Category Archives: Batman
My Long, Overdue Thoughts on Gotham
I don’t know why I haven’t been covering all of the news and casting coming out of the new TV show Gotham. There have been several times where I’ve sat down prepared to say something about Donal Logue being cast as Harvey Bullock, or meeting the new young Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, but nothing comes to mind to write. It’s especially strange considering I think the comic Gotham Central is perfect for a TV adaptation. This new show should be a dream come true.
But it’s not.
Because it’s different. And I think I’m afraid they’re going to mess it up.
The Batman show without Batman
Hopefully my regular readers will know that I am not picky when it comes to comic book adaptations. I firmly believe that some changes must be made between the page and the screen, and I really don’t mind when those changes are aesthetic, like using Ultimate Nick Fury in the Marvel movies instead of regular Nick Fury, or not having the Hulk get his powers from a Gamma bomb. The only thing I really have a problem with is when TV and network executives (whom I hate on principal) get their grimy mitts on a beloved property and warp it into something hideous and nonsensical, all in a quest for ratings or viral web clicks or whatever repugnant buzz words they’re spouting next.
I can’t stand it when these adaptations have no soul.
And for some reason, I’m kind of afraid that’s what Gotham is going to be. In everything I’ve seen or read about this series, which is currently in production and will definitely reach our TV screens, I just get this overwhelmingly dreadful feeling that all of this is a sham.
Join me after the jump to see why.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 3/22/14
What a great week for comics! Seriously, this is one of the best week’s I’ve seen in months! Nearly every comic I read this week was a real gem…except for that one comic. The one that pains me to even mention. The comic that burns a hole into my heart like a red hot poker dipped in demon blood! Why have you forsaken me, Christos Gage?! WHY?!
I talk, of course, about Superior Spider-Man Annual #2, which takes a slight break from Goblin Nation to show what Phil Urich the Goblin Knight is up to on the side. As regular readers know, Phil Urich is one of my all-time favorite comic book characters, having collected his Green Goblin series when I was just getting into comics as a wee lad in the 90s. And for the briefest of possible moments, when I heard about this comic only a few days ago, I allowed myself to believe that writer Christos Gage, who’d been doing such a great job with the Mimic recently, was finally going to tell the story where the good guy Phil shines through in light of his most recent heel turn.
But no. There was no such thing. Instead, the comic reinforced the evil bastard that Phil has become, declaring him all but lost to madness and villainy. Oh the pain to my little comic loving heart…
Fortunately, the rest of the comics this week were great! Especially the second issue of the new Ms. Marvel, which was just as adorable and awesome as the first issue.
This new series is off to a great start. Just like Phil Urich was back in the day, before…before…I’m gonna need a moment here.
Comic Reviews: Batwoman #29, Harley Quinn #4, Ms. Marvel #2, Superior Foes of Spider-Man #10, Thor: God of Thunder #20, Uncanny X-Men #19 and Wonder Woman #29.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 3/15/14
Welcome to the Ides of March my friends! Why isn’t this holiday celebrated anymore? You never heard about any other Ides of any other months. I wonder why this one went out of style…oh wait…right. But let’s not dwell on history’s murderous past! Let’s celebrate the present, and all the great comic books its giving us!
First of all, Captain Marvel is back! It was one of my favorite comics from the past year, and I was very excited to see it return…until it started making some startling changes! We’ll see if they’re good changes or bad. Beyond that, we’ve got explosive issues of Batman, Superior Spider-Man and Superman/Wonder Woman, as well as the second issues of X-Force and Fantastic Four. One of those is doing better than the other. And now I’m starting feel like a broken record for declaring Hawkeye #17 the Comic Book of the Week. But with panels like this one, how could I choose anything else?
It only gets better from here
This is a story you’ve got to see to believe.
Comic Reviews: Batman #29, Captain Marvel #1, Fantastic Four #2, Hawkeye #17, Superior Spider-Man #29, Superman/Wonder Woman #6 and X-Force #2.
I Do Not Want Nightwing to Appear on Arrow
Of all the possible DC Comics characters who could appear on their hit TV show Arrow, I think Nightwing is the one I want to see the least. I would rather there be an episode with Crazy Quilt than one guest-starring Nightwing. That may sound kind of odd from someone who loves Nightwing and Robin as much as I do, but I really, really hope the rumors that actor Steven R. McQueen is in talks to appear as Nightwing turn out to be a complete fabrication.
Begone, cursed one!
Arrow is great. If you haven’t been watching the second season, you’ve definitely been missing out. The show is absolutely brilliant in terms of action, tension, villainy, heroism and well-acted, well-crafted drama. Arrow is just that damn good.
And they’ve been great with the superhero guest stars. Black Canary is a reoccurring character now, Red Arrow is slowly being built up, and there are guest stars like the Flash, Bronze Tiger, Deadshot, Clock King, Solomon Grundy, Brother Blood and more. Even the Huntress is scheduled to make a come back and team up with Canary to form the Birds of Prey. How cool is that?
She’s as surprised as we are
But I absolutely do not want Nightwing to appear. And like the good blogger I am, I’ll tell you why.
Nightwing, for those who don’t know, is the grown up Robin. In the comics, Batman’s first sidekick, circus acrobat Dick Grayson, eventually grew up, ditched the green pixie boots and became his own superhero, Nightwing. He’s charming, funny, skilled and very popular. I’m a big fan.
But a Nightwing who exists without Batman or his history as Robin isn’t worth having.
Nightwing sometimes let him win their races
I have no idea how Arrow would incorporate Nightwing, but I have to assume they can’t use Batman and Robin at all. That’s just how superheroes on the small screen work. There are all sorts of licenses and permissions that these shows need to use these characters, and I have no doubt that Batman and his buddies are tied up in the Batman vs. Superman movie or that Gotham TV show being developed by FOX. And there’s no way FOX is going to let their cash-cow Batman characters appear on The CW. It’s why Spider-Man will never show up in any of the Avengers movies, or why Batman and Wonder Woman never got to appear on Smallville, even though that series ran for 10 seasons and featured everybody from Hawkman to the Wonder Twins.
These licenses and permissions are killing all the best crossover possibilities, but they are the law of the land. So if Nightwing were to appear on Arrow, I can only assume he wouldn’t have any connection to Batman. Maybe there’s some clause where Arrow can use the name and costume, but they probably wouldn’t be able to mention Batman, Robin or Dick Grayson.
And for me, that’s just not worth the effort. I would rather not have Nightwing show up at all than use a cheap facsimile.
But honestly, even if Arrow could reference Batman and Robin, I still wouldn’t want Nightwing to show up. Because, again, Nightwing is really only interesting in the context that he’s Robin all grown up. And if Arrow isn’t prepared to tell that story (which it probably isn’t), then why bring in a character who has already gone through his emotional story arc?
There are still plenty of other superheroes who could appear on Arrow who don’t have the baggage of Nightwing. Besides, I’m still hoping for a Nightwing/Dick Grayson cameo in the Batman vs. Superman movie. And I’m still pushing my idea for a young, goofy, version of Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle to show up on Arrow.
Call me, writers of Arrow
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Batman: Arkham Knight is On the Way!
The next game in the Batman: Arkham series was announced today, and it sounds like a hum-dinger! There aren’t too many details just yet about Batman: Arkham Knight, but it’s once again going to be made by Rocksteady Games, and it’s going to feature a drivable Batmobile. That sounds pretty neat.
I don’t see a single Robin in that image
Check out this badass trailer too!
The released information reveals that Arkham Knight will be the finale to the franchise – though I can’t imagine DC and Warner Bros. will want to give up on such a popular, money-earning title. Rocksteady has said it’s their last game, but the people who made Arkham Origins may make some more games. That’s for the future to decide.
Here’s the game description:
In the explosive finale to the Arkham series, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city he is sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to unite an impressive roster of super villains, including Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to destroy The Dark Knight forever.
Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady’s uniquely designed version of the Batmobile, which is drivable for the first time in the franchise. The addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City.
Be The Batman.
Right this moment, the story doesn’t sound all that impressive. All of this villains have appeared before, and we can probably all assume that the Joker will pop up somewhere. Remember when we all thought Black Mask was going to be the big bad guy in Arkham Origins? Yeah, I assume a similar twist is going to happen here, and the story will once again be Batman vs. the Joker.
But we’ll see.
Hopefully Rocksteady has more in mind for Arkham Knight than a drivable Batmobile. They claim we’ll get to fight crime in the ‘entirety of Gotham City’, requiring the Batmobile to get around. That sounds good to me. Considering how big Arkham Origins was, how much bigger can they go?
I don’t have a release date yet, other than sometime in 2014, and the game has been confirmed as Next Gen only, so I might have to miss this one – unless Arkham Knight is so good that it is the game that finally pushes me into buying next gen.
And, of course, no word yet on Robin. But he survived Arkham City and Harley Quinn’s Revenge, so surely he’s going to show up, right? Right!?
Also, it would be nice to see some of my other suggestions for future Arkham games added into the mix.
Sound off in the comments to let me know what you folks think!
Henchman-4-Hire 