Category Archives: Robin
Review: Teen Titans #9 and The Culling
For anybody who eagerly reads my Teen Titans reviews, I’m apologize that this is so late. I have been dreading The Culling storyline, which is a crossover with two comics that I don’t read: Superboy and Legion Lost. I’ve been dreading The Culling because, quite honestly, Teen Titans has been a bad comic book, especially in the build up to this crossover. And I simply don’t want to have to buy Superboy or Legion Lost. Plus the rest of the Internet has been pretty negative about The Culling. So I just kept putting off actually reading the damn thing.
Teen Titans #9
Now that I’ve read it, I’m somewhat relieved to say that The Culling wasn’t so bad. Writer Scott Lobdell has finally answered pretty much all of my questions about N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and has actually provided a reasonable explanation for everything that’s happened so far.
Unfortunately, one has to sacrifice character development, personality and more than a few brain cells to enjoy this action-oriented story.
Teen Titans #9 rating: 4/5: Good. The Culling rating: 3/5: Alright.
What can I say? While I was reading The Culling (at least the parts I bought) I was enjoying myself. The comic is almost entirely climax, with the Teen Titans finally facing off against everything N.O.W.H.E.R.E. has to offer. The big threat that has been building since Teen Titans #1 – and spent most of that time in the frustrating shadows – finally comes to a head in a big way. And the Teen Titans band together, kick some ass and save the day, while facing some bittersweet truths in the process. If I was more invested in these characters or these villains, this would definitely be a satisfying conclusion to the entire Teen Titans opening story arc.
But once you get past the action, there’s nothing left. The characters all blend together, with few, if any, unique personalities. There is no character growth or any real emotional bonding between any of them, which has been a problem with Teen Titans since the start. Despite knowing N.O.W.H.E.R.E.’s master plan, they still remain a largely stupid opponent, with far too much reach and power to fit comfortably into the DC Universe.
Though I will say that the art remains pretty good. More after the jump.
Review: Harley Quinn’s Revenge
I’m tempted to give this mini-game a 5 out of 5 because they let you play as Robin, but I think I’ll be a little bit more professional. Harley Quinn’s Revenge is the brand new epilogue DLC for that exceptional game Batman: Arkham City, which came out last October. I gave the main game a 5 out of 5 because it was one hell of an awesome game. Arkham City was phenomenal, a perfect sequel that gave us a bigger and more badass game than the first. Everything was improved, from the characters, to the gameplay to the game world.
That the developers, Rocksteady, would come along all these months later and give us one final helping of Arkham goodness defines the very reason why modern games should have DLC. That Harley Quinn’s Revenge isn’t as groundbreaking or as amazing as Arkham City itself does not speak ill of the effort.
Game rating: 3/5: Alright.
She’s had better days
The magic and excitement of Arkham City is gone, sad to say. The high octane energy I felt when it first came out has simply faded away, replaced by other games. So stepping back into this world, I was immediately reminded how sloppy and out-of-practice I’ve become. The signature Arkham gameplay is fun to master, but more than a little frustrating when you have to remind yourself how it works on the fly. Harley Quinn’s Revenge brings very little new to the table. It’s essentially just a long-lost final chapter to the main game, wrapping up a loose end in the story that nobody was particularly worried about wrapping up. It’s a suitable distraction and reminder of how much fun this game series really is.
And holy crap, guys, they let you play as Robin in story mode! It’s a move so brilliant that I’m still at a loss that Rocksteady would have the guts to make it! I respect them even more now!
DC Comics is a Den of Liars!
Liars and thieves, that’s what they are! A vicious cesspool of villainous thugs who twist our minds and spin falsehoods! A fan of DC Comics, are you? Enjoy the Court of Owls storyline in Batman do you? Fool! You are their prey, and they are the vipers that would slither into your bed at night and bite you with sharp, treacherous fangs filled with snake oil! A pox upon DC Comics, I say! A pox!
But where does this sudden anger come from, you ask? Why do I lay a curse upon their children and their children’s children? Behold the cover of Batman: The Dark Knight #9, purchased by this very blogger only yesterday!
Falsehoods! Libel! Slander!
Look and see! What does that cover entail? Why it’s the heroic Red Robin doing battle with a deadly Talon assassin! It looks as if one of my all-time favorite DC comic book characters, Tim Drake, is finally being plucked from the mediocre Teen Titans series in order to make a cameo back with his proper Bat-family! For months now, the greatest Robin of all time has been cut off from the world of Batman, forced into the world of tween-friendly antics in an entirely different corner of the DC Universe. But when the Night of the Owls strikes at Batman’s heart, this cover promises us that Tim will rejoin his mentor for at least one night and fight back against those devious winged bastards!
Lies! All lies!
What does this comic actually contain? Find out after the jump!
Animated Dark Knight Returns Pictures
The DC Comics animation department is going to earn their keep by finally making an animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s classic The Dark Knight Returns. And the first images from the upcoming cartoon movie – which is going to be split into 2 parts – hit the Internet today. The animation looks sleek, that’s for sure. The first part will be released this fall, and the second part sometime in early 2013.
A true Batman beat down
For those who don’t know, The Dark Knight Returns was the Batman comic book that redefined the character as a dark, violent vigilante. It was an intense psychological look at Batman, treating him with the kind of respect and realism that just wasn’t common in comic books at the time. Released in 1986, the 4-part mini-series paved the way for Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, and the effects are still being felt today in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. Until The Dark Knight Returns came out, Batman was most known for the hugely campy Adam West series from the 1960s.
Batman to be voiced by Peter Sellers (Robo-Cop)
The story is set in the near future, after Bruce Wayne retired from crimefighting. Without Batman to keep the streets clean, violent gangs have started rising up to threaten the people of Gotham. Urged by the dark forces within him, an aging Bruce Wayne dons the cape and cowl once again to clean up the streets – only to learn the hard way that he isn’t as young and limber as he once was. Joined by a new female Robin, Bruce must defeat the street gangs as well as face down old foes like the Joker and Two-Face.
Seriously, this is one damn good Batman story.
Robin to be voiced by Airel Winter (Modern Family)
Though personally I expect this cartoon will be very similar to Batman: Year One and All-Star Superman, both of which were adapted from classic comic book stories. This animated Dark Knight Returns is going to be well-made, well-acted and it will stick very close to the story. But even with the best in superhero animation at the helm, it’s simply not going to be as good as the book that inspired it. Which is fine. The book is usually always better.
Leader of the street gang ‘The Mutants’
Click here for more information and more pictures.
Legos + Superheroes Combine for Hopefully Awesome Video Game
I didn’t play much of Lego Batman the game, despite getting it for Christmas. Whereas I loved the Lego Star Wars games, Batman never hit for me. Well now I can make up for that mistake with the sequel, coming out June 22. Not only will it still star Batman and Robin, but a ton of other DC heroes are getting added to the mix. Plus it has fully open world Gotham City for you to explore, either in the Batmobile, Batwing or hopefully with a flying Superman.
Not even the Arkham games have given us a fully open Gotham City yet!
Henchman-4-Hire 