Superhero Shows

12 April 2010

Green Lantern's Brightest Days #16

#16 The Batman: Ring Toss

Aside from a couple of cameo appearances, it had been over 20 years since we had seen Hal Jordan in action when he finally arrived on The Batman. The episode Ring Toss offered up a traditional showdown between arch nemesis Hal Jordan and Sinestro and gave some shout outs to Hal's history as Sinestro's student and to Hal's day job as a test pilot, to which a starstruck Robin remarked, "even his secret identity is cool."

Unfortunately, the Penguin ended up with the ring for a time but was dealt with in fairly short order after a bit of a Sinestro smack down.

While it was annoying seeing a buffoon like the penguin able to use the power ring, at least he never was really able to master it. Seeing the Dark Knight wielding the ring, albeit briefly, pretty much canceled out the whole Penguin affair. In the end, the episode paid tribute to Hal Jordan, the ring's true master and it was Hal who ultimately turned the tide of the fight.

#25 - Justice League Unlimited: Initiation - John Stewart's new look
#24 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Death Race to Oblivion! - Guy Gardner's Lanternmobile
#23 - Justice League of America: Pilot - Doesn't air
#22 - Justice League Unlimited: The Once and Future Thing: Time Warped - Hal Jordan joins the league
#21 - Legends of the Superheroes - Lantern goes live-action
#20 - Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths - Darker shade of green
#19 - Batman Beyond: The Call - Lantern of the future
#18 - Static Shock: Fallen Hero - Hero Worshiped
#17 - Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Revenge of the Reach! - Loads of Lanterns
#16 - The Batman: Ring Toss - Gotham by Greenlight

08 April 2010

Evolution of the Batman (and Robin) - Batman Begins

In 2005, Batman Begins convinced audiences that they wanted more Batman movies. Before its release, most people would have been perfectly content with the ones they had. The movie shattered low expectations and set a new standard for Batman movies. Though its $205 million was a modest take, buzz continued to build after the movie's video release paving the way for a Batslide in 2008.

Batman Begins returned to the origins of the Detective setting him in a grounded reality. And even though he did not get to appear in the shelved Batman Triumphant movie, the Scarecrow finally made his live-action debut - a perfect choice for the film's central theme of fear.

Most impressive was the use of Ra's Al Ghul. Not only was the integration with Batman's training genius, but the character was presented as both faithful to the comics, but also realistic. Batman Begins also marked the live-action debut for old Rashie.

Thank goodness Batman finally got his dignity back. Although the character had been consistently popular, Batman Begins was a turning point in once again making him cool.

Up Next: Krypto the Superdog

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 *

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

07 April 2010

Dr. Horrible Returns - 8 Bit Style

Compare this retro Nintendized version, complete with groovy soundtrack, of Dr. Horrible Act I with the original. Genius. Can't wait for Act II.

05 April 2010

Green Lantern's Brightest Days #17

#17 Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Revenge of the Reach!

Revenge of the Reach is just a good old fashioned duke em out clash episode of television that expanded Green Lantern mythology by establishing The Reach as an ancient adversary of the Green Lantern Guardians. With plenty of creative constructs and some cameos by fan favorite Lanterns this episode was just a lot of fun.

Even though Batman: The Brave and the Bold is a team-up show, In this episode, the Caped Crusader felt like a bit of an add-on to an adventure that could have been handled by the Lanterns without any "back-up."

31 March 2010

By the Way, Heeeeeeeeeere's Scott Pilgrim

Sorry for the delay. Here is the trailer for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. Coming August 13th. I haven't read the comic, but this looks like a cool adaptation.

30 March 2010

Spotlight on Shazam!

First appearing in 1940's Whiz Comics (issue #2), for years the boy Billy Batson has shout "Shazam!" to transform into the hero Captain Marvel. Although he appeared in an earlier episode teaser, this week on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Captain Marvel will be the featured guest star on the episode The Power of Shazam!

Captain Marvel's on screen debut occurred in 1941 in a 12-part film serial titled The Adventures of Captain Marvel.

This series marked the first superhero to appear on film!

Through a series of dull legal happenings, Marvel comics obtained the rights the the use of the name Captain Marvel for marketing and promotion, so even though the character can be called Captain Marvel, his shows have for the most part been titled Shazam!, a phrase he uses to transform (also the name of the wizard who gave Captain Marvel his powers).

From 1974 to 1977, Captain Marvel was the star of the live-action Shazam! show, part of the The Shazam! / Isis Hour.

In 1978, Captain Marvel had the dishonor of being a part of the line-up for the Legends of the Superheroes variety hour specials.

From 1981 until 82, Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family (including Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr.) appeared in animated segments of the television series The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!

The cartoon intro pretty much tells it all.

Captain Marvel would not appear again for some time, though his alias Billy Batson did make a cameo appearance in the Superman: The Animated Series episode Obsession wearing his trademark red and gold.

In 2005, Superman and Captain Marvel would finally meet, though the two would wind up engaged in a knock down drag out conflict in Justice League Unlimited's episode Clash.

Superman and Marvel would clash again in 2009's direct to video Superman Batman Public Enemies.

Captain Marvel actually appeared in the 2008 movie Justice League: The New Frontier, though his appearance was limited to a couple of seconds in the background.

Although Captain Marvel didn't appear in the 2010 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths movie, evil counterparts of the Marvel Family, the "Supers," appeared. Superwoman led Uncle Super, Captain Super and Captain Super Jr. against the League. They lost.

Captain Marvel promises to appear in a number of episodes of Batman: The Brave and the Bold along with his nemesis Black Adam and eventually his sister Mary Marvel. Hopefully the future is bright for The Big Red Cheese. A live action movie has long been in the works and perhaps will someday come to fruition.

29 March 2010

Green Lantern's Brightest Days #18

#18 Static Shock: Fallen Hero

In some ways this is a throw away story- a simple Lantern vs Sinestro romp - though I am not really sure if Sinestro's plan to ruin GL's rep really made sense. I mean, his time has to be worth more than just robbing banks in Dakota, right? At least, even though Static helped out, it was John Stewart who actually defeated Sinestro in the end. The reason this entry makes the list is that Green Lantern's appearance on Static solidified GL's heroic status in the DC animated universe. Of the League members spotlighted on Static Shock, GL was the only one whose name didn't start with "super" or "bat" and making him a personal hero of Static's was a nice touch.