My Batman Day Purchases

If there's one thing that I'm almost as passionate about as horror, it's Batman. As a lot of you know, I grew up a fan of the character and still am in present day. And while I'll admit that Batman having his own day is a bit over the top, it's also really cool for the nerds out there, like me.

Horror Toy Tuesday: Bank Robber Joker version 2.0

That's right, this week for Horror Toy Tuesday, it's not an actual horror product I'm talking about. Although some say that the Joker performed to perfection by the late Heath Ledger is in fact a horror character. Premium action figure company Hot Toys is at it again with yet another Joker! If you ask me, it's a bit ridiculous that another figure of The Joker is being made, especially since it's just a revamp of a previously released figure, same as the very last Joker they did. Fans who collect their line of action figures such as myself, have waited throughout the years for a Ra's Al Ghul from Batman Begins, and a Lucius Fox from any of the three films in the trilogy. I wouldn't mind a John Blake (Robin) action figure either, to be frank.

Justice League: Doom (Video 2012)

***S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S***

"The end of justice"

 
RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 90 MINS
WRITER(S)- DWAYNE McDUFFIE AND MARK WAID
STARRING- KEVIN CONROY, TIM DALY AND SUSAN EISENBERG
DIRECTOR- LAUREN MONTGOMERY 



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Vandal Savage steals confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League, and learns all their weaknesses.




STORY: I usually don't like The Justice League. Batman is no doubt my favorite superhero, but I'm not a fan of the rest of the gang. Superman is alright but I don't care for Wonderwoman and The Green Lantern too much. Martian Man Hunter is one that I'm not too familiar with due to me having no interest in him. So, I was apprehensive about watching this one. I like Batman solo with maybe the company of Robin rarely.

The head villain in this film is Vandal Savage, and he gets Mirror Master to sneak into Wayne manor's lower level (Batcave) and download something off of Batman's computer system. What did he download? All the files Batman had on all of his teammates. Unknowingly to them, Batman shows his true genius and has come up with ways to stop any and all Justice League members who may possibly use their powers for the worse of humanity. This isn't a means to kill them, just neutralize them should they ever need it. However, Vandal Savage adds in a way to kill them all on his own.

Vandal Savage hires Bane, Ma'alefa'ak, Cheetah, Mirror Master, Star Sapphire and Metallo to take out the Justice League. One villain to match each hero and use Batman's scheme against them. Things get pretty bad when the villains show up. Bane actually digs up Bruce Wayne's parents and buries Bruce alive with them. Things look bad for the Justice League as their worst fears are exploited and used against them.

Eventually the Justice League preservers and win the war against them. Even the villains learn that Vandal Savage is a monster when they learn he plans to destroy the world. When Batman comes clean about the plans used against them being his he leaves the team on his own accord. Stating that he'd do it all over again if he had to, because their power is too great to risk not having his plans to neutralize them. Batman becomes a loner, which he's best at. Only Superman truly agrees with him and understands him.

The Justice League takes a stand

ANIMATION: The animation in this film is perhaps a bit too much like anime for my liking. It is well done though. The voice-over's are on point and I really enjoyed how they made Bane have a Latin accent. They kept it pretty close to the comics. The overall look and design of the characters is well achieved.



ACTION: This movie is very dark for an animation film and there's a lot of fighting and over-the-top violence. It's definitely meant for a more mature audience, but can be enjoyed by any comic book nerd like myself.



OVERALL: This movie is fresh and original. It's gritty and enjoyable. It's all you can want and expect from an animated film. And it sure as hell beats a real Justice League movie. It sickens me that they're rebooting the Batman film series in 2017. Because they want a "Green Lantern friendly" Batman so they can go ahead with a Justice League movie. Hollywood can never just let a good thing go. I'm convinced that all other Batman films will pale in comparison to Nolan's epic trilogy.

Especially if they want a friendlier Batman...

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 & 2 (2012-2013)

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S ***

"The last fight begins."

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, BOB KANE AND FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND DAVID SHELBY

DIRECTOR- JAY OLIVIA

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Batman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?

STORY: Frank Miller's The Dark Knight returns was the first serious Batman book I read. Up until that point I read the comics as a kid growing up, but nothing captivated me like this one. From the go I knew that I was in for a serious, no BS Batman story and that's perfectly alright with me. This isn't a "Green Lantern friendly batman" or a kiddie cartoon Batman. This is Dark Batman. The good stuff.

Excerpt from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns:

And all the other old farts, they grunt and nod and grumble at each other.Swapping old jokes they've swapped a thousand times. Even fat beet-red "Penguin" chirps out a curse or two before bursting into tears.

Then they get talking. And if you got half a brain, you listen. 

They talk about amazing adventures, sounding like a bunch of retired car mechanics the whole time.

They talk about a Man of Steel. An Amazon Princess.

But they never talk about the mean one. The cruel one. The one who couldn't fly or bend steel in his bare hands. The one who scared the crap out of everybody and laughed at all of the rest of us for being the envious cowards we were.

No, they never talked about him. Say his name and watch Dibny's face sag so bad his jaw hits the bar. 

Not a man among them wants to hear about Batman.

Was he quietly assassinated? Or did he just decide we weren't worth the grief?

The question hangs in the air for a moment or two, then Jones springs for a round for everybody and himself.

Commissioner James Gordon is retiring and 70-years-old. Harvey Dent undergoes surgery to fix his disfigured face and is declared sane, but mysteriously goes into hiding after being released. With Dent missing and "The Mutants" taking over the city, Bruce is forced to be Batman again. The reaction to his comeback is mixed.

Batman has to take Dent down after finding out that Dent is still insane and a psychotic criminal. He faces "The Mutants" and their leader as well. After nearly dying he takes on a new protege. 13-year-old Carrie Kelley. Batman faces the Mutant leader a 2nd time and evens the odds, defeating him in front of all the other "Mutants".

Bruce Wayne once again becomes the Batman

ACTION: The action in this movie is intense and even brutal at points. Bruce Wayne is angry and out to hurt the corrupt. I remember a part of the book where he breaks a criminals leg with a nasty kick. That part is in the movie but not as violent.



ANIMATION: The animation in this movie is well done. It compliments Frank Miller's work but is done in a much smoother fashion. The recent animated movies to come from DC and Marvel have actually been spot-on with the artists and animation.



OVERALL: This movie isn't exact to the book but it's damn close. This is a good animated film to watch for every Batman fan. It's got all the good stuff in it and is rich with a good story about overcoming the odds and standing up for what's right, and never giving up.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

"Justice returns...Vengeance returns...Redemption comes to Gotham"

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 76 MINS

WRITER(S)- BOB GOODMAN, FRANK MILLER

STARRING- PETER WELLER, ARIEL WINTER AND MICHAEL EMERSON

Synopsis taken from IMDb

The Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants to put a stop to him.

STORY: After being in a catatonic state in Arkham Asylum since Batman's retirement, the Joker is brought back by Batman's comeback. He goes on a talk show to tell his story, to show the sympathetic side of himself. Only it's never that easy with the Joker. He always has a sick and twisted plan up his sleeve.

The Joker gases everyone in the studio to death and makes an escape. The Joker has a mind control substance in the lipstick he wears and uses it brainwash a congressman into making a nuclear strike on the soviets. Batman then chases the Joker through a fair as Joker shoots and murders at least a dozen people. Batman and Joker have a showdown which ends in Batman being shot and stabbed a few times. Batman snaps Joker's neck and ends the madness once and for all before barely escaping the authorities.

Batman, Gordon and Carrie gather the Sons of Batman; all of "The Mutants" that jumped ship and follow Batman. Together they re-establish peace and yet the greatest challenges awaits. Yindel, the new police commissioner orders Superman to take Batman out. Yindel believes Batman has become too powerful and must be stopped. Superman and Batman fight in a brutal and bone crushing brawl that ultimately leaves Batman victorious, but dead from a heart attack. Alfred dies from a stroke and Wayne Manor self-destructs.

In the end Batman faked his death and is now residing underground with Carrie and with the Sons of Batman, who he has sworn to teach all of his tricks and abilities to. So his work will live on even if it isn't him doing it.

Batman and Superman face off in a superfight.

ACTION: The action in this movie is crazy good. The fight between Batman and Superman is epic, even if it is an animated movie. The violence in this one is also stepped up a notch with the Joker being in it.

ANIMATION: Same as the first film. Done well and smooth and clean.

OVERALL: This story is just as good as a 2 part animated movie as it is a graphic novel. They're almost verbatim with slight differences. This is the story of a man who gives it all to lose it all. And in the end, continue his legacy.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

HOT TOYS RELEASES THEIR FINAL PRODUCT IMAGES OF THE JOKER

 Hot Toys has finally released the final product photos of their Joker masterpiece. Based after the late Heath Ledger's genius performance in 2008's blockbuster The Dark Knight, this figure is as realistic as they come. This is the one piece to own if you are a hardcore collector like myself, this figure is a must-own for any fan of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. 

The figure features two realistic and beautifully sculpted likenesses of Heath Ledger's Joker and a crapload of accessories, such as the interrogation table that can also be used as the pencil trick table and multiple well crafted weapons and extra hands. The non-laughing headsculpt has a parallel eye rolling system (PERS) and this allows you to make his eyes look in any direction you desire. This figure goes for around $275.00 and I've had mine on order for months. He's due for release next month and can be found to order here:

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/?page_id=4489&sku=9018901#HotToysItem

"THIS CITY DESERVES A BETTER CLASS OF CRIMINAL, AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO 'EM."

Batman Year One

This was one of the many movies I asked for for Christmas and luckily Santa didn't hold out. Now I know it's not likely for me to do a comic/animation movie review but because it's Batman I'll make an exception.

The graphic novel of this title was great so I was really excited to see this movie. I really enjoyed it. I thought for what it was it was very cool and well done. The action scenes were done just right. The story was good and kept me entertained and the animations were on point.

This story centers around Bruce Wayne and how he became Batman and how Commissioner Gordon moved to Gotham and his struggle with corruption in and outside the police station. I liked how the stories of these two interacted and to see where Gordon and Batmans relationship stemmed from.

3 stars for me. Check it out if you're a Batman fan.