Batman vs The Terminator Video

The title of the post pretty much sums this up:

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #257

The same could be said for many things.

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #256

Batman's a chamomile tea fan. Who knew?

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #255

Yeah, you tell . . . hey, hang on, that's what I do . . .

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #253

Judging by the construction of his sentence, I'd say it's fairly obvious he's not using it

Killing Joke - Spot The Difference

Here's a published page from Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's Batman: The Killing Joke which I'm sure we've all seen before:

(And yes, that's from the original - I'm not breaking the spine of my Deluxe Edition copy for a single page)

Over at Brian Bolland's blog, he posted the original version of that page:

which I'd never heard of, let alone seen so I figured I'd share it.

Presumably DC Editors were happier with blood stained buttocks than they were with bare breasts in a Batman book.

"breasts" and "Batman" in the same sentence - I dread to think who's going to find this blog with those search terms.

Batman/Superman/Worlds' Finest Crossover

I'm not a big Bats or Supes reader - I don't get any of their titles though I'm happy to pick up the occasional trade every now and then. I do, however, read Worlds' Finest and it's with some trepidation that I read of a crossover between that title and Batman/Superman next year.

Basically Power Girl's powers are still up in the air come February next year (really? It's taking that long to resolve this issue?) and Huntress convinces her to seek help from this Earth's Batman and Superman with, I'm sure, hilarious results.

One line from the article jumped out at me on first read:

"At the heart of the story is the two women's quest to get home to Earth 2, but it also has ramifications beyond the two titles, as Superman and Batman become aware of the DC multiverse"

Ummm . . . did they not become aware of the multiverse with Forever Evil and the appearance of the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3?

But this also cropped up:

"Levitz: There's a host of interesting personality reactions. You can play mix or match with the characters, and that's part of what we did in the plotting. 

How would Helena react to a Superman who's basically her age range? She might not want to get his current girlfriend pissed off, because she's kind of a tough lady. But there might be some attraction there."

So Huntress would be attracted to a younger version of the man she would normally view as an uncle figure? Anyone else find that a little icky?

Monday Memories #46 - Zero Hour #1

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #249

Bad guys saving the world? Seems to be a theme this week.

Superman Vs Batman Gossip

No real news - heck, there's not even the confirmation of a title of the forthcoming film - but over at CBR there's a couple of quotes from Warner Bros. executive Greg Silverman concerning various rumours, specifically those saying that Wonder Woman would turn up in the new film:

“We have been doing a lot of thinking for years about how to best use all those characters and we love them. Wonder Woman is an amazing character. I think it’s a great opportunity both for box office success, but also to have an amazingly powerful female superhero.”

It's a shame that "thinking for years" is pretty much all they've been doing, to be honest, while Marvel gleefully romps away with the superhero film market neatly sewn up. That said, and if they're quick, Warner Bros (and DC by extension) could still pip Marvel to the post in being the first to bring a successful film with a central female superhero to the market.*

Wonder Woman is perfect from the point of name and image recognition and - as the fan made trailer showed a couple of weeks ago - if she's treated with respect, imagination and like the mythical goddess-like character she can be, there's no end to the stories that could be told.

It's a shame any potential Wonder Woman movie could be launched from whatever Superman Vs Batman ends up being called rather than as a standalone, but it's better than nothing.

*  And no, dear god, no, I am not counting Catwoman. I said successful, okay?

DC's January Solicitations

All-Star Western #27

Hex’s journey through the modern age continues! Guess whose attention Hex attracts as he makes his way to Metropolis!

Hex facing off against Superman - can't wait!

Monday Memories #40 - JLA Incarnations #2

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #245

And, as we all know, size matters

Monday Memories #37 - JLA: Scary Monsters #6

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Did I Miss Anything?

So, I was away from the internet for most of last week . . . anything happen in the comic world? Any announcements about Oscar winning actors being picked to play iconic superheroes? Anything like that?

I caught some of the firestorm about Ben Affleck being picked to be the new Batman - it really is laughable when the internet just melts in a fireball of anger and indignation because a choice has been made that down't fit with what some people wanted.

What are the chances that the choice for the new Batman would have met with universal agreement? If Actor A (star of many films, proven track record, has won awards) was chosen, Film Fan would be happy but Comic Book Reader would not. If Actor B (appeared in several fan films, understands the character, firm fan favourite) then Comic Book Reader would be happy but General Viewing Public would be scratching their heads while saying "Who's he?"

My take is let's wait and see what Affleck does with the role. If he's great then all's well with the world. If not then lots of people can say "I told you so!" while feeling smug. Either way, we're not going to know for a while yet.

Like I said, getting a universal agreement (on many roles, let alone Batman) was likely to be impossible, but the vitriol and anger poured out by the internet is just pointless.

And it makes Batman sad.

Monday Memories #32 - Justice League Of Arkham

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #237

Haven't we all?

Monday Memories #29 - Justice League Annual #1

Each Monday this year I'll be taking a look back at a random comic, prestige format issue, graphic novel or collection of reprints from amongst my 3,000 or so comics that date from 1962 to 2003 - I figured anything in the last ten years would be too recent to hark back to.

The comics are chosen completely at random and apart from a four week lead-in period, even I don't know what I'll be looking at in the weeks to come!

Who'd Like A Cocktail? #235

Not something you get to say everyday

Superman/Batman Film Announcement: I Am Underwhelmed

I try, I really do, to remain upbeat about the comics I read, the characters I like. There are so many blogs out there that rip into the comics that I wonder why the bloggers bother to read them; if you don't like them, move on and find something you do.

When new films are announced, I try to remain objective if something about it doesn't sound right - I'd rather judge it when it's out and I've seen it, instead of bitching about it before a single frame has been shot.

With the announcement that the Man of Steel sequel will feature Batman, I find myself in an odd situation - I can't criticise the film because it doesn't exist yet. What I can criticise, however, is the why in which it's being teased.

From the linked news item above:

[Zack] Snyder took the stage at the Warner Bros. panel to announce something and brought up actor Harry Lennix to read a special message. 

"I want you to remember, Clark," Lennix said, "in all the years to come. In all your private moments. I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember, the one man who beat you."

Those lines come from The Dark Knight Returns, specifically this page:

So right off the bat, right off the line, the Superman/Batman movie is being pushed as Batman defeating Superman. There's not a sense of two heroes overcoming their differences to defeat a terrible enemy, this is Batman beating Superman and gloating about it.

Later in the article above:

Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con today, breaking the news to audiences there, later said, "I'm so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can't wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let's face it, it's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world."

Again, the emphasis is not about them fighting a common enemy, it's about them "facing off" and with the confirmation that it takes place in the same world as Man of Steel, it seems that confrontation is going to be the point of the film.

Obviously, the film's years away and there's no way we can judge what's going to be in it yet, except based on what has been said this weekend. I just think it's sad that on the one hand Zack Snyder refers to them as "the greatest Super Heroes in the world" while on the other having them fight one another rather than do something heroic.

I've said it before (here and here) but right now I prefer heroes who do this rather than fight each other: