Recently in Batman Category

Well we knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but Rocksteady are working on a sequel to this year's massively successful Batman: Arkham Asylum.

But what's interesting is that there's a poster of Uncle Sam, with his face toren off.....a indication of Two-Face perhaps? This would be surely a good way to pick up from the last game, as we hear the villain referenced on the radio at the end of the last game.

And the Joker himself returns, looking very much like the Heath-Joker...dark eyes and all.

Check out www.arkhamhasmoved.com for all you bat-related info.

Universal Designs recently got the rights to produce a replica Batman motor cycle suit and the boys certainly didn't disappoint.

If you'd like it for Halloween though you're unfortunately out-of-luck as first deliveries aren't until 2010.

It's almost one thousand dollars for the outfit and has no cape/cowl....not that you need those on a motorbike anyway.

Head on over to Universal Designs to have a look yourself.

Now all we need is Harley Davidson to re-produce the Batpod and we're good to go. Imagine the cost for a spare tyre on one of those though....

Due out next Monday the first reviews of Warner Premier's latest effort at a DCAU original movie have already started hitting the net.

And it's a general feeling of good, but could have been better.

Swank-mo-tron at Big Shiny Robot commented that the the "action, adventure, and animation, were all" done right whereas the 67 minute running time was "paltry" in comparison to some other DCAU movies.

A reviewer over at Comic Book Movie movie said "the story is simple,if not obvious, and a little bit all over the place. In parts you don't really feel like bats and supes are public enemies. It just seems like it's all villains wanting to whoop their butts--which I think is boring to be honest." But also wrote that go betweens Bats and Supes was "classic."

Adam Tyner at DVD Talk believes the movie to be rent worthy and a cut above the Superman: Doomsday and the "unwatchable" Gotham Knight. He does note though "that even the size and scope of the superpowered slugfests never really manage to get my pulse racing. It's okay, but considering how phenomenal so many of these animated DC flicks have been, "okay" just doesn't seem good enough."

Most of the reviews also seemed to suggest that it was worth buying the Blu-Ray version over the normal DVD, as it seems this was animated for HD sets.

Check out this preview clip below

And for those of you who haven't seen it yet, here's the trailer

batman, superman, super hero movies, kevin conroy, tim daly,

So there you go, but remember more reviews will follow including one on here next week! - R

Okay, okay. So it's been a while since I actually wrote anything with some proper analysis in here.

So to answer your emails, yes I have been busy, no I haven't read Kevin Smith's Cacophony yet (still waiting on my signed order from Jay an Silent Bob's Secret Stash), I didn't get to a Watchmen preview screening, Batman's fate in Final Crisis did suck and Nolan HAS to direct the third Batman.

I have to apologise for my lack of blogs, things have been extremely busy at work and home. So sorry and thanks for the emails.

Now let's look at Batman in Final Crisis- Grant Morrisons's RIP was, in restrospect, a decent fate for The Dark Knight, it should have ended there and for me it will.

First off the Scots scribe completely places Batman in one of Darksied's uber scifi dungeons, gives him an gun, makes him fire it and attempt murder. The fanboys are saying "Wow! Complete full circle for the The Dark Knight, created with a gun and a bullet, ended with a gun and a bullet. Awesome!"

Newsflash. That isn't Batman of 70 years past. That's a common thug with a gun, just like Joe Chill. Say what you want, but the fundamental elements are the same. You know what really hacks me off though, the fact it didn't even murder Darksied. It wounded him in the shoulder!

So not only does does Batman break his fundamental oath he swore on his murdered parents grave, get fried alive, sent out of DC continuity.............he's a bad shot aswell.

What's next Batman and Fred Flintstone team up/cross over?

I enjoyed Mr Morrisons run on Batman and I thought it was some of the best stuff in recent memory- three ghosts of Batman, club of heroes, the black glove, issue 666-
and maybe this will turn out good in the end. But the whole RIP/Final Crisis feels as if it's been a huge PR stunt of the back of the success of The Dark Knight.

Now onto the Dark Knight sequel. There shouldn't be one unless Chris Nolan or Zack Snyder's involved. Chris Nolan could finish of his planned trilogy or if push comes to shove and he backs down, the third batman would be a great excuse to make The Dark Knight Returns, hence Snyder.

Set it 20 years after the events of TDK and cast an aged Christian Bale. Have a flash back montage to sum up the past two decades- death of the joker, justice league years, the robins-and bam, you have a platform for The Dark Knight Returns.

Having read the Battle for the Cowl preview over at IGN, I have to say I am really excited about Tony Daniel's upcoming mini-series. It's got a lot of hype to live up to, but if his writing is any good as his art, well, it's gonna rock.

Whose the next Batman gonna be check this out....http://i.livescience.com/images/BATMAN676-01.jp

Probably Nightwing, Tim Drake or Alfred Pennnyworth. No one else. Alfred is the obvious choice :P

And to answer other questions,, yes I am looking forward to Watchmen and no I don't consider it thee defnitive graphic novel of all time :)

Hi guys, I'm stepping into the Mooneyverse while Richard is away. My name is Katy and I'm a relative comic newbie. I grew up watching the X-Men cartoons and Batman: The Animated Series, and have seen a lot of comic book related movies, but only recently did I decide to make the leap into reading comics.

However, thanks to the recommendations of some friends, I jumped in the deep end and came out with a graphic novel that I found riveting, exciting and well drawn. I submit to you, my thoughts on The Long Halloween....

It is a very noir book, which I enjoyed tremendously. It follows on from Frank Miller's Batman: Year One offering, and to be honest, although it was Heroes' Tim Sale who did the artwork, it did seem Miller-esque. It was beautifully drawn, a lot of dark and light contrast, with the colour mainly being provided by the villains.

The plot of The Long Halloween involves the killing of a number of mobsters. At first, the gang think it's a rival faction behind the hits, but soon the other side find their numbers dwindling. Batman, with Gordon and the newly appointed DA Harvey Dent are on the hunt for the killer, who strikes on public holidays.

One element I particularly enjoyed was that a number of Batman villains were utilised. From the Joker to Scarecrow to the Mad Hatter, it seemed as though the writers enjoyed bringing these great villains out and giving them a part of the story. It also helped a newbie like me, seeing characters I recognised.

Another great aspect of The Long Halloween was that it actually gave me an idea of the origins of the whole "I Believe In Harvey Dent" campaign that was alluded to in the viral marketing of The Dark Knight. (And that was some amazing viral marketing.)

The twist at the end was amazing and totally unexpected (at least by me) and I'm going off to buy Dark Victory, which I've been told is the sequel to The Long Halloween.

If anyone has any more recommendations for me, I'd love to hear them!

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.

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

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.