Credit: Warner Bros.

No.

Okay, now that I’ve got that out of the way…

I think comic fans need to realize that the movie adaptations have nothing really to do with the comic books. I mean, sure the basic ideas are there, but they are so influenced by the entertainment industry comic book movies are separate from comics.

The trailer for The Dark Knight is on the web and we get a first look at the 2008 film, where Christian Bale reprises his role as Batman and Heath Ledger plays the Joker.

The Joker in this film is reminiscent of Jack Nicholson’s portrayal in the 1989 movie. The legacy of this new Batman franchise that started with Batman Begins is meant to reflect the Batman of the 90s movies.

Batman of the comics is not like the popular conception of the utilitarian avenger, the dark and brooding man that will take justice into his own hands, even if he has to get blood on them.

Yes, comic Batman is dark and brooding, but he’s also a boy scout. In preparation for the movies, I’m sure some tourists picked up Frank Miller’s Dark Knight series and saw the grim portrayal indicative of the 80s comic world. What people forget is this was an Elseworld, a re-imagining of the character not considered canon. Read the rest of this entry »

In this week’s column for The Buzz I will talk about several Marvel titles, so this week my top 5 pick will be focused on DC!

Countdown Presents The Search For Ray Palmer: Superwoman/Batwoman - “In a world of gender-reversal, an army of Greek warriors led by Wonder Man march against Washington and the JLA! The Challengers must battle to find Ray Palmer and to stop the Multiverse-spanning war.” Read the rest of this entry »

A Bat Idea

Media Credit:
Photo Courtesy of
www.dccomics.com

I have nightmares. My nightmare? That some day soon DC or Marvel will irrevocably alter a hero that I cherish.

Seeing what is happening to comic characters today, like DC’s Atom and Shazam, as well as Marvel’s Captain America, I keep feeling like there is nothing left that is sacred.

The characters don’t matter. The legacy doesn’t matter. Decades of stories made irreverent. This is not the next stage in the Batman mythology, this is tired writers and a marketing ploy.

Only the name and a slight variation of the costume is all that is needed for a comic these days. Read the rest of this entry »