Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014) - A Review

One of the things that I look forward to the most throughout the year, are DC Comic's animated films featuring Batman. They are almost always phenomenal, and it's a very wonderful break from the Nolanverse and the incessent shouting of "WHY SO SERIOUS" from hordes of fanboys. While the live action Batfilms have their high points, and certainly their lows, nothing compares to the DC Entertainment features. They are not only incredibly comic accurate, but they're just a lot more fun in general. 

Released this week, and previewed last month at Comic Con, Batman: Assault on Arkham is the latest addition to the DC animated franchise and while it differs greatly from previous Batman films it is an extremely fun, adrenaline packed and often hilarious take on a new view of the Bats. 

Happy Birthday To The Only Man I Could Ever Love

One of my great loves in life that I never talk about on here (even though I should, and it's totally stupid that I don't) is more than just a man, he's a hero. He's dark, he's brooding, he has an alter ego and he could kick Superman's ass. He goes by Batman, and I love him. 

Today has been declared Batman Day by DC Comics, and today is the day that we celebrate 75 years of the Dark Knight. Most people think of Batman as the guy who dresses all in black, uses a scraggly voice and hates jokes, but he's so much more than that. Today I want to focus on that, as Batman has not only been someone to entertain me, but he has literally brought me out of depression and put a smile on my face when life was darkest. 

Batman was first brought to the public eye in 1939. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane (and I put them in that order for a reason), he was intended to capitolize on the superhero craze that was created by Superman in 1938. When Batman was first introduced he was nothing like we know him today, he used guns, he killed (Batman's big no-no these days) and he was not the dark and physical embodiment of fear that we know him to be today. While he is largely credited to be a creation of Bob Kane, it was Bill Finger who molded Batman and the mythos that surrounded him. While Kane came up with the name, he placed him in red tights with a domino mask (closely resembling Superman). It was Finger who gave him the cowl, the purple gloves, and the dark tights. Instead of wings attached to his arms, Finger gave him a cape so as to ease the restriction of movement, and from here the Batman was born in what is known as the Golden Age of Batman. 

Over the years, Batman has undergone more character growth than one could possibly imagine. While Finger not only gave Batman his image, he gave him his greatest super-villains including: Riddler, Penguin, Scarecrow, The Calendar Man and the most infamous of all, The Joker. We also saw the birth of Robin the Boy Wonder in 1940. After the Golden Age came the Silver Age in the mid-50's. While sales of superhero comics in the fifties began to wane, Batman sales were never higher. The storylines began to become heavily influenced by the sci-fi genre that was prevalent in film at the time. In the Sixties, when sales reached an all time low, his image was revamped the iconic yellow Batsymbol was introduced. Following the success of the wildly popular television show starring Adam West, the comics took on a campy tone which sent sales through the roof. 

However, this was short lived and in 1968, the television show was cancelled and Batman was brought back to his gritty roots. The camp was dropped and in 1969 Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, two of the most important players in Bat-history, brought Batman out of the camp and portrayed him once again as the gritty avenger of the night. His look was once again re-imagined in the iconic blue and gray Batsuit which he kept through the 70's into the 80's. His physique was much stronger, and his villains began to evolve with more a more sinster presence as the storylines went back to their gritty roots, however one thing that remained the same: Batman did not kill. He always found another way.


Possibly the biggest landmark for Batman's evolution was in 1986, when Frank Miller took Batman out of the Silver Age and into the Modern Age. The Dark Knight Returns, one of the most iconic Bat stories of all time, was released and took the comic world by storm. Featuring a retired and battle-worn Bruce Wayne (and also gigantic and terrifying), the elseworld story introduced the Batman that the generation of today has come to know and love. A dark, brutal and often violent Batman, Miller's interpretation introduced pyschological aspects of the Dark Knight's persona in ways that had never been explored. While the Dark Knight grew darker, as did his villains and this was a theme that went on to be explored through the years and up until today. 

As Batman entered the film world in 1989 with Tim Burton's Batman, love for the character grew and flourished and he became DC's most popular hero. Since then, we've seen 4 actors take on the cowl and we wait in anticipation for a 5th to take it on in 2016. In the comic world He was reinvented in 2011 yet again, in the new line of New 52 comics for DC, with Greg Capullo and Scott Snyder writing the best Bat stories yet, and I am always left sitting in anticipation for what the next issue may entail. Batman is 75 years old, yet he has never been stronger or better. 

Batman has become more than a character for many people, myself included. He has not only reminded what it was like to be 5 years old with my mask and cape, but he has shown me what it means to be a better person. He was a source of hope and joy when my grandmother passed, he was there for me when I was lost and afraid to go on when times seemed their darkest. He has always been there when I needed something to hold onto and something to show me that times can always be darker and they will always get better. He has been a friend and a mentor, and I love him. 

To Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Dennis O'Neill, Neal Adams, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and the countless others who have brought the Bat to the eager masses, I thank you. We thank you, and we can't wait for the next 75 years. You have brought a joy into our lives that will never be forgotten. There is so much more that could be written about the history of the Bat, his psychology and his growth, but I've already written a novel and want to get out to the celebration so I'll leave you with this: Go to your local comic book store, get your free Batman comic and read up. You won't regret it. 

ComiXology Celebrates The Holidays With 12 Days of Free Comics Starting With The Dark Knight!

Something that I've never really mentioned on here is that I am a pretty big comic book fan, in specific, Batman and X-Men. If you haven't been keeping up with the Batverse, and you are a horror fan, than I cannot recommend it enough as I've read and seen some stuff more terrifying in those comic books than I've seen on a screen in some time. 

I have actually been trying to post a review of the latest story arc, involving the demented return of Batman's arch nemesis, the Joker, entitled Death of the Family. It's way harder to post a review of 23 issues than it sounds, and while I will get it up eventually, it's a work in progress that has been rewritten several times. 

Regardless! ComiXology, in quite the amazing fashion, is sharing the holiday love by offering a new digital download of a popular comic EVERYDAY for twelve days! How are they starting it off, you may ask? Well, with none other than Batman #13, the first issue in the Death of the Family arc! I already got mind, head over and you can either gift it to a friend, or gift it to yourself. Either way, it is an absolute must read for the Batman fan or the horror fan.

Head here to snag your copy and head below for the press release! I can't wait to see what's coming tomorrow!

December 9th, 2013 – New York, NY – Today comiXology, the revolutionary cloud-based digital comics platform available across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8, and comixology.com, rings in the holidays by giving away a new free comic once a day for twelve days on the Web – we call it comiXology’s 12 Days of Free Comics. Come see what each day’s free comic is by visiting comixology.com
 
And while you can enjoy a hot new comic from a surprise publisher every day, don’t forget that during these 12 Days of Free Comics you can also gift these amazing comics to friends, family, co-workers, and whoever is on your gift-giving list absolutely free!

“It’s been another banner year at comiXology and we want everyone to join us in these 12 Days of Free Comics as we give back to the fans that made this outstanding year possible,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “From launching comiXology Europe and comiXology Submit, reaching 200 million downloads less than a year after reaching 100 million, and much more, this year has been great – as thanks these free comics are for you.”

“Over the course of these 12 days we’re making holiday giving easier than it’s ever been,” said comiXology co-founder John D. Roberts. “These twelve days aren’t just to give back to the fans that have made comiXology so great but also to let those fans share the love of comics with everyone they know.”

ComiXology’s 12 Days of Free Comics will run from Monday, December 9th until Friday, December 20th with one new comic made free every day to download or to gift to anyone you choose. Check back each day at comixology.com to see what is the new free comic of the day is during the 12 Days of Free Comics.


With over 40,000 comics and graphic novels from more than 75 publishers, comiXology offers the widest selection of digital comics in the world. ComiXology’s immense catalog and unique Guided View reading experience is available across the iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and the Web – making it the best digital platform for comic and graphic novel fans worldwide.

FUN FIND - Batman In Classic Movie Scenes: Halloween Edition

This is one of my favorite YouTube series. The title pretty much sums it up, it's Batman in various classic films! However they do this it's amazingly done, and always hilarious. This one is right up my alley though, as Batman traverses some of the great horror classics to bring you a fun, Halloween treat. Check it out below!

COMIC NEWS - Commissioner Gordon Heads to Fox In His Own Drama Series

 
This may not be horror, but there's something you're gonna learn about me. I love Batman and I will write about him any given chance, even though this doesn't actually have all that much to do with Batman himself. 
 
First, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (wow, that's hard to type), now we have Gotham in the next line of superhero based TV series that will not feature any superheroes. This one, will be focusing on Commissioner James Gordon in his early years and the rise of Gotham's villains before either meet the Batman. The series will focus heavily on Gordon's years as a detective for Gotham PD, so I'm hoping maybe, just maybe, at the end we'll get a little sneak peak of Batman: Year One?

There's very little word as of yet, however Bruno Heller, creator of The Mentalist and Rome, has been tapped to write and executive produce. 

I'm also grateful that this isn't being released by the giant crap-shoot that is The CW, whom DC's parent company, Time Warner, happens to own 50% of. Arrow currently airs and The Flash is  in development there. 

It's just too bad that Bryan Cranston is too old to play Gordon in this series, he was perfect in the animated DC feature, Batman: Year One.