07 June 2010

Batman Year One Movie on the Horizon


Word is out from ComicsContinuum.com that there is an animated adaptation of Batman: Year One in the works. The exact quote is:

Batman: Year One, the comic-book story by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchilli, is being adapted into one of Warner Home Video's DC Universe animated movies, The Continuum has learned.

According to sources, the film will be directed by Sam Liu, who co-directed Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Warner Bros. did not confirm the film's existence. The studio has not commented on projects until their announced release.

Batman: Under the Red Hood arrives in July, with Superman Batman: Apocalypse to follow (in September?) is it possible Batman: Year One will be the next one to arrive (around March 2011) followed by the rumored Green Lantern DtV next summer? If you look back at Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and Superman Batman: Public Enemies, that is a considerable streak of FIVE Bat-centric movies in that Green Lantern sandwich. I am a big fan of the Dark Knight I just hope he lets some of the other heroes get their due as well. This should be fun; hopefully its only a matter of time until The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns.

Batman: Year One was at one point going to be adapted as a live action film. Instead, it became a pretty significant influence upon the Batman Begins / Dark Knight films as noted by the wikipedia:

* Major characters like Commissioner Loeb, Detective Flass and Carmine 'The Roman' Falcone who are featured prominently in Batman Begins.
* The scene with Bruce Wayne returning from years of training abroad on board a plane reminisces the first page of the graphic novel.
* Christian Bale's 'street attire' in Batman Begins mimics the clothes in the first issue of Batman: Year One when Bruce is walking down the Lower East End.
* Tying Falcone up. In the graphic novel Batman ties The Roman in his own house; in the film, he ties The Roman to a searchlight.
* In the final act of Batman Begins, while being cornered by the GCPD at Arkham Asylum Batman uses a high-frequency device to attract his bats from the cave. This is taken from the final act of the graphic novel when Batman does the same thing at the Abandoned Tenement Fire.
* The concluding scene where Batman and Gordon are on top of the police headquarters continues, to an extent, the final page of the graphic novel where newly promoted Jim Gordon waits for Batman to arrive. In both the book and the film, Gordon announces the coming of a new threat: The Joker.
* During the famous viral-marketing for The Dark Knight, an audio clip was available that depicted Harvey Dent walking up to a hostage situation and subduing the threat. While this may not be a direct adaptation, it does resemble the scene with the hostage situation in Batman: Year One, only replacing James Gordon with Harvey Dent. Although the entire incident and Dent's role occurs out of earshot and thus didn't require for Aaron Eckhart to play out the clip.
* The concluding scene where Two-Face holds Gordon's family at gunpoint, is reminiscent of the Year One scene where Gordon's family is at danger from The Roman and Loeb's men. Batman saves Gordon's son from a fall in the film just as he does in the book.

05 June 2010

Official Green Lantern Movie Poster

Thanks to SuperheroHype.com for the reveal. Now when will we see the costume design?

04 June 2010

Onscreen History of Hawkeye


Marvels answer to Green Arrow, Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye the purple archer first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 in 1964 and now rumors are heating up that he will be the latest Avenger to assemble in the 2012 live action team-up movie. Lets take a look at Hawkeye's previous appearances over the years.

Hawkeye first appeared in the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes animated series which faithfully adapted stories from the comics.

His next appearance would not occur for nearly 30 years until 1994 when he served as a series regular member of the Force Works team in the Iron Man animated series.

Around the same time, Clint Barton's Goliath persona made a cameo appearance in the Fantastic Four animated series as a member of the Avengers.

Hawkeye's next appearance occurred in 1999's disastrous Avengers: United They Stand series.

Hawkeye made a cameo in the 2008 Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow DtV movie along with fellow fallen Avengers.

Clint's son Francis however was one of the main characters of the film carrying on the family legacy of master archery.

Most recently, Hawkeye has joined pretty much the entire Marvel Universe in the Superhero Squad Show where his classic costume actually suits him well. Its probably safe to assume his live action look may deviate quite a bit, but I still expect to see some purple somewhere.

UPDATE: July 18, 2011


Hawkeye also made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor movie, introducing the character in preparation for an expanded role in the Avengers movie in 2012.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Here are Your Avengers

This fan-made poster from /Film combines the recently released concept art for Captain America and Thor with Hulk and Iron Man to reveal the core line-up for the Avengers film side by side. I admit, this does actually get me a bit more excited to see this great experiment unfold.

03 June 2010

Methinks Thor is Amongst Us


Following on the heels of yesterday's Captain America reveal, here is Thor. I guess his hammer will be glowy.


Evolution of the Batman (and Robin) - Superman Batman: Public Enemies

2009's Superman Batman: Public Enemies reunited voice actor Kevin Conroy (from Batman: The Animated Series) with an animated Batman. The movie adapted issued #1-6 of the Superman Batman comic book series, while arguably improving on the story. Even without the internal monologues, a hallmark of the book, the movie delivered a fun bit of fluff with plenty of guest cameos and super powered fights.


The movie was popular enough to earn the first sequel for DC's line of direct to video movies, Superman Batman: Apocalypse.



Up Next: Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

Batman Serial * Batman and Robin Serial * Batman '66 TV * Batman '66 Movie * Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder * Batman on Scooby Doo * Batman the Super Friend * The New Adventures of Batman * Batman '89 * Batman Returns * Batman: The Animated Series * Batman: Mask of the Phantasm * Batman Forever * Batman and Robin * The New Batman Adventures * Boo Wonder * Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero * Batman Beyond * Gotham Girls * Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker * Batman on Justice League * DCAU Crossovers * Birds of Prey * Teen Titans * Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman * Chase Me * The Batman * Batman Begins * Batman Vs. Dracula * Justice League: The New Frontier * Batman: Gotham Knight * The Dark Knight * Batman: The Brave and the Bold * Superman Batman: Public Enemies

* Special Musical Edition * Special Christmas Edition *
Special OnStar Edition * Special Never Happened Edition * Special Canine Edition *

02 June 2010

First Look at the First Avenger - Captain America




Below are the official concept designs for the Captain America costume via aicn.com. I think they did a pretty good job of making the costume believable. I mean, it would be tough to pull of the feathered tunic look. I am still not sure how the flying shield will play, but its so iconic that they have to keep it. Enjoy:




And if you don't like it, at least its not this:

Marvels Unvielests the Thor Logo

Thor is a critical moment for the Marvel movie experiment. Was Iron Man the exception, or is there pent up demand for each and every one of the Avengers to headline a film (ignoring the two disappointing performances by Hulk movies). If Thor is a bust, what next. But if its a hit, cha-ching the gravy train will keep on rollin.

01 June 2010

Retrospective 1988

Superboy AKA The Adventures of Superboy

After the Superman movie franchise had been driven into the ground as had spin-off Supergirl, it was time to "camp up" Superboy. The series lasted 100 episodes over 4 seasons (with two actors playing the titular boy).



The Incredible Hulk Returns

Six years after the cancellation of The Incredible Hulk series, the Green Goliath returned in the form of a TV special alongside Thor.

This movie set the stage for additional Hulk specials over the next couple of years.


Superman

During the hiatus between Superfriends and Batman: The Animated Series, there was a little Superman series that got just 13 episodes. The animation was decent, and the series made good use of the iconic Superman movie score, but the plots for the most part were pretty forgettable.




My Secret Identity



1988 also gave us a Canadian syndicated series which lasted 72 episodes featuring little Jerry O'Connell. The series may be best remembered as featuring a young boy that could fly with the aid of aerosol cans.

Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures

While it should have been listed in the previous edition, Ralph Bakshi's Mighty Mouse debuted in 1987 but its 19 episodes aired throughout 1988.



Shows in 1988 seemed to suffer from wither low production values or very short lifespans. It was the last year before 1989, one of the monumental years in superhero history...