SHIPPING LIST: JUNE 30, 2010
Disclaimer: You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.

The Independents...
APR100054 ABE SAPIEN ABYSSAL PLAIN #1 (OF 2) DAVE JOHNSON CVR $3.50
MAR101129 ATOMIC ROBO REVENGE O/T VAMPIRE DIMENSION #4 (OF 4) $3.50
APR100744 BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #182 $3.99
MAR100790 DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP #12 (OF 24) $3.99
APR100910 EXPENDABLES #3 (OF 4) $3.99
MAR100431 INVINCIBLE #73 (MR) $2.99
FEB101026 PHANTOM CAPTAIN ACTION #2 (OF 2) $3.99
FEB101029 PHANTOM GENERATIONS #13 $3.99
FEB100821 PROJECT SUPERPOWERS CHAPTER TWO #10 $2.99
APR100711 ROYAL HISTORIAN OF OZ #1 $1.00
MAY101293 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 39 $14.95
FEB100371 STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HP LOVECRAFT TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99
APR100391 TANK GIRL ROYAL ESCAPE #4 (OF 4) $3.99
APR100041 USAGI YOJIMBO #129 $3.50
APR100750 VERONICA #201 $2.99
APR100476 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK #2 (MR) $3.99

The Corporates...
MAY100586 DEATH OF DRACULA #1 $3.99
APR100151 FLASH #3 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99
APR100172 GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #13 $2.99
APR100597 IRON MAN EXTREMIS DIRECTORS CUT #4 (OF 6) $3.99
APR100158 JOKERS ASYLUM CLAYFACE #1 $2.99
APR100615 MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #4 (OF 5) $3.99
APR100541 SPIDER-HAM 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 $3.99

The Spotlight...
- APR100176 ACTION COMICS #890 $3.99
It was a stroke of fanboy genius when, during the Blackest Night, Lex Luthor was deemed the ultimate deputy to the Orange Lantern of avarice, Larfleeze! Luthor's greed gets the spotlight as a post-100 Minute War [War of the Supermen] Supes goes walkabout, leaving the starring role of Action Comics to a ring-desiring super-genius!

One of the real dangers of Blackest Night was the necessity to find a balance between flooding the DCU with a meaningless rainbow of power rings or a one-hit wonder concept. I'm really enjoying the residence the so-called 'New Guardians' have taken up in Green Lantern, and am keen to see how Larfleeze's time on Earth might lead to yet more intelligent, artful cross-pollination between the brands! They say super-villains can't sustain a starring role, but in Lex Luthor, I expect to see an easy dismissal of that popular misconception!

- APR100163 BATMAN BEYOND #1 (OF 6) $2.99
As an old timey comic book reader, the cartoons are always fun deviations to see, but deviations none the less. Bruce Timm and the team behind the "original" Batman animated series struck gold with their retro-infused vision of the Dark Knight and his Gotham City, but I was never so convinced that the various spin-offs, which lacked that charm, were must-see TV. Batman Beyond was an even bigger deviation into irrelevance that struck me as a cheap weenie Batman for the kids convinced DC comics are less penetratable than Spider-man, using ham-fisted drama to tap into bubbling hormones. It'll be a while before I fully shake that curmudgeonous assumption, but in Superman/Batman Annual #4 and Batman #700 I got a first-hand look at how wrong I've been to be so dismissive. At $2.99, the price is certainly right to investigate further as DC makes good on their promise to canonize Beyond as one of the various Earths-slash-possible futures.

- APR100235 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #18 $2.50
An animated series that convinced me much quicker than some of the more self-important escapades is Batman: The Brave and the Bold. With a four-colour comic book retro taking the place of the noir of the Timm show; Brave and the Bold delivers the ultimate in indulgent comic book animation, a lot like Grant Morrison doing Saturday morning cartoons with it's expansive indulgence in the DC superhero canon and it's seventy years of design and style. Clever with it's references and suitable for the whole family, I think this is probably the best kids' cartoon-to-comic tie-in the cartoons have given us.

True to the team-up tradtions of the Brave and the Bold of the old; Batman is joined by a different partner each episode (or issue), to battle a similar selection of villains of the week. In the cartoon you should expect the unexpected, but for those heroes who don't quite make it to the screen, there is the comic book. Martian Manhunter lines up this issue, recalling one of my favourite less prominent relationships in comics, the Gotham City glued detective team-up that was popular introduced to the masses in a more hostile fashion in DC: The New Frontier. Fun!

- APR100141 GREEN LANTERN #55 (BRIGHTEST DAY) $2.99
Red Lantern Atrocitus takes the cover as the New Guardians' tour of recently revealed centre of the universe [Earth] invites the baddest bounty hunter in all the galaxy, Lobo, to town (on business) for an old fashioned fragging! With the next big story already simmering in the background, it's nice to see what will presumably be a light-reading distraction in the pages of GL. A breather after the epic saga that was Blackest Night seems appropriate, even if not a whole lot has happened since Sinestro joined up with Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire Carol Ferris in his pursuit of the White Lantern's light.

- APR100557 SECRET AVENGERS #2 HA $3.99
For all intents and purposes, the Avengers relaunch seems to have a great deal of vision for moving forward. Alas, not every title is going to be for everyone, and as enticing as the concept of a team that includes Black Widow, Moon Knight, Nova, and War Machine might be to this old "Secret" Marvel fan, all signs point toward execution that is lacking. [Ed] Brubaker deserves recognition for a first-issue team building that was brisk, but the pace and quality of action and character just doesn't match that. Taking Steve Rogers and his new team into space is the kind of concept that works best with healthy indulgence in the fiction, but the muted execution typical of a new generation of writers led by Brubaker just doesn't seem comfortable enough to make that work. I was hoping for magic from that first issue, but it just wasn't there.

- APR100134 WONDER WOMAN #600 (NOTE PRICE) $4.99
By now we all know about the costume change and origin revamp that's had the entire world talking. In many respects, your interest in this issue probably comes down to how much you want to know the secret origins of leggins on the street. As is customary for most comics blogs, I've pondered what Wonder Woman needs to get back amongst the ranks of the relevant. While I'm sure the world mainstream exposure of the stunt in news media will move plenty of units for the next few issues, I just can't help but think we should be well beyond this. Maybe behind yet another JMS character reboot lurks a brilliant concept, one that has good reason for wedging this (presumably) finite change to a classic character. I just can't shake the fact that we seem to be indulging more and more cheap tricks that led the nineties into a nosedive. Electro Superman and French Killer Batman should've been more than enough to steer us clear of this kind of silliness. Getting Wonder Woman in pants isn't the worst thing to happen in the comics world, but everything that comes with it seems to be just another revolution of stupid.

We're thirty years in to the street-driven grime proliferated by the eighties and instigated more delicately by the seventies. It feels like experience and intelligence should've given us a path to the next great chapter in comic book creation, and in Final Crisis, I thought I was seeing that. Alas; there are many new influences on the comic book medium, which means waiting for the all expansive creation of intelligently indulgent superhero comics might have to wait. This revamp of a classic heroine isn't entirely unwarranted, but goes in the opposite direction to what I would think is the best way to get something out of the character. Wonder Woman suffers from similar misconceptions and malaise as Superman, which is why I would hold All-Star Superman up as a prime example of the kinds of successes an iconic and hyper-fictionalized Wonder Woman could achieve. Gail Simone's recent run at the character was certainly in that direction and had it's moments and possibilities, but ultimately felt like grinding twelve-part mediocrity that in no way represents the powers of a superhero Wonder Woman comic book. You get the sense that this utterly unimpressive vision of the heroine is preparing us for the realities of film casting. I could certainly see Megan Fox wearing this outfit more convincingly than the much more demanding star-spangled one-piece that most mere mortals are dwarfed by. It wouldn't be the first time movie pitches have infiltrated the books ahead of time. Can't help but wonder what influences like Darwyn Cooke or Grant Morrison were doing during these meetings. Beats a neon pink bikini, I guess.

After Batman and Superman did the $4.99 special, I'm even more reticent as a consumer who has no clear idea of what that extra dollar is paying for. I was very critical of Marvel's similar super-sized prices, but at least they made some effort to stuff back matter into chunky books that put value into the paper. Batman had a great thirty-odd pages of comic, but I put that issue down absolutely wanting my dollar back. I'd expect something similar here, providing foresight hasn't been given to the impressions of the unwashed masses that might pick this up on Lynda Carter's recommendation. An influence I personally have never been one to put stock in.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
APR100643 MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 01 $24.99
MAR100311 SHADE THE CHANGING MAN TP VOL 03 SCREAM TIME (MR) $19.99
MAY101293 SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 39 $14.95
FEB100371 STRANGE ADVENTURES OF HP LOVECRAFT TP VOL 01 (MR) $16.99
APR100688 TOMB OF DRACULA TP VOL 01 $24.99
NOV090182 WONDER WOMAN ARCHIVES HC VOL 06 $59.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #23: Spider-man

SPIDER-MAN (Marvel)
Real Name: Miguel O'Hara
First Appearance: Spider-man 2099 #1 (November, 1992)
Group Affiliation: Exiles
Gaming Credentials: Spider-man (2000); Spider-man 2: Enter Electro (2001); Spider-man: Web of Shadows (2008); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions (TBR/2010); Super Hero Squad Online (TBA)
Infinite Wars Ranking: DNR


From one futuristic hero of the week [Batman Beyond] to another, we arrive at Spider-man 2099!

Featured in several games as an unlockable costume swap for your regular, friendly neighbourhood, garden variety Spider-man -- Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-man of the year 2099, will make his first full fledged appearance as a playable character when Activision release the latest in their long line of titles this year, the reality-hopping epic, Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions.

Shattered Dimensions looks to reinvigorate the lagging Spidey license with the introduction of four new modes built around the classic adventures of Spider-man, and three alternate universe versions based on the comics. Spider-man Noir and Spider-man 2099 are the two confirmed alternate Spider-men who will be joined by a fourth mystery universe to be revealed at the coming San Diego Comic-Con, all piloted by a plot crafted by fan-favourite comics writer, Dan Slott.

Interestingly enough, this isn't the 2099 Spidey's first brush with playable gaming fame.
In the mid-nineties, Saffire were to develop a game called Marvel 2099: One Nation Under Doom; a title designed to place control over the various 2099 properties (versions of Ghost Rider, Daredevil, X-Men, Punisher, and others) in the hand of gamers. In 1996, it's fair to say it would've been a strange title to join the pantheon of games, but one that received coverage at SDCC at the time and was even previewed in some magazine publications. Alas; Marvel's Earth-928 (as it's now known) would have to wait until now to get a gaming realization.

Not your father's Spidey: Miguel O'Hara is a different Spider-man for a different time in Shattered Dimensions!

Spider-man 2099 tells the tale of Miguel O'Hara -- an intelligent student whose work with Alchemax, a sinister corporate science tank full of legal drugs and other nasty future predicaments, forced him to attempt genetic tampering to avoid the addictive effects of the incredibly addictive "Rapture" drug he'd been given by his evil overlords. Jealous skullduggery meant his sciencey solution was altered and he was given the proportionate strength, speed, and agility of a spider (not unlike a certain Peter Parker). With a sinister Spidey-looking costume ready and waiting for celebrating the Day of the Dead, Miguel O'Hara leaps into the world as the Spider-man of the year 2099!
Originally posted: Incomplete Article Not Published

<< Hero of the Week 01/04: Doctor Strange       [Home]       Hero of the Week 06/07: Batman >>

Hero of the Week 2010 #22: Batman

BATMAN (DC)
Real Name: Terry McGinnis
First Appearance: Batman Beyond Ep.1 (January, 1999)
Group Affiliation: Justice League
Gaming Credentials: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000); DC Universe Online (TBA/2010)
Infinite Wars Ranking: DNR


I have to admit -- I'm coming at this entry somewhat ignorant in contrast to the usual HOTW.

While I could certainly appreciate the atmospheric noir and embellished comic book influences that gave us the 1992 Batman animated series, I was never so dedicated to the show that I would follow along to it's subsequent extentions. Continuations of this animated universe in Superman and the Justice League were certainly something I took a look at, but in the detached possible-future of Batman Beyond, I saw a pubescent vision of Batman that just didn't meet my interests at the time. The more I investigate, the more I realise I might've been a little hasty in my judgments.

The animated world that spun out of the original series -- dubbed by many the "Timmverse" for writer/producer Bruce Timm -- has done a lot of good for the promotion of DC comics and their characters. There's an associative assumption that Marvel characters are somehow more instantly relatable than DC's caped originals. This common misconception no doubt owes a lot to Marvel's steadfast maintenance of characters like Spider-man -- who has remained present in animation and film starting with the famous animated series. While DC have certainly had their television successes, it was this "Timmverse" that helped shake certain assumptions that came from varied interpretations of the characters, allowing for a reestablished modern persona that has inducted a generation of new fans.

For me, a reader of comics for most of my life, this success of the Timmverse has been a mixed blessing. While it's certainly done great things for the comics, not just in terms of exposure, but as an influence that steered the Batman franchise through the late nineties to it's own surpassing successes of the animated series, the cartoons have also had their drawbacks. Most frustrating is the eventuating ignorance of the source material which comes from many fans failing to follow their favourite characters to their home in the four-colour comic book format. A barrier that I would have to admit goes two ways -- adding to my resistance to indulge the Batman Beyond cartoon.

Beyond features a Bruce Wayne in his decline -- aged to a point where he can no longer patrol the futuristic streets and skyscraping rooftops of Gotham City as the Batman. Terry McGinnis is the teenage pupil in which he finds a successor, unaware of the conspiracy that brought him to his attention. I'm told it was revealed late in the character's life that Terry McGinnis' adoption of the Batman mantle was no mistake, originally contrived by long standing DCU manipulator, Amanda Waller.
Fortunately, as Batman Beyond joins the comic book world that inspired him, this is information you don't really need to know. Which brings us to the reason for this week's HOTW spotlight!

The Batman of this possible-future has appeared in various DC Universe cameos, most recently joining the ranks of canonized legitimacy brought about by DC's fifty-two universes introduced in the series, 52. The elaboration of this in comic book form has had to wait several years, but in the recent Superman/Batman Annual #4 [pictured above], we got our first taste of the upcoming mini-series that will continue the adventures of McGinnis as the hi-tech futuristic Batman. And I liked it!

The annual features a story very generous to the intimidated and stubborn alike, following up on storylines from the final episode (actually part of Justice League Unlimited) that boast Superman in his Beyond form, with the evil Lex Luthor still intact to cause trouble. This leads into a six issue mini-series that will test the waters for more projects with the character, coming up this month in the form of Batman Beyond #1. You can find more information about that at DCcomics.com!

I wouldn't say I'm a complete convert, but I'm certainly reassessing what entertainment might lie in the world of the cartoons, which still seems to demand teen indulgence in things that aren't quite as serious as all that. The animated film Return of the Joker (which has a video game counterpart) certainly reveals more avenues of interest to the traditional fan, however, which is for me an example of the true spirit of comic book pulp fiction. There's always time to follow a thread, new or old, to discover something exciting along the way. I've written about this philosophy before, and I'm pleased to be an example of putting it into practise.

<< Hero of the Week 06/13: Spider-man       [Home]       Hero of the Week 05/29: Batman >>

Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9032995

SHIPPING LIST: JUNE 03, 2010
Disclaimer: You can probably find complete shipping list updates on most major comics sites. Consider this an opportunity to either do all your info-shopping in the one place, or get a speculative perspective on what might be worth checking out. These are untested reads. Secret Wars on Infinite Earths can offer no guarantee or endorsement of quality. These are simply titles that may be of potential interest. Some items may ship late.

The Infinite Wars now has a gift shop!
Now you'll find Amazon purchase links to hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and other collections, not only on regular entries -- but also new releases at the bottom of the Shipping List, and now a whole catalogue of potential purchases via the Infinite Wars: Amazonian Gift Shop. [Men are also welcome!] By shopping with Amazon via our purchase links, you not only find yourself a great deal, but also sponsor future entries on the Infinite Wars.

The Independents...
MAR100709 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #209 $3.99
MAR100710 BETTY #186 (NOTE PRICE) $2.99
APR100404 BULLETPROOF COFFIN #1 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99
APR100390 DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS SERIES 3 #4 $3.99
FEB100397 INVINCIBLE #72 (MR) $2.99
APR100827 IRREDEEMABLE #14 $3.99
JAN100176 MADE WITH 90% RECYCLED ART TP $10.99
MAR101049 METAL GEAR SOLID OMNIBUS TP $29.99

The Corporates...
APR100231 FLASH REBIRTH #1 NEW PTG #1 $1.00
APR100192 GREAT TEN #8 (OF 9) $2.99
APR100588 HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1 HA $3.99
APR100507 HERALDS #1 (OF 5) $2.99
MAR100550 IRON MAN EXTREMIS DIRECTORS CUT #2 (OF 6) $3.99
APR100282 IZOMBIE #2 (MR) $2.99
APR100154 JOKERS ASYLUM THE RIDDLER #1 $2.99
APR100171 RED ROBIN #13 $2.99
APR100620 THANOS IMPERATIVE #1 (OF 6) $3.99
APR100617 VENGEANCE OF MOON KNIGHT #9 HA $3.99

The Spotlight...
- APR100559 AVENGERS PRIME #1 (OF 5) HA $3.99
The Avengers freight train is unsurprisingly in top gear as Marvel continue the rebuild of their contemporary A-list franchise, restoring a classical brief to a line-up that was ripped up and retro fitted with other icons in 2004's Avengers Disassembled. The move coincides with Marvel Entertainment's jostling of the Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America franchises, which are all roads leading to moviedom's first taste of comic book continuity.

The Heroic Age reboot has shown spotty results with it's first few issues, enjoyable for the most part, with only a few complaints. However, these days it's par for the course that there'll be a handful of superfluous fluff pieces. Prime pertains to the post-Siege relationship between the big three Avengers who were at each other's throats throughout the Civil War. It's a much needed piece of the puzzle, but as a relegated mini-series, I'm not convinced. Probably a must-read for those obsessed with the minutia of a shared superhero universe, but otherwise, I wouldn't expect much that couldn't be assumed in the "main" Avengers books you're probably already buying in abundance. Consumer beware.

- APR100137 BRIGHTEST DAY #3 $2.99
I've felt slightly sceptical about the juggled narratives of a cast of at least eight significant characters, but the first few issues (including #0) have been promising. Last issue gave us the surprise return of Anti-Monitor, who escaped cosmic bondage at the end of Blackest Night. There're still a few zombie Black Lanterns running about the place, but they'll have to compete with the return of traditional villains who seem to be waking up in conjunction with the return of their thought-dead nemesis. If I'm not mistaken, that might have been a mind-wiped White Martian in the pages of Brightest Day #2, which followed a violent pattern similar to the rise of Aquaman foe, Black Manta. All signs of a lot of action to come in the near future, and also a soft entry point for those readers distracted by the sensation of not quite knowing every piece of history. Like 52 before it, Brightest Day seems as much an event comic, as it is a self-contained introduction to the many corners of the DC Universe.

- APR100570 CAPTAIN AMERICA BLACK PANTHER FLAGS OF FATHERS #3 (OF 4) $3.99
Springing forth from the pages of Reginald Hudlin's Black Panther; Flags of our Fathers continues to tell the tale of Captain America's Second World War encounter with T'Chaka and the people of the insulated nation of Wakanda. Nazi's have brought Wakanda into a rare alliance with an outside power, seeing the Golden Age Black Panther team-up with Cap and the Howling Commandos in a battle that's about to bring them face-to-face with the Nazi super-soldiers -- Master Man and Warrior Woman! Great fun and an awesome deviation into what was previously a few pages of flashback in the first arc of Hudlin's BP!

- APR100161 RED HOOD LOST DAYS #1 (OF 6) $2.99
It's been five years since Jason Todd seemingly returned from the dead courtesy of a reality-altering punch from Superboy-Prime (prior to events in Infinite Crisis). With an animated feature based on his original Under the Hood arc of Batman -- Judd Winick seems to want to right the wrongs of the past by delving deeper into the secret life of Jason Todd during his lost days. Hence the mini-series, which promises to look closer at what made him assume the secret identity of the man who nearly killed him -- Joker. Here's hoping the opportunity pays off, rather than further complicating an already convoluted backstory.

- MAR100562 FRANKEN-CASTLE #17 $2.99
Unexpected and ridiculous -- Punisher's transformation into the monthly adventures of Franken-Castle continues a reinvestment in the Marvel horror titles previously seen in recent Marvel Zombies mini-series [ie; MZ4]. Teaming the reconstituted remains of a sliced and diced Frank Castle with monster heroes led by Morbius was the right kind of insane, but all good things must come to an end. Word down the pipeline suggest some sort of mini-series or continuation might find it's way into production, but it will not be representative of the broader scope of Marvel horror as vampires become a topic of interest in the coming months. As they're wont to do these days, Marvel will be led by their nose to the latest fad when they revamp Dracula and the Marvel vampires with a complete reversal of characterization, heading vaguely in the teen direction. Once upon a time it was Marvel who set about creating exciting new movements, but these days, it feels as if they're always behind the curve. In other words, if you're looking for some Marvel horror, you might want to get the good stuff while it lasts, before a Castlevania revamped Dracula bites the big one to make way for the kids. Uninspiring news, but we'll see if it's as bad as it looks.

- APR100179 SUPERMAN BATMAN ANNUAL #4 $4.99
Fans of the animated Batman Beyond adventures have been crying out for representation for quite some time, and while revealed to be part of the 52 universes quite some time ago, we haven't seen a lot from Terry McGinnis and his future world. Superman/Batman Annual #4 is a pricey first taste of a mini-series coming soon that will better ingrain the world of Batman Beyond into the broad DCU.

They're doing it smart with a story that teams future Superman with his contemporary dark knight counterpart, but I've got to be honest, at $4.99, that's not enough to pull me in on the hook of interest. To be fair, I never really got into the animated spin-off which always kinda struck me as a weenie version of Batman for little kids. I'll get another chance to get acquainted in the coming weeks when Batman Beyond becomes it's own mini.

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Know Your Trade...
DEC090592 DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS BY BRUBAKER & LARK HC VOL 02 $75.00
APR100693 DAREDEVIL TP MAN WITHOUT FEAR NEW PTG $19.99
APR100271 DMZ TP VOL 08 HEARTS AND MINDS (MR) $16.99
MAR100239 FINAL CRISIS TP $19.99
JAN100270 JONAH HEX NO WAY BACK HC $19.99
JAN100176 MADE WITH 90% RECYCLED ART TP $10.99
MAR101049 METAL GEAR SOLID OMNIBUS TP $29.99
DEC090593 X-FORCE HC VOL 01 $34.99

Hero of the Week 2010 #21: Batman

BATMAN (DC) (2009)
Real Name: Bruce Wayne
First Appearance: Detective Comics #27 (May, 1939)
Group Affiliation: Justice League
Gaming Credentials: Batman (1986); Batman: The Caped Crusader (1988); Batman (1989); Batman (1990); Batman: Revenge of the Joker (1991); Batman Returns (1993); Batman: The Animated Series (1993); Adventures of Batman & Robin (1994); Justice League: Task Force (1995); Batman Forever (1996); Batman & Robin (1997); Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000); Batman: Gotham City Racer (2001); Batman: Vengeance (2001); Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003); Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2004); Batman Begins (2005); Justice League Heroes (2006); Lego Batman (2008); Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe (2008); Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009); Batman: The Brave and the Bold (TBR/2010); DC Universe Online (TBR/2010); Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 (TBR/2011)
Infinite Wars Ranking: #1

It'll be a busy few years for the famed Dark Knight Detective, with a full slate of video game titles like the highly anticipated unnamed sequel to Arkham Asylum (2011), the cartoon-inspired Batman: Brave and the Bold in September (2010), and full MMO duty as a feature hero nestled in the story-driven interactive world of DC Universe Online, also scheduled for the end of 2010. The big announcement spurring the Bat-franchise onward as our Hero of the Week must be a third and final feature film from director Christopher Nolan, who will juggle his time between overseeing production of a new Superman film, while closing the saga of Christian Bale's Batman.

It's interesting that, in announcing the new film, director [Christopher] Nolan felt the need to stress the finite nature of his vision of The Batman. I think it's fair to say there was always a sense of a short term bond between the filmmaker and this new interpretation of The Dark Knight -- which he so successfully brought to life in the film sequel of the same name. It has obviously been a very fruitful collaboration for creator and character, but it's in that sense of controlled distance that the strengths of Batman Begins and it's sequel have lied. Nolan -- the first to admit his ignorance of the complexities of Batman canon -- outsourced perspective from writers like David Goyer, who helped corral references from some of the best Batman stories, such as Batman: Year One, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and The Man Who Falls.

With his collaborators in tact and a growing familiarity with the Batman world he himself created, Nolan moves forward with a confidence no doubt gained from the unprecedented success of his Bat-filtered crime thriller inspired in part by the canon of the stories mentioned above, and film sources such as Heat. The question now begs -- where does the Batman's creative custodians look to in their third and final instalment? I'm beginning to think it might be the most obvious, but least likely of places!

The influence of Frank Miller on the Batman character can be seen readily in both comic book and film, his stories Year One and The Dark Knight Returns rating among the most revered texts in the seventy year history of the legend. The latter can be described as having the most influence on the demeanor of the Batman, whose meticulous detective mind and ultimate human physique was taken to gruff, grim, and gritty new extremes, emphasising the internal aspects of Batman, his perspective of a literal war on crime, and bastardly penchant for out-thinking even the great Superman to morally victorious ends.

The difficulty of adapting the layered text of The Dark Knight Returns for film lies not in the Reagan-era politics that runs throughout the story, it's references to a DC Universe that were elaborated upon in it's comic book sequel, or even the splashes of uncompromising violence that would push the boundaries of the bloodless PG rating The Dark Knight was able to achieve.

As a direct adaptation; the story of DKR requires casting Batman in an almost villainous outsider role. It is a tale set in the twilight of Batman's career, continued in 2001's long promised sequel, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, but ultimately a story of the end of Batman, a Clint Eastwood inspired Dirty Harry-type in his golden years, fighting with very little to lose. For it's decidedly uncommercial and unfriendly perspective, it's the type of story that would rarely be accepted through the many tiers of red tape Hollywood films need to conquer to be written, produced, and advertised in the many franchised venues that inevitably follow. Nolan's Batman isn't just any franchise, however, and in stressing the next film as the end of his vision, I'm beginning to wonder if the sequel to The Dark Knight might not utilize it's financial and creative cache to bring the intent of The Dark Knight Returns to the film, if not the specifics of it's dressing.

The Dark Knight leaves us with a Batman wanted for the apparent death of Harvey Dent (a detail not quite set in stone by his literal and metaphoric fall from a great height) and willfully established as the outsider. In name and context, The Dark Knight readies audiences for a DKR-inspired film that might just achieve the impossible of realising this great story in a cinematic fashion. Superman is unlikely to appear. The Joker, established before his death by Heath Ledger, has been said to be omitted from any sequel plans, meaning that sub-plot of the comic might also have to be adapted in other ways, but the intent may remain the same. Which has me very excited about what might lie ahead, even if this is purely speculation. Whatever lies ahead almost certainly promises a big bang to close what has been the benchmark of these comic book adaptations.

The Dark Knight watches over Arkham Asylum with Gotham City looming ominously in the background.

Gamers no doubt look forward a very different sequel, one baring more in common with it's comic book counterparts, in the as yet unnamed follow-up to Arkham Asylum. The former game brought an even darker vision of Batman to home consoles, borrowing from a variety of sources, including another of the great Batman comic book tales unlikely to reach the big screen, Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's psychological thriller, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.

"Arkham 2" promises to bring Two-Face to the fore in a Gotham City bound dash for justice with the same hyper-stylized pseudo-realism of the first game. It's a steady contrast to stories unfolding in the comic books right now, where the afforementioned [Grant] Morrison takes Batman through the ages in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne -- a follow-up to the apparent death of the character at the hands (or eyes) of New God of evil, Darkseid, in the end of DC's universe-spanning Final Crisis. In truth, Bruce Wayne was sent hurtling through time by the mysterious "Omega Sanction," the death that is many lives, each destined to end in ambiguous frivolity -- the ultimate punishment for a hero as controlling and obsessive as Batman!

These indulgent references, which typify Morrison's treatment of the character right through a run that features embellished tales inspired by the fifties bizarre of post-Comics Code Batman, are much more in keeping with the fantastical elements sure to be found in the Nintendo-exclusive adaptation of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The game, based on the animated series of the same name, takes similar cues from the fifties, notably the garrish designs of many classic heroes and villains, sourced directly from the art style of early pencillers such as Dick Sprang -- who also influenced Frank Miller's burly visual take on the character in the Dark Knight Returns. Which brings us full circle, from film speculation, to comic book storylines, and the video games they have spawned!

If you're at all overwhelmed by this spiralling HOTW adventure, be sure to investigate the Batman's recent plight through DCcomics.com, where you'll find information about the Return of Bruce Wayne and the still running exploits of former-Robin, Dick Grayson, who has filled in as Batman for over a year's worth of stories now. Likewise, follow links throughout this article to find more information on 1UP about each of the games discussed.

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Originally updated: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9032995

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Hero of the Week 2010 #20: Thor

THOR (Marvel)
Real Name: Thor, "Odinson" (aka; Dr. Donald Blake)
First Appearance: Journey into Mystery #83 (August, 1962)
Group Affiliation: Avengers, Asgard
Gaming Credentials: Marvel vs Capcom (1998); Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006); Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009); Marvel Super Hero Squad (2009); Marvel vs Capcom 3 (TBA/2011); Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (TBR/2010); Thor (TBA/2011); The First Avenger: Captain America (TBA/2011)
Infinite Wars Ranking: #28

If you accept the theory that superheroes are part of modern mythology, then it stands to reason you might mix some of the classics in with your newbies. When it comes to Marvels "mightiest heroes", The Avengers, that's exactly the philosophy employed! For five decades Thor has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Iron Man and Captain America as the very best of the best -- the iconic big three Avengers ever since they discovered the Captain frozen in the sea and thawed him out!

Despite the seemingly unbreakable bond these franchise players have formed, the modern era hasn't been especially accepting of Norse Gods within the ranks of a premiere superhero team. Working against Thor is a conspiracy of factors including the inherent fantasy-genre tropes of the purest Thor source material, which don't gel as naturally with the average contemporary superhero story, and the widespread misconception that superheroes who aren't boring brown haired boys, or alcoholics, are too "unrelatable" to be interesting. As you can see from the above list, it certainly didn't do him any favours when video games were out scouting!

Those who've remained in the dark of cinemas long enough to see Iron Man 2's post-credits teaser -- and the crater inhabiting Mjolnir (Thor's hammer) featured within -- might already be beginning to change their thinking. Fans of the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games will have a similar perspective for the way the familiar aspects of a covert intelligence agency (SHIELD) can bridge the gap between the mysticism and fantasy of Thor, and the established contemporary precedent for the Marvel movie universe, which came with the high-tech plausibility of Iron Man.

Indeed, it was the Iron Man films that first tackled this obstacle of men versus magic, when Jon Favreau and his team opted to drop the title characters most iconic nemesis, The Mandarin, from the final script. What fans found instead was a playful reference to the master villain and his objects of power, alluded to in the naming of the film's terrorist antagonists, The Ten Rings.

In May of next year, audiences will get their first taste of the fantasy to come, when Thor the movie hits cinemas. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it features relative unknown Chris Hemsworth in the lead role, an actor Australians will recognise from his five nights a week role in primetime soap, Home and Away. It'll be a long way from the beach-bound dramas of his fresh faced role, with early snaps promising a mature, bearded Hemsworth who looks as much the part as mere mortals can.

Sir Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman will lend their marquee reputations to the film, while seasoned thespia, Tom HIddleston, inhabits the role of Thor's mischief making nemesis and half-brother, Loki. The film promises to bridge the gap of Asgard and the Norse Gods with characteristic interest in "Midgard" -- the world of humanity, which Thor has classically inhabited as both the mighty Avenger, and in his human alter-ego, Dr. Donald Blake.

When Iron Man and Thor converge with yet another Marvel movie license hitting screens in 2011, The First Avenger: Captain America, the stage will be set for one of the most ambitious undertakings in any of the library of superhero films that have hit screens since 2000! Avengers, if nothing else, will fulfill the imaginative wishes of comic book fanboys worldwide, who've envisioned this type of team-up for as long as there have been superheroes on film. It is arguably the ultimate legacy of the movies that started it all, namely X-Men (2000), which was the first real attempt to create a superhero team on the big screen.

Thor brings the pain verily in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, with the smiting assist from Deadpool!

Over in the comics, Thor's integration into the Avengers has been as natural as you would expect.
Thor broke from the group when Asgard entered Ragnarok during 2004's Avengers Disassembled, while Iron Man and Captain America became bitter philosophical enemies in Civil War. They were brought together just recently in Marvel's mediocre four-issue event, Siege, which gave us the new marquee approach of the Heroic Age, which features a world reshaped by Captain America, who has accepted the role of the world's "top cop" -- previously inhabited by Iron Man during Civil War, and Norman Osborn in the just concluded Dark Reign.

You'll find Thor tossing his hammer indescriminately at time travelling fiends, alongside Iron Man, Spider-man, Wolverine, and some of Marvel's other premiere heroes, in the pages of the recently relaunched Avengers. Issue #1 should still be on shelves! For more information on Avengers and the Heroic Age, check out Marvel.com! Thor will also join the recent of the super-deformed Marvel Universe when they go online in the recently announced MMO, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online. It remains to be seen if this renewed presence will extend to Marvel vs Capcom 3, upgrading the hero from support character to playable hammer tosser, and if Sega's initial claim to the Thor film license will eventuate in a solo game in 2011 after their recent cutbacks.

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Originally posted: http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9031387