Robin III Part 28: Batman #465 (Late July, 1991)

It’s Tim’s first official night on patrol in Gotham.

I have this issue.

After spending some time on the streets of Gotham together, Tim is left to continue on his own. He stops a mugging, saves a young woman named Ginny Gray from some trouble with a vagrant and visits his father – still recuperating in the hospital from the Obeah Man.

A short while later, Tim sees the same young woman from earlier that night heading towards a charity event hosted by a popular soap-opera. After doing some digging, Tim learns that Ginny has been stalking one of the show’s stars for years. By the time he catches up with her at the event, she’s already been stopped…by Bruce Wayne.

Tim fills Batman in on the details of Ginny’s history when the bat-signal appears. They arrive at police headquarters, and Commissioner Gordon tells them that Sarah has agreed to marry him.

Notes of Interest:

1) This issue takes place immediately after Robin #5.

2) This is the first time Tim meets Commissioner Gordon (and Sarah Essen) face to face.

WTF? Moment: First off, my copy of this issue is signed by artist Norm Breyfogle. I didn’t have him sign it; I bought the issue after it was signed.

WTF? Moment #2: I like how Bruce let Tim call the play on their first case of the evening. It shows that Tim’s ready and Bruce knows it.

WTF? Moment #3: Tim’s slip about how spending an extra half-hour without Batman “won’t kill [him]”, and Bruce’s reaction to it, felt forced. Jason is dead. Let’s move on…

WTF? Moment #4: So far, Tim’s been beaten by a gang, a street-wise D.E.A. agent and an artist. Slapped in the face by someone he just rescued? Add it to the list.

WTF? Moment #5: I was glad to see Tim visit his father again. As far as I know, this is his first trip to the hospital since he left for Paris - which brings me to…

WTF? Moment #6:…since this is Tim’s first night out since returning to Gotham, how would he know about Harold, and when would he have given Tim the mini-modem? My guess is that Bruce told him about the tech-savvy mute, and gave him the equipment off-panel.

Oh Marvel...sweet, sweet Marvel...

I don't talk about action figures and statues often. Mostly, it's because I want then all...



and I really don't have the space...



or the money...



 and I really can't justify buying that stuff to the Mrs...



...

Robin III Part 27: Robin #5 (of 5) (May, 1991)

Tim’s training comes to an end, and a hero is reborn.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Upon further surveillance of Dorrance’s building, Tim discovers how the plague will be released. Clyde goes after Dorrance alone before a plan can be made, forcing Tim to go after him. He reaches King Snake’s penthouse too late to save Clyde and faces who Lady Shiva calls “the most dangerous man in the world” alone. The fight leaves King Snake hanging over a side of the building, which is when Shiva shows up telling Tim to kill him. Tim walks away, taking Clyde with him, and listens as King Snake falls to his death.

On the way out, Tim meets a man who tells him about a ship headed to Gotham.

Back in the states, Tim catches up with the vessel…Dorrance’s cargo ship carrying hundreds of millions of dollars intended to give him a new base of operations in the city…and takes out the people unloading it - the Ghost Dragons, along with Lynx who was scarred by Dorrance for failing to kill them in Paris.

Batman appears and asks him if he’s ready.

Tim doesn’t answer…

Notes of Interest:

1) The man who tells Tim about the cargo ship is Henri Ducard, who Tim meets here for the first time.

2) Tim’s weapons of choice come in handy – he uses the sling to take out Dorrance’s lead henchman, and the whistling staff distracts King Snake long enough to get his one shot in.

WTF? Moment: Tim is so well written here Chuck Dixon should write him forever. He reminds me of Peter Parker back when Stan Lee was writing – a young hero for a young generation.

WTF? Moment #2: My one complaint is that we never get closure on Clyde. I like to think Tim brought him back to America and made sure he was buried alongside his family.

Girls and Science...It's about damn time...

Meet Brittany Wenger, a seventeen year old from Florida who happened to win the 2012 Google Science Fair for creating a neural network that can diagnose breast cancer with over 99% accuracy!!!

There's been a stigma for far too long about women entering the various fields of science and mathematics (among other things). Girls/Women can do every single thing boys/men can do.

Don't believe me? Just look at the American Summer Olympic athletes for this year. More women than men for the first time in history.

Having a daughter has really opened my eyes about this, and hopefully Ms. Wenger will inspire more young women to do what they want...not what others think they want.


Congratulations Brittany!

Hey..Peter Jackson...WTF?...

...I think you're taking the "third time's the charm" thing a little too far.

It seems he's trying to get the green light to turn Hobbit into a trilogy, using extra data from Tolkien's addendums and notes.

I understand the logic behind this, but it feels like Crystal Skull to me, where too much of a good thing could be bad.

I'm a strong supporter of letting the creative force behind something stick with it - like Chris Claremont with Uncanny X-Men, and Peter David with The Incredible Hulk - but wouldn't it be better if Jackson did new stories set within Middle Earth instead of continually mining Tolkien's gold?

So...I saw The Dark Knight Rises...

...at the local drive in with the wife and child. Avengers was the second feature (which the Mrs. hadn't seen yet by the way, WTF?).

I had to see this film. More specifically, I HAD to see this film.

Like many, I had it on my radar for over a year, and followed the hype - although not as much as Avengers I admit.

Since July 20th, I've been on edge and couldn't deal with it.

To be honest though, this isn't the first gun related tragedy to take place in a movie theatre.

Back in the 1988, there was news of similar events at showings of Colors, a movie about cops and the ongoing violence between Crips and Bloods. In 1991, New Jack City made headlines as people shot each other over seats.


But those were movies involving gangs and violence.


TDKR is about a comic book character. Yes, he is surrounded by violence. Yes, he's not the only comic book character surrounded by violence to have movies under his belt. But this is my genre, characters I've grown up with and love: Super Heroes.


I was afraid...mad...confused.

I had to see this movie to get past the anger, fear and helplessness.

Give Blood

Donate Money

But also...Go to the Movies.

Christan Bale does a damn good thing...

Mr. Bale visited the victims of the Aurora Shooting on Tuesday.

No news coverage. No fanfare.

Awesomeness.

So here's the official ad for the Phase One Set...

It looks cool...but I'm not sure I'll get it.

I mean, it's the size of a freakin' suitcase!

The retro disc covers are pretty, but I'll just look at the pics online.

As for the motion-sensitive Tesseract, again - cool to look at, but if I ever decide to go Cosplay as the Red Skull, I'll use the styrofoam cube I already have...in case I lose it (or DROP it heaven forbid...).

The single S.H.I.E.L.D. disc looks like all the One-Shots and Extras from all the Blu-rays in one, which works...but I like having them spread out over the separate films.

The "extra-goodies" like newspaper clippings and such would have been a huge draw...when I was in college twenty years ago.

My biggest interest lies in the "classified" file. I want to know more about what it is once the set is released. For now though, I'll settle for the 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD combo.

In Marvel Studios I Trust...

Post-poned due to Magic...

My daughter and I spent most of last night teaching Mrs. Adorkification how to play, so I'm gonna need a day to recuperate.

Robin III Part 26: Robin #4 (of 5) (April, 1991)

Tim gets a lesson or two about justice versus vengeance.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Tim, Clyde and Lady Shiva reach Hong Kong ahead of King Snake’s plane and locate the landing site. It arrives, and they watch members of the Ghost Dragons load the virus into a van. Tim argues that they should stop the Dragons here, but Clyde and Lady Shiva want to follow the gang to their hideout. Outvoted, Tim goes along, and the virus leads them to King Snake’s building…in the middle of the city.

Lady Shiva has a place nearby where they crash. Tim continues his training – this time with her – and gets his ass kicked. Again.

Tim uses his skills to get the security layout of Dorrance’s building, and while the trio prepare for their attack he has another training session with Lady Shiva, and this time manages to knock her down.

Notes of Interest:

1) This is the first time Tim adds a staff to his arsenal.

2) Tim has made a vow not to kill – even to save his own life.

WTF? Moment: The bit about Shiva waking Tim in the middle of the night for “training” was funny. You know there’s some fanfic of this floating about the net.

WTF? Moment #2: I don’t know the history between Lady Shiva and Bruce Wayne, but I’m betting that the first time they fought, Shiva kicked Bruce’s butt. The second time they fought, however, had a different ending – because that’s how Batman operates: learn from the first fight to win the second. Tim does the same here…a future Batman-in-training perhaps?

Robin III Part 25: Robin #3 (of 5) (March, 1991)

Tim gains an ally…and an enemy.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Lady Shiva teams up with Tim and Clyde in going after the man behind the Ghost Dragons - Sir Edmund Dorrance, also called King Snake. She has Tim check his computer for any information regarding “Krieger War Labs” and he traces it to a German chemist named Helmut Kreiger who worked on bio-warfare for the Nazi’s during World War II. Tim follows it up with discovering that in 1940 the lab was moved from Germany to Auxille, a village in occupied France. The trio believes that to be Dorrance’s next target.

They arrive to see men loading a truck, and Tim goes with Clyde to get a closer look. Unfortunately, they’re spotted and pined down by armed members of the Ghost Dragons. Tim gets caught, and finds their leader Lynx to be Ling – the girl Tim met at the bar in Paris. Before things get too interesting, Tim’s saved by a swarm of bats woken by the gunfire and ensuing explosions.

He tries to stop the gang from taking the chemicals, but they make it to the airport and take off before he gets there. The good news is that Shiva was able to keep them from taking both containers. They destroy what they have, and trace the plane to its destination: Hong Kong. Shiva is able to get the three of them on a jet that will reach there first, and on the way Tim learns exactly what they took – Bubonic Plague.

Notes of Interest:

1) This issue takes place immediately after Robin #2.

2) Tim learns that Lady Shiva knows Batman.

3) He’s gotten very good with the sling.

4) Obviously, he “officially” meets Lynx for the first time.

5) Tim’s computer skills shine here…along with his morals…as he hacks into files belonging to The New York Times; NATO; a French airport; Balmoral Industries; Trang Chemical; Worldwide Commodities; and the American Medical Association.

6) He has a vast amount of “low-tech” skills too. He uses a Michelin Guide to track down Auxville and an English-German dictionary to identify the plague.

7) The cloak in his Robin suit contains ballistic armor.

WTF? Moment: I liked seeing Tim’s comfort level with bats. It’s something I never would have thought of, yet makes complete sense.

WTF? Moment #2: How awesome is Tim? Awesome enough to use a Michelin Guide and a bi-lingual dictionary to track down an international gang leader!

In other Marvel Studios news...

There's been some casting news regarding Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

First of all...I hope Marvel Studios stays consistent with the titles of their films. Ever since IM2, my impression was that instead of going the James Bond route and giving all the sequels different names they decided to go with the simpler 2...3...4...etc. Which is fine. But having IM12 playing in the same movieplex as Captain America: The Invaders could get confusing.

Second of all...I haven't seen confirmation that Sebastian Stan is reprising his role as Bucky/Winter Soldier (and if this is a spoiler for you, you either should be reading this blog a lot more, or not at all.), but he darn well better. I can't watch Cap without seeing him as Winter Soldier. He's perfect for it.

As for the casting news:

 

The Falcon, Sam Wilson, is expected to appear, and as of now Anthony Mackie (from Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter) has the part.



I've always liked Falcon and am glad to hear he'll be featured in the MMU, but I'm just not sure how they'll make the character work...yet.

In Marvel Studios I Trust

Guess who stopped by SDCC to show some IM3 footage...

I knew some footage was shown, but I didn't know it was introduced by RDJ in a surprise visit.

For the record, the answers are:

Enough to stop by SDCC in the middle of filming your third Iron Man film after doing junkets all over the world for Avengers...Thank You.

Enough to give you every damn cent we have to see you in those Iron Man films...You're Welcome.

and Because your very presence trumps any footage you may have brought with you...Good Sir.

Robin III Part 24: Robin #2 (of 5) (February, 1991)

For Tim, it’s “another day, another teacher”…

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Tim and new-found friend Clyde Rawlins manage to fight their way through a gang’s hideout. Tim tries to go after Ling, the girl he met last issue that was taken by the gang and got him into this mess, when Clyde almost passes out. Tim wants to take him to a hospital, but Clyde refuses, leaving Tim with only one option… the Hotel St. Germain.

After Clyde wakes up, Tim learns he’s a rogue DEA agent with a personal vendetta against the Ghost Dragons – the gang Ling’s involved with. Clyde tries to leave, but before Tim can convince him otherwise a woman appears at the window telling them they’re both in danger. The trio makes it outside as the gang shoots their way into the room. Clyde’s hurt too badly to follow the woman onto the roof, so Tim uses a bat-line to get them both to the street and escape.

Tim accesses the mighty Wayne checkbook once more and rents a farmhouse outside the city to lay low. While Clyde recuperates Tim accesses his DEA file and learns that he’s been after the Ghost Dragons for two years, but stopped once they killed his wife and two children. They’ve been untouchable ever since because the Ghost Dragon’s leader is a well-connected Englishman.

He offers Clyde a deal: help Tim develop his street smarts, and he’ll help Clyde find the Englishman. Clyde accepts, and Tim gets a brand new teacher with brand new lessons in pain. Tim fights back, and re-opens almost every wound Clyde has, when the woman reappears…offering Tim her tutelage.

Notes of Interest:

1) Obviously, this issue takes place immediately after Robin #1.

2) As of the beginning of this issue, Tim has been in Paris for three weeks.

3) The woman he meets here for the first time is Lady Shiva…but Tim doesn’t know that yet.

WTF? Moment: Okay…Tim is in civvies and Clyde’s in his underwear at the hotel when Lady Shiva shows up and the Ghost Dragons come running up the stairs. I can see Clyde taking the three seconds to put on some pants, but Tim gets into full Robin gear in the same amount of time? Maybe he’s practiced quick changes in the all of four weeks he’s had the suit.

WTF? Moment #2: I’m not exactly sure when Tim was given access to Wayne’s finances. Legally, he’s a student at a (still unnamed) boarding school staying at Wayne Manor over (Spring break?). Bruce must be aware that Tim’s spending money, and would totally be fine with it, but is it even possible for a bank to let an underage boy spend that much money overseas without making so much as a “WTF?” phone call?

I’m gonna assume it isn’t, they did, and Bruce (or Alfred) gave the bank the official “ok”.

Robin III Part 23: Robin #1 (of 5) (January, 1991)

Tim gets his own (mini)series as he continues his training overseas.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Tim has the suit, but lacks the street smarts Robin needs to have Batman’s back. To gain that edge, he heads off to Paris to learn an obscure Tibetan martial art from the last known living master. He meets the Rahul Lama, an extremely old man who teaches Tim ancient healing arts, and Shen Chi, the teacher’s only other student and grandson who teaches Tim how to get his ass kicked.

Later, Shen takes Tim out to a club and they meet Ling, a young woman who hits on Tim. Other members of her gang show up and one of them hits Tim before dragging Ling away. Fed up with getting knocked down, Tim follows them to their hideout. He goes back to the Lama’s place to get his suit, and Robin returns to the hideout to find a man getting beaten by the gang. Not liking the odds, Tim makes his entrance and winds up facing the entire gang with his newfound friend.

Notes of Interest:

1) This takes place immediately after Batman #457.

2) Tim’s unique take on violence shows here, when he picks the sling as his weapon of choice.

3) Tim is very uncomfortable around women.

WTF? Moment: Right on the first page, Tim questions why he was chosen to be Robin. I gotta call bulls#!t on that. Tim’s spent the better part of a year and a half learning the ropes while facing (or defeating) Penguin, Anarky, Scarecrow, Two-Face and Ra’s al freakin’ Ghul! Ra’s al freakin’ Ghul! He can have his doubts…and be afraid of letting Batman down…but he wouldn’t be wondering why he’s in the suit and not somebody else. He’s earned it goddamn it.

WTF? Moment #2: Tim says goodbye to his parents on the way to the airport. First his mother in the cemetery, then his father in the hospital. All in less than a page.  That there is excellent storytelling by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Tom Lyle. Speaking of which…

WTF? Moment #3: There are some wonderful connections in comics between artist and character, like Frank Miller with Elektra; John Byrne with Puck; and Barry Windsor-Smith with Aric of Dacia. Lyle’s take on Tim is how he should always look.

The Punisher returns...

I don't understand all the hate for Thomas Jayne's Punisher. My biggest casting issue was John Travolta, and while I understand the decision to have it in Tampa - he's gotta start out in New York...

...plus, Castle had two kids not just one...and his family's massacre in Central Park was an accident not a vendetta...

...okay, I understand why the movie as a whole had some issues, but I still love the movie and Jayne made a perfect Castle.

Jayne made this himself, and I really hope Marvel Studios takes the freakin' hint!!!


But then we have to ask ourselves:

Is it possible to reboot a film franchise with the same actor that played the character in the original film?

I say yes. One film does not a franchise make, so he's just rebooting himself...that doesn't sound right; and since Marvel took "Human Torch" Chris Evans and made him "Captain America" Chris Evans, all bets are off.

Punisher War Journal

coming out in 2014

Didn't Marvel Studios get the rights back?

The other good thing from DC at SDCC...

...aside from Injustice, which is still badass, is this little clip of animated Elseworld goodness:

Bravo DC on your continued success in something animation. Kudos to you...

Meanwhile, over at Marvel...




Yep, it's happening...


...yeah, I know...

What else? How about...
                 =         
F**K YEAH!!!!

Lets see...who else is coming to the screen...oh yeah -
 will be in Cap 2. I am very pleased about this.

The working title for Thor 2 is Thor: The Dark World. My guess is it will deal with Dark Elves.

And...Edgar Wright showed his Ant-Man footage. I'm sure it will leak to the net soon, and you can be damn sure I'll watch it.

All in all, I think Marvel kicked DC out of Hall H and told them to go play their little game in the corner, and DC took roughly a third of the audience with them. But I'm okay with that, because in the end all of us fans are the winners.

So Solomon Kane is finally coming out...

...and it's about goddamn time!

I've been looking for this film everywhere for like three years!

Don't believe me? Here's James Purefoy talking about the film at SDCC...from 2009!

Where the F**K had this film been?

So...um...this is the Mark VIII from IM3...

I don't love it...but I don't hate it either.

The armor from Extremis looked like this...

...is that what they're going for?

One thing I know: this is only one version of the suit we'll see in the film. Remember, Tony's changed suits at least twice in each film...including Avengers...so this could be the first, middle or final suit.

Whichever it is, I'm pretty sure it will look better on screen, because...

In Marvel Studios I Trust

Awesomeness on a Panel...

Here's the Firefly reunion panel from SDCC...shot in glorious shaky hand-cam. It will appear on cable sometime in the near future, complete with the footage they played on monitors.

My biggest gripe...and I'm not alone...was the lack of a full cast. Not that certain people weren't there...but that we weren't told that certain people wouldn't be there.

Other than that...it is awesome goodness personified.

Enjoy...as I go cry in a corner...

Robin III Part 22: Batman #457 (December, 1990)

Tim gets a new name...and a new look...as the new Robin.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Tim leaves the cab he took from Wayne Manor (in Batman #456) at an abandoned chemical factory and sees the Batmobile deserted. He works his way inside the building and finds Batman hanging upside-down at Scarecrow’s mercy, but gets distracted enough to have some fear gas thrown at him - making him relive his parents’ ordeal with the Obeah Man. Tim tries to fight it but is helpless…until his visions of both Dick and Jason as Robin appear. They convince Tim to fight the gas, which he does, and knocks Scarecrow into his own chemicals.

He leaves the scene before the police arrive, convinced he’ll never get to become Robin, and once everyone else has left Batman calls to Tim, who stayed near the Batmobile to talk.

Tim admits outright that he disobeyed Batman’s order to stay in the cave, and explained his reasons for doing so. Bruce listens, and tells him that heroes sometimes break the rules and acknowledges the fact that he’d be dead if Tim hadn’t helped.

Back at the cave, they talk about the history of Robin’s suit and the weight it carries. Bruce tells Tim that he’d never expect the boy to carry that responsibility and hands him a box.

Tim leaves, only to return wearing a brand new suit…as the new Robin.

Notes of Interest:

1) This takes place immediately after Batman #456.

2) Tim faces Scarecrow and (unofficially) meets Vicki Vale for the first time in this issue.

3) Batman thanks Tim for saving his life, and calls him Robin for the first time.

4) This is also the first time we see the new Robin costume…with pants.

WTF? Moment: Neal Adams had a hand in designing Tim’s new outfit, and I love how it looks. It shows that this is not “you’re older brother’s Robin”, but a new guy for a new era. In fact, at the back of Robin: A Hero Reborn there’s a schematic of the suit by none other than Eliot R. Brown – who did unbelievable work on both the Original and Deluxe Editions of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.

WTF? Moment #2: Tim respects Robin (and the suit) so much that he went out to help Batman wearing regular clothes and a ski mask so he wouldn’t disgrace it if he failed. How awesome is that?

WTF? Moment #3: Sure, the return of the “vision-quest Robins” was a bit much, but writer Alan Grant didn’t have them simply make Tim’s fear go away. They helped him face his fears and act despite them.

WTF? Moment #4: I also liked how Tim used his head to get past Scarecrow’s guards. He fought two of them, and only one had to be knocked out.

Yesss......

Not only has Nickelodeon renew The Legend of Korra for a second season, they signed up for a third!


This show is awesome. I love how different-yet-similar it is compared to the original series...which was ALSO awesome.

Two quick things -

1) I did feel that the last episode of season one felt rushed...most likely because they weren't sure it would be renewed.

2) I really hope those guys don't mess thing up by getting their ships crossed...if you know what I mean.

DC...This is just SICK...

I own two comic-based videogames.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (which is awesome) and X-Men Legends II - Rise of Apocalypse (which sucks a bit only because it came out before M:UA and I started playing it after).

But THIS...

This just may be the first DC based game I buy...sorry Arkham...if for no other reason than I'll bet you can have DCU and DCnU versions of the same character beat the S#!T out of each other!!!!!


That...is...AWESOMENESS IN A BOTTLE!!!!!

Neil Gaiman returns to Sandman!!!

     

I've always loved Gaiman's Sandman series (except for The Kindly Ones, and The Wake because I refuse to accept how it ended). The characters he created have stayed in pop culture longer than in the DCU - seriously, has Death been seen anywhere recently besides cosplayed at conventions? - plus, he brought back characters from DC's horror-centric past (granted, Cain and Abel were in Swamp Thing first).

Well...he's at it again:


Gaiman says it will be a prequel to Sandman #1, explaining how Morpheus was captured and the circumstances surrounding his return.

Don't know when it's coming out, or how many issues it will be, but I'll buy it.

Hay Gaiman - any thoughts about bringing Morpheus back?

Robin III Part 21: Batman #456 (November, 1990)

Tim cracks another case, but it could cost him his job.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

It’s Christmas Eve, and Tim’s frustration grows as he tries to connect the random acts of violence occurring throughout the city. He takes a break and sits in front of Jason’s costume going over the facts of the case in his mind, when he has a vision of Dick and Jason (both in Robin garb) telling him not to give up. He wakes up and takes another crack at it, which is when he discovers who’s behind it all.

Tim calls the Batmobile, but Batman doesn’t answer, so he calls Commissioner Gordon next and convinces him to put up the Bat-Signal. In the meantime, Tim asks Gordon to send some units to the villain’s last known location. Unfortunately, the GCPD is spread pretty thin at the moment and there’s no one to send.

So Tim is left with a choice: stay in the cave and risk Batman’s life, or disobey Batman’s order and try to save him.

Going with option b, Tim takes a cab and heads off to let Batman know…

…that Scarecrow is back in town.

Notes of Interest:

1) This is the first time Tim identifies himself as Robin to anyone…and it’s to Gordon over the phone.

WTF? Moment: There’s a panel on page 7 where Tim is thinking about which of Batman’s foes could be responsible for the killings. There’s Penguin, Two-Face, Ra’s al-Ghul and Anarky…all of whom Tim has faced one way or another. But there’s also Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Joker, Riddler, Scarface and the Ventriloquist, and a few others that Tim hasn’t seen yet…that I’m aware of. It could simply be showing everyone Tim’s read files about, rather than those he’s actually faced, but it makes me wonder - have I missed anything so far?

WTF? Moment #2: I have to say…that’s a really gutsy move. Tim’s willing to give up being Robin to save Batman, proof once more that Tim is a hero and an extremely well written character.

WTF? Fox...

Two Marvel-related movie items...

1) Fox has officially hired a director for the FF reboot.

2) Fox has officially dropped the director for the Daredevil reboot.

I understand that Fox has a great many things going on at all times in all possible genres, but would it kill them to organize their moves so they can be released to the public over time?

I mean it this is all Fox can bring to the SDCC table, I feel sorry for them...very...very sorry.

The pluses and minuses of Marvel Studios' One-Shots...

I love the One-Shots Marvel Studios has been putting out, but I have to mention a few things...

The Pluses:
1) Grounding the MMU. 
We see people that aren't superheroes in places where regular Joe's would hang out. Nothing says "grounded in reality" better.


2) Product Placements. 
It's one thing to see a race car in Monaco and a building in the background with the Roxxon logo on them. It's another to see it on a gas station pump. Not only that, it's normal (even expected) to see Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Bank of America and the like in films, but Little Debbie donuts?


3) Connecting the films. Obviously, the main point of the One-Shots...continually connecting the separate films together with even the tiniest details.


4) Coulson. 'Nuff Said.


The Minuses:
1) The choice of One-Shot with feature film. I know hindsight is 20/20, but if I could change things I would have put The Consultant with IM2, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Thor's Hammer with Thor, and Captain America would have had something else completely. It's clear that Consultant takes place in the New Mexico desert...which is fine...but it bugs me that Funny Thing has no connection to Cap whatsoever. My hope is that Marvel Studios realizes this problem and fixes it with the Box Set release. 


Hell, why not add some to IM and Incredible Hulk while they're at it?


2) Supporting characters.
There's just not enough of them. Let's see a pre-costumed villain get thrown in jail. How about a passing reference to Clay Quartermain? Maybe someone mentioning Jennifer Walters or Janet van Dyne?


I know it's a stretch, but since Marvel may be including properties from other film companies, why not start with future One-Shots?


3) The purpose of the One-Shot.
So far, the One-Shots have filled in some gaps between and within the films while the post-credit scenes propel the franchises forward. Why stop there? Why not use the One-Shots to move things forward too?

Here's my suggestion: In Item 47, the couple on the crime spree? They're the future Moonstone and Blackout.

4) Coulson. "Nuff Said.


In Marvel Studios I Trust

So...Indy's coming to Blu-ray September 18th...

So we can finally see the fly crawl into Belloq's mouth in High-Def!

Awesomeness!

So this is what the Avengers blu-ray box set will look like...

I'd like to see how the discs fit into this, but more importantly...what's in all those files?

On a sadder note...

...there's been a death related to SDCC.

It seems a woman was running across a street to keep her place in line for the Twilight panel scheduled for Thursday when she was struck by a car.

The woman died later at the hospital from the injuries.

So, in addition to what I've already said...

BE CAREFUL AND SAFE THIS WEEKEND

Obviously, we should all be careful and safe at all times, but this weekend especially if you're out and about.

Let me tell you something...

I live in Maine.

On the East Coast.

And over there…on the West Coast…something is happening…

The SDCC will begin at 6pm tonight, (9pm my time).

There will be cosplayers...

...there will be panels...

...there will be interviews...

...and I'm gonna miss all of it!!!

But I'll be here to give my dorky opinions and comments throughout the weekend as necessary.

If you're there, HAVE FUN.

If you live there but are not a fan of cons, DEAL WITH IT.

If you're like me, then enjoy the events as they unfold from the safety of your homes and live vicariously through those brave and lucky enough to be there.