Gotham City Impostors

I bought "Justice League Doom", which deserves a short discussion at a later date, and I saw a trailer for this game.  As I had fallen behind the times in my geekiness, I had missed this one; however, that doesn't make it any less FUNNY!
Mixed reviews for the demo, but here's hoping to that they addressed the negative reviews.

Pop! Heroes! Justice League

Yet again, I was wrong. Pop! Heroes! are crazy cool.

I had thought that these things would be stupid and/or a sheer waste of my money; however, I was wrong!  I was actually thinking that they would make some great gifts.  I was hoping to do the entire Justice League with some other characters, but I can do it with these instead!  I'm only showing Batman, but go look at all of them.

Don't trust the pics either!  Go see them for yourself!

What a great gift for a certain brother who is turning 50 this year.

HE IS OLD!

You could even do the Avengers or JLA/Avengers!

What the .... Batman Funko Force ?!

Like the Blammoids weren't bad enough?  Now we have these 3.5" tall creatures from some "creative development team".

WHO, exactly, is their target audience?  Where and why did someone even create these things?

Apparently, I'm not the only one to spot these damn things, but I may be the only one who wonders what the frack is going on. 

• PopHate (which seems to be a tad bit harsh) seems to actually like them. 
• Entertainment Earth is actually trying to sell them for $7.99 a character. 
• While Comics Alliance is shilling them for Entertainment Earth. 

After actually seeing Boba Fett Computer Sitter Bobble Head at work, I shouldn't say a thing.

Dc Bishoujo: Batgirl

Are you tired of the statue reviews? I thought that I was, and then I stumbled upon this Bishoujo Batgirl Kotobukiya Japanese import. I had to comment.

Distributor DC Direct
Artist Shunya Yamashita
Sculpted by Atelier Bamboo
Type Statue
Size 9"H
Release Dec 2010
Price $59.99 (or for sale $43.99)

Zimm's Two Cents
This is a cool piece - a very nice piece. Look at it.

Points in Favor

• The colors are fantastic. Not simply great - but fantastic.
• Her ears are fun. Something you would almost expect from a teenage girl copying Batman.
• Excellent toolbelt, with some great gold coloring.
• What a pose! Look how the cloak highlights the pose! NICE.
• Great face. Her eyes are even glancing right at you.
• Detailed hands and gloves.
• And I haven't even mentioned the gargoyle, the lack of a 'true base', and her hair.

Points Against

• Can she really fight with that wedgy? (Click here to see what I mean.)

Recommendation: HOT BUY! For the price and simple detail, this is a definitive Batgirl for any collection. Even mine. LOL

Robert's Two Cents
Is that Batgirl or Buttgirl? Sorry! Couldn't help myself.

Points in Favor

• Nice "base"!
  
• The did a great job with the mask. I love the mask. It's almost helmet like. I almost believe it might protect her from a hit.
  
• I love the paint job. the costume almost has a clothlike texture.
  
• The hair is very believable.
  
• Overall it very much looks like the Barbara Gordon Batgirl.
• I love the belt.
• Batgirl from the TV show was one of my first TV crushes.
  

Points Against

• I'm with Zimm. Does Batgirl patrol commando style? It would seem so. This isn't necessarily a point against, but it's distracting.
  

Recommendation: HOT BUY! Me like!

Things I Want - Batman Leather Bracelet

I have the titanium bracelet, which I love, but the tips scratch my arm as I putt it on and take it off. Don't think that I would have the same problem with this one.

Release August 2010
Price $63.99

This is something that I want, as I can wear it all the time.

Robert: Zimm must be flying a lot again. It's cool. I'm just not that into the film Batman stuff. If you want a Batman bracelet, this seems like it would be a good piece to own.

Post Weekend Update

Despite my allergies and the fact that someone took my "All Star Batman & Robin", I had a blast this weekend.

However, I had recently picked up some graphic novels and had planned to sit back and enjoy Frank Miller and Jim Lee's All Star Batman and Robin. No, I havn't read it - yet. I was planning on checking it off my list this weekend. Yet, the one I had was taken from me and never seen again. Leaving me with counter 'leftovers' - Neverwhere and Air.

I hate to admit it, but I enjoyed Neverwhere. I wanted more, but I enjoyed how the story ended. I can't wait to read book 2, but is it going to drag out something I already enjoyed? Should I dare take a chance on book 2? Yeah, I guess so. I will probably end up ordering the series.

Unless, Robert can save me the time and money!

Unless, someone can tell me that the store drags on, and the first book is the only one worth reading.

But alas, since I can't seem to spot the All-Star Batman & Robin #1 anywhere in my apartment, I will have to force myself up to the local comic store to look for book 2 of the series....or should I simply read the Neverwhere novel?

Batman: The Killing Joke

To avoid having to watch some Redbox flick with Zimm, Jamie, and the Wife, I have escaped to comment on the Batman: The Killing Joke.

Alan Moore's story is engaging--although I am enjoying Miller's All Star Batman and Robin a bit more. The gentle compassion of Batman and Jim Gordon's friendship emphasizes their brutality and determination, their raw force--and that is what the narrative is really about.

The characters, the story, and the scenery are beautifully rendered by Brian Bolland. He includes a gentle, almost imperceptible 1940's touch that gives the storyline a depth that moves the story well beyond the written text. But then the Batmobile arrives. Smiple, flat, unimaginative, the car threatens to disrupt. It stands out and distracts--like Scooby Doo prancing into a Miyazaki flick.

As usual and is to be expected, I am behind the times. Either way, read the comic--but not for a history lesson on Joker (yawn).

Read it for an insight into Gordan and Batman's friendship, to learn the true power of a bromance. And once you have follow it up with (in the following order) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes. Finish with T.H. White's The Once and Future King.

Funny our discomfort in acknowledging the intimacy of two males. We can watch a bunch of middle-aged women yodel in a kitchen about the shortage of worthy men--but two men facing the vicissitudes of fate, relying on their strength and love for one another, makes us ponder, hesitate, and draw crappy cars.

Bayard

Batman: Under the Red Hood

Save time. Skip the graphic novel. Pick up the Blu-Ray.

More Batman: Under the Red Hood Info

Not that thrilled with Batman's voice. Need to look it up.

Bayard's Thoughts
No way.

Period.

This looks far far too anime. Too cute. There is a bit of edge to the narrative and graphics of the novel that this thing fails to capture. This is something for a mom to keep in her Yukon to play on long family road trips to keep the kids happy.

If you are looking for cute, fun videoes, get you a couple of Blamoids for company and buy Family Guy.

Batman: The Book of Shadows

Okay, this is an older one-1999. After Batman Under the Hood, I needed another fix, so I pulled Batman: The Book of Shadows out of a pile of freebies I had been given--charity case that I am.

The coloring gives all of the characters a plastic texture--like new action figures fresh from the shrink wrap. And the demonic beasts all look to be distant relatives of the star of Alien. (A much more original representation of demons is in the episode of Millennium with four old men in a donut shop discussing their diabolic successes.)

The story line is as plastic and forced--a demon possessing people to to---well to do something that Batman just cannot allow.

DC looks to have poured some bucks into this one, but in the end, it is--despite the flashy packaging--unimaginative and almost boring. Stick with The Hood.

On a far different track, I just ordered Air and The House on the Borderland. Hopefully, both will fare better. I am curious if the Wildstorm badge differs markedly from Vertigo.

Note from Robert: Didn't Millennium steal that bit with the four old men as aliens from The Twilight Zone? Also the late 90s / early 2000s were not the best time to be a Batman fan.

Black & White Batman - Arkham Asylum

Bayard really showed an interest in the Batman Black and White series, so I figured that I would start highlighting them a little more often. This one is based on the Batman: Arkham Asylum game.

Distributed by DC Direct

Sculpted by Dave Cortes
Size 7.25"H
Type Statue
Release September 2010
Price $80.00 Sale $65.00

Zimm's Two Cents
I still don't undersand the affinity that so many people have with Batman; however, I don't really have an affinity with any of the characters.

Points in Favor

• The detail. This series always does a decent job of following the source for the statue.
• Good pose. Nothing major. Just a "going to kick your ass" pose.
• As it is based on the game, it is a bit different then the typical monochromatic statues.

Points Against

• I already have 3 Batman statues.
• I guess you have to understand the monochromatic pose.

Recommendation: Neutral. If I started buying this series, I would probably want ones that I could put next to the villains. Like the recently released Neal Adams based Man-Bat.

Hard-Boiled Detectives

I have spent the weekend jumping between Joe Gores's Spade and Archer: The Prequel to The Maltese Falcon and Judd Winick's Batman: Under the Hood.

Sam Spade and Old School Detectives
Spade and Archer is less of a novel than a collection of short stories, recounting a series of cases filling the time between Sam leaving Continental Detective Agency and the arrival of Brigid, bringing news of the falcon.

Gores's is an interesting literary exercise. A Hammett scholar and an accomplished short story writer, Gores knows enough of Sam Spade's world to be able to recreate it. The novel, though, lacks the sharp hard edges of Hammett's narrative.

Reading it, I keep thinking back to Dark Horse's Star Wars series--Knights of the Old Republic and Legacies. All seem to lack the freshness, vividness of the originals--they are more of the same.

Batman and Epic Heroes

The same cannot be said, though, of Judd Winick's return to a different detective from the same time period. I have started volume two of Batman: Under the Hood, and I am captivated. Winick's writing is a wonderful mix of comic book violence and epic storytelling. (And the artistry keeps pace.)

One theorist holds that epics are too large, expansive, to fall into the tragic. If so, Winick has captured the voice of the epic bard, scop, and rawi. The Batman of Winick's world is surrounded by the potentially tragic; he is harried by hamartia; the cosmos has it out for him. But Batman's story, his world, and his character are all too too...to be taken down into the abyss of a catastrophe.

Winick's Batman follows in the footsteps of Ferdowsi's Rostam. Both are fathers who falter ever so briefly as they inadvertently destroy what they cherish. Neither is pulled down by their uncertainties; if anything, they are galvanized by the job that awaits. They have resolve.

Like San Jara, Odysseus, and Arthur, Batman is only fictional in the most trivial of ways. All of these champions are reflections of an ideal that the culture can hold out before itself--promising and threatening, "This is what awaits those who trifle."

Recommendation (for the few of you who may not have read Under the Hood)

Set aside time for the Bat--and you will be able to brag about having spent the weekend polishing off an epic.

Bayard

Ame-Comi: Catwoman (v.1) Purple Suit

Same piece, purple costume.

Distributed by DC Direct
Sculpted by Jack Mathews
Size 9.5"h
Type PVC Figurine
Release Nov. 2010
Price $60.00

Zimm's Two Cents
Not going to give this one much of a review, as it is basically a 're-release.'

Recommendation: If you didn't get the first one, you might as well grab this one. Buy.

The Dark Knight Returns

A friend convinced me to try my hand at this—at reviewing graphic novels. I am new to graphic novels—having spent my life reading and studying works of dead white males. With that in mind, I begin with a review that is two decades late.

At that friend’s insistence, I started with Watchmen and quickly put it down. The intense, self-absorbed nihilism was old school—in this case literally. (Try Crane, Norris, Hammett.) Sandman also failed to capture and maintain my attention. The brooding, dark reflections on death seemed a repetitive offshoot of Poe and Melville—minus the levity.

Then I stumbled onto The Dark Knight. I had entered into the world. I was captivated.

Dated. It is most definitely dated, and I have the sneaking suspicion that is part of its draw. Perhaps being a child of the Cold War Era, I feel the resonance of the uncertainties of a world resigned to its annihilation. The battered ideologies of Batman and Bruce Wayne reflect dark undercurrents hidden by masks and good intentions. The topographies of troubled moralities emerge throughout the course of the graphic novel. The characters struggle to navigate these ethical landscapes. But they are not heading some sort of Frodo-like, apocalyptic showdown between good and evil, a showdown in which good triumphs over evil battering it into submission. That’s Superman’s job. (And notice, his battles have been resigned to the twice removed reality of comic book news reports.)

Batman (at least Frank Miller’s Batman) never destroys the evil in him or the world. Unlike Obi Wan and Yoda, Batman—to shift gears and throw in a comparison—seems to know that he must embrace his shadow; he must live with his hidden darkness. Purging himself and his society of all that is distasteful is a form of repression. When he fully understand Anakin’s betrayal, Obi Wan can only whine something along the lines of “You were supposed to bring balance to the force.” He might as well have cried, “It’s not fair.”

The struggle with the dark is not just a matter of agreeing to disagree. Save that for Dr. Phil. This shadow stuff is a matter of climbing into the muck and rolling around with the darkness, cheating it of its birthright, its place. Hitting it in the knee when it’s not looking. Like Luke Skywalker, Miller’s Batman must learn or relearn how to embrace and accept the dark forces in him and his world. And Batman does. Watching him do so is the glory of the text.

Vibrant, vivacious, and daring, he grapples with the nihilism others can only point at, and he contextualizes it—or in his milieu, he puts it in a headlock. And by doing so, Batman averts Armageddon, sidesteps pathos, and transcends the comic book. He becomes and remains human.

Bayard Sartoris

What the....$200 Batman Cuff-links???

Now, I know that doesn't sound to astonishing, but when you see the $200.00 price tag associated with the cufflinks, then you are likely to say, "What the frack!"

I double checked, and since the rings are sterling silver, they are $200.00. I looked at them for a while and think that I would opt for the $50 to $65 pair of Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, Star Trek or even Mickey Mouse cuff-links.

Crisis on Two Earths: Owlman

It looks to be the first of a series of Maquette characters from the upcoming DVD Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Here we have the villain, from a parallel universe, the Owlman.

Produced By DC Direct
Sculpted by Derek Miller
Type Porcelain Maquette Statue
Edition Size 4000
Size 9.2"H x 5.5"W x 8.75"D
Release February 2010
Retail Price $99.99

Zimm's Two Cents
I like the Maquette style of statues, and in general, I am rather accepting of them - there have been some that I have not enjoyed but this is not one of them.

Points in Favor

• Simplicity in colors. The Owlman is the Parallel Universe equivalent of the Batman, and he doesn't have much going on in colors.
• While a Maquette with a little going on, he does have some rather nice detail.
• The cloak work great, it even shadows some of the arms.

Points Against

• Bland Base telling you who is and where he is from.

Recommendation: Buy. I'm actually enjoying this piece and considering collecting the entire series of characters.

Robert's Two Cents
I like this one, but I don't really get the point. I wonder how many people really want an Owlman piece for their collection. Most

Points in Favor

• Well done. Nice detail work.
  
• They did a good job with the cape.
  
• Almost overdone to be a "maquette".
• I'm a pretty big fan of the CSA, so to have this series interests me.
  

Points Against

• Yet another series where they start with Batman...sorta.
• The base is bland, but isn't aren't most maquettes? Isn't that the point of a maquette? It's supposed to be a representation of the character.
  

Recommendation: Pass. I like it and am interested in the series, but it's boring and it's just another character I barely am interested in enough to bother explaining it to people who come over. One thing about obscure characters, I have to care about them enough to want to explain who they are to people who visit in order to buy a statue or bust or maquette. Owman, notsomuch. I'll wait until I see Superwoman to make a final judgement on the whole series.

Gotham City Stories - Part 2: Catwoman

DC Direct presents the second in a series of statues which they have labeled 'dimensional display pieces.'

Produced By DC Direct
Sculpted By Joseph Menna
Size 5.75"H x 5.75"w x 2.25"d
Type Porcelain Display Piece
Edition Size TBD
Release Date May 2010
Price $99.00

Zimm's Two Cents
If you looked back at my previous post, I was not impressed with the Batman piece of this series. Unfortunately, I have not changed my opinion, and instead of me repeating my dislikes, I will try to simplify my thoughts.

Points in Favor

• Only one worth repeating is that it is different from your other statues.
• Little changes from Batman's - like the hole and scratches in the window panes.

Points Against

• Same wall and windows as the previous piece.
• Catwoman looks stiff - especially the arm.
• Her face is emotionless and looks like a toy.
• I like the cat, but I don't like the cat. It too looks to stiff.

Recommendation: Still holding onto my Pass. Not a series that I think that I would enjoy.

Robert's Two Cents
I don't think either of us were that impressed with the Batman. The biggest thing these have going for them is they're something different. They've come up with a theme that is so Gotham City and would work with very few properties other than Batman. Kudos to DC Direct for taking a chance and trying something different.

Points in Favor

• It's something different.
• I could see this set hanging up in my son's bedroom (at least 5 feet high of course, he's only 2).
  
• Thematically this piece works well with the Batman.
• I like the detailing they did include; the bank vault, the cat, the hole in the window, etc.
  

Points Against

• The scale doesn't work to get the details right. Her face looks quite plastic. I know it is, but you know what I mean.
  
• I know we're not judging by price any more, but for $100 I expect a lot more.
  
• This could have been a lower end plastic toy piece and have been just as effective.
  

Recommendation: It's not for me, but I'm going to give it a Neutral pretty much on the merits of DC Direct trying something different.

Imaginext Super Friends Batcave

Watching Nicktoons all weekend long is one of the best ways to stumble upon new and cool toys.

Labeled the DC Super Friends Batcave Super Set leaves a lot to be desired. I don't see the Super Friends; however, I do see Batman, Robin, Joker and Penguin. If they do add the Super Friends and other Villains into this series, this could eventually end up being one of the better DC hero sets to collect. The set includes some pretty awesome additions and is rather reasonably priced. Some of the things that caught my attention included:

• Mr. Freeze's Freeze Chamber
• Rather Awesome Batcave
• Joker Van

To name a few.

I looked for the video to show how cool this set is, but for now, you will have to settle for a pic.

Superman / Batman Vol. 1 - Public Enemies

Written by Jeph Loeb
Art by Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines and Tim Sale
Cover by Ed McGuinness and DexteR Vines

I enjoyed the comic story that the movie was based upon; however, I felt that the movie had to forsake aspects of the story to fit it all into a video. But did they choose the wrong pieces? Batman and Superman's friendship was hinted at - but not as strong as the original story portrayed. In the book, they could almost finish each others sentences and knew what the other was likely to do / think.

Did I expect more out of the movie? Maybe a little. Is it worth watching? Hell, yeah. It had a lot more to offer then the majority of movies that are put out there these days. But with the awesome scribing talents of Jeph Loeb and the unique style of art by Ed Guinness, this movie made for an excellent afternoon matinee at home. Something the entire family could enjoy.

Finally, with this being Vol. 1; mayhap, we will be lucky enough to get more team-up videos between the two of them.

DC Dynamics: Batman Statue

DC Direct offers another piece from the DC Dynamics four part earth, water, wind and fire series designed by Tim Bruckner. So far, I thought that the Aquaman piece was spot on, while Robert had some trepidations about the piece. As for the Wonder Woman, you can check out our thoughts here....

Manufacturer DC Direct
Designed by Tim Bruckner
Sculpted by Tim Bruckner
Type Statue
Dimensions 11"h x 7" w x 5" d
Release Date May 2010
Retail Price $195.00

Zimm's Two Cents
I'm on the fence about this one. As there are some nice aspects about this piece, I think this piece is one that definitely needs the other 3 pieces to look right.

Points in Favor

• Good Detail. The best place to see it is in the belt.
• I like the face; however, when did Batman get a dimple in his chin? Has he always had one? But the face and exaggerated mask ears ad some characters.
• Simple colors and a nice paint job make this piece stand out.

Points Against

• While I love how the bottom of the cape flows, I don't necessarily like the pointed types of the cape. (Never have been)
• The rock looks more like smoke then earth. I understand that he is supposed to be rising up from smoke, but something rocky would have been my preference.

Recommendation: It has a lot of detail, some good paint, and a great expression for Batman. I'm truly Neutral on this one - good enough to collect, but I would have to buy all four to want this one.

Villains fo the DC Universe: The Joker

The second villain from DC Direct to be offered in mini-bust format. If DC is now working to create an entire line of villains alongside the heroes busts, a DC geek can look forward to having quite a diverse collection.

Manufacturer DC Direct
Designed by Gary Frank
Sculpted by Jean St. Jean
Type Mini-Bust
Dimensions 5.75" H
Release Date May 2010
Retail Price $70.00

Zimm's Two Cents
Diversity is one of the things that I look for in my collection. In fact, I tend to gravitate toward the different pieces, and while the Joker is one of the more common characters put out by DC Direct, he is one piece of a larger collection.

Points in Favor

• At a quick glance, this is a good characterization of the Joker. Him popping out of the box, holding Batman's mask like a puppet, and laughing.
• I like the colors - very vibrant.
• For a bust, only 5.75" H, there are a lot of little details in this statue. The buttons, the box, his jacket.

Points Against

• Something about his face throws me off. I will have to look up Gary Frank's work.
• The bottom part of the mask looks stiff and not 'flowy'.

Recommendation: Neutral. While I'm not overly thrilled with the piece, it still would make a good piece for those of you collecting the entire line of DC busts.

Robert's Two Cents
I'm not sure why they'd choose Gary Frank to design a Joker bust. He's spent more time in the Superman world. I first discovered Frank's work in the Incredible Hulk back in the 90s. I think he was the guy who replaced Dale Keown on the Hulk.

Zimm, I think what's throwing the face off for you is the nose. It's a more normal schnozz instead of the giant one he normally sports.

Points in Favor

• He looks good. It's definitely a very Joker pose and the joker-in-the-box thing is classic Joker. They definitely captured the spirit of the Joker.
  
• Initially, I didn't like the face either, but after looking at it for a while, I do like it. It's more of a real world depiction of the character.
  

Points Against

• It's another Joker piece and, well, I just don't need another Joker.
• I think the pose lacks personality. Yeah, it's the Joker, but it doesn't bring anything to the game. You could be looking at the Riddler or Catwoman in the same post.
  

Recommendation: Neutral. It definitely looks good. I don't think I need another Joker and if I did there's certainly no drought of material to choose from. I'd probably prefer a more traditional Joker face.