#16: When You Try To Channel Your Inner Hero!

When my brother-in-law was a wee lad he decided to strike terror into the criminal element by adopting a new masked identity.

Actually, he didn’t have a mask. Or for that matter, a utility belt or any of the required conventions of the superhero mythos, so he made some adjustments…

• He donned  his best cape – a light blue flannel blanket.
• He scaled the highest building - his dresser.
• He extended his grappling hook – reached for the chandelier…
• And he swung out across the city to fight for justice!

And he nearly died when confronted with the inescapable laws of gravity which plague all “real superheroes”.

He then realized Adam West was a fraud.

I don’t have access to exact figures, but it’s safe to say most adults at one time or another in their childhood decided to take the superhero fantasy one step further and become homegrown versions of Superman or Wonder Woman. I know a lot of adults are still indulging that fantasy.

Bat-Image by Wikipedia!

But I digress.

There is a certain measure of fearlessness that accompanies childhood; we’ve all been invincible for an all-too brief period, and it’s a great sensation. It’s a shame we can’t capture that feeling and relive it from time to time.

Wait a minute… some of us do that every weekend, don’t we? It’s called a bender.

#33: The Ever-Widening Generation Gap!

Image via Wikipedia

“That’s not Batman!” – The Hook’s daughter, Glee Girl.

To a twelve-year-old, Adam West is not the Caped Crusader but a throwback to a strange, mystifying era. On a lark, we decided to “treat” Sarah to her first-ever viewing of the classic 1960s Batman television series.

I really should have taped her reaction to the…

• Theme song.  “Who wrote this? Hippies?
•  Costume .  “He’s the Dark Knight, not the Grey Goofball!”
• Crazy villains.  “The Mad Hatter? And he actually steals hats?”
• Villainous female sidekicks:  “Look at her dress! It looks like she has two pylons under there!”

Image via Wikipedia

The funny thing is, Glee Girl has already seen various Batmen in her life – Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney, Bale – but they were contemporary enough for her young mind to accept. Ask her to travel to the 1980s or earlier, and you’ll get a series of reactions ranging from “That’s not too bad, I guess.” to “That’s so weird!”, or “Seriously?”

The chasm between generations has always existed, but it feels like this current generation has failed to carve out a pop culture legacy that will truly last the test of time. Of course, the Adam West series is considered sacrilegious to hardcore Bat-fans, but it struck a chord at the time and almost everyone from that era holds some memory of the show and its unique style.

I wonder, in forty years time, will the same be said of Gossip Girl?

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DC Comics Wants To Change New Comic Book Day Forever!

Superman’s creators are bored and have decided to kill him.

Again.

This time around though, they’re taking out their entire universe! Don’t worry, the DCU will be resurrected and rebooted into a different yet recognizable form. And if all goes according to the company’s plan, your local comic book outlet will undergo some changes as well.

In addition to over 50 new #1 titles in September, DC will be unveiling same-day digital publishing which many believe will signal the death kneel of the comic book store as we know it.

Or will it?

Will Store Like This Soon Vanish?

According to some retailers, readers will still have to physically travel to a store to download their titles! The retailer will have a series of cards or codes the customer will have to pay for before swiping or downloading.

Confused? Join the club.

The coming months will hopefully bring some enlightenment, but until then, there is going to be a lot of fanboy head scratching going on.

 THE NEW JLA: HEROES FOR A DIGITAL AGE?

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A Potential Misstep Of Super Proportions – The DC Universe Will Be Reborn In September!

Image via Wikipedia

But as what exactly?

To the uninitiated,  in fanboy-speak, a reboot of the DC Comics family of titles, (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, etc.) essentially means over 50 established titles will undergo a revamp of their oft-rewritten 76 year-plus history of shared continuity.

In other words, the names and faces will stay the same, but when it comes to just about everything else after August 31st, all bets are off.

With  over 50 new #1 issues, a Geoff Johns-Jim Lee (they’re HUGELY popular comic writers/artists)  Justice League, and a plan to fully embrace “same-day” digital distribution (The first major publisher to do so) the Warner Bros. owned company is taking a MAJOR gamble with their market share.

Or are they?

DC is one of the “Big Two”, (Disney-owned Marvel Comics being the other, ‘natch!) and their fans are nothing if not loyal. Not to mention they’re backed by a monster company who won’t let their Golden Goose fail.

I use the term because in addition to monthly comic book titles, DC’s characters appear in novels, video games, clothing and literally thousands of other products.

Warner Bros can’t afford let the DCU reboot fail. Even the timing of the announcement has been calculated to coincide with the release of the second issue of Flashpoint, the DC mini-series focussing on a world on the brink of destruction, the result of  a timeline-altering villain.

The biggest change so far? Dr. Thomas Wayne survives the famour robbery  and becomes Batman to avenge the murder of his wife and son!

 

Now that readers know just what the final outcome of Flashpoint will be, sales should fly higher than you-know-who! Of course, if readers decide to resent DC for tinkering with established continuity once again, this reboot will become the comic book equivalent of New Coke!

Related articles

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Some Heroes Just Can’t Get Off The Ground….

The situation is grim and all hope appears lost..

Then, HE appears, looming and powerful like a modern-day demigod. He is…Dishman!

Excuse me?

Dishman was most likely conceived in a dorm room after a weekend of weed and booze. His power is self-explanatory: if your water line was busted and the silverware was piling up, he was your man!

 Dishman was a “parody”, supposedly. I accept they can’t all be Superman, but come on!

Terrible Flashback Fridays: “Family Fun” – Superhero Style!

Image via Wikipedia

I recently revisited the 1970s and the “terrible” comics they produced, and it stirred up all the nostalgia that’s been sitting in the cockles of my heart. Or maybe it’s been in the sub-cockle area, I’m not sure. .

Where the hell was I?

Oh yeah, ’70s comics. We loved them even though they don’t measure up to today’s standards. One thing that DC Comics seemed to be obsessed with at one point was the notion of “Family” comics. There was The Batman Family , The Superman Family and wait for it, The Tarzan Family!

Oh, and before I forget, The Super-Team Family was published bi-monthly from 1975 to 1978.

What can I say? There were key parties going on – one spouse would put a key in a hat or bowl and pick a key at random and have sex with the corresponding  spouse! I’m serious!

People were smoking a lot of weed and drinking in crazy amounts. No wonder comic creators weren’t exactly producing top-notch material.

The term “family” was used very loosely of course, and referred to the  cast of characters associated with Superman, Batman and (sigh) Tarzan. I don’t know what the excuse for Super-Team Family was. Probably some bad dip at a key party.

As for The Batman Family, it featured solo and team-up stories starring Batgirl and Robin in addition to reprints of Golden Age stories. Many issues of Batman Family featured Batman supporting characters such as Alfred, Vicki Vale, the Elongated Man, Man-Bat, The Huntress, and Ace the Bat-Hound!

Yes, a dog wearing a mask ran around (He obviously couldn’t drive, that would be silly!) and fought crime. Crimes by cats plunged in Gotham City.

The Superman Family experienced the most longevity of the Family titles ( April/May 1974 – Sept. 1982) and was actually the result of the amalgamation of  Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, along with the first series of Supergirl comics.        

Image via Wikipedia

I bet most of you didn’t even know Jimmy and Lois had their own books, did you?

The Jimmy Olsen title (October 1954 until March 1974!)  actually featured the most important work ever done by  Jack Kirby, one of the greatest writers/artists to ever grace the pages of comic books.

So what have we learned? The 1970s have left history with many hidden, yet deeply flawed gems. Myself included.

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Gotham City Is Burning, Batman!

Image via Wikipedia

You have to admit, they sure know how to build a fire in Gotham City.

The same day the “Robin Williams as Professor Hugo Strange” flames of speculation rose higher, another casting rumor has started to burn hotter.

And this one may actually be true.

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, straight from the frying pan that was last year’s mega-hot hit Inception, has jumped right into The Dark Knight Rises casting fire. This one makes sense though, especially since Batman director Christopher Nolan knows he can rely on the young actor to deliver the goods.   

Image via Wikipedia

But whose mask will he don?

That’s the big Bat-question, folks. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was rumored to be facing off against Christian Bale’s heroic alter ego as the Riddler as far back as July of last year, but that speculatory fire has barely smoldered since.

Now the heat is rising and that’s pretty impressive considering they haven’t even shot a single frame of film.

I hope all the critics of comic book films who predicted the bubble would burst soon continue to choke on their words.

 The Dark Knight Rises is scheduled to hit theaters on July 20, 2012.

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A ‘Strange’ Bat-Rumor: Robin Williams In Gotham City?

Image via Wikipedia

For the life of the Bat-franchise, there have been many casting rumors ranging from the expected, (Robin Williams as the Riddler) to the very unexpected (Cher as Catwoman?).

And just like the Joker, they keep coming to haunt Gotham City and fans everywhere.

Image via Wikipedia

Now word comes that Christopher Nolan may utilize Williams’ talents in an unexpected direction. Professor Hugo Strange is a psychologist turned master criminal whose first appearance pre-dates Hannibal Lecter, although he doesn’t eat human flesh!           

You can’t have everything in a super villain though.

This is just a rumor though the comedian has stated he definitely wants to go up against the Dark Knight at some point in the future.

“I would do Batman in a second, playing anyone,” the actor told Empire Magazine. “The Batman films have screwed me twice before: years ago they offered my The Joker and then gave it to Jack Nicholson, then they offered me The Riddler and gave it to Jim Carrey. I’d be like, ‘OK, is this a real offer? If it is, then the answer’s yes. Don’t pump me again mother[frick]ers!’”   

Image via Wikipedia

It should be interesting to see just what happens, especially if you factor in the presence of the two Bat-villains already cast. Sometimes too many bad guys can spoil the superhero soup.

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