So, have I mentioned Superman turned 70 in June?
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So, have I mentioned Superman turned 70 in June?
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 01, 2008 in Comic Coverage Blog, Comics Blather, TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Ed Norton, Incredible Hulk movie, Liv Tyler, Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee, Tim Roth, William Hurt
Continuing to play catch-up from my All-Superman June, I have to talk about something that happened just last week:
Didio followed up, “Which Flash would you talk about?” Van Sciver shot back, “Why not all of them?” Didio pretended to be incredulous “In the same book?” Van Sciver drove it home with, “Why not?”
I realize times are tight, and comics aren't getting any cheaper...but if you support the concept of giving kids some comics of their own (and enjoy a whimsical approach yourself), give Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM a shot when you're at the comic shop today. I'll let you know what I thought once I've had a chance to check it out myself."I love the heart in those (classic Captain Marvel) books. I can’t help but draw upon their charm and whimsy and fun. That helps, because I always strive to choose the perspective of childhood and tell the stories with that point of view. "
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 02, 2008 in Comics Blather | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Barry Allen, Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM, Captain Marvel, Final Crisis, Herobear, Johnny DC, Mike Kunkel
As I mentioned yesterday, I've been looking forward to DC's new Magic of SHAZAM series since it was first announced last Fall. Not only because it was an honest effort on DC's part to connect with today's younger readers (something I passionately believe in), but also because I'm thrilled to see a bold, expressive cartoonist like Mike Kunkel getting the mass-audience exposure he deserves.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 03, 2008 in Comics Blather | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Billy Batson and the Magic of SHAZAM, Johnny DC, Mike Kunkel
On this 232nd birthday of the United States of America, I'll be heading out of town for a few days of rest, relaxation, and colorful explosions...but in the meantime, I've got a little America-themed activity to occupy your Independence Day weekend.
You'll see that I've posted 32 red-white-&-blue comic book characters from various decades and publishers. Your task as red-blooded Americans is to identify as many of them as possible using your encyclopedic knowledge of comics lore (and Google).
This time around there's no lucrative prizes involved, but who needs 'em? Identifying flag-themed comic characters is its own reward, right? As such, I'll be keeping the comments section open for you to compare notes and figure out who these star-spangled superstars are.
Never fear, the answers will be provided for you on Monday if your combined brain power (and Google) should fail you. Until then, have a wonderful (and safe) holiday weekend!
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 04, 2008 in Holiday Fun, Just For Fun | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Fourth of July, Independence Day, patriotic superheroes, red-white-and-blue costumes, U.S.-themed superheroes
With another great Independence Day holiday behind us, it's time to identify those 32 star-spangled comic book characters I posted on the 4th. You've had all weekend to figure them out on your own, and a reader named Buttler (along with Pat and his chat room buddies) rose to the occasion and identified just about all of them. Well done, guys!
Okay, here's the official list, along with all 32 images (click on the gallery for a larger view):
1. Star-Spangled Kid (DC)
2. Commander Steel (DC)
3. Citizen V, version 5 (Marvel)
4. Liberty Girl (Heroic Publishing)
5. Stripesy (DC)
6. Uncle Sam (Quality/DC)
7. Captain America (Timely/Marvel)
8. Pistolfist (Bluewater Prod.)
9. Captain Flag (MLJ/Archie)
10. Miss America (Quality/DC)
11. Superpatriot (Image)
12. Skyman (DC)
13. American Dream (Marvel)
14. Commando Yank (Lowe & Co.)
15. Captain Freedom (Harvey)
16. The Defender (Timely/Marvel)
17. The Comedian (DC)
18. General Glory (DC)
19. Fighting Yank (Nedor)
20. Fighting American (Crestwood/Prize)
21. Major Victory (DC)
22. Pat Patriot (Lev Gleason)
23. The Patriot (Timely/Marvel)
24. Miss Victory (Helnit/Holyoke)
25. Miss America (Timely/Marvel)
26. Patriot II (Marvel)
27. Yankee Clipper (Marvel)
28. Private Strong (Archie)
29. The American Crusader (Nedor)
30. The Spirit of '76 (Marvel)
31. The Shield (MLJ/Archie)
32. Major Liberty (Timely/Marvel)
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 07, 2008 in Holiday Fun, Just For Fun | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: America-themed comic book characters, red white and blue heroes, USA-themed heroes
I realize most people view their own childhood as the Shining Golden Age before the inevitable Fall Into Mediocrity and Ruin, but in the case of cereal box prizes and premiums, I can definitely say I grew up during its Golden Age.
During the 1970's and 80's, kids' cereal boxes contained an embarrassment of riches, including music records, games, boomerangs, bike accessories, posters, and (my favorite) mini "rip cord" race cars (similar to Kenner's SSP racers).
As time went by, the line between "adult" and "kid" cereals began to blur thanks to adults who continued to buy kid cereal. As a result, the marketing of "in-box" cereal premiums has largely become a thing of the past, with some strange...even surreal exceptions.
A prime example of these befuddling promotions caught my eye last week as I enjoyed a bowl of delicious Cinnamon Toast Crunch (yes, I'm one of the aforementioned line-blurring, kid cereal-eating adults). Flipping the box around, I beheld this rather unsettling sight:
Imagine, if you will, some sleepy five year-old kid pouring him or herself a bowl of Crunch, then seeing the Joker Chop action figure leering out at them or...even worse...lurking in their cereal box! A bizarre amalgamation of Heath Ledger and Verne Troyer, this Mini-Me Joker boasts a "powerful chop" (it's not) in addition to its black, sunken eyes and bloody gashed cheeks.
Really, who's this toy marketed at, exactly? Considering the upcoming Dark Knight movie is a hard PG-13, nobody can claim that young kids are officially part of the marketing plan (though clueless parents can always be counted on to buy them a ticket). At the same time, will the aging fanboy collectors really want a cute-as-a-button Joker figure...especially with so many "realistic" figures available to display on their nightstands? Add to that the weirdness of actor Heath Ledger's death, and this entire promotion becomes one heck of a "Surreal Sandwich".
As with so much cynical modern marketing, I don't get it. Well, I do in the sense that I know there's virtually no printed surface that's off-limits to a movie tie-in...but seeing the decidedly NON kid-friendly Ledger Joker marketed so casually toward kids just blows my mind.
In fact, it would almost be like the cereal boxes of my youth including a free toy of Alex DeLarge, the amoral psycho from A Clockwork Orange. Sounds insane, right?
How is this Joker toy any less insane?
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 08, 2008 in Bizarro's Toybox, TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: A Clockwork Orange, Alex DeLarge, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Dark Knight, General Mills, Heath Ledger, Joker Chop, Kenner SSP racers
Name: Monsieur Mallah
First Appearance: Doom Patrol #86 (1964)
Powers and Abilities: In addition to superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and agility, Mallah possessed an I.Q. of 178. Intellectual abilities included speaking several languages and expertise in many areas of science, technology, and combat/firearm skills.
History: After capturing a gorilla in the wild, an unnamed scientist experimented on the animal with "secret teaching methods" and shock treatments until its intellect was increased to genius level. Further educating the gorilla, now named "Monsieur Mallah", the scientist made Mallah his loyal personal assistant. After the scientist's death, Mallah followed his master's instructions and placed his brain into a special container to keep it alive. With world domination as their new goal, the disembodied scientist (now calling himself "The Brain") and Monsieur Mallah formed a criminal organization known as The Brotherhood of Evil. Years later, the Brain and Monsieur Mallah were exiled to a prison planet where they were both beaten to death by fellow super-criminal Gorilla Grodd.
Instead, let's think of the better days...when a machine gun-toting, beret-wearing genius gorilla shared a special friendship...and the crazy dream of world domination...with a brain in a jar.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 09, 2008 in Monkey Business | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Brotherhood of Evil, DC Apes and Gorillas, Doom Patrol, Gorilla Grodd, Monsieur Mallah, The Brain
Unlike the other strange comic book coincidences I've covered, this one's more of a good natured quasi-collaboration than a perplexing mystery.
By late 1976, both Marvel and DC Comics were publishing titles that featured revivals of their respective Golden Age characters. First out of the gate was Marvel's The Invaders, which retroactively chronicled the WWII-era adventures of Captain America, his sidekick Bucky, the Sub-Mariner, the Human Torch, and his young ward Toro. On the other side of the aisle, DC offered up The Freedom Fighters, featuring Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Doll Man, The Ray, Black Condor, and The Human Bomb (all of whom were old Quality Comics characters DC had recently acquired).
Well, perhaps influenced by the Marvel-DC "Superman vs. Spider-Man" collaboration earlier that year, Freedom Fighters writer Bob Rozakis seemed to have caught a case of "crossover fever". As Rozakis himself explained in 2003, his idea for a pseudo Marvel-DC crossover soon took on a life of its own:
"As I recall it, I had come up with the idea of using the Crusaders...in Freedom Fighters and joked with then-editor Tony Isabella that it would be really funny if (Invaders writer) Roy Thomas used a version of the FFers in Invaders and called them the Crusaders as well. I believe it was actually Tony who spoke with Roy and suggested the unofficial crossover… but neither Roy nor I got to see these alternate-reality versions of our teams until the books were published."
Although Rozakis came up with the initial idea, Roy Thomas beat him to the newsstand with "Calling...The Crusaders!", which appeared in Invaders #14-15 (cover-dated March-April, 1977). In the story, a mysterious new group of superheroes appeared in war-torn England while the Invaders were elsewhere in Europe. It turned out the five members of the Crusaders unknowingly received their superpowers from a mysterious figure named "Alfie", who was actually a Nazi spy planning to assassinate the King of England!
As with any pastiche of another company's characters, the members of Marvel's Crusaders (left) were clever mirror images of DC's Freedom Fighters (right):
So...what was DC's answer to Marvel's opening salvo? Ah, you'll have to come back tomorrow to check out the other Crusaders, who appeared a scant two months later. See you then!
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 11, 2008 in Comic History, Comics Blather, Which Came First? | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Bob Rozakis, DC-Marvel Crossover, Roy Thomas, The Crusaders, The Freedom Fighters, The Invaders
Yesterday I covered how publishing rivals Marvel and DC Comics arranged for an unofficial "crossover" of sorts between the Invaders and the Freedom Fighters. However, instead of the actual characters appearing in the other company's title, imitation or "pastiche" versions of them were created...with the added twist of both substitute teams sharing the name "Crusaders".
Marvel Comics went first with Invaders #14-15 (March-April 1977), which featured somewhat vague doppelgangers of DC's Freedom Fighters. A few months later, it was DC's turn with Freedom Fighters #8 and #9 (June & Aug. 1977), featuring doubles of the Invaders that were remarkably close to the originals:
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 12, 2008 in Comic History, Comics Blather, Which Came First? | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tags: Americommando, Archie Goodwin, Freedom Fighters, Invaders, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, Roy Thomas, The Crusaders
Having enjoyed many of Mike Mignola's Hellboy stories over the years (and the first movie based on them), Hellboy II: The Golden Army looked like something I'd enjoy. This past weekend, on the day before dropping my Lanky Lad off at camp for a week, he and I checked out the movie. What did I think?
Sadly, like so many "event movies", Hellboy II was a non-stop feast of astounding visuals, but not much else.
Most of the performances seemed by-the-numbers and "phoned in", with star Ron Perlman exhibiting little of his charisma from the first movie and, frankly, seeming a bit bored under all that makeup. Selma Blair (playing Hellboy's girlfriend Liz) also seemed to be killing time...which (combined with Perlman's blase' presence) evaporated all traces of the wounded, eccentric chemistry they shared in the original.
Speaking of evaporating charisma, it looks like the decision for David Hyde Pierce to perform the voicework for the Abe Sapien character in the first Hellboy was the right one. This time around, Doug Jones (the guy in the Abe Sapien costume for both movies) also supplied the voice work, which was nowhere near as entertaining as Hyde Pierce's performance. Sure, Abe had the same quirky movements, but his voice just sounded flat and not quite right. Kind of like the character's interest-free romance with the elven princess Nuala.
Playing his 7,587th smug jerk, Jeffrey Tambor seemed as bored with his typecasting as I am. I realize the role of Tom Manning requires someone of Tambor's vast experience playing nervous, priggish bureaucrats...but really, I think the role could have used someone with a bit more engagement or spark. Which points to one of the larger problems I had with the movie: while I get all of the "average day at the nutty office" stuff they're trying to do here, it's all been done before in movies like Ghost Busters and Men In Black. So, when Tambor casually talks to Hellboy while BPRD agents struggle to strap down a squealing Lovecraftian nightmare in the background, it's no longer funny. It's just boring.
I'm of two minds on the character of Prince Nuada. One one hand, I thought he was by far the most entertaining character in the entire movie, due to both his stunning visual look and the performance of actor Luke Goss. On the other hand, I found myself feeling irritated with director Guillermo Del Toro for essentially ripping-off Michael Moorcock's legendary fantasy character Elric of Melnibone. In addition to Prince Nuada being a visual dead-ringer for the albino adventurer, Nuada's imperious demeanor, sorcerous trappings, and ruthless fighting skill more than evoked Moorcock's most famous creation. Yeah, freaky albino bad guys are nothing new in cinema...but Nuada was so close in look and style to Elric, that it went past "homage" and straight into "rip-off" territory for me. It's especially irritating considering the rest of the movie is such a faithful translation of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola's unique visual vocabulary, that you'd think there would be no need to so flagrantly "smuggle" the image of Elric into the movie. Very, very disappointing....yet at the same time, incredibly cool to see this pseudo-Elric running around on film. The phrase "so close, yet so far" comes to mind (I hope Michael Moorcock gets a taste of the film's likely profits).
Of all the irritations in the movie, I think the most persistent one was director Del Toro's obsession with intricate "mystery wrapped in an enigma" devices and machinery. When he wasn't wasting half a minute showing interlocking gears and cogs intricately whirling and spinning into place, he was wasting another half minute zoomed in on delicate interlacing metalwork magically sprouting and curving into even more intricate formations. Although I've gone on record many times saying how much I appreciate the small details in things, Del Toro takes it to an embarrassingly self-indulgent level, which effectively slams the brakes on the movie's forward momentum. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing a director of film isn't necessarily the struggle of bringing your vision into reality, but recognizing (and resisting) your own quirky fixations and obsessive preoccupations. It looks like Del Toro's still got a ways to go in that department.
After a dizzying array of interlocking puzzle boxes and "Jim Henson meets Harry Potter" creatures, Hellboy and company finally encountered the Golden Army which, like the rest of the movie, didn't live up to the hype. Pretty to look at, to be sure....but with all the detached indifference and flashy incoherence of a video game.
For so much of this "style over substance" excess, I'm afraid I can only give Hellboy II a paltry
2 out of 5 Hellboy Heads
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 14, 2008 in TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Elric of Melnibone, Guillermo Del Toro, Hellboy II The Golden Army, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Moorcock, Mike Mignola, Ron Perlman, Selma Blair
More of the small details that made a BIG impression!
1. Cutaway Diagrams: As a kid, one of my favorite little surprises in a comic book story would be when they'd feature a cutaway diagram of a superhero's (or superteam's) headquarters. The level of detail would always make the fictional world of the characters seem just a bit more real as living quarters and other human touches could be seen amongst the more familiar meeting, training or equipment rooms.
One of the most detailed (and consistent) diagrams was the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building headquarters (seen here), with other cutaway diagrams occasionally appearing in the Avengers, Superman, Justice League, and Batman titles.
2. The Spider-Signal: Yeah, Batman's much more high-profile Bat Signal is cool, but I like Spider-Man's spin on the concept, too. As a sort of "super-halogen" style light projector housed in his utility belt, Spidey is able to shine a giant circular version of his face mask design on walls or streets, thereby "announcing" his arrival at a crime scene. Seldom used against the "big fish", the Spider-Signal is primarily used to freak out small time criminals (and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal).
3. Mogo: Long known for their dazzling diversity of life forms, the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps had one member that topped them all in its almost incomprehensible immensity. First appearing in Green Lantern #188 (1985), Mogo was a sentient planet who operated as a Green Lantern (with a green equatorial stripe and lantern logo that made it look a bit like an giant striped billiard ball).
Springing from the fertile imagination of writer Alan Moore (who else?), Mogo's participation in the Corps has been somewhat limited considering it's planet-sized gravitational field puts a bit of a crimp in socializing or interacting with other standard-size life forms. It's current role is to serve as a training ground for newly-recruited Green Lanterns...and to remain one of the randomly coolest things in all of comicdom.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 15, 2008 in Random Coolness | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Baxter Building, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern Corps, headquarters cutaway diagram, Mogo, Spider-Signal
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average price for a gallon of gas on the West Coast (as of July 14th) is a whopping $4.23.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 16, 2008 in Classic Ads | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: 10 ft. hot air balloon, gas prices, Hellfire jet engine, water vision glasses
Arguably the first "cosmic" comic book storyline, Fantastic Four #48-50 (1966) featured the debut of not only the "Emo before Emo Was Cool" Silver Surfer, but his giant bucket-headed boss Galactus as well...which makes it no mystery why these issues have become known as "The Galactus Trilogy". Since I've got a thing for the omnipotent types, I've always been fond of the planet-devouring, morally ambiguous Big Guy...even though his earliest appearances featured some endearingly goofy "wardrobe malfunctions".
In literally his first appearance, the final panel of FF #48 revealed Galactus in all his cosmic glory...which was almost canceled out by the big, dopey letter "G" in the middle of his chest! That's right...a universe-spanning alien space god inexplicably sporting an Earth alphabet letter as if he was some kind of sweater-wearing frat boy (or superhero)...inside of a white circle, no less!
In later reprints, the G-circle (and bare arms and hands) of Galactus would be re-colored to match the surrounding armor...but even with the more subtle coloring, that G still cracks me up every time.
Okay, so now you know where the "G" in the "Breezy-G" title comes from...but what about "Breezy"? The answer comes a few years later in Fantastic Four #74-76 as Galactus returns minus the "G" and...to paraphrase the bearded sages of ZZ Top...
He's got legs, an' he knows how to use 'em!
Note to Galactus: When issuing a fist-shaking Mighty Oath, it's probably best not to aim the camera straight at your baby-smooth bare legs and cosmic kilt. It kinda undermines the Cosmic Authority thing, you know?
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 18, 2008 in Humble Beginnings | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Galactus, Galactus Trilogy, Silver Surfer, ZZ Top
No, I haven't seen The Dark Knight yet (I plan to see it later today), but if the wall-to-wall hype and early word of mouth is to be believed, it looks like one hell of a ride. With so much focus on Heath Ledger's Joker, I can't help but think about one of my favorite images of arguably the greatest comic book villain of all time. In the spring of 1988, superstars Alan Moore and Brian Bolland collaborated on Batman: The Killing Joke...which sounded good on paper, but fell short for me (especially the wrong-headed ending with Bats and the Joker yucking it up like old drinking buddies).
However, it's Bolland's spectacularly creepy cover that continues to stick with me and, frankly, haunt me all these years later.
Although there are dozens of unique interpretations of the Joker over his nearly 70 year history, Bolland's remains my favorite. Sure, other artists can do the big rictus grin of jagged teeth and the foppish gangster/pimp clothing....but Bolland goes farther by perfectly (and consistently) capturing the viciousness and almost elemental evil within his facade of whimsy. Even small details like the black pool of the Joker's left eye (with its tiny speck of light) and the snarling folds and wrinkles of his face make him seem less a "Clown Prince of Crime" and more a sadistic, leering demon.
Amping up the creepy factor is the camera, which on its own isn't particularly creepy, but after reading the story, I realized it was a reference to a scene in which he snaps pictures of Barbara (Batgirl) Gordon after brutalizing and crippling her. Although stories before this one had taken the Joker into darker regions, The Killing Joke seemed to be the moment the straightjacket came off for a much darker, over-the-top Joker from that point onward.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 19, 2008 in Comics Blather, Simply the Best, TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Batman The Killing Joke, Brian Bolland, Dark Knight, Heath Ledger, The Joker
Despite my early reservations about the film, the Hollywood hype machine and a tsunami of hysterically positive reviews got me genuinely excited to see The Dark Knight this past weekend. Though I wasn't part of the initial wave of Friday's midnight zealots, I was able to catch a (packed) Saturday afternoon showing with my equally-stoked teenagers. What did I think? Well, the title of the post might have already tipped my hand...but let's break it down Two-Face style:
Heath Ledger as The Joker. Though I don't quite see the night-and-day contrast others are seeing with Nicholson's 1989 performance (both chewed copious amounts of scenery), Ledger's Joker bypassed the vaudevillian hand buzzers and acid-squirting flowers for an eerie, nonchalant nihilism and laser-focused ruthlessness. Recalling the earliest comic book version of the character, Ledger's Joker is a cunning and sadistic manipulator, and not the giggling, child-like prankster seen in other incarnations. Amping up the Joker's creepiness was the complete mystery of his background, made even more opaque by the divergent sob stories behind his mutilated face.
The Two-Face makeup: I find that whenever something from the comics is almost perfectly translated to the screen, I laugh out loud like a kid on a roller coaster. Despite the grotesque appearance of Harvey Dent's disfigured face, that's exactly what I did when I saw how close Two-Face resembled the comic book version...complete with the gaping eyeball, snarling teeth, and exposed tendons. An outstanding visual treatment of my favorite Batman villain.
The Bat-Pod: Shame on me for not making the connection between those plump tires of the Bat-Pod and the tires of the Bat-Tank (I refuse to call it the Batmobile)...what a cool surprise to see it popping into action from the tank's wreckage, and even cooler to see Batman's (mostly) expert handling of the bike and its weapon systems.
And thazzit. Now....hand me that chainsaw over there.
Christian Bale: Like so many actors before him, Bale's Bruce Wayne is a bland cipher of a character with almost no screen presence or feeling of who he is, what he feels, or what's going on in his head. With a permanently bemused expression, Bale's Bruce Wayne seems to have all the passion of a wet blanket, made worse by his bizarrely casual decision to hang up his Batman cape (since Harvey Dent was supposedly all Gotham needed to conquer crime). This is the guy who trained his whole life to be Batman? I get no sense of that from this version of Bruce Wayne.
Batman: Can I just say it? I'm completely fed up with the ultra-armored Batman of the movies. Sure, I get the "real life" necessity for that kind of protection, but in execution it's never, ever looked very good. I thought this time around might be different with the costume's new movable neck, but the new headpiece seems to cause more problems than it solves.The laughably tiny mouth area makes his head look even more rigid than before...which, paired with a rounded headpiece that looks like a giant rubber lightbulb, hardly makes Batman the imposing figure he's supposed to be. Also, haven't we solved the "fish lips" problems with the Batman mask yet? When the mask pulls Bale's lips up so dramatically, his exposed teeth gave him a horse-faced, Jim Carrey expression that, once again, hardly strikes fear into criminals.
Fights with this costume have always looked clumsy and flailing, with none of Batman's legendary finesse or jaw-dropping fighting skills. All I saw was Batman nailing guys with his ultra-padded elbows and then pummeling them like some drunken brawler. Oh, and where's something as simple as mace in Batman's utility belt to spray attack dogs with? Did you ever think dogs would give Batman as much trouble as they do in this movie?
Worse yet, Batman (like Bale's Bruce Wayne) was a frustratingly inert figure, with no real sense he ever knew what what going on around him or what to do about it. When he wasn't using that ridiculous "growly monster" voice (which elicited laughter not only from myself, but from most of the audience), he was rolling his Bat-Cycle following his "I can't run over the Joker" angst-attack, or stupidly botching the rescue of Harvey Dent (what, you don't carry a mini fire extinguisher on your utility belt, you blockhead?). Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not looking for the infallible Batman of the comic books...but come on. The Batman of this movie (as with all the others) is a curiously halting, incompetent figure with none of the "go for the jugular" intensity and cunning I'm still waiting for.
(Yeah, that photo of Batman above is actually Lego-Batman...but it reminded me so much of Bale's Batman, it seemed like the right thing to do.)
Rachel Dawes: The dull-as-dishwater character from Batman Begins returns, every bit the non-entity she was before, but this time played by a haggard-looking Maggie Gyllenhaal instead of Katie Holmes (the current robo-wife of Tom Cruise). Since her relationships with both Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent are never made very clear (or convincing), there's really no emotional attachment to the character throughout the movie, including her afterthought of a death scene. Bruce then whines that his life as Batman caused her death, forgetting that her self-chosen career as a high profile Gotham City lawyer was already pretty dangerous (see "Batman Begins").
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine: No these guys were't bad, but the great actors were given such inconsequential roles that the movie suffered a bit more from their virtual absence.
Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon: I'll take Oldman's Gordon over Tim Burton's befuddled Pat Hingle any day, but not by much. Like so many allegedly heroic figures in Chris Nolan's Batman films, he's more a passive onlooker (with those dorky Buddy Holly glasses) than a driven idealist. In fact, I wonder sometimes if Nolan is sending some kind snide message on authority figures in general, since all of the police officers and SWAT team members in the movie seemed to be nervous, incompetent stumble-bums who were easily tricked, frightened, or outmaneuvered. I realize a certain amount of confusion needed to be shown in order to bolster the Joker's chaos-agent bonafides, but things like the attack on Harvey Dent's police escort displayed such ineptitude from the whimpering SWAT team members (among many other examples), I wonder what Nolan's point was with that. If anything.
Harvey Dent: As much as I loved the Two-Face makeup, Nolan did a horrible job of setting up the character's transition from an incorruptible White Knight into a deranged lunatic. I'm not necessarily asking for Harvey to have had a pre-existing split personality or a similar deep-seated disorder, but at the same time, I think some seeds needed to be sown earlier in the film that made his embrace of evil a bit more coherent. The message that a tragic death or disfiguring accident is enough to turn someone around 180º in personality and motivation is a bleak one (perfect for this movie, I suppose), made even worse by Nolan's ham-handed handling of Harvey Dent's story arc. Aaron Eckhart did an okay job, but visually I thought the guy playing Gotham's "Mayor Mascara" would have been a better choice to play Dent (minus the mascara, of course).
Now that I've gone through the major characters, it's time to heap some scorn on director Chris Nolan's storytelling abilities (or lack thereof). While I appreciated many of his inventive shots and the bleak cinematography, the gaps, loose ends and nonsensical elements in Dark Knight simply overwhelm the good stuff. Let's count a few of them:
1. The entire sub-plot of the Asian accountant "Lao" and the Hong Kong junket was as incoherent as it was dull, devoting way too much screen time to a ridiculously over-wrought capture of the guy and to clumsily establish the lame sonar technology that would be used later in the film.
2. The staged "death" of Jim Gordon was itself so badly and confusingly staged, there was zero emotional impact when it happened, and zero emotional impact when he popped out of nowhere to save Batman's bacon (whom it's not clear if he was in on the scheme or not). Just a very poorly staged bit of misdirection.
3. The concept of Batman imitators running around Gotham seemed to be something Nolan was toying with, but never really developed to any sort of interesting or relevant level. Perhaps they were part of the idea that Gotham's crime level was dropping under Batman's watch, which itself wasn't clear to me. As with so many elements in this movie, things are thrown in...mentioned in passing....hinted at....or never followed up on. Some call that smart storytelling that encourages viewers to use their brains...I just call it sloppy.
4. Nolan was also incredibly sloppy when it came to the simple (yet important) business of connecting scenes and events together in a coherent fashion. A good example of this is the scene with a cop guarding the Joker in his jail cell. After the Joker taunts him for a time, the cop moves in to (presumably) rough up the Joker. The scene switches to events elsewhere in the building, crazy stuff starts happening, then the Joker busts in with the same cop as his hostage. Now, we can surmise the Joker got the best of the cop, but I think something like that needed to be shown in order to better "connect the dots". No, we didn't need an extended fight scene between the two, but it was important to show the Joker turning the tables on the cop and for the Joker to move out of the room. As it was, the Joker (and so many other characters) seemed to appear and disappear at random, with no sense of where they've come from or how they got there. Again, I don't need my hand held, but Nolan is leaving out important storytelling beats in too many places.
Another non-sequiter was when the Joker crashed the party for Harvey Dent. As you may recall, Batman jumps out the window after Rachel Dawes, grabs her in mid-air and then falls (unhurt!) onto a car in the street. The strain on credulity aside (Bruce's suit may protect his skin, but not the impact on his internal organs), what happened up in the suite? Did the Joker and his guys just kinda shuffle out the door? Did they go after Batman for the golden chance to finish him off in a weakened state? Nope. Nothing. End of sequence, I guess.
The worst instance of Nolan's sloppy storytelling came when Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent were both kidnapped....completely off camera! Again, we didn't need an extended treatment of this, but at bare minimum it needed to be established and shown that it was happening. As it was, their abduction was simply said to have happened...almost like a random scenario from a video game, making the emotional impact almost nothing when it finally becomes clear that's what's happened.
Adding to my irritation was Nolan's love affair with explosions. Now, it's a strange place for me to be in where I'm advocating fewer explosions, but really...after about the 60th or 70th gigantic fireball explosion, it was just boring...and something's really gone wrong if I think explosions are boring.
Okay....I think I've probably said enough about the lousy direction (though I could cite many more examples), but indulge me in a few more irritations. I thought the whole concept of the high tech sonar rigged throughout Gotham was ridiculous and not very "Batman"...and the sequence of Batman using it to find hostages was a bewildering, incoherent mess. As with so many of the other Batman movies, the "hero" is essentially Iron-Man in a cape with none of Robert Downey Jr.'s charisma. Yes, Batman has always relied upon gimmicks and technology to assist him in his war on crime, but not to the point where they prop him up to the extent they do in the movies....which makes us lose sight of the man inside the bat suit (except when he's talking in that ridiculous Scary Monster Voice, that is).
Also, could there have been less emotional impact when Bruce was shutting down his Batman operation? With the same "poker face" he maintained for the entire movie, Christian Bale made the (supposed) ending of his mission look about as dramatic and impactful as changing his socks. Some say "understated"...I call it "boring" and a missed opportunity for Wayne to exhibit something approaching an actual emotion.
Another thing: why in the world would Bruce Wayne think an aggressive DA would be enough to keep Gotham under control? Did he seriously think the Little Fish (you know, the type of street level criminal who killed his parents) would go away when Harvey Dent caught the Big Fish? Really? Whatever, Bruce.
Obviously, I'm in a very small minority here since everyone else I'm hearing and reading can't seem to say enough good things about the film. Where this is coming from, I'm not entirely sure...though I suspect the death of Heath Ledger may have made people want to like this film more than they normally would. But, whatever the reason, I'm just not seeing the masterpiece people are raving about. From my viewpoint, what could have been an exciting duel between Batman and the Joker was, instead, a dreary, meandering, and incoherent mess that was far too long and filled with characters I cared nothing about.
Overall rating: A harsh (yet well-deserved) Two out of Five Batman Heads
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 20, 2008 in TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Chris Nolan, Christian Bale, Dark Knight movie, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman
(click on the Hulk for a monster-size view)
Occupation: Intergalactic criminal
Height: 15 ft.
Powers and Abilities: In addition to his superhuman strength and giant size, the Hulk possessed the power of telepathy, telekinesis, and mass hypnosis.
History: Escaping from an intergalactic prison, the Hulk's malfunctioning spaceship crash-landed on Earth. Found and revived by electrician Joe Harper, the Hulk showed his gratitude by overpowering the human and placing the entire world under his hypnotic control (except for Joe). As hypnotized humans built the Hulk a new spaceship, the wily Joe used his electronics prowess to sabotage the spaceship, sending a helpless Hulk into orbit around the sun. The hypnotic effect on Earth's population slowly wore off, leaving only Joe Harper to remember what happened.
Ah, but the story doesn't end there! In a rare Monster Age sequel, the Hulk returned to Earth four issues later for a rematch with arch-enemy Joe Harper. As the Hulk attempted to disintegrate Joe with his mental powers, the quick-thinking electrician reflected the energy back toward the Hulk with a mirror, causing the alien to dissolve.
Noteable Quotes: "Fool! You have no choice! You must obey me! No living thing can defy the living Hulk!"
Turn-Offs: The green-skinned upstart who stole his name, forcing him to be known as "Xemnu, the Living Titan" for his occasional appearances in the modern, post-monster Marvel universe.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 22, 2008 in Know Your Marvel Monsters | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Joe Harper, Journey Into Mystery, Marvel Monsters, The Living Hulk, Xemnu the Living Titan
The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!
What do you do when you're an expert in jiu-jitsu who also happens to be an acrobat? Well....become a costumed superhero, of course!
Appearing in all three issues of the short-lived Whirlwind Comics (Nita Publications, 1940), Peter Blake dedicated his special abilities (and hairless bare legs) to the cause of justice as The Cyclone.
However, even with elaborate flighting and flipping skills, sometimes being a superhero involves nothing more complicated than knowing when to duck. As our hero battled a ring of spies aboard a speeding train, one of the spies flings a shovel of red-hot coals right into Cyclone's face (or "mush" in 1940's-speak)...leading to a well-timed duck and then the very definition of a "bad day" for one of the other spies...
(Click on the page for a larger view)
Serves him right for wearing that all-yellow
suit with the matching yellow hat and shoes!
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 23, 2008 in Gold Nuggets | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Cyclone, Nita Publications, obscure Golden Age superheroes
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 24, 2008 in Comics Blather | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Barry Allen, Ethan Van Sciver, Flash Rebirth, Geoff Johns, San Diego Comic Con
As fun as it is to read about relatable "regular guy" superheroes, sometimes the familiarity that comes with that approach can make you lose sight of just how unique and wondrous these characters can be. However, every now and then, a story comes along that looks at these same characters from another angle, trading their familiarity for a sense of mystery and awe.
The first time I remember coming across this interesting perspective-switch was in Swamp Thing #24 (1984), which opened with a very different, vaguely ominous interpretation of the Justice League and its orbiting headquarters (click on the panels for a larger view):
See what I mean? Characters as well-known as Superman, Hawkman, or the Flash suddenly seem remote and even a bit spooky...courtesy of a rookie writer named Alan Moore and the evocative artwork of Steve Bissette and John Totleben.
A few years later, writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli tried a similar approach in Daredevil #233 (1986), the final chapter of their classic "Born Again" story arc.
Determined to destroy Daredevil, a crime lord named The Kingpin sent in Nuke, a deranged super-patriot powered by red, white, and blue narcotics. As narrated by Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich, Daredevil's hellacious battle with Nuke eventually attracted the attention of the Avengers (click for a larger view)...
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 26, 2008 in The Highlight Reel | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Alan Moore, Astro City, Daredevil, David Mazzucchelli, Frank Miller, John Totleben, Kurt Busiek, Marvels , Steve Bissette, Swamp Thing
For most of the summer, the Minnesota Science Museum here in the Twin Cities has been hosting Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. Although a valiant attempt was made to include "real world" science throughout the exhibition (it is a science museum, after all), let's not kid ourselves: most visitors are only there to see actual costumes, props, and models from the Star Wars movies.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 28, 2008 in TV and Film | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Minnesota Science Museum, movie props , Star Wars, Star Wars Where Science Meets Imagination
What is it about those 1960's ("Silver Age") Fantastic Four comics that I love so much?
Fantastic Four #80 (1968) sums it up quite nicely:
1. A fifty-foot robot named Tomazooma, the Totem Who Walks.
2. A dune buggy equipped with a portable bazooka.
3. Reed Richards: Human Projectile and Man Among Men!
Why such high praise for the brainy leader of the Fantastic Four? Here's why: Despite the gritty, butt-kicking reputation of guys like Batman and Wolverine, have either of those two sissies ever been shot out of a bazooka in hyper-compacted form? That's exactly what Reed Richards did as he attempted to take down the rampaging robotic totem...
(click on the panels for a Tomazooma-sized view)
P.S.– Wyatt Wingfoot will not miss.
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 29, 2008 in Comics Blather, Funny Stuff | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: Fantastic Four, Jack Kirby, Reed Richards, Silver Age Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, Tomazooma, Wyatt Wingfoot
Posted by Comic Coverage on July 31, 2008 in Cover to Cover (61-70), Cover To Cover columns, Funny Stuff | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)
Tags: 1970's, Grimbor, Killraven, kinky superhero costumes, Moondragon, Ms. Marvel, Nightshade, Red Sonja, Vartox