As you can see, I have a new poll up.
So when did you become a Batman fan? For me, it was at the age of three or four when my dad showed me the 1969 film. All I remember was the "some days you just can't get rid of a bomb" scene. For some reason, it stuck.
After I saw that, I hopped onto the Batman: The Animated Series train, basically during the last year or so of its run. There are some people who were older than me and saw all of that series on air and swear its the best animated DC series ever, but I didn't see it long enough to form that sort of attraction. Instead, I spent my Friday nights from 2001-06 watching or taping the "Justice League" cartoons. That's the series that I really love, although they never showed Batman enough for me.
This is probably partly because in my little third-grade mind Bruce Wayne was the coolest person who ever lived, and I spent many an hour having adventures with my new imaginary boyfriend. I added the "imaginary" part later.
As for comics, I got into those when I found the novelizations of some of the Justice League Adventures episodes. In the back cover they had an ad for the comic series, and I picked it up. Currently, I own every issue of the Justice League Unlimited series and around twenty of the Adventures one. My one regret is that the final issue, #45, has nothing special about it at all, and the only character from the Justice Lague that is shown (in the LAST issue for goodness sake!) is John Stewart.
When that series ended, I stopped reading comics for awhile and took up other, short-lived hobbies like torturing insects (yeah, don't ask). Then, one magical day a few years ago, I stumbled across a section called "Graphic Novels" at my local library. And my reaction was: "Omygod! There's Batman comics!"
Yeah, let's call me a naive youngster.
I picked up Hush and Year One, which were probably the two best choices I could have made, and I was hooked. I discovered that there are actaully fantastical places called Comic Shops and the people who work there, other wise known as Nice People Who Don't Think I'm Crazy for Liking This Stuff. Three years, I started this blog, and am now rambling off into cyberspace.
So, any other Batman love stories out there?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Review: Batgirl #8
Batgirl #8
By Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Talent Caldwell
Overall: 7.5/10
In this issue, Tim returns to Gotham to find Stephanie as Batgirl. Although he doesn't like it, they have to team up to stop Ras al Ghul's assasins from murdering Leslie Thompkins.
I liked this issue, but I haven't enjoyed these past three issues as much as I did the inital arc. However, this was a good story, and it shows how Stephanie is growing up and distancing herself from the irresponsible person she was.
And Tim...well, Tim is a jerk. He has decided to become more like Bruce, and reminds Stephanie every other panel of how she screwed up and that she isn't good enough for his (or Batman's) expectations. This time, however, Stephanie merely smiles and proves him wrong. Together, they make an effective team and begin to come to terms with the each others' new roles.
The art for this issue is good, but not up to the precedent that Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott set for the book. For this story, it works, but it has more of an anime vibe than I like.
If you aren't reading this series, I'm ashamed of you.
By Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Talent Caldwell
Overall: 7.5/10
In this issue, Tim returns to Gotham to find Stephanie as Batgirl. Although he doesn't like it, they have to team up to stop Ras al Ghul's assasins from murdering Leslie Thompkins.
I liked this issue, but I haven't enjoyed these past three issues as much as I did the inital arc. However, this was a good story, and it shows how Stephanie is growing up and distancing herself from the irresponsible person she was.
And Tim...well, Tim is a jerk. He has decided to become more like Bruce, and reminds Stephanie every other panel of how she screwed up and that she isn't good enough for his (or Batman's) expectations. This time, however, Stephanie merely smiles and proves him wrong. Together, they make an effective team and begin to come to terms with the each others' new roles.
The art for this issue is good, but not up to the precedent that Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott set for the book. For this story, it works, but it has more of an anime vibe than I like.
If you aren't reading this series, I'm ashamed of you.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Review: Batman & Robin #10
Batman & Robin #10
by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Clarke
Overall: 8/10
As the first issue in the "Return of Bruce Wayne" storyarc, this was very good. Basically, Dick Grayson and Damian go on a hunt through Wayne Manor's secret corridors and rooms looking for signs of Bruce being stuck in the past. Oh, and Talia makes Damian try to kill Dick.
This issue was very cool because of the look into the Wayne family past. And a secret treasure hunt inside a hidden demon-worshippers hideout? What's not to like? Also, it shows that Damian isn't a total brat, which is nice.
As the first of the arc, I'm hesitant to give it full marks because of all the new plot threads that Morrison has begun. However, if they all pan out well this could be the best arc of the series.
The art is good. It may not be fully my cup of tea (I'm more in the pro-Jim Lee camp as opposed to the pro-Frank Quietly) but it is enjoyable and suits the story.
Overall, a good, fun issue that will hopefully lead to an exciting arc.
by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Clarke
Overall: 8/10
As the first issue in the "Return of Bruce Wayne" storyarc, this was very good. Basically, Dick Grayson and Damian go on a hunt through Wayne Manor's secret corridors and rooms looking for signs of Bruce being stuck in the past. Oh, and Talia makes Damian try to kill Dick.
This issue was very cool because of the look into the Wayne family past. And a secret treasure hunt inside a hidden demon-worshippers hideout? What's not to like? Also, it shows that Damian isn't a total brat, which is nice.
As the first of the arc, I'm hesitant to give it full marks because of all the new plot threads that Morrison has begun. However, if they all pan out well this could be the best arc of the series.
The art is good. It may not be fully my cup of tea (I'm more in the pro-Jim Lee camp as opposed to the pro-Frank Quietly) but it is enjoyable and suits the story.
Overall, a good, fun issue that will hopefully lead to an exciting arc.