Burt Ward is coming to Seattle’s Emerald City Comicon 2013 for the first time! The actor played Robin on the 1960’s Batman series will join his castmate Adam West at next year’s big convention. Ward is the author of Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights. Ward will appear all three days: March 1-3, 2013 at the Washington State Convention Center.
In the late 70’s my dad took this young geek to see Burt Ward (in Robin costume) and get his autograph!
By Editor
Batman and is allies (if they survive) will face the fallout of the Joker’s manipulations in the Death of the Family. DC Comics shared previews and covers from Batman family books coming in March 2013.
In Batman #18 Bruce must deal with what DC is calling it an “unspeakable tragedy” and Bruce is “in danger of losing his humanity.” Harper Row returns. The fan favorite character may be the only hope of bringing Bruce back from the edge. Andy Kubert is the guest artist of Batman #18.
In Batgirl #18 Barbara faces her twisted brother – who sold her out ot the Joker. Ray Fawkes is the guest writer for the next two issues.
The femme fatale must survive the Joker’s madness because in Catwoman #18 Selina and Bruce fight it out in a museum!?
Will one of the “Robins” suffer the most at the hands of the Joker?
Nightwing #18 it appears Dick has lost hope until a chance for revenge presents itself. Will this hero be pushed to shatter his moral code for vegeance?
Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 If anybody has a right to wipe out the Joker it’s Jason Todd. What happens to Jason in Death of the Family that makes him change the mission of his Outlaws?
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(Please note: DC Comics stated these are not the final covers)
Three big chapters of Death of the Family hit this week! In Batman #14 the Joker told Batman his deadly endgame! Bruce’s friends and allies are all marked for death. Only one of Batman’s friends knows what’s happened to Alfred (for now.)
DC Comics revealed this image from inside this Batman #15 by Greg Capullo. Barbara, Dick, Jason, Damian and Bruce are gathered in the Batcave to learn the horrible truth of Alfred. As Death of the Family continues it appears friendships and alliances are staring to break and crumble.
In Batman and Robin #15 it’s Joker vs. Damian! The Clown Prince of Crime may have met his match in this ruthless new Robin.
The biggest Death In The Family tie-in may feature…a wedding? Barbara Gordon faces the Joker for the first time since he shot her in Batgirl #15. What kind of sick wedding does the Joker have planned for Barbara? I hope she gets her shot at revenge.
Which ally will die? Will a member of the Family break Batman’s rule and kill the Joker?
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The Joker’s terrifying comeback continues in three Batman family books this week! Last month the Clown Prince of Crime invaded Gotham Central and left a wake of death. In the final panel of Batman #13 we finally saw the Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s horrific new take on the classic villain as he attacked Alfred at Wayne Manor. The cover of this week’s Batman #14 shows a chilling image of the Joker in his own makeshift Batcave-like control center watching his targets.
One of those targets will be Damian. The renegade Robin sets out on his own mission. What sinister plan could the Joker have for Bruce Wayne’s son? This week’s Batman and Robin #14 could be a critical tie-in to the Death of the Family event.
Another Bat-family target is Barbara Gordon. Her mom has been abducted by the Joker’s gang. As discussed at GeekGirlCon, Gail Simone has made Batgirl a story of overcoming trauma. Barbara has come so far and in this week’s Batgirl #14 she must face the psycho that left her paralyzed in their last encounter and threatens her real family now.
As a huge Barbara Gordon fan the Joker’s plan for her could be the most compelling for me. I have been thinking about what Death of the Family could really mean. Could a member of the Batman family be pushed so far that they kill the Joker? I hope Barbara doesn’t kill but I would love to see her unleash some severe punishment I.E. beat the hell out of the Joker!
Death of the Family will continue in upcoming issues of Catwoman, Teen Titans, Red Hood and the Outlaws and Nightwing.
By Editor
I think Dick Grayson is one of the greatest heroes in all of comics books. Like Barbara Gordon, Dick has no super powers. He’s a guy who believes in justice. You think you know the origin of the original Robin but this is the one year anniversary of The New 52, so there’s room for expansion on the story. I welcome it.
This week’s Nightwing #0 shares the past and peeks into the future of the young man who was once Robin. It should have been called Robin #0. Tom DeFalco joins creative team Kyle Higgins and artist Eddy Barrows. From the tragedy at Haly’s Circus that left Dick an orphan to his first time in the Robin costume we learn the tragic and triumphant story of a young man so similar yet so different from Bruce Wayne.
Dick’s first encounter as Robin marks the New 52 debut of Lady Shiva – her return is long overdue!. Tom DeFalco is writing the next two issues of Nightwing featuring a reunion between the assassin and Grayson.
My one critique is this should have been called Robin #0 but I would enjoy reading Nightwing #0.2 revealing Dick’s transformation from Batman’s sidekick into becoming his own man and his own identity.
One artistic homage I really enjoyed what seeing the Graysons in costume remembling the Nightwing blue look – still my favorite look!
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Three critical stories of the past in the Batman family of books out this week.
Batman #0 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo takes us back to Bruce Wayne returning from this global quest and ready to declare war on crime. See how the uniform, car and gadgets were born.
Batgirl #0 How did Barbara Gordon first become Batgirl? Gail Simone and Ed Benes tell the origin of Batgirl and how she fought her way back into the cape and cowl after a terrifying attack.
Batman and Robin #0 The current Robin was raised to be a lethal assassin by his mother. Witness Damian’s early life under the grip of Talia Al Ghul in this tale by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
These zero issues are part of DC Comics marking the one year anniversary of launching The New 52. All the September DC titles will #0 and be stand-alone stories.
“Some issues will tell the origins of a character or a team, or in some case where an origin has already been told, they will fill in the blanks in terms of questions readers may have about the New 52 DC Universe,” said Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief. “Each of these issues promises to reveal something surprising.”
More zero issues this week include Deathstroke, Demon Knights, Frankenstein Agent of SHADE, Green Lantern Corps, Grifter, Legion Lost, Superboy, Team 7 and The Ravagers.
By Editor
SPOILER WARNING
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS POST
SERIOUSLY
OK
HERE IT COMES
ONE LAST CHANCE
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance as John Blake an outstanding performance in The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan left us with an intriguing possibility for the future of Batman…perhaps a Dark Knight Legacy.
Police officer John Blake aka Robin was a hybrid of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake. In the end John appears to be rising to become Gotham City’s new protector.
Would the actor take on a lead role in a giant franchise like Batman?
“I always choose scripts the same way,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “If it’s a great script and a great filmmaker, then I’m interested.”
The star faced the question on Tuesdays Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“I don’t think [the ending of The Dark Knight Rises] is necessarily a set-up. I think it is the great ending for that trilogy,” he said. “Even if you go back to Batman Begins, he’s talking about how Batman is more than a man, it’s a symbol, and a hero can be anybody and we all have heroes inside of us.”
Here’s my geek theory on how the Batman can move on with Joseph Gordon-Levitt but NOT as Batman! The star has two action films coming up: Premium Rush and the sci-fi flick Looper.
By Editor
Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision.
SPOILER WARNING
IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS OPINION POST
SERIOUSLY
OK
HERE IT COMES
ONE LAST CHANCE
AND MY GEEK THEORY BEGINS…
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was just one of the outstanding performances in The Dark Knight Rises cast. Christopher Nolan left us with an intriguing possibility for the future of Batman…perhaps a Dark Knight Legacy.
Police officer John Blake aka Robin was a hybrid of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake. In the end John appears to be rising to become Gotham City’s new protector. I believe audiences will accept a new hero. Nightwing.
Yes, I’m saying don’t call it a new Batman. Call it Nightwing. It’s a creative risk that I think is worth taking.
Dick Grayson is one of the greatest superheroes ever created. Some argue Dick was a better Batman (Batman & Robin by Grant Morrison) than Bruce Wayne. Dick is the one sidekick that has been allowed to grow up, become his own man and developed his own identity and legend.
Maybe the real ending of Nolan’s final film left fans and Warner Brothers with a new beginning for a talented young actor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and an incredible character (Robin) who can take the Dark Knight legacy forward.
If you’re interested in reading some excellent adventures of Dick Grayson here are some Amazon links to story collections: Nightwing Volume One: Traps and Trapezes collects the current New 52 stories by Kyle Higgins. Nightwing: A Knight in Bludhaven by the legendary Chuck Dixon chronicles Dick’s role as the sole superhero of corrupt the corrupt town. Nightwing: Year One follows how Dick went from being fired as Robin to his new identity by Dixon and Scott Beatty. Batman and Robin: Volume One by Grant Morrison was the series I mentioned earlier when Dick and Bruce’s son Damian were the new Batman and Robin. You just can beat Nightwing leading the Teen Titans by the legendary team of Marv Wolfman and George Perez.
By Editor