The Joker returns in October’s Batman #13. DC Comics released the Batman family book solicits for November with new images of the Joker and his plans for Batman in the Death of the Family crossover. Batman #14 shows a chilling image of the Joker in his own makeshift Batcave-like control center watching his targets.
Batman and Robin #14 courtesy DC Comics
Batman and Robin #14,Catwoman #14 and Batgirl #14 will tie-in to Death of the Family as the Joker plots against Selena Kyle, Damian Wayne and Barbara Gordon.
Catwoman #14 courtesy DC Comics
The most haunting image is for Batgirl #14. As discussed this past weekend at GeekGirlCon, Gail Simone has made Batgirl a story of overcoming trauma. Barbara has come so far – it will be gripping to see her face the criminal that left her paralyzed in their last encounter and threatens her real family now.
Batgirl #14 courtesy DC Comics
The November issues set the stage for Death of the Family affecting Nightwing and Red Hood and the Outlaws in December. By Editor
Becky Cloonan is the guest artist on this week’s Batman#12. This post-Court of Owls issue focuses on Harper Rowe, the girl who saved Batman in issue #7.
“If I could go back in time and tell myself ten years ago that I would be drawing Batman … well I don’t know if I would because I might mess up continuity, so here I am,” Cloonan told THE SOURCE. “I admit that I had some stage fright going in to this book, but Scott Snyder wrote an awesome script about a character that I could instantly identify with, and was on top of that, fun to draw. Harper is my kind of girl- I even had a similar haircut when I was 20, although I was admittedly not as cool.”
“Scott had me drawing her in such cool environments too, from living in her crappy slum apartment to working on The Grid – even stealing cupcakes at Wayne Manor (what did I tell you? She’s my kind of girl!). Every scene had me thinking of how Harper would react in each new environment.”
“A lot of time was spent thinking about her facial expressions and hand gestures, how she does her hair and what her posture is like, building on what Scott had told me about her and using Greg Capullo’s amazing designs to help inform my sense of who this character is. I had a great time drawing this book, and I can’t say how happy I am to have the opportunity to help bring Harper to life. Also, BATMAN!!”
Batman #0 is in September the Greg Capullo returns for Batman #13 – the return of the Joker.
If you’re a fan of Becky Cloonan then support and celebrate other creative women in comics – here’s a preview of GeekGirlCon.
Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, courtesy Warner Brothers
Director Christopher Nolan updated Bane for the big screen but cut a sequence explaining his back story according to a story in Vulture. The Dark Knight Rises offers glimpses of why the villain dresses and acts the way he does but there’s no explicit origin sequence.
Costume designer Lindy Hemming was discussing other costumes for the final Batman film when she started revealing the flashback sequence to GQ.
“The thing that you should have seen during that sequence is [Bane] being injured in his youth. So one of the fundamental things about his costume is that he has this scar from the back injury. Even if he hasn’t got the bulletproof vest on, he still has to wear the waist belt and the braces. In that scene in the prison, where he’s learning to fight the same way Batman learned to fight, he’s wearing an early version of his waist belt. It’s showing support, but it’s not the finished one he eventually wears. He’s also wearing an early version of his gas mask, all glued together … If you look at the film, unless they’ve cut it—and I’m sure they haven’t—there’s a whole early section for Tom Hardy where he’s fighting and being taunted by people. He’s got chains on him, and he’s standing on a wooden thing while people are attacking him. And in that scene, he’s wearing a much more ragged, primitive version of the mask.”
The Dark Knight Rises teaser poster courtesy Warner Brothers
When the interviewer told her that sequence is not in the final film she reportedly responded, “Well that’s an awful shame, but I suppose you have to cut things. I won’t elaborate on it too much, because it isn’t in the film, but there was another section that showed you why he had the mask and where it came from.”
Watch for this on the Blu-ray? If you want to dive into Bane’s comic book origins here’s a link to Batman vs. Bane and Knightfall by the legendary Chuck Dixon.
Archer & Armstrong #1The Valiant comeback continues as Obadiah Archer begins a quest to wipe out the ultimate evil. His target: the immortal Armstrong. The new origin of this unlikely heroic duo and their journey to uncover the dark history of the relaunched Valiant universe.
Batgirl #12 courtesy DC Comics
Batgirl #12Batgirl vs Batwoman!
Batman #12 The aftermath of the Court of Owls epic. Guest artist Becky Cloonan joins Scott Snyder for a stand-alone story of the girl who saved the Batman.
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2Inside the secret life of the world’s smartest man. Comic legend Len Wein returns to the epic he edited with Jae Lee at the top of his artistic game.
Daredevil Annual #1The Man Without Fear, Doctor Strange and Marvel’s strangest cosmic clan. Legendary Alan Davis brings back the ClanDestine to cross paths with Matt Murdock
Gambit #1The fan favorite X-Man is back to his criminal ways! Marvel’s ultimate thief and smooth talker is after a big score but it may end up biting him.
Kevin Keller #4Romantic hopes and hijinks at the London Olympics. Kevin reconnects with an old friend but will Veronica’s “help” hurt his chances?
The Massive #3 How can peace-loving pacifists hold on to their beliefs in dark new world where pirates rule the oceans and the civilized world is in ruins? The crew is on the run
The Mighty Thor #18 courtesy Marvel
The Mighty Thor #18 Can the God of Thunder and Kid Loki save the Nine Realms from a dark war? Everything Burns is Matt Fraction’s final Thor story with the legendary Alan Davis on art and crossing over into Journey Into Mystery.
New Avengers #29 The Illuminati are back! Some of the most powerful players in the Marvel Universe gathered in secret for years on covert missions – sometimes with dire results. In this Avengers vs X-Men tie-in the group gathers once again to see if they can defeat the Phoenix.
Frank Miller’s classic Batman tale comes to animated life in Batman: The Dark Knight. Peter Weller stars as an older Bruce Wayne forced into retirement along with other costumed heroes. A violent gang called the Mutants is terrorizing Gotham City. When Harvey Dent aka Two-Face resurfaces the Batman comes out of retirement and becomes a target for the police, old foes and new enemies. MTV Geek posted this exclusive trailer for Batman: The Dark Knight part 1.
Batman: The Dark Knight part 1 arrives September 25, 2012.
Here’s a link to the Absolute Dark Knight by Frank Miller. This is THE graphic novel that reinvigorated Batman and comic books. A MUST read for fans of the Dark Knight.
The countdown is on to Tony Daniel’s final Detective Comics after a spectacular Batman run starting way back with Grant Morrison on R.I.P. The artist will be moving on to Justice Leaguein which he’ll draw DC’s biggest icons and the New 52 debuts of classic villains like the Cheetah.
Detective Comics #12 courtesy DC Comics
DC Comics The Source provided preview art from Detective Comics #12 written and drawn by Daniel and a promise of the final fate of Charlotte Rivers, a guest appearance by Robin. Plus Two-Face the hero you cheer for? Daniel’s backup story starring Harvey Dent continues.
The Dark Knight Rises teaser poster courtesy Warner Brothers
If you want to read a compelling story that inspired The Dark Knight Rises then check out Batman: No Man’s Land. A new edition of volume three is out this week.
SPOILER WARNING
KEY PLOT POINTS OF “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” AHEAD
SERIOUSLY
HERE IT COMES
Batman: No Man’s Land Volume Three New Edition courtesy DC Comics
In The Dark Knight Rises Gotham City is cut off from the rest of the world and under siege from criminal factions thanks to Bane. In the comic books an earthquake rocks Gotham City in Cataclysm. The governor declares the city uninhabitable and orders everyone to leave. Those left behind in No Man’s Land are caught in the turf war between Gotham’s biggest and new crime lords. Batman and his family (Catwoman, Robin, Batgirl, Nighwing) are the only protection for those stranded.
The big difference in the comic book storyline is Bane is on a mission for Superman villain Lex Luthor. The Joker plays a critical role in the finale of the crossover in a showdown that affects Commissioner Gordon. This storyline featured many top writers (Chuck Dixon, Greg Rucka, Dennis O’Neill) at the top of their game.
The Dark Knight Rises one sheet courtesy Warner Brothers
The Dark Knight Rises is the end of Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale’s Batman trilogy. Warner Brothers will likely reboot the iconic hero again at some point with a new actor in the role.
“I’m very intrigued to see another interpretation of it at this point,” he tells MTV News.
Bale reflected on the past film versions of the Caped Crusader.
“There have been many wonderful ones,” he said. “Adam West did it fantastically, spoofing it. I’m sincere. He really did.”
The character’s ability to change has the Oscar-winning actor excited to see what’s next.
“So it would be very interesting to see what someone else does with the character,” he said. “I’d be the first one there to watch.”
Opinion: I always said one of the reasons Christian Bale made such a great Bruce Wayne was that he would make an excellent Joker. Just look at American Psycho. I would hope the Court of Owls storyline might tempt Nolan and Bale to return for one more film…but a geek can dream.
