Batman Trailer

Romantic interests in the Batman saga

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When most people think of Batman they think of such things as the dark knight, a loner, warrior and vigilante. While all these qualities are true when discussing Batman there is also an aspect of the character that is often overlooked. That aspect is Batman and his romantic interests. It might shock many readers to now that Batman is quite the lady’s man. A quick look through the history of the character shows that Bruce Wayne has always been a romantic character. Some of the more notable relationships that batman has been in are recounted here. To begin mention must be made of the often imperiled Julie Madison. She is one of the earliest long standing relationships Batman would enter into. From here we see Batman with such ladies as Vicki Vale, Zatanna, Poisoin Ivy and Talia Al Ghul. Perhaps the most famous relationship that Batman has ever been in was the relationship with Catwoman. This on and off again relationship has spanned the decades. During the 50′s their relationship was so strong some issues depicted them as a married couple. More recently their relationship has sparked up again in the most recent re-launch of the Batman titles. As you can see Batman is not just a man of mystery, he is also a man of romance.

The other heroes of Gotham City

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When one thinks of Gotham City and it’s heroes within, they normally go right to an image of Batman. The bat, even in his moments of darkness, is the city’s biggest light. And, although Batman is the most heard or hero from Gotham City, he isn’t the only one. Batman, oft the loner, has had some help here and there.

Robin, Batman’s one time sidekick, is a hero of Gotham City. As well as Batgirl. Bigger than that little bird, The Justice Society of America (also known as the The Justice League of America) have often operated within Gotham City also, working with Batman as an honorary member of the team. This band of superheroes includes Hawkman, Flash,Dr. Fate, Green Lantern, the Spectre, Hourman, the Atom, the Sandman, Wonder W. the Black Canary, and even Superman.

But it seems that in the world of DC Comic’s Gotham City, the villains often outweigh the heroes. For each hero must have a villain, or two or three, to battle and same the human people from. Without villains what would be the use of a superhero in the first place. Whether the superhero is human, superhuman or alien, they are the saviors of the comic book world!

The Outsiders: Batman’s underground strike-force

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Batman is an honest law breaker in a city full of corrupt police and politician. His vigilante antics bring justice to Gotham City. Bruce Wayne may be driven by revenge, but he directs his desires in a constructive fashion. Batman takes on the worst of Gotham’s criminals and does not let himself be corrupted by it too much. The character has undergone changes through the years. The most recent changes include him developing a small strike force of like-minded vigilantes. Gotham has millions of inhabitants and Wayne realizes that the city needs more help than Batman can give it. The Outsiders enter the picture.

Many of the Outsiders started out in gangs or similar organizations. It took the subtle persuasion methods of the Caped Crusader to channel these gangsters into more productive activities. The Outsider are often little more than a gang themselves, but they are a gang fighting against the excesses of the city. The Outsiders have joined Wayne and his allies in their never ending crusade for justice.

Batman calls upon this underground strike force when there is need. He understands that they are risking their own lives, much like he does every night. He does not make the decision lightly.

Breaking down an icon with Lego Batman

www.batman-trailer.com — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Long before the days of satellite television and affordable Direct TV packages with hundreds of channels, Legos allowed kids to build their imaginations into real life. Even though technology has come a long way, Legos have continued to evolve with it. Among the many benefits of modern technology is the ability to literally bring those Lego stories to life through a variety of video game titles. There’s Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Lego Indiana Jones, and perhaps most importantly, Lego Batman.If you can’t reconcile Christopher Nolan’s dark Batman films with a Gotham City made from plastic bricks, remember that Batman has gone through a number of adaptations, including the notoriously campy 1960s series. It helps that Lego Batman has some video game clout behind it. The title was developed by Traveller’s Tales, also known for Transformers: The Game and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.Fans will see many of their favorite characters come to animated Lego life in the game. Besides Batman, there’s Robin, Nightwing, Man-Bat, Clayface, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Joker, and Killer Croc, just to name a few. Each of these characters can be played, and numerous others can be unlocked with certain achievements. There’s also a character creator where you can create lesser-known but still iconic characters from the comic series, who have yet to appear in film adaptations, including Azrael, Cassandra Cain, Huntress, and Spoiler.The game’s quite lengthy, too. You begin by playing through the hero levels, of which there are fifteen in total. After beating a hero level, the corresponding “villain chapter” is opened up. In addition, you can go into the “Free Play” mode to play through completed levels using any character you’ve unlocked. Since various characters have special abilities (Poison Ivy can make plants grow, Clayface can double jump), this allows players to reach previously-blocked areas. Those areas may contain collectable items which can be used to unlock new characters and other bonuses.Lego Batman is a far-cry from Batman: Arkham Asylum, but that’s one of the great things about the character: he transcends boundaries and age groups. Lego has created a game that is a great introduction to the character for younger players while still working in enough comic winks and nods to satisfy older players. Check it out on Mac, PC, Nintendo DS, Playstation 2, 3, and Portable, Wii, or Xbox 360. There are even mobile phone versions.

Batman: Arkham City takes you back into Gotham’s shadows

www.batman-trailer.com — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:36:11 +0000

Just as Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins finally gave this generation a great Batman film, Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham Asylum gave us our great Batman video game. Now, the developers are returning with a sequel. I think we all remember how that worked for Nolan with The Dark Knight, don’t we?Let’s start off with all the new characters that will be appearing. The sultry villainess/sometimes-romantic-interest Catwoman makes her debut, along with the maniacal Hugo Strange, the schizophrenic Two-Face, the vicious assassin Victor Zsasz, and the cold-hearted Mr. Freeze (sorry, couldn’t resist). Batman is once again voiced by Kevin Conroy and the Joker by Mark Hamill, both of whom have voiced their respective characters in multiple animated features.Gameplay is expected to include more puzzle elements than the first entry, but the screenshots look so amazing that we suspect most players won’t mind slowing down to take a closer look. Rest assured that there will be plenty of thugs to take down, though, as there’s a much larger world to explore. Did you notice that “City” bit in the title? After the destruction of Arkham at the end of the first game, the previous warden has bought out Gotham’s slums and installed the criminals in there. A private mercenary force patrols the outside, keeping everything in its placefor now. We suspect that you’ll have to contend with forces on both sides of the law when things inevitably go downhill.The biggest announcement is that the title will feature multiplayer gameplay. The developers haven’t given any more info beyond this teaser, though, so we don’t know if players will be taking control of Catwoman or one of Batman’s as-yet-unseen allies (like Robin and Batgirl). Perhaps players will even be able to take control of the Joker and go head-to-head. Of course, there’s no way that could work. Is there?

What’s in Batman’s utility belt?

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:02:01 +0000

If Bruce Wayne can be said to have any superpowers, one of them is his talent for preparation. Whether he’s fighting the Joker atop a WWII biplane or battling the Scarecrow in an abandoned factory, Bruce Wayne always has the right tools for the job. Some of them are no-brainers that anybody would think of, and some of themwell, see for yourself. By the way, this is by no means a complete list. For that, see “The Great Batman Equipment Archive.”

Batcall: Featured in the storylines Batman: Year One and Batman vs. Predator, the Batcall emits an ultrasonic tone which attracts the swarm of bats that makes its home below Wayne Manor. This has been used to distract and throw off enemies.
Batarangs:

Regular: These appear in almost every medium. Razor-sharp, they can stun, disarm, or slice through enemies.Bolo: Featured in the Batman Returns Super Nintendo game, this is used to wrap around and incapacitate enemies. Batman’s also been shown to have a Bolo Gun or Bolo Bomb in certain films and books.Sonic: Also featured in the BR SNES game. We can only presume that it emits a similar frequency to the Batcallhighly useful for shattering glass, or enemies’ eardrums.Computerized: This appeared in the Batman Returns film. Batman was able to program it to take out four enemies in sequence.Others: Batman 349 revealed a Police Whistle Batarang, Seeing Eye Batarang, and Flash Bulb Batarang, among others.

Kryptonite ring: Never one for sentimentality, Batman includes this as a precaution against all Kryptonians, but especially Superman himself. He’s had to use it numerous times, when Superman was affected by magic or other forces.
Marble: One of the simplest devices in the belt, this is used to imitate footsteps and allow Batman to sneak up on unsuspecting opponents.

The men behind the mask of Batman

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:34:39 +0000

Numerous actors have portrayed Batman through the years, and most of them couldn’t be more different from each other. From the camp of the ’60s television show to the darkness of the new Christopher Nolan films, Batman has proven a character capable of hitting a number of tones and styles. Here is the list of the most notable men to wear the cape and cowl.

Lewis Wilson (Batman, 1943): This 15-part film serial pits Batman as a government agent against the Japanese scientist Dr. Daka, who has discovered a way to turn people into zombies. Despite its propaganda and campy feel, the series spawned a sequel, Batman and Robin. Robert Lowery played the title role.
Adam West (Batman, 1966-1968; Legends of the Superheroes, 1979): This campy actor was the perfect star for a television series made by a producer who hated comic books and wanted to turn the show into a kind of pop art camp masterpiece. Considering West’s ongoing popularity, it seems like some kind of success.
Michael Keaton (Batman, 1989; Batman Returns, 1992): Keaton helped turn the series around in the late ’80s, bringing an emotional gravitas to the role that was the perfect foil for Jack Nicholson’s psychotic Joker. The second film got criticism for being too dark.
Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, 1995): Kilmer is less known for his characterization than for his willingness to wear the ridiculous suit of this version, featuring rubber nipples and a sculpted backside.
George Clooney (Batman & Robin, 1997): Nothing more needs to be said about this film, other than that it effectively killed the franchise for almost ten years.
Christian Bale (Batman Begins, 2005; The Dark Knight, 2008, upcoming Batman sequel, 2012): For most modern viewers, Christian Bale IS Batman. And we can all hear it in his deep, guttural voice as well. Bale’s ability to play both the playboy persona and the feral vigilante are a big part of what’s made him so popular.

Best Batman stories for new readers

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:18:15 +0000

The popularity of the new films is likely to encourage viewers to seek out more Batman stories on their own. However, the vast amount of series with the Bat-logo on them in comic shops can be intimidating for new readers. Thankfully, most comic shop owners are always happy to guide new readers to some good starting places. Here’s what they’ll most likely suggest. Given Batman’s new popularity, most of these are available in regular bookstores as well as comic shops.

The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. This story is considered not only one of the greatest Batman tales, but one of the greatest comic stories of all time. Miller writes a hard-bitten Batman who has given up crime-fighting in the face of modern crime, but is inspired to return in order to fight a bigger conspiracy. Miller’s psychological depiction is spot-on, and the reader is introduced to a number of Batman’s most popular foes.
Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. After the success of DKR, Miller wrote this storyline for the official comic series. It’s a drastically different depiction, with Batman as an idealistic crime-fighter just starting out. However, he quickly realizes both his own limitations, and the corruption of the police force around him.
Batman: A Death in the Family by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo. One of the most pivotal moments in the Batman mythos, this story follows Batman and Jason Todd as Robin as they investigate the reappearance of Jason Todd’s birth mother. The climax is breathtaking, and sets Batman off on a dangerous path of revenge.
Batman: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean. Not for the light-hearted, this psychological horror story questions Batman’s own motivations with dark painted art accompanying it. The story serves as a tour of Batman’s most notable villains, all locked up (safely?) in Arkham Asylum.

Batman: Under the Red Hood delivers action and adventure

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:08:35 +0000

The fates have been kind to the Batman film franchise in the last five years. Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins wiped the bad taste of 1997′s Batman & Robin out of our mouths, and The Dark Knight blew everybody’s expectations out of the water. Now, a new film has come out in that fine traditionnot quite at the blockbuster level, but offering a different perspective on the hero and his motivations. Its name is Batman: Under the Red Hood, and ohit’s animated.The film stars Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, I’m Not There) as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman, and Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) as mysterious new villain the Red Hood. The plot may seem more traditionally “comic-booky” than usual to viewers who have only seen Nolan’s films. There’s good reason for that, as the film is based off Judd Winick’s 2005-2006 storyline “Under the Hood” and features many more costumed villains than the live-action films. You’ll see Amazo the killer android; Black Mask, the faceless mob kingpin; and the Riddler.Without spoiling too many of the twists, the movie follows Batman’s recovery after the second Robin, Jason Todd, at the hands of the Joker. Five years later, a mysterious vigilante named the Red Hood takes over the Gotham City gangs and starts protecting the children of the city. However, the Red Hood’s willingness to kill and engage in trafficking brings him in direct conflict with Batman. Is there a connection between all these events? You’ll have to watch to find out.The film has received good reviews from The World’s Finest website and IGN, which praised its perspective on Batman’s psychology. Ackles’s performance in particular brings the same level of emotional resonance to the film that people have come to expect from the live-action series.

Batman returns to Gotham this October

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:44:32 +0000

It seemed like a strange idea at the time. Just as Batman was coming back into the public eye with the release of the blockbuster The Dark Knight in 2008, Grant Morrison was writing Bruce Wayne out of the series with a storyline called “Batman: R.I.P.”. Among other things, the story revealed a villain who claimed to be Wayne’s father having faked his death. The story ended with Bruce Wayne as good as dead in the present, his mind being sent back to the beginning of human civilization.For the past year and a half, the role of Batman has been filled by Dick Grayson. Grayson first appeared in Detective Comics 38 in 1940 as an orphaned acrobat rescued by Bruce Wayne and subsequently trained into the role of Robin. Unlike most comic book characters, Dick Grayson later aged and became the teen vigilante Nightwing. The Robin to Dick Grayson’s Batman is the original Bruce Wayne’s test-tube son (don’t ask).This May, fans clamoring for Bruce Wayne’s return got the first part of their wish with the publication of issue one of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne. The six-issue series follows Bruce Wayne as he finds a way to travel through time, hitting all the historical pulp-fiction eras on his way. For anyone who’s ever wanted to see a caveman, pirate, or private eye Batman, this is the place.When that series concludes in September, the top secret “Bruce Wayne: The Road Home” storyline will begin in October. Little is known except that there will be a number of one-shot issues focusing on members of Batman’s vigilante team, including multiple Robins, Batgirl, and the quirky superhero team the Outsiders. In addition, Grant Morrison will be writing an issue called Batman: The Return, which will deal with how the world will transition with two Batmans in it.