Posted in Comics, SFW on 10/29/2009 06:43 pm by fanboi
Now I hate to be the one falling for stereotypes, but I have to call one when I see one and The Gotham arrival of the pink-clad, fussy and fastidious yet fabulously ferocious new bat-foe known as the Flamingo smacks of the “amoral aristocratic bitchy queen type.” I’m not sure if Morrison would be that obvious, but maybe. We haven’t had a good gay Batman villain in awhile (now that Captain Stingaree and the Cavalier appear to be out of commission), so its good to be part of Bat’s Rogues Gallery. I still prefer to see new LGBT characters pop up on the side of the angels, but I’ll take what we can get. Stay tuned to see what his story is… and where he got that awesome coat!
Due out 9.29.09 is Superman Batman Public Enemies…
A desperate solution for a troubled country: Lex Luthor for President with the Justice League in the service of the government. Only Batman and Superman stand against the new regime – and their disloyalty proves to be exactly what Luthor intended. Using their outcast status to instigate a scandal against Superman, Luthor finally tastes a victory in his vendetta against The Man of Steel.
From Executive Producer Bruce Timm and voiced by the cast from both hit Batman and Superman animated TV series including Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Clancy Brown, this DC Universe Original Animated Movie of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness’s popular graphic novel seethes with political intrigue and action-packed battles between heroes all believing they’re on the right side of the law.
The Dead-Titan-on-Live-Titan violence escalates this fall! Black LanternHawk has his talons set for the female Hawk and Dove! Meanwhile, Red Star faces a frightful family reunion with Black Lanterns Pantha and Wildebeest, and Donna Troy faces her worst possible nightmare (AND ISN’T IT ADORABLE)! Plus, Black Lantern Terra simultaneously terrorizes and turns on Beast Boy!
Posted in Preview, SFW on 05/12/2009 11:57 am by fanboi
Not one, but two members of the Secret Six feel they deserve to wear Batman’s cowl, and they return to Gotham City with a semi-delusional Ragdoll determined to be the new Boy Wonder! Unfortunately, everybody in Gotham has other plans!
Project Rooftop is a place for cartoonists and illustrators apply their costume design skills to to the superheroes and villains we’ve grown up with. Their most recent costume creation contest (with prizes from Rogues Gallery) called for artists to redesign the Batman uniform to suit his most likely successor, Dick Grayson A.K.A. Robin A.K.A. Nightwing. Here are the winning entries as well as some of the runners up.
Batman & Robin is a new forthcoming series due in June from the creative team of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. Morrison revealed this week that seeds for this series were planted as far back as 2007’s Batman #666 – a story set in a possible future starring the Damien Wayne, the son of the Bat and Talia al Ghul as the new Batman.
Other details mentioned include some hints as to the identities of the new dynamic duo. The series will have a reversal to the usual relationship between the two heroes by featuring a more light-hearted, more spontaneous Batman and a really bad-ass, violent Robin… hmmm any guesses? Damien Wayne or Talon would be the obvious choices for a violent Robin, but who could the happy-go-lucky Bats be? (If only Earth-3’s nemesis of the evil Owlman (a Batman doppelganger) The Jokester had survived Countdown, I’d want to see him take over for awhile with Talon at his side).
You have to love a good team up and that is exactly what this new DC cartoon (named for the classic Superman/Batman team up title: Brave and the Bold) provides week after week. I wasn”t sold on the overly stylized artwork originally but its growing on me. There is a certain element of plain old Golden Age fun in these cartoons, but the characters are modern DCU all the way.
I saw this on TV tonight and then happened upon it on YouTube. It will likely be removed due to copyright issues etc. But until then take a look…
Posted in Comics, Review on 01/15/2009 02:31 am by fanboi
Well someone should tell Grant Morrison that being killed by Darkseid’s Omega beams just as you blow him away with a specially engineered god-killer bullet is cooler than dying on an exploding helicopter. Final Crisis beats Batman R.I.P.
But that fact that I’m discussing whose story about killing Batman is better should make you think. If one of these stories happened before the other, then therefore logically wouldn’t Batman have to rise from the dead at some point? And don’t start in about Bane breaking his back – that is beside the point. In fall 2008 Grant Morrison wrote Batman R.I.P. a story that culminated in the “death” of Batman. I just don’t understand what is going on with DC these days. Is it really that hard top keep comics current with each other and release stories in a chronological and timely order?
And while I am kvetching… Superman comes speeding down from on high with fire in his eyes and takes out most of the anti-life possessed in the immediate area the suddenly he’s holding up Batman’s corpse. Where did he pick up Bats? He wasn’t carrying anything as he flew down. That whole scene was outdoors and Batman confronted Darkseid indoors, yet there is not mention of Superman going looking for Bats. That is my major problem with Final Crisis – I keep getting the feeling that someone left some pages out.
Read this weeks comics before looking at the images and text after the comic covers. They are spoilerific.
Final Crisis #6 of 7: Looks like Batman’s dead, again. But at least he takes Darkseid with him. Um, didn’t Batman (Bruce Wayne) just die (or fake his death) in Batman R.I.P.? If that happened before Final Crisis, then when did he come back from the dead? If Final Crisis happened before Batman R.I.P…. then same question. I thought these Crises were supposed to make continuity CLEARER?
X-Infernus #2 of 4: Darkchilde trades her hooves and tail for her soulsword… now if she could only regain her soul.
Captain Britain # 9: I hate covers that flat out lie. OK, maybe I’m a sap for hoping for a happy ending for Brian and Meggan, but I thought she’d catch up with the gang or Cap Britain would relaize she was not just a figment of the “Dream Corridor.” I guess they are just setting up a future story. Meggan is gonna be MAAAAD!
Punisher: War Zone #5 of 6: Garth Ennis’ homorous and irreverent equal to his original Punisher: War Zone series is nearing a boil as Frank Castle starts to see the connection between Elite and the mysterious game of multiple Ma Gnuccis’s just in time for every hood in the NY region to descend upon him and the gun-toting lesbian Lieutenant Von Richtofen
Action Comics #873: Lots going on in this 10th installment of New Krypton as Alura’s forces (revealed to be working for Zod) shoot Kandor into space and grow a planet for it in orbit opposite the Earth. Oh yeah and the new Superwoman kills the new Guardian by burning holes in his brain with her heat vision – just as he was breaking into General Lane’s and Lex Luthor’s anti-Kryptonian lab.
House of M: Civil War #5 of 5: A fitting end to the story of how Magneto ended up as benevolent dictator on the House of M reality. About what you’s expect plus how Ms Marvel got to be so high up in Magnus’ esteem.
Booster Gold #16: This arc with the Egyptian knife charged with temporal energy isn’t really up to the previous issues. I like this title and hope it gets back up nearer the top of my list.
Titans #9: Well at least they are finally explaining what’s going on with Jericho and why he can talk. And since this story is set within 24 hours of the finale of DCU Decisions, it takes place the day after election day. Took them long enogh. They couldn’t have found a better artist?
Green Arrow and Black Canary #16: I don’t like how this title is portraying Black Canary. She is way too good a fighter to be taken down by Merlyn. She would have Canary cry blasted those arrows if she couldn’t dodge. She’s married to (and undoubtedly spars with) the best archer in the world, she can dodge arrows.
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star perhaps best known for her 1953 Christmas song “Santa Baby”, taking over the role of Catwoman for the 3rd and final season of the 1960s Batman TV series, replacing Julie Newmar, who was unavailable and for the role of oversexed Lady Eloise in Eddie Murphy’s Boomerang. Miss Kitt died December 25 (Christmas Day) 2008 at the age of 81 after a long battle against colon cancer.
Her outspoken 1968 criticism of the Vietnam War at a White House lunch hosted by then first lady Lady Bird Johnson led to her being blacklisted and seeking work in Europe and Asia.
“You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed,” she told the group of about 50 women. “They rebel in the street. They don’t want to go to school because they’re going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam.”
For four years afterward, Kitt performed almost exclusively overseas. She was investigated by the FBI and CIA, which allegedly found her to be foul-mouthed and promiscuous.
I knew there was a reason I liked her.
She was not only appreciative of her gay fan base, but was also quite progressive in her thoughts and words about our struggles.
“When I was in trouble with the government and Lady Bird Johnson, it was the gay guys who kept my name alive because they kept looking for my records and they were imitating me.”
Added Kitt, “I feel very close to the gay crowd because we know what it feels like to be rejected.”
Kitt’s sentiments in that interview are still topical now. Speaking on the subject of marriage equality for gay and lesbian families, Kitt said, “I support it because we’re asking for the same thing.
“If I have a partner and something happens to me, I want that partner to enjoy the benefits of what we have reaped together.”
Added the world-famous performer, “It’s a civil-rights thing, isn’t it?”
Though some Black Americans take umbrage at the suggestion that the civil rights struggle of gays and Blacks have close parallels, Kitt herself made that comparison, saying, “We were not allowed to go through certain doors because of our race, our color.
images all the property of their respective owners.
Posted in Comics, Preview on 12/24/2008 11:43 pm by fanboi
Despite my lack of interest in R.I.P., I may have to pick up the 2 part follow-up that started today…
This special two-part tale narrated by Sir Alfred Pennnyworth reflects upon the life and times of Gotham City’s most celebrated citizen – and hints at what’s next for The Dark Knight. Grant Morrison delivers a story of past memories, present heartache and future promises. A spectacular, unforgettable farewell to The Dark Knight, mixing memory, dream and speculation as Alfred closes the casebook on the greatest crimefighter of all time. With guest appearances by Batman friends and foes from every era of Batman’s history, this epic adventure cannot be missed.
Posted in Comics, Pornstar on 12/09/2008 09:40 pm by fanboi
I do so love knowing there are gay pornstars out there who love comics! Here is rising Raging Stallion star RJ Danvers giving the final speech for his oral communication (no comments now people – don’t be a mindslut) course. His randomly assigned topic was “Introduce Batman as the Newest Crime Fighter in NYC.” Talk about luck – A friend of his told him “the Comic Book Gods were looking out for him!”
If you are or know an adult film actor who gets their geek on occasionally (comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, LoTR, BtVS or any other subject with which one could become a wee bit obsessed), pleas say hello!!!
He seems a little nervous – which is adorable, but hurt his delivery a bit. Not that I could do better – public speaking in front of an audience was the bane of my existence in school. I hope he did well as it is obvious from the content of the speech that he put a lot of work and research into it (and I mean OTHER than reading back-issues of Detective Comics).
Good Job RJ! Congrats on finishing the class. I noticed you blogged on it a few times.
Posted in Comics, Review on 11/26/2008 11:19 pm by fanboi
BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD!
I really didn’t try that hard to read this. I came in right before the point that Bat-Mite was introduced in the story and was waaay to confused to bother buying more. I found Batman’s behavior prior to his meltdown to be completely implausible and out-of-character, and turns out I was right. he was “acting” for Jezebel’s benefit. Also seems like wasn’t the only one to find it convoluted and confusing enough to be put off.
Now that I read the synopsis, it sounds like it was an interesting read and an excellent example of how Batman can outsmart anyone, even when he’s out of his mind. But I found it hard to swallow as a monthly story. Buy the issues if you like, wait months for the trade paperback, check out the detailed wiki synopsis or just read fanboi’s CliffsNotes version below.
A bunch bad guys meet some guy named Simon Hurt of the Black Glove to screw with Batman and invite Joker to join in. Commissioner Gordon tries to stop a news story calling Batman’s mom a drug addicted slut who was photographed at orgies and got knocked up by the butler causing Thomas Wayne to plot her murder and fake his death. After a henchmen cuts Batman with a knife coated with a mind-wiping drug, he uses the Batcomputer, brings up the phrase “Zur-En-Arrh” and triggers a mental collapse just as the bad guys break in. Dr. hurt gets Batman all jacked up on enough drugs to make a brontosaurus trip heavily.
Batman makes a pink costume and starts to see the animated Bat-Mite as his side kick. The Batman in control is actually a back-up-personality that Bruce Wayne instilled long ago as a defense against mind-wiping psychological attacks. Open hearing that there is still a Batman out there, Dr. Hurt takes the red-headed Jezebel and seeks the Joker. Batman and Joker fights and Jezebel Jet shows her true colors as Joker gloats. Batman is placed in a deathtrap coffin and escapes. The Batman Family rallies and starts taking out the various superhenchmen.
Batman reveals he was onto Jezabel long ago and was playing along and “pretending” to love her. Joker runs but the Bat Bastard runs him off a bridge. Dr. Hurt claims to be Thomas Wayne, but Batman calls bullshit. Hurt says be my bitch or the story about Martha Wayne the druggie slut is front page news. Batman refuses, jumps onto the helicopter bringing it down in flames. Nightwing stands with Batman’s cowl(anyone have a scan of that page – heard it was a great pin-up)… Jezebel Jet is released but her plane is brought down by Talia’s army of Ninja Man-Bats.
Posted in Comics, Preview on 10/05/2008 01:21 pm by fanboi
I LOVED the first issue and am eagerly anticipating the second. The Six are about to undertake a mission SO dangerous that Batman himself is trying to warn them off. But have you ever known a bunch of mavericks like the Secret Six to take advice from the Man? Lets hope the boys of the Six are looking as hot and gratuitously naked as last issue…
Written by Gail Simone; Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood; Cover by Cliff Chiang One of the most-requested and anticipated confrontations in recent DC history takes place right here: Catman vs. Batman! The Six’s latest mission takes the team to Alcatraz to free a Super-Villain, but what is the secret she carries that hundreds of villains would give their lives to possess? DC’s dirtiest team only gets dirtier, and we wouldn’t want it any other way!
After a mere 45 days in theaters The Dark Knight has grossed over 500 Million dollars, becoming only the 2nd movie to do so. And it did it in half the time it took Titanic (which took over 3 months to earn that much)! Titanic grossed 601 Million and Warner Brothers execs say they expect The Dark Knight to finish around $530 Million, but wouldn’t be surprised by $550 Million. OK everyone go see it ONE more time (on IMAX)! Lets crush the Titanic record!
Posted in Comics, Preview on 08/11/2008 12:40 am by fanboi
Bat-Mite? REALLY? OK I admit, Grant Morrison lost me when he had Batman trust that red-headed Jezabelle (both literally and figuratively) and invite her to the Batcave (might as well have him dress up like Fonzie and jump sharks on water skis). So I missed some chapters. I’d love a quick synopsis as to how we got to a disheveled, pink and magenta clad Batman who sees and hears Bat-Mite sitting on his shoulder piping in his own two cents worth. Anyone reading this? Someone PLEASE clue me in as to what the hell is going on. I want to know – but not badly enough to buy it.
Posted in Creators on 05/23/2008 10:08 pm by fanboi
Grant Morrison tals with IGN’s Dan Phillips about a deadlier, creepier Joker (I thought he was already pretty deadly and creepy, but he’s one bad guy that can never be bad enough), the RIP tie-ins, Final Crisis, Libra and more. Read the full article at IGN.
Plus here’s some artwork from the article, including 5 beautiful Alex Ross Covers thumbnails for you to click on and view larger…
