GRANT Morrison shouldn't have promised bat fans the most shocking revelation in the character's 70 year history at the end RIP.

That's my biggest qualm with 681, the Scots writer promised an ending on which he did not deliver.

There's hints to what the revelation maybe but at the end of the day we're left with as many questions as we had answers.

Many readers could be forgiven for expecting a dark grizzly end for the caped crusaders in 681, but it was the entire opposite, infact it's a plot device we've seen again and again throughout the hero's history.

Batman as we know him appeared to be finally subdued. The Batcave over ran, the betrayal of Jezebel, the possibility of Batman's origin being based entirely on a lie, and Batman himself, out his mind on heroine and crystal meth. This was a BRILLIANT set up for a tragic demise or spiritual death for the Dark Knight.

This was our chance to see Bruce Wayne pushed beyond his limits, this was our chance to his famous resolve break, to see his iron will shatter. But no, Morrison opted for the almost standard Batman ending, which we've seen time and time again.

Just when you think he's down the count, the Dark Knight explodes out of a coffin, takes back Arkham, mauls the Black Glove lackies and reveals that everything that had happened to him, was planned for, by him because as Morrison put "that's the thing about Batman, he thinks about everything."

To me this was a ridiculous ending and nothing like what we were promised from DC or Grant.

But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. We've still got Batman: Last Rites and also Final Crisis where we'll learn the final fate of Bruce Wayne, post RIP.

But what do you think of Batman's RIP in 681?

So one week today we'll know the ultimate fate of Bruce Wayne.

One week today DC sells out there star hero for comic book sales, one wee today it all ends for The Dark Knight.

One week from today, Grant Morrisson kills Batman.

Nightwing, Robin and Birds of Prey all end this month in a shock announcement by DC.

No reason was given as to why.

Bruce Wayne won't die, but he'll suffer more of a 'spiritual death'.

So whose gonna take his place?

Nightwing aka Dick Grayson.......probably.

How do we know this? Those damn comic blurb teasers for February

Check these out from ign comics.

NIGHTWING #153

A "Batman: Last Rites" tie-in and featuring an "Origins and Omens" backup story! Gotham City has found a new hero and his name is Robin - but with a battle for Batman's cowl looming, is Tim Drake ready to become something more? Guest-starring Jason Todd and Lady Shiva. And don't worry, this final issue doesn't mark the end of Robin - it's just the start of an all-new beginning!

Battle for the Cowl will involve Hush, Nightwing, Catwoman, Tim Drake and Jason Todd.

But there really is only one possible replacement for Bruce Wayne as the Bat, isn't there?

Alfred. Yes Alfred. Okay maybe not the butler but it would be hilarious to see Alfred throw down with Gotham's ugliest.

No we're talking Dick Grayson. That's right Dick Grayson.

He has to be the next Batman. He's got the history, the skills, the respect, the tragedy and is almost Bruce's equal in every respect.

He did it once in Prodigal Son, but can he truly be Batman?

Yeah probably, until the next crisis when Bruce returns as good ol' batty!

Exciting times ahead for Bat fans!

You know that bit in the Simpsons just before they're sitting down to watch the TV, when they have a different skit every time?

Yeah well I could imagine that as the intro this new TV show, John Grayson somersaulting in from a trapeze, his mum....what is Dick's mum's name anyway? Mrs Grayson cart wheeling in from the side. Dick's trumpy, goofy sidekick, Trunkard, the baby Elephant sauntering in and falling, comically in the middle of the scene. And then enters Chris O' Donnell as Dick "DJ" Grayson, on a unicycle wearing that damned stupid Robin-tribute-leotard from Batman Forever, juggling batarangs and gas bombs just for show and cue the title screen in a classy handwriting style on banner being carried by a baby Robin....just for the extra cheese factor.

Seriously, I mean seriously. The CW Network can't be serious about this. Dick Grayson pre-Robin days as a full blown TV show to replace Smallville...it's ridiculous, it'll never work and who ever thought it up should receive a canister of laughing gas from the Joker.

Here's my case. Smallville followed Clark Kent, an Alien from outerspace, in his pre-Superman days discovering his super powers and how he was actually best mates with Lex Luthor before the baldy bam stole his bird. Not the best of shows, but it has the substance, universe and characters for a good TV show. Even though it's not been the best of shows, it was a decent idea to begin with.

This isn't. Dick Grayson, pre-robin, isn't an interesting character, nor are his parents, friends, or girlfriends, or friends of girlfriends!

Now I'm not knocking the character of Dick Grayson here. I'm a big fan of Grayson as Nightwing. But lets face it an entire TV show based on the origin Batman's campy sidekick is inane and will not work.

So for funnies let's have a look at how the pilot episode may go

Cast

Dick Grayson: Chris O Donnell

Ma' Grayson: Jenny McCarthy

Pa' Grayson: John Goodman

Grampa Grayson: Burtward

Trumpy the Elephant: James Earl Jones

Opening Scene: Mrs Grayson is hanging up the grayson leotards outside the family circus tent. She stops and notices what looks like blood stains on Dick's. Dick, 16, emerges from the Tent and approaches his anxious looking mum

Dick: Hey Ma'

She turns and looks at her son, holding his bloody leotard

Ma' Grayson: Dick have you been out fighting with the baboons again?

Dick puts on an innocent face, obviously lying. Cue: Audience Laughter.

Dick: No Ma', I love em darn monkeys [Laughter]. That's just Ketchup.

Ma' looks angry. She knows her son is lying.

Ma' Grayson: Richard, are you lying to me?

Dick: No Ma' why would I do that?

Ma' Grayson (now looking extremely annoyed): Diiickk!

Just as she's about to smack him with a bag of grip powder, in walks Trumpy the Elephant (cue awwwws and laughter from the audience).

Dick: Hey boy, hows things?

Trumpy (voiced by James Earl Jones): Great Dick, my hay was just great this morning.

Dick: Awesome.

Ma' Grayson puts the leotard back up on the line and the scene fades to black.

The next scene opens with Pa' Grayson practicing some new moves in an empty circus tent. Dick walks in, texting his current girlfriend, and getting ready for practice.

Cue a montage of sweaty sporty moves

So here's what we're doing, why don't you guys write the next part? How does this disaster pilot go? You write, I'll put together a blog of the best.

You can write it in the comments below.

No neither did I up until a few days ago....

It`s basically a public bath and is a huge part of Japanese culture. Every man/woman from every walk of life in Tokyo comes to one of these a few times a week.

If you were under the assumption that bathing is a private time, well then an onsen is not for you. Some local Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) run these bath houses and watch every Gaijin (outsider, foreigner) like a hawk to make sure they clean every single part of themselves before letting them enter the hot tubs!

On Monday we met our friends Koji, Shimne and Hatamoshi- they all rock. Koji has been practising English for around the best part of a decade now and whilst the other two`s English skills aren`t brilliant, they still acted as if they had known us for years.

We visited a shrine that day also, I`m not so sure where it was but I had written a prayer for the monks to had to their wall of plaques.

Koji took us to this cheap-as-you-like, tradtional Japanese restuarant and Octopus, Horse and monkey nuts were the order of the day. The food just kept coming, as did the beer (and sake) and we were expecting a huge bill for the five of us. But it only came to 14,000 yen- that`s around 70 quid, not bad for a horse and an octopus.

Yesterday we visited Akihabara Electric Town, a heaven for gadget/Otaku fans like myself. The stores numbered in the hundreds and they each had at least 7 floors, and my task was to find a bargain pair of noise cancelling headphones. For a decent pair of Sony ones, you`re looking at naything between 10,000 and 30,000 yen- crazy money for headphones, but the sound quality is magic. I didn`t find any though and I gave up my search once this creepy sales person followed me around for half an hour.

The amount of anime/manga products on offer is unbelivable here. Things you`d pay through the nose for back in Scotland are as cheap as your standard action figures!

And today we made our way to the Ginza from Shinagawa. We attempted to walk it in the midday heat, but to no avail. After about halfway there we hopped on a train and found another Onsen where we cleaned ourselves up.

From the Ginza we made our way to the infamous Sony Building, which I must say I was really dissappointed at. It`s smaller than it seems and there isn`t much of their best technology on show- just some HD cams and no Robo dog!

We also scoped out Roppongi for nightclubs and to our dismay found an average entry price of 4000 yen for each club in Tokyo`s central nightlife area. As if that wasn`t bad enough you were looking at around 1000 yen a bottle of beer, that`s a fiver a beer!

Tokyo is an expensive city, but why do they insist on putting such a high price on what is supposed to be some of the world`s greatest nightlife?

��り��ん�
(I don`t get it!)

Rich

Goobergackered I believe is a fitting one word description of my physical state yesterday. The journey to Tokyo was absolutely tiring.

First Jimmy and I checked into Glasgow Airport at 7 30 am for our 9 30 flight to London, Heathrow. That flight flew in suprisingly quick and was topped off by some stunning views of the London Eye, Westminster, the Thames and the new Wembley Stadium.

The flight to Tokyo was at 13 45 pm and was to last just a little under 12 hours. I haven`t flown with British Airways in a long time and I`m glad we chose them for oue flights because you definitely get what you pay for. A choice of movies, tv programmes and a moving map are just some of things on offer at your seats touch screen TV.

The flight to Narita was absolutely draining. We flew from London to the top half of Scandanavia, then across the Northern coast of Russia and then cut across China, Beijing and then straight to Narita, Tokyo.

Even though it was rainy and smoggy, the heat hut me right away. It was clocked at 29 degrees yesterday and it is much similar today.

From Narita we got our Suica rail passes (a card much similar to the Oyster card employed in London) and boarded the N`ex service to Shinagawa station, a 70 minute journey.

We arrived at the hotel finally and our rooms weren`t ready so we had to kick about the massive Shinagawa Prince complex for a few hours before we could get any shut eye.

After getting to our rooms we crashed out and slept for a good 8 hours.

We went out that night at around 10 pm and couldn`t find anywhere to eat..or drink....

Apparently on a Sunday night, everything shuts down at 11 pm apart from McDonalds and a few supermarkets.

So what did we have for our first meals in Japan? A good ol` Mickey D`s and I must say it was great.

So we get a carry out of 6 Asashi super dry and make our way back to the room for a few hours of drunken banter and crazy Japanese Teleshopping, before hitting the hay at 3 am.

Here we are the ethnic minority. People do stare at your western stylings and everything is in Japanese. I can read some basic Kanji, but a lot of what is written here (especially in bars & restaurants) is in Katakanna and that is completely out of my understanding!

But alas, the grub is great and the hotel is smashing. There`s not much to say for the weather though, it has been nothing but smog and rain for the past two days.

For breakfast this morning I had Pork Ramen (seaweed, noodles, pork & broth) a long with pan fried dumplings.

Tasty.

Only in Tokyo...

So tomorrow I'm off to the land of the rising sun for a 10 day holiday. I'm staying in the Shinagawa district of Tokyo amongst many Yakuza and Samurai, so anyone who is there at that time, give us a shout!

I'll hopefully be blogging a little while I'm away, since I'm an Otaku fan and I've always wondered about the origins of Manga.

So while I'm away, look out for updates and try not to miss me too much.

Rich

Unless you've been living in a cave near the back o' beyond for the past century, chances are that you've probably heard about Batman.

Definitely this year Batman has been pushed to the marketing forefront by Warner Bros & DC with the release of The Dark Knight.

So everyone will at least have a grasp of Bruce Wayne as a character and what drove him to become the Caped Crusader.

Back in 1939 when writer Bob Kane and artist Bill Finger had first created the character, they knew right away that he was to be Batman, a dark vigilante- the antithesis of Superman.

But what was to be his civilian identity?

Finger used an amalgamation of two historical freedom fighters to create Bruce Wayne- The first being, Robert the Bruce and the second being Mad Anthony Wayne, a general from the American revolutionary war.

And there is a few similarities between the two..

First off both are recognised as a sort of vigilante by their respective government authorities. Bruce was a warrior seeking justice for the Scots against the English and Batman deals out his own brand of justice against evil for the innocent people of Gotham City.

Both have a knack for guerilla warfare tactics. Robert the Bruce is considered by many as the greatest guerilla combatant of all time and Batman too has employed the use of guerilla tactics (War Games, No Man's Land, Infinite Crisis etc.)

They both share a deep devotion to their wars. Robert the Bruce was deeply devoted to the Scottish Wars of Indpendence and Batman to his war on crime.

Both deal with themes of duality. The two live lives of rich, noble men, but are merciless on the field of battle (except Batman never kills).

Bruce Wayne lived a life of culture

Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Ratatouille are a few films that come to mind when Pixar are mentioned.

Wall-E is their latest endeavour and will be remembered as one of their best.

Set in the far future where earth is a desolate, polluted planet, to toxic for humans to inhabit, we find Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class), our robot protagonist, cleaning up the world.

First thought up in 1995 as a kind of "R2D2 the movie", Wall-E, whilst a fun, family movie, does contain some more adult concepts.

The ideas of our planet being polluted beyond belief and society becoming so lazy that we rely on computers, for practically everything are both very real points in the modern world.

The first half hour of the movie is similar to the loneliness concepts of I Am Legend. Aldo during this time, there is little to no dialogue and this is pulled off very well.

The animation is intensively detailed- from the decaying rust on Wall-E to the shimmer of Eve, nothing is missed. Each of the non-human characters looks incredibly real and the backgrounds are also meticulously rendered.

Whilst the human characters are cartoon like, the film actually tries to explain the reasoning behind this- although hard to believe, it is a genuine attempt.

The themes of 'save the planet' and 'love conquers all' may seem difficult to fathom, but even the hardest, hearted cynic could be bubbling by the end of Wall-E.

Wall-E is out now in cinemas nationwide.

Hey there guys!

Hedwig dropped this off in my mail box this morning. Hope you like....and a full preview will follow later....

The Dark Knight is the best comic book movie ever made.

Set almost a year following the events of Batman Begins, we find Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) struggling between the mantle of Batman and his desire for a 'normal life', with Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). And he's nearly there, but then a new homicidal maniac pops up by the name of the Joker (Heath Ledger). But that's not all to this very complex plot- there's the addition of Harvey Dent, Gotham's new District Attorney.

The new Gotham D.A., good cop Jim Gordon and the justice seeking Batman create for quite an interesting character relationship. What one does affects the other and in most instances, each choice each person makes fundamentally affects another.

The story is extremely well written- the Nolan brothers have done a great job of turning David S. Goyer's original story into a screenplay. Every character is played with, every relationship is messed with and every character's life is changed forever.

Chris Nolan has done an amazing job in directing the Dark Knight. Each scene is shot beautifully and each actor fits just fine with their character.

The IMAX scenes are breathtaking and tense. It's incredible that no movies have been shot like this before. The cinematography is also spot-on and Gotham is visually stunning.

You can have a huge budget, an all-star cast and a great story, but it's nothing without a dead right, resolute director. Mr. Nolan has not only created the best movie so far this year, he's created one of the greatest films of the past decade. An Oscar nod is an understatement of what he deserves with his work on The Dark Knight.

There is not one bad performance in this film, every actor plays their roles well. Bale is inspiring as a confused Batman, Eckhart portrays Harvey Dent's rise and fall very well and Gary Oldham puts in one of his finest performances yet as James Gordon. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a better Rachel Dawes than Katie Holmes ever was and Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, both turn in their usual standards of excellence.

And then there's Heath Ledger.

Whilst Ledger's Joker is fantastically evil and unique, it is not the awe-inspiring, oscar winning performance than a lot of people seem to be making it out to be. Some of his more extreme scenes felt slightly forced, as if Heath was trying too hard.

He will no doubt at least be considered for an Oscar nomination, it may not be for the performance, but maybe for the tragic circumstances surrounding it.

So was he better than Jack Nicholson's Joker?

You can't actually compare them. They're two different characters, in two very different fictional worlds that are based on the same iconic villain. The only commonality both characters share is the name Joker, but other than that it's like comparing waking up to breathing air.

The Dark Knight (12A) is out in cinemas and IMAX nationwide.