Evolution of the Batman (and Robin) - Batman Returns

How do you follow up one of the biggest movies of all time? Not with Batman Returns. Here is one of the few superhero "part 2s" that is a big step down from the original.

A year prior to Nightmare before Christmas, it was Christmas in Gotham City and the ante was upped. Instead of just the Joker, we got Catwoman, a nasty Penguin complete with penguin army and circus o' freaks, and a third villain, Max Shreck (not the ogre).

The movie was just a little too goofy thanks to Tim Burton's "wild imagination." The 1989 Batman set up a great world, but this movie seemed to slip into an alternate fantasy dimension with Batman taking a minor role. Also, pretty much every Penguin related subplot was awful. I mean, why are Emperor Penguins living in the Gotham City sewers? I have to admit though, I think Penguin is one of the worst supervillains ever made, so I am a bit biased, but this film did little to change my opinion.

On the other hand, Catwoman (Meow) was great, and in my mind is the definitive portrayal of the character. Her inclusion is what makes this a worth watching film.

In the end, parents were not pleased at the darker turn and innuendos in the film. It still made money, $163 million to be exact, but it was a big drop from Batman '89 and made producers decided to "lighten things up" paving the way for Batman and Robin.

Up Next: Batman: The Animated Series

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
* Special Musical Edition *

Spotlight on Hawkman (and Hawkgirl)

The bare chested Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in 1940 and though he has had various names (Katar Hol, Carter Hall) origins (alien, reincarnated Egyptian) and affiliations (Justice Society, Justice League) over the years, he has long been a DC staple. And who couldn't love a superhero with a beak (aside from Howard the Duck perhaps)?

Old bird brain first appeared both in his own adventures and as a member of the Justice League in the 1967 DC Super Heroes animated series.

In his solo outings, The Winged Avenger teamed with his sidekick eagle Skreal.

Hawkman next appeared a decade later along with Hawkgirl in 1977's All New Super Friends Hour. In 1978, Hawkman was promoted from special guest to main character for the Challenge of the Super Friends season, though Hawkgirl disappeared. In subsequent iterations of Super Friends, Hawky again took on a supporting role to the other heroes.

During those Super Friends years, Hawkman also appeared in the Legends of the Superheroes live action variety show, his first live action appearance.

By 1997, Hawkman had fallen from grace and his second live-action appearance was even more humiliating than his first.


Hawkman was seen schilling Baby Ruth's while flying into glass windows in this horrific commercial:

In 2000, a Hawkman-esque character Warhawk was shown as a member of the future Justice League Unlimited on the Batman Beyond episode, The Call. It was eventually revealed, that Warhawk was (retroactively written to be) the son of Hawkgirl (and GL John Stewart).

In 2001, a new Justice League was assembled and to mix things up a bit, it was Hawkgirl not Hawkman that made the cut.

In the Justice League finale, a Hawkman Hro Talak (anagram for Katar Hol) from alien world Thanagar appeared. Hro looked a lot like Hawkman, though he wasn't what some would consider a hero and he wasn't technically Hawkman.

Finally, in the Justice League Unlimited Hawkman Carter Hall was introduced. This time taking the reincanation (though of an alien Hawkman) approach, Justice League finally had a man hawk to court Shayera Hol (she having dropped the Hawkgirl moniker).

Hawkman was introduced to The Batman in 2007. He teamed up with Batman in a pair of episodes to take down the Shadow Thief and Black Mask as well as some pesky alien invaders.

Most recently, Hawkman was shown beating the snot out of Superman and Batman in the Superman Batman: Public Enemies movie, only to be taken down off screen.

In the upcoming Smallville 2-part episode beginning with "Society" Hawkman will return to live-action and will even be donning his trademark wings. Hopefully a Baby Ruth free appearance will finally restore some dignity to the live action version of the character.

Heroes "Spoiled" Everyone Last Year

So, word on the street was that a "major death" is coming to Heroes soon. The death was an original cast member, and a male. So, who will it be...

Turns out Nathan Petrelli is the victim. The only problem is, he was killed onscreen in last years season finale. To be fair, he has been seemingly killed on the show before as have numerous others only to be miraculously revived. Even last night they showed that Mohinder was dead, though I guess he will be coming back somehow since he wasnt the death spoiler. I guess the big surprise here is that not only is Nathan dead, but he is staying dead. Wow! Talk about a twist.

The thing is, season 4 of the show has actually been much improved over last year., perhaps attributable to the absence of many characters (Micah, Mohinder, and, and even fake Nathan) There are still ample portions of Sylar, but at least he isn't on a continuing quest to find his real, real, father. So, I will try to assign this lame twist to being a remnant of season 3 and hope that Heroes season 4 can continue being the dumb, but at least no longer aggravating, entertainment for however much longer it lasts.

Hopkins is Odin

Anthony Hopkins is Odin in the upcoming Thor movie. To get an idea what he might look like, we need look no further than King Hrothgar in 2007's Beowulf. Hail to the King.

Evolution of the Batman (and Robin) - Batman '89

Twenty-some years after the campy television series, Batman was due for a true reboot for a new generation. In 1989, audiences would forever be confused when they realized that they never knew the Joker had killed Batman's parents (a fact that would become even more confusing when Batman Begins remedied that bit of tid). But for the most part, Tim Burton's Batman was a triumph.

This "first" Batfilm redefined not only Batman, but the whole comic book genre. Sure, Batman was now wearing black rather than blue and was himself pretty much mentally unbalanced, but the movie worked. The well worn character was new again, and more intimidating than ever. Gone were the sidekicks (at least for the time being), the gimmick Bat-tech (like shark repellent) and one-liners.

In the movie, Batsy faced off against the Joker - at the time, a relatively extreme onscreen depiction of the character. This Joker didn't want to make you laugh as much as he wanted to kill you. Unfortunately, the movie made the mistake of killing off the villain in the end and the next run of movies took missteps trying to top the Joker by overloading the films with baddies.

The movie was a huge success, spawning three sequels and revitalizing the comic genre (before later films would nearly kill it). Batman brought in over $250 million, roughly $450 million adjusted for today.

Up Next: Batman Returns

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
* Special Musical Edition *

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga (1994) - Film Capsule

Heroes: The X-Men

Villains: The Dark Phoenix

Diabolical Scheme: Having inhabited a body, The Phoenix has given in to the thrill of emotion and power. Now corrupted, she wants to rule the galaxy.

Coolest Moment(s): Lots of smackdowns between the team and Dark Phoenix. Seeing the Marvel Girl costume was also a nice nod.

Worst Moment: The first half of the "saga" involved the Inner Circles lame attempts to trick Phoenix into marriage.

Review in 50 Words or Less: Not nearly as good as I remembered (giving X3 a little more of a pass) especially the wasted first 2 episodes. Still, one of the series' highlights providing a nice 80 minute retelling of one of comics' most epic tales. Overall, leaner and better than the first Phoenix Saga.

Onscreen History of Speedy

Back in the day, Green Arrow was just a Batman copy cat. And along with being a Millionaire industrialist, and good Batman wannabe needed a teen sidekick / ward. Green Arrow's junior archer Roy Harper was dubbed Speedy.

Though not as well known as Robin, Speedy has had his fair share of appearances in superhero shows over the years. In fact, Speedy appeared alongside Wonder Girl, Aqualad and Kid Flash sans Robin in the 1967 DC Super Heroes Teen Titans shorts.

Speedy wouldn't appear on screen again for nearly 40 years, until he joined the supporting cast of the animated Teen Titans series. Speedy was first introduced as a Robin "clone," but went on to get a bit of development as a member of the Titans East.

Though not in continuity with Teen Titans, a very similar in design Speedy appeared alongside mentor Green Arrow (and other non-powered heroes Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E., Shining Knight, Crimson Avenger, and Vigilante) in the 2006 Justice League Unlimited episode Patriot Act in an homage to the classic Seven Soldiers of Victory team.

Speedy got a blink and you will miss him cameo in the Justice League: The New Frontier movie alongside other members of the Teen Titans.

In 2009's Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode Dawn of the Dead Man, Speedy appeared alongside Batman rival Green Arrow.



Finally, Speedy will appear in live action on next weeks episode of Smallville titled Crossfire. The catch, this appearance will actually be of the second sidekick dubbed Speedy, Mia Dearden. Speedy is fast becoming the world's best known sidekick (well aside from Robin and Batgirl at least).