following BONUS VIDEO CONTENT. Avert your eyes and don't read the comments, ye who wish to be unspoiled, by what my BONUS VIDEO CONTENT implies:



Again, reserving judgment until the trades, folks.

"Sadness but incredible pride"

I especially love Robert Downey, Jr's "Please just get on with giving Heath Ledger the award he has both already won and deserves" face when they cut to him and finishing reading his name. A beautiful acceptance speech as well by Chris Nolan. Fingers crossed for Oscar gold.

It was a BIG dog

Robin: "Like, hey, Bats - if you go into that creepy cave and do some detecting work, I'll give you another one of these groovy Batman Snacks!"

Batman: "Batty Batty Booooooooo!"

BONUS VIDEO CONTENT:

It's What's For Dinner In Gotham

BATMAN:







HE TAKES HIS STEAK MEDIUM RARE.

Batman's canonical love of slightly pink steak is taken from Azzarello and Risso's Broken City and the "never-reprinted" Batman 247, wherein Batman Saves New Year's Eve.

Merry Christmas With The Batman And Red Tornado

Some of the kooky folks over at Scans_Daily have collected three YouTube videos featuring A Very Special Christmas Episode of The Brave and The Bold. If you haven't started watching that show, you should start. It's charming as all hell and full of win.

This X-Mas episode is so cool that you can watch it and see the following:

- Red Tornado tries to learn the spirit of Christmas.
- Blue Beetle punches some guys and argues with his suit.
- And oh, yes - Batman beats up flying saucers and rides a freakin' reindeer.

And I still haven't even scratched the surface of how wonderful it is. I think it may have even surpassed Christmas With The Joker* as my favorite animated Batman Christmas story and that is saying something, my friends.

Incidentally, my dear friend Kay, whom I have mentioned in passing on this blog, still has never seen It's A Wonderful Life for the exact same reasons Batman cites in that episode. She has no soul.

No mere mortal can resist

While I am usually so much about the Halloween it's scary (see what I did there?), I've been pretty blah this year. Still, after reading Chris Sim's superlative examples of Halloween comics blogging, I have been inspired to post a few holiday appropriate videos.

The Original:





The Massive Filipino Prisoner Dance Remix:



And lastly, the Indian version (or a "translated version", if you prefer):



And lastly, while he's no Vincent Price (but who is?), there's something to be said for hearing Christopher Walken read "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe:



So, there you have it really. Have a lovely Halloween and make the most out of your costumed fun - not like this poor guy.



He couldn't have had Alfred or Robin do the shopping on Halloween? Tch. So much for useful sidekicks. But then again, I guess Arkham Asylum isn't going to TP itself.

I laughed at these way more than I should have

Worth it entirely for 3:16

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

And I don't recall if I posted this one here before but it always makes me smile.

Am I Blue?

Linky link links for you all!

I just found an intriguing manga about everyday life. Seems very lovely and subtle.

Speaking of lovely and subtle, have you heard of Twilight Guardian yet? It's a contest-winning story about one girl's quiet misadventures patrolling a suburban neighborhood as a 'superheroine'. I like it quite a bit and plan on buying more of it when it comes out regularly.

And speaking of contest-winners, or at least, contest runner-uppers - I'm intrigued by I Hate Gallant Girl. The premise sounds cute and sort of Empowered-esque. We'll see if it lives up to both the premise and the cute preview.
(SIDEBAR: I sent in four submissions for that contest and while I was a bit saddened that none of them got in, I remember this idea being the one that got my vote out of the top five that did make it.)

And hey, speaking of that title of the post - animated Batman and Blue Beetle ahoy! I want approximately 17 of those little marshmallow amoeba thingies with laser guns as my pets, like, right now. Also, this looks pretty damned fun, no? One nitpick - I kinda wish they'd given Jaime just a little bit of an accent but considering that I'm a Hispanic guy with no accent, I'm totally okay with him not having one. See, that's how much I like this - just one nitpick! Fingers crossed that the rest of the series is just this fun and cute.

And speaking of animated things that amuse me, I hope to try out Spider-Man: Web of Shadows sometime in the future. Geeky confession: playing one of the first Spider-Man video games - with the web-slinging action and movement - was one of those rare moments where a video game made me feel like I was a kid again. I've had a weakness for Spider-Man video games ever since (save for that damnable Atari version and the Ultimate one where the web-slinging dynamic was just a hair off and it drove me a bit nuts). Anyways, this game looks like a lot of fun and I dig all the previously unused Marvel NY residents shown as having guest spots. Luke Cage smashin' stuff is always fun. Of course, I still need to finish Marvel Ultimate Alliance, so it's pretty clear that my Comic Book Video Game Geek-Fu is weak (I'm gonna see Deadpool save the universe someday if it kills me, dang it).

And hey, I know I've been bad about keeping up the blog again. Sorry, folks. I've been a bit blue. But hey, much in the spirit of Batman, I plan on turning my personal bucket of emo into motivation. Or maybe just a stirring jazz song -

Villains Enlightened

Chris Sims and Mightygodking have put up intriguing, in-depth studies of two of the most well-known supervillains in the world - The Joker and Lex Luthor, respectively. While I might not agree 100% on every particular point, their analyses are brilliantly done and quite worth a read. Additionally, MGK's piece links to a quintessential Lex Luthor story done up in the animated series style by none other than Mark "Wanted" Millar (believe it or not).

And then there's a series of extremely interesting studies of Batman's Rogue Gallery over at a blog ironically named Mindless Ones (who still remind me of Nextwave, btw. Ahhhh, Nextwave. How I miss you). His unique take on Poison Ivy is worth the price of admission alone (thanks for the heads-up, WFA!).

The Dark Huntress?

I know that as of late, I seem to be a little Bat-obsessed, but I had a crazy idea while watching The Dark Knight for the second time.

SPOILERS AHOY!

People everywhere are already talking about which villains they'll use in the sequel to The Dark Knight. My thought is this - what if they don't use villains? Not in the strictest sense of the word, that is. What if the next film is mostly about Batman butting heads with Catwoman and The Huntress?

I know, I know - neither of them are as vicious as Heath Ledger's Joker and it sidesteps the whole "Batman Vs. The Terrorists" dynamic they've established in both films (Ra's Al Ghul and his cult of fanatics versus Joker and his cult of personality). But, my God - wouldn't that be the point? They can't return to the themes of this movie without rehashing a certain amount of ground. So why not go to a fresh place?

The most interesting part of the film for me are the BatWannabes, the various guys at the start in homemade costumes who are trying to be like their hero. Despite a working BatSignal and admiration for Batman in the comics, no such movement has existed in the comic books themselves, to my knowledge. It's a testimony to the world that Christopher Nolan has created that the existence of such men feel organic; a natural response by fed-up people to the basic idea of one man making a difference. While I think it's implied that the Batman imitators are flash in the pan and scared off by The Joker, I can only wonder if a similar "Year One"-esque motivation will be used in the third film for not just Catwoman, but perhaps Huntress as well.

As it's implied by the ending of DK, everyone now assumes Batman will and does kill. I feel like the placement of Catwoman in the next film feels almost inevitable, given what happens between Bruce and Rachel in this film, but what if we replace that dynamic with Huntress? Or Selina Kyle also assumes the hype about Batman the murderous vigilante? How does Batman deal with taking down the mob while dealing with one or even two women who are as motivated - albeit not quite as well-armed - as he is? More dangerous than him, even, given their moral flexibility? How tempting would it be for him to fudge his moral code so he can be with a partner who understands him? The crushing loneliness of his existence was hammered home in every frame of Dark Knight, to the point where I do feel like a lack of a love interest in the next film would be unforgivable (and please not, Talia Al Ghul - while she would give the trilogy symmetry, she just doesn't interest me nearly as much as a character).

Now, before anyone freaks out, I'm not saying that a total lack of a more straightforward Batvillain is going to happen or that a lack of a straightforward mustache-twirling bad guy would even be a good thing. But The Penguin? The Riddler? No and no. Too silly in Penguin's case and I honestly can't imagine a Riddler who could stand up to Ledger's Joker.

But Black Mask? Absolutely. Hugo Strange? God, yes. In a mob city as violently destabilized by Batman and the Joker's antics, the idea of a mobster like Black Mask adopting their tactics just makes sense. And Hugo Strange? Seriously, what 'real world' psychiatrist wouldn't be trying to figure out Batman and The Joker at this point? Yes, I know a Harley Quinn appearance would be the most logical thing in the world from that set-up but, in the wake of Mr. Ledger's tragic death, any callbacks to his Joker would have to be tremendously earned. Maybe it's me, but Hugo Strange just feels like he'd fit in beautifully in Nolan's world. The idea of Strange trying to twist the minds of Batman, Catwoman and/or the Huntress as they dance around Gotham's rooftops intrigues the hell out of me. Such a film would be a delight. I feel that these characters and themes would just lend themselves beautifully to Nolan's spot-on character studies and exploration of morality in a confusing world.

Plus, I just plain like Catwoman and Huntress, dang it. :D

Huh. Sorry, the idea of a more Hugo Strange-esque Harley Quinn (funny, sure, but more sadistic and effective) with Catwoman and/or Huntress just simultaneously gave me goosebumps and a twitchy memory of that unfortunate Birds of Prey TV show (so much wasted potential!).

But in any case, after all that rambling, I suppose I should give out my obligatory casting ideas. Hmmmm. The Angelina Jolie as Catwoman rumor doesn't entirely displease me, even if she feels a little on the nose at this point. Huntress? A lot harder to cast. Monica Bellucci would be perfect but for Helena's relative youth and inexperience. Hell, she might still pull it off, given how much fun she seemed to be having in Shoot 'Em Up. Black Mask needs to have an imposing physical presence and the ability to act through a mask - which could really describe a wealth of large, talented male actors these days. Gerard Butler, just as a for instance, might have a lot of fun portraying a psychopathic mobster. And Hugo Strange? I'd love to see what Steve Buscemi could do with a shaved head and thick glasses. And, should they surprise the hell out of me by going that route, Sarah Michelle Gellar might make for a fine Harley Quinn. Just my two cents, in any case.



What do y'all think? Am I crazy? Or do these ideas sound reasonable to anybody else?

In the spirit of my last post

Several pages of The Dark Knight coloring book for kids can be found here.

A sample, which I swear I have not photoshopped in any way -

Did I ever tell you how I got my scars?

Most people agree that, while it is brilliant, engaging and beautifully done film, The Dark Knight is not meant to be a feature film for children. Some people, on the other hand, are still willfully insistent/naive enough to think "Batman" = "children's film" and thus force their screaming, crying children to take in a two and a half hour film where *SPOILER!* people are brutally murdered in the throes of nail-biting psychological tension. A lot. I didn't have to deal with any crying kids at my IMAX screening but I've heard horror stories.

I only wish that I were joking. Beyond the anecdotal evidence, I actually came across a comments section on CNN where people argued that it was "stupid" to think Batman wasn't a kid's movie. Swear to God ("SWEAR TO ME!!!"). I couldn't find that link (if I could, I'd forward it to Get Off The Internet post haste), but I did find the following -



While this video was awfully freakin' adorable (Battyke on Tricycle FTW!), I don't know how I feel about kids seeing a flick as, well, dark as The Dark Knight. Of course, kids will watch want they want to watch and there's way, way worse films for them to see (I've seen people with toddlers in R-rated horror films. No kid under 8 should be taken to Grindhouse, fer crissakes). Of course, the guy who read Kraven's Last Hunt when he was, like, 11, probably should just shut the hell up and stop throwing stones.

But hey, at least this way, kids will learn at least one of two important lessons about life.

1. The world is more often than not a messy, ugly place full of moral ambiguity - a place that can only be overcome via obsessive dedication to one's ideals, an unflinching moral code and constant attempts at self-improvement.

2. Or, y'know, that Batman is totally freakin' awesome.

Whichever.

T.G.I.Batman

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Remember, if you loved me, you'd buy me this t-shirt. Or this one. Or maybe this one or this one. Clearly, I'm not picky.

A few quick thoughts

If this map is accurate, Smallville was/is in the state of The Flash. This amuses me greatly because that means that, when Supes goes home, everybody's a rabid Flash fan instead of being geeks for Superman. I don't know why that tickles me so much.

Also, check out the new animated Batman team-up series, The Brave and The Bold - now with extra-Blue Beetle!



(In other animated news, the surprisingly awesome Spectacular Spider-Man show is also coming back for a 2nd Season, which pleases me.)


And if you're reading Helen Killer (which of course, you should be already), you might be pleased to know that the fellow behind it is going to take over the writing duties on Black Canary/Green Arrow. I've resisted picking up this title for a long time - mostly because I felt like Black Canary and GA were more interesting and natural-feeling as an on-again/off-again relationship (and also, Ollie annoys me) - but dang it if this doesn't force me to start reading the book.

And in other news, there's some sorta comic book convention going on in San Diego right now. Who knew?

Batman says "Right On!"

Batman and The Joker teach us about Sexual Harassment -

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Also, Indian food is delicious -

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

And here's an actual, genuine, non-Batman related PSA (sort of) -

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

And if you want even more Batman-related funny, I direct you to this gem unearthed by Beaucoup Kevin.