Watch Claymation Batman and Meet New Citizens of DC Nation

Last night during the debut of Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Cartoon Network ran a preview of DC Nation which can best be described as a programming content block containing episodes of shows along with shorts and other content interspersed during the commercial breaks. Along with hints at some of the shorts to come, last night's DC Nation preview also featured two such shorts, Claymation Batman from Aardman Studios and a Chibi Titans burpathon. Watch them both below:

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Jinxed Circus

Strange things were afoot at the ol' traveling circus show when a disgruntled clown / saboteur went postal. There was a runaway train, a collapsing big top, three angry bears gone wild, and a near reenactment of "The Dying Graysons." Thank goodness for Superboy, though in the case of the trapeze, simply practicing over the safety net would have also been a good idea.

Ghost Rider (2007) - Discount Review

Heroes: The Ghost Rider(s)

Villains: Mephisto AKA Mephistopheles and Blackheart

Diabolical Scheme: Blackheart wanted a contract for souls that for some reason would make him super powerful - even though he was already invulnerable. Mephisto wanted Ghost Rider to stop him.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Operation Counter Invasion

So here is a little off topic bit of tid. Yesterday I contemplated whether or not Merlin's portrayal in these toons was inconsistent with the character. I did a little research, and although a lot of this is conjecture, I learned that back in the day Merlin was often portrayed as a morally ambiguous character. Although perhaps not an evil man, he has certainly not always been portrayed as upright as a Gandalf the White or even a Dumbledore. So why do I have that idea in my head? I am blaming it on the Disney's animated The Sword in the Stone which came out in 1963, just a couple years prior to these Filmation episodes. I am asserting that The Sword in the Stone has influenced the perception of Merlin for me and others of my generation with heads full of mush. At least that's my theory. Any takers?

First Look at DVD Art for Justice League: Doom

The first look at the DVD are for the upcoming Justice League: Doom has been revealed on Amazon's Canadian site. Just one question remains, will Batman be in it?

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Black Knight

Another weird thing about this show is that Pa Kent owns a general store instead of running the farm. Maybe that was consistent with the comic at the time, so whatever, just one of those odd things.

Anyways, this episode managed to mix things up a bit when Superboy's friend Timmy accidentally wished himself back in time. Fortunately, Superboy was able to nonchalantly do a little time traveling himself by spinning real fast. He spun until he went back in time to the age of Merlin.

Onscreen History of Black Canary

Black Canary made her debut in the pages of Flash Comics #86 in 1947. The sonic screamer joined the Justice Society of America, the original superhero team. Sometime in the 80's Black Canary was reimagined as two separate characters, with the modern Justice Leaguer Black Canary Dinah Lance as the daughter of the original Canary Dinah Drake.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Krypto, Super Seeing-Eye Dog

Superboy and Krypto found a spaceship full of Kryptonian weapons and I think I know what Superboy didn't keep that dog around when he grew up because in a move of sheer stupidity, Krypto shot the blinding beam in Superboy's eyes. Unfortunately, there was still work to be done.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Capricious Crony

So, after yesterday's episode, I started making excuses in my head for this show. Methought, "Maybe there just wasn't as much Superboy source material to work with as there was with Superman." I did a little research though and learned that Superboy had 20 years of publication under his junior sized belt by the time Adventures of Superboy was made... In fact, he was one DC's first heroes to have his own title. By the mid 1960's in the comics, the Legion of Super-Heroes had been introduced as had Bizarro in the pages of Superboy. Now the New Adventures of Superman wasn't Shakespeare, but at least there was some reference to the comic book villains. Superboy sure could have done a better job incorporating some ideas from the books; I can't believe that Superboy spent 20 years in his comic just rescuing eggs for monsters.