Batman discussion

[rascal_father]

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/sept05/AllStarBatman_Robin.jpg
Written by Frank Miller
Art and cover by Jim Lee
& Scott Williams
Acclaimed writer Frank Miller (THE DARK KNIGHTS RETURNS) and artists Jim Lee & Scott Williams (BATMAN: HUSH) are back for the second thrilling installment of the year's most anticipated comics event! And this stellar creative team has brought its “A” game to this imaginative new interpretation of the origin of these celebrated comic-book icons!
After witnessing his parents’ brutal deaths, Dick Grayson’s life is seemingly destroyed. But Batman whisks the young lad into his care and promises him something Bruce never had: retribution.
On sale Sept 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

[gogetter]

I think for this series I'll just wait for the TPB, it's like a retelling of Year One, nothing new. Don't think they can come up with anything new but will probably still get the compiled version for it's art.

[MSth08]

i am starting this new thread, titles or any articles related to batman...keep it rollin' :supz:

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0506/20/batman645.jpg

BATMAN #645

Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.

The startling revelation of the Red Hood's identity leads Batman on a quest for answers. Could it really be Jason Todd cutting a swath through the Gotham City underworld? There's only one place to find the answer to that question: the Gotham graveyard!

in stores on Sept. 28.

[rascal_father]

Source: Scott K June 20, 2005

Box Office Mojo talked to Warner Bros.' Dan Fellman who says that a Batman Begins sequel is now very likely to happen:

"I think people love the character, and it's been eight years since the franchise unfortunately took a negative turn [with Batman and Robin]," Warner Bros.' head of distribution Dan Fellman told Box Office Mojo. "It took the vision of a filmmaker like Christopher Nolan to bring it back, with a great script and cast. We're well positioned moving forward with the summer. We're going to have a first week of $85 million, and [Batman and Robin] had $59 million. That's enough to bring Batman back for a sequel."

[gogetter]

Is the story for Batman Begins the same as the comic Batman Year One?

[rascal_father]

not really. but since its a thread with batman related. i thought i get it rolling

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/3617_400x600.jpg

BATMAN #641
Written by Judd Winick; Art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen; Cover by Matt Wagner

The Red Hood has Onyx on her heels, but Batman's still in Metropolis! Can the Dark Knight get back to Gotham in time to save the urban heroine from the city's latest costumed psycho killer? Don't miss the thrilling conclusion of "Family Reunion!"


just got a copy today and read it....the new red hood turned out to be jason todd...he is an adult, ain't a teenager anymore...can fight and willing to kill...

[Fire]

since theres so many version of batman ot there in the market...why not we start a recommend list on which one is the most recommended batman comic in your opinion? :D lets keep this one rolling....

[MSth08]

for the complete interview from frank miller,
click on the below url...
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/AllStar/MillerBatmanRobin.html


http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/AllStar/ASBMRCv1a.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/AllStar/ASBMRCv1b.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/AllStar/ASBR1_08.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/AllStar/ASBR1_17.jpg

[zhangzewen]

can anybody tell me about Batman and Robin All Stars?
I know it is coming out this week.
For eg...give a short summary...a short review?
thanx!!

[MSth08]

SAN DIEGO -- Jim Lee said that his collaboration with Frank Miller on DC Comics' All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder might be longer than originally anticipated.

"At first it was going to be six issues, but in talking with Frank, he said, 'It might go a little longer,'" Lee said during DC's Batman panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Thursday.

"I'll be there as long as he's writing the series, and I'll be there to the end."

Lee said he felt pressure visualizing Miller's scripts.

"But I got over it when Frank saw the first-issue photocopies and sent a complimentary e-mail," Lee said. "That took the pressure off. It's been exhilarating and terrifying."

In other highlights from the panel:

* Greg Rucka said that Gotham Central #37 will be a standalone issue, illustrated by Steve Lieber.

"There's a specific scene in Infinite Crisis #1 that all of issue 37 will spin out of," Rucka said. "When Geoff (Johns, writer of the scene) told me about it, I said 'That's fantastic.' Shazam in Gotham City -- talk about oil and water."

In terms of the future of the book, Rucka said he knows what he wants to do through #40.

* Rucka also described The OMAC Project #6. "Batman goes to great lengths to address errors in judgement he may have made," he said.

* Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight editor Joey Cavalieri said that Will Pfeiffer and Chris Weston will team for a three-issue story arc. Following that will be an extra-sized issue by Eddie Campbell and Bart Sears.

* Editor Bob Schreck said that Paul Pope is working on a mini-series called Batman: Year 100.

* Rucka said readers will see more of Sasha after the OMAC mini-series. "She goes through some life changes over the next couple of issues, but she'll be around," he said.

* Rucka said Harvey Dent/Two-Face is one of his favorite DC characters and that it wouldn't surprise him if Two-Face appeared in an upcoming story.

* Bill Willingham, who is splitting duties with Andersen Gabrych on the "War Crimes" story, said Gabrych had a line so good at the end of one story that he used it again at the beginning of the next story.

"The Joker is in the story and he does one of the most defining thing the Joker has ever done," Willingham said. "I shamelessly stole it to begin my story becuase it's so wonderfully Joker-esque. It's one of the more evil insights into the Joker."

* Rucka on Batman Begins: "It was so good and so pure for the love of the source material, I was taken away by it."

* Rucka said "discussions are ongoing" about a new Checkmate series.

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0507/18/allstarbatmanrobin3.jpg

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #3
Written by Frank Miller, art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

Creative titans Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams continue their striking new vision of the Dark Knight in this tale of young Dick Grayson's transformation from orphaned acrobat into the Batman's first sidekick: Robin, the Boy Wonder!

in stores on Oct. 26.

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0507/18/batman646.jpg

BATMAN #646

Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.
An Infinite Crisis tie-in! The Villains United want a piece of Gotham, and Black Mask is just the man to deliver it. Batman has his hands full with the criminals of Gotham, but before he can neutralize Deathstroke and company, Red Hood plans to take matters into his own hands!

in stores on Oct. 19

[Fire]

BATMAN: YEAR ONE DELUXE EDITION
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/2712_400x600.jpg

Written by Frank Miller; Art and cover by David Mazzuchelli

One of the most important and critically acclaimed Batman adventures ever — written by Frank Miller (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS) with art by David Mazzuchelli (Daredevil) — returns as a deluxe hardcover designed by Chip Kidd. In addition to telling the entire dramatic story of Batman's first year fighting crime, this collection includes new introductions by Miller and Mazzucchelli, loads of reproductions of original pencils, promotional art, unseen Mazzucchelli Batman art, Richmond Lewis's color samples, script pages and other surprises. This will be the must-have hardcover of the season!

Batman | 144pg. | Color | Hardcover | $19.99 US |

[Fire]

ABSOLUTE BATMAN: HUSH
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/3815_400x600.jpg
Written by Jeph Loeb; Art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams

The complete 12-part saga written by Jeph Loeb (SUPERMAN/BATMAN, Smallville) with art by fan-favorites Jim Lee & Scott Williams (SUPERMAN, Uncanny X-Men) collected together for the first time in the oversized Absolute format!

This slipcased edition includes BATMAN #608-619 as well as the the 2-page origin of Batman (originally seen only on dccomics.com) and the special story from Wizard: The Comics Magazine. The year-long "Hush" — an epic tale of friendship, trust, and betrayal that spans a lifetime — reinvigorated the Dark Knight, pitting him against the deadliest members of his Rogue's Gallery and introducing his newest foe!

This Absolute edition includes an all-new cover by Lee and Williams, a Jim Lee Sketchbook, and issue-by-issue commentary by the creative team!

Batman | 372pg. | Color | Oversized Hardcover | $49.99 US

[Fire]

SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/2714_400x600.jpg
Written by Jeph Loeb; Art by Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines and Tim Sale; Cover by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines

Comics' most iconic characters join forces in this fantastic trade paperback edition of the hardcover collecting the first six issues of the fan-favorite series SUPERMAN/BATMAN! Jeph Loeb and artists Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines join forces for this fantastic tale that pits the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight against a top-secret team backed by Lex Luthor! Can our heroes take down a team composed of such powerhouses as Captain Marvel, Hawkman, Power Girl, and Black Lightning? You better believe it! Plus, a 2-page story by Loeb & Tim Sale as well as a cover and sketchbook section by McGuinness!

Superman | 160pg. | Color | Softcover | $12.99 US |

[Fire]

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #21
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/2966_400x600.jpg
Written by Jeph Loeb; Art and cover by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines

Part 2 of the 6-part "With a Vengeance," by the fan-favorite team of writer Jeph Loeb and artists Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines! Are Superman and Batman guilty of murder? The Maximums certainly think so — and where they come from, it's an eye for an eye! The battle of the century continues as The World's Finest duo take on the super squad of avenging heroes — to the death! Join Superman/Batman's original creative team supreme for what's certain to be one of the most talked-about events of the year!

DC Universe | 32pg. | Color | $2.99 US

On Sale July 27, 2005

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0508/15/batman647.jpg

BATMAN #647
Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.

The Villains United want a piece of Gotham, and Black Mask is just the man to deliver it to them. Batman has his hands full defending the city -- but before he can neutralize Deathstroke and company, Red Hood is going to take matters into his own hands.

in stores on Nov. 30.

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4358_400x600.jpg

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #3
Written by Frank Miller; Art and cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams

Creative titans Frank Miller, Jim Lee & Scott Williams continue their striking new vision of the Dark Knight in this tale of young Dick Grayson's transformation from orphaned acrobat into the Batman's first sidekick: Robin, the Boy Wonder!

On Sale October 26, 2005

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0509/07/allstarbatman2.jpg

FRANK MILLER COVERS ALL STAR BATMAN

Frank Miller, writer of All Star Batman and Robin, the boy Wonder, has provided am additional cover for issue #2 of the series.

The cover features a closeup of Robin caught in the shadow of the Dark Knight.

The issue is scheduled to arrive in stores on Sept. 14 with covers by Miller and Jim Lee and Scott Williams in a 50/50 split.

"This striking cover marks Frank¹s artistic return to the world of Batman after a three-year absence," sad Bob Wayne, DC¹s VP -- Sales.

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4110_400x600.jpg

all-star batman and robin the boy wonder #2 cover!!!

jim lee da the man!!!!! :supz:

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4217_400x600.jpg

BATMAN: WAR GAMES ACT THREE (softcover, graphic novel)
Written by Ed Brubaker, Bill Willingham and others; Art by Sean Phillips, Pete Woods and others; Cover by James Jean

The final volume of WARGAMES collects BATMAN #633, BATGIRL #57, CATWOMAN #36, ROBIN #131, BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #58.

On Sale September 21, 2005

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4218_400x600.jpg

BATMAN ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS VOL. 3
Written by Dennis O'Neil, Bob Haney, Len Wein and others; Art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano; Cover by Adams

The extra-sized final volume collecting Neal Adams's acclaimed covers and stories featuring the Dark Knight! This volume includes material from BATMAN #232, #234, #237, #243-245 and #251, featuring Two-Face, the Joker, and more members of Batman's famed Rogues Gallery. Plus, two never-before- reprinted stories done for Peter Pan records and a sketchbook section showcasing Adams' advertising and custom comics work with the Caped Crusader!


On Sale December 14, 2005

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0509/19/allstarbatman4.jpg

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #4

Written by Frank Miller, art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

All Star excitement abounds as Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams continue their adventurous retelling of the partnership between the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder! And when some Black Canary gets added to the mix, you can be sure something's going to explode.

in stores on Dec. 7.

=========================================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0509/19/allstarbatman1.jpg

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #1 SPECIAL EDITION

Written by Frank Miller, art by Jim Lee, cover by Miller.

An incomparable new version of the best-selling premiere issue of All Star Batman And Robin, The Boy Wonder, sporting a stunning new cover by Frank Miller. This 48-page Special offers a peek into the creative process, featuring Jim Lee's stunning original pencil art (with lettering) for the entire first issue. As a bonus, Miller's script for this landmark collaboration is also included.

in stores on Dec. 7

==========================================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0509/19/batman648.jpg

BATMAN #648
Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.

The Black Mask has had it! As if Batman's opposition to his criminal empire wasn't enough, now the Red Hood is decimating his own ranks. Since he can't beat him, would the Black Mask ever consider joining Gotham's newest vigilante?

in stores on Dec. 28.

[MSth08]

just read batman #645, batman was investigating the coffin
of the "dead jason todd"....it turned up that there was no
body inside the coffin all the while....

[MSth08]

BATMAN #649
Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.

The unpredictable Black Mask forms an uneasy alliance with the Red Hood. But can these two uncompromising masked men truly cooperate? Or will this team-up make the streets of Gotham run red with bad blood? Either way, it's sure to spell trouble for the Batman.

in stores on Jan. 25.

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4350_180x270.jpg

BATMAN: UNDER THE HOOD
Written by Judd Winick; Art by Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen and others; Cover by Matt Wagner

Shocking revelations and age-old foes make this new collection — featuring BATMAN #635-641 — a must-have! Batman is confronted with a hidden face from the past — it's the return of the Red Hood! With Black Mask controlling the Gotham underworld, what role will Red Hood have when all is said and done?

On Sale October 26, 2005


an interesting tpb to read...

[MSth08]

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/allstarbatman/ASBR_Cv3_Variant.jpg

1st look of all star batman and robin, the boy wonder #3 variant cover by frank miller...it is featuring black canary!!!!

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0511/14/batman650th.jpg

BATMAN #650
Written by Judd Winick, art by Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen, cover by Jock.

The mystery behind Jason Todd reaches a crescendo when the Dark Knight's former sidekick holds hostage the villain responsible for his own murder. It's a three-way showdown between Batman, the Red Hood, and the Joker.

in stores on Feb. 22.

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4792_400x600.jpg

BATMAN: WAR CRIMES
Written by Andersen Gabrych, Bill Willingham, Devin Grayson, Bruce Jones and Will Pfeifer; Art by Pete Woods, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and others; Cover by James Jean

A pivotal collection featuring BATMAN #643-644, DETECTIVE COMICS #809-810, and material from BATMAN ALLIES SECRET FILES 2005 and BATMAN VILLAINS SECRET FILES 2005!

On Sale February 15, 2006

[MSth08]

http://store1.yimg.com/I/wizarduniverse_1874_33712105.jpg

All Star Batman and Robin #1 Special Edition Jim Lee & Frank Miller
Written by Frank Miller
Art by Jim Lee
Cover by Miller

Don’t miss an incomparable new version of the best-selling premiere issue of ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER, sporting a stunning new cover by comics legend Frank Miller! This 48-page Special offers a peek into the creative process, featuring Jim Lee’s stunning original pencil art (with lettering) for the entire first issue. As a bonus, Miller’s script for this landmark collaboration is also included! • 48 pg.

Item is due to ship by Early December, 2005.

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0512/12/detective817.jpg

DETECTIVE COMICS #817
Written by James Robinson, art by Leonard Kirk and Andy Clarke, cover by Simone Bianchi.

It's One Year Later...and who is the mysterious vigilante who's been keeping Gotham free of crime? And what is his relationship with the new police commisioner? The stunning first part of a story crossing over with Batman.

in stores on March 1.

===========================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0512/12/batman651.jpg

BATMAN #651
Written by James Robinson, art by Don Kramer and Keith Champagne, cover by Simone Bianchi.

It's One Year Later...and who's responsible for the murder of another Gotham villain? And what fateful decision must Batman make that could change his relationship with Robin forever? A turning point in the life of the Dark Knight in Part 2 of a 6-part story continued from Detective Comics #817.

in stores on March 22

===========================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0512/12/batmanannual25.jpg

BATMAN ANNUAL #25

Written by Judd Winick, art by Shane Davis and Mark Morales, cover by Jock.

The secret behind the return of Jason Todd is revealed. The compelling story behind the Red Hood's origin and mysterious return to Gotham! Find out how the former Robin survived "A Death in the Family" to become one of the Batman's deadliest adversaries.

in stores on March 8.

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0512/12/robin148.jpg

Robin's modified costume in "1 year later"

[MSth08]

sneak preview of batman annual #25

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Mar06previews/batann25_1.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Mar06previews/batann25_2.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Mar06previews/batann25_3.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Mar06previews/batann25_4.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Mar06previews/batann25_5.jpg

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0512/12/robin148.jpg

Robin's modified costume in "1 year later"

looks like "batgirl" is behind robin...
why is "batgirl" wants to kill robin?
a bat is going to kill a robin....:shooting:

[MSth08]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4940_400x600.jpg

BATMAN: DARK DETECTIVE
Written by Steve Englehart; Art by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin; Cover by Rogers

Don't miss this 144-page collection featuring the 6-issue miniseries reuniting one of the great Batman creative teams of the 1970s! In DARK DETECTIVE, The Joker enters a gubernatorial election using the campaign slogan "Vote for me or I'll kill you!" Will it persuade voters?

On Sale April 12, 2006

[MSth08]

http://h1.ripway.com/MSth08/3.jpg

Jim Lee's cover for #3!!!
the black canary!!! :love:
it is already out in the store...

[MSth08]

debriefing by dc editor, peter tomasi

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/BatmanCv652-.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/DetectiveComicsCv818-.jpg

news related to batman, check up the below url :

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/tomasi.html

[MSth08]

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0601/16/allstarbatman5.jpg

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #5
Written by Frank Miller, art and cover by Jim Lee and Scott Williams, variant cover by Miller.

The Batman puts Dick Grayson to the ultimate test, and the orphaned aerialist must make a difficult choice before becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder! This issue will ship with two covers.

in stores on April 19.

=========================================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0601/16/detective818th.jpg

DETECTIVE COMICS #818
Written by James Robinson, art by Leonard Kirk and Andy Clarke, cover by Simone Bianchi.

Part 3 of "Face the Face," an amazing 8-part story written by James Robinson crossing over with Batman! Another of Gotham's villains has been murdered. As the clues start adding up, they point to one man as the killer: Harvey Dent. But isn't Dent sane now, cured of his madness? Or is he still the maniac he was back when he was Two-Face? Batman begins his hunt for the answer! Plus, a new chapter begins in the life of detective Jason Bard.

in stores on April 5.

=========================================

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0601/16/batman652th.jpg

BATMAN #652

Written by James Robinson, art by Don Kramer and Keith Champagne, cover by Simone Bianchi.

Part 4 of "Face the Face," an amazing 8-part story written by James Robinson crossing over with Detective Comics! The hunt for Harvey Dent is on -- but how do you catch a man who now knows more about Gotham than Batman? Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne must make a serious decision about the future of Tim Drake.

in stores on April 26.

[MSth08]

news related to batman, check up the below url :

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/schreck/interview.html

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/schreck/BMANN25_22.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/schreck/BM650_08.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/editors/schreck/batman_robin_4_pg3.jpg

[MSth08]

I went to the library to borrow TPB a few days ago. Two titles which I have borrowed are Batman : As The Crow Flies and Batman : No Man's Land Vol. 1, the single issues are still in my comic's den, however I am too lazy to dig them out..."ma fan"

that's the two titles which I would like to recommend....

Batman : As The Crow Flies (written by Judd Winick, illustrated by Dustin Nguyen).
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/2336_180x270.jpg

Batman : No Man's Land Vol 1. (Written by Bob Gale And Devin K. Grayson; illustrated by Alex Maleev, Dale Eaglesham)
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/1260_180x270.jpg

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama...

extracting from wondercon 2006...

In an unexpected announcement at the DC panel (though not coming as a complete surprise), it was just announced Grant Morrison will be the next regular writer of Batman, following James Robinson’s eight-part story arc running through that title and Detective beginning in March.

Though not announced or even confirmed, popular rumor and speculation still holds that one of the DC exclusive Kubert brothers will eventually be announced as his artist.

Morrison said that he’s already plotted 15 issues, and in his first issue alone, he has 15 ninja man-bats as well as Talia, and the story is called “Batman & Son”. Morrison said Batman coming out of 52 OYL will be a more of a “fun guy, more healthy”, more like the “Neal Adams, hairy-chested, love-god” version of Batman.

[MSth08]

frank miller's variant cover for all-star batman #4
http://www.newsarama.com/WonderCon2006/DCU/ASBR_Cv4.jpg

[gogetter]

I'm really curious what'll happen to Batman under Grant Morrison's pen but I'm really too stretched out by Infinite Crisis and the upcoming Civil War, Annihilation to pick up another title. Maybe will wait for the TPB since I'm a big fan of Grant Morrison.

[MSth08]

who will be the bat-penciller together with grant morrison?

rumor to be the 1 of the kuberts brother....

[MSth08]

detective comics #819
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0602/12/detective819.jpg

[gogetter]

If it's one of the Kuberts, I hope it'll be Adam cause I like his art more than his brother Andy.

[MSth08]

If it's one of the Kuberts, I hope it'll be Adam cause I like his art more than his brother Andy.

Adam!
me too...

[MSth08]

DETECTIVE COMICS #819
Written by James Robinson
Art by Leonard Kirk & Andy Clarke
Cover by Simone Bianchi
Part 5 of "Face the Face," the 8-part story crossing over with BATMAN! As the body count mounts and more villains die, Batman continues his hunt for Gotham's newest vigilante. Meanwhile, Robin must deal with his life as an orphan, and Jason Bard must deal with Harvey Dent.
On sale May 3 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/May06/Batman/DetectiveComicsCv819.jpg

=================================

BATMAN #653
Written by James Robinson
Art by Don Kramer & Michael Bair
Cover by Simone Bianchi
The Penguin takes center stage in Part 6 of "Face the Face," the 8-part story crossing over with DETECTIVE COMICS! But can the Penguin survive Harvey Dent's new brand of justice? Only Batman and Jason Bard can uncover the answers in time to save the Penguin's life!
On sale May 24 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/May06/Batman/BatmanCv653.jpg

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama...

SHANE DAVIS: DRAWING BATMAN
by Jon Hook

This March, DC Comics delivers Batman Annual #25 by Judd Winick, Shane Davis, and Mark Morales. While the issue is a return to Annuals for the publisher and title, the story features the answer to a burning question that’s been bugging fans for months, ever since the Red Hood showed up: how Jason Todd survived death at the hands of the Joker. To find out more about the up-coming annual, working with Judd Winick, and life in the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art, we spoke with artist Shane Davis.

Newsarama: First off Shane, when did you decide to pursue art as a profession?

Shane Davis: I started drawing at the age of 13 after my parents separated. I was reading a lot of comics at the time, and I always loved to draw. I dreamed of becoming a comic artist then. I really didn't doodle in my notebook, I took it seriously even at a young age. Every summer I would attend the Charlotte Con, and would show my sample pages to comic artist that attended.

Throughout it all, I tried to gain some insight on what I could improve in my artwork. Looking back, I find it funny as the artist usually just tried to encourage me early on, it wasn't until later that they were critiquing me.

NRAMA: With so many artists vying for work in comics, it can be difficult for an artist to earn serious, professional work. What did you do to catch DC's eye?

SD: I learned a lot going through the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art. Also, through an interview, I met Bob Schreck.

Initially, by doing a lot of sample pages, Schreck was the first editor to hire me. I then worked for a few editors at DC, a few at Marvel, and even did some work for DC Licensing.

NRAMA: What was your experience like at the Joe Kubert School Cartoon & Graphic of Art?

SD: It was a great experience for me, and having people to help guide you like the Kubert’s and Mike Chen was great. Having Joe as a teacher was one of the more educational experiences of my life.

NRAMA: Any other unique experiences from school that you look back on now that you’re out?

SD: No, there isn't a specific moment; I was just a student in class like everyone else. But, I was also working part time at Blockbuster, and I noticed Andy Kubert would come in pretty regularly. So one day, I brought a packet of samples to work with me in hopes of showing it to him. At the moment he wasn't a teacher at the school, but he was very polite and eager to look at my work. Every time since then when I bump into Andy, he seems eager to hear what I got cooking.

NRAMA: So what advice would you give to a new student at the school?

SD: To work really hard at the assignments you’re given, and keep an open mind.

NRAMA: I understand that you just signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC, right?

SD: Yeah.

NRAMA: With that, there’s always the speculation that artists who sign up for exclsuvies are limiting their opportunities. Your thoughts on that line of thinking?

SD: I understand people asking why sign a contract when asked. As a freelancer, I was able to work for multiple companies at one time. At one point, while turning in a cover to John Barber at Marvel, I was also working for DC Licensing and Upper Deck Trading Cards, and I had to cancel a convention last minute.

Talking to John, I was like, “Wow, I worked for three different companies in one week.” However, these things can be a double-edged sword. I found myself having to turn down jobs that I really wanted to work on due to previous commitments on other jobs. This exclusive contract has me working on a project that I am really excited being a part of.

NRAMA: Getting back to Batman, what’s it like working with Judd Winick? Does he leave a lot of room for interpretation of scenes, camera angles, and composition in his scripts?

SD: First off, working on Judd Winick scripts on Batman is great. I had read one of his Exiles scripts years ago, and always wanted to work with him. There is a good visual sense that he has. Out of all the writers I have worked with thus far, he is my favorite. Overall, I noticed a good rhythm in his pages; some pages I think mirror one another in panel layout. It was a pleasure working with him on roughly three issues of Batman. Also, Mark Morales is one of my favorite inkers so far and hope to work with him again.

NRAMA: What is it about Batman that makes him so cool to draw?

SD: Every artist wants to draw Batman. I like the character, but I am critical about him. Don't get me wrong, Batman is a cool character, but there have always been other characters that took the spotlight as my favorite. I did a lot of licensing work with Batman, so I was familiar with the characters visual props. To me there are two main ways to draw Batman, the super hero type in black, and the scary type. There is a lot of middle ground there, so you can always keep him fresh, and work him to fit your storytelling needs. I am pleased to add this character to my roster.

NRAMA: Did Batman Annual #25, without giving away any story secrets, present any challenges to you as an artist?

SD: My editors asked me to draw the annual after seeing some pages I turned in from Batman #646. I was flattered, but hesitant to say yes. Mainly because of the history of Jason. I was familiar with the death of Jason Todd, and had mixed feelings about it and his return. After reading the script, and then seeing the finished product, I'm ecstatic I did this work. The challenge is the same on everything I do, and that is mainly to do better than my last job.

NRAMA: Wrapping up, the Annual is done, so what does the future hold?

SD: All I can say is that my next project will take me far from Gotham, and I aim for it to be my best work yet.

Batman Annual #25 is due to hit stores on March 1st, and has a $4.99 cover price for 48 pages.

[rascal_father]

liked the art for DC 819 and Batman 653, very hardbroiled

[rookiyong]

liked the art for DC 819 and Batman 653, very hardbroiled

The 653 very solid, this is already poster style =D>

[gogetter]

Yeah this Simone Bianchi is a very good artist, check out more of his covers and interiors over in GL.

[MSth08]

BATMAN: THRILLKILLER TP - NEW PRINTING
Written by Howard Chaykin, art and cover by Daniel Brereton.

Back in print after a long absence, it's a new printing of the classic Elseworlds tale from writer Howard Chaykin and artist Daniel Brereton! This edition includes the 3-issue Thrilkiller miniseries and the Thrilkiller '62 special, in which Batgirl and Robin serve as the defenders of Gotham during the early 1960s.

128 pages, $14.99, in stores on May 3

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0602/13/batmanthrillkillerth.jpg

[MSth08]

FRANK MILLER VIDEO INTERVIEW ABOUT HOLY TERROR
Calling it “a relic from the first years of World War III,” Frank Miller shows off some pages of the upcoming, and yet unscheduled, graphic novel, Holy Terror! Batman in a brief video interview for SPACE (Canada's version of the SciFi Channel).

“It’s a propaganda comic that might’ve happened in the’40s, that DC wouldn’t do now,” Miller says in the clip, which was conducted in his studio. “It’s Batman versus al-Quaeda, and it’s pretty direct and abrupt and rough and tumble… I see Holy Terror! Batman as a relic from the first years of World War III, and I’m setting the whole thing up that way.”

The interview was filmed at the end of February, 2005.

http://www.spacecast.com/videoplayer_1696.aspx

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama....

JUDD WINICK ON BATMAN ANNUAL #25
The upcoming Batman Annual #25 by Judd Winick and Shane Davis is a story about resurrection. Sure, sure, it’s solicited to be the final word on how the former Robin, and formerly deceased Jason Todd came to be resurrected and came to take the identity of Red Hood, and be a current thorn in Batman’s side, but also, the issue is the resurrection of art that was never supposed to see the light of day.

Back in 1988, during the “Death in the Family” storyline/stunt, which allowed readers to call in and vote on whether or not Todd, as Robin, should live or die following a beating and explosion, DC Comics had then artist and inker Jim Aparo and Mike Decarlo prep two Batman “reaction pages” and follow-ups – one, if Jason died (which was published) and one, if Jason lived (which has only been seen here and there, such as in Les Daniels’ DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World’s Favorite Comic Book Heroes).

But as visitors to the DC table at Wonder Con learned, the alternate Aparo/Decarlo page (not entirely inexplicably) shows up in the Annual. For some whys and wherefores, we spoke with departing Batman and Batman Annual #25 writer, Judd Winick.

Newsarama: First off Judd, just so we’re clear, the story in Batman Annual #25 spills all the beans about how Jason Todd is still alive, right? No… “Or is that how it happened?” at the end of the story, or gray areas around how he survived being beaten to death back in 1988?

Judd Winick: This is the story of how Jason Todd "returned from the grave.” No if, and or buts. No "and that's the whole story... or is it? " No Grays. It has all the God damn colors of the rainbow. By the end of the tale you will know how it happened.

NRAMA: Obviously, you could have kept this story a secret for…well, for as long as you wanted. Why reveal all?

JW: We're giving the reason now because a) the readers want to know; and b) It's time. We set this up to revealed at this time and now all the bits of story are coming of that explain how it happened.

NRAMA: So this has been the plan all along, to tell all, at this time?

JW: This has been the plan all along. The return of Jason Todd was born out of me, as a reader, seeing him come back in Hush, thinking it was the real deal, and as a writer my mind raced how wonderful, awful and horrific it will be. Then, it turned out that it was Clayface.

I had a month of thinking on it before the second half came out and I was already stewing about the story I'd tell, figuring that the opportunity would probably never arise. I was truly struck by how much this would derail Batman, and he's not a guy who's on the tracks all the time anyway, if you get my less-than-subtle meaning. So, when I took over Batman with my first arc, “As the Crow Flies”, I was still kicking the idea around still. Then, I was going to take over the book as a monthly.

Then, in January 2004, when we had the DC Summit, with Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Eddie Berganza, Dan Didio, and me, where we more or less created Infinite Crisis, a plot line arose that fit. I said then, "This is how I can bring Jason Todd back in Batman"

NRAMA: And things have changed since that first appearance in regards to his relationship with Batman. First off, at this point – prior to the Annual, does Bruce believe that Jason is Jason, or does he still have doubts?

JW: Batman does believe this is Jason, but it's complicated. And I love how complicated it is.

NRAMA: That said then, Batman’s view of Jason – that is, he’s not trying to stop him at every turn as he would with any other criminal…why not?

JW: He doesn't want to stop Jason in as much as he wants to save him. He's deeply conflicted about it.

Jason is Batman's greatest failure, the son he let die. Now, he seems to be an even greater failure, as a rogue enforcer, a crime lord, a murderer. He raised Jason to be a hero and now he's taken those tools and using them in a "warp and corrupted" manner. I found it, and I still do, to be this wonderfully horrible, tragic turn. It's just about the worst thing that can happen to Batman. Still, even though Batman believes it, he won't be fully satisfied until he knows how Jason came back. Batman is a master detective and facts rule his life.

NRAMA: Speaking to the nuts and bolts of the Annual, as visitors to the DC booth at Wonder Con were able to see in the preview that was on the table, the Annual contains the “alternate” page from ’88 – that is, the Jim Aparo page with Batman saying, “He’s alive!” which would have run if votes had gone the other way. Whose idea was it to put that page in there?

JW: I thought of it, I asked Bob Schreck, who asked Dan Didio, who I believe asked Paul Levitz. I love Jim Aparo's work. I grew up reading Aparo's Batman. His version is Batman to me. After his passing [last year], we wanted to honor him in some way. We wanted Aparo to run in Batman again. So, it was added to the story. It honors Jim Aparo. It honors the crew that told that tale. Even though Denny O'Neil probably hates my guts.

NRAMA: He did have a rough ride over the whole death affair…

JW: He did.

NRAMA: Moving on then - as delicately as you can…the presence of that page…can you give any indication as to whether it’s wishful thinking on Batman’s part, a mis-remembering of events, or…what?

JW: It's just part of the narrative. It's not the moment. It's looking at what almost was, what might have been, what should have been, etc.

NRAMA: As for the hows of Jason’s return, and your earlier mention that you came up with the mechanics of the return idea during the Crisis summit meeting - is there any connection between that page and anything else going on currently in the DCU?

JW: Hmm. That's a good question. I guess we'll have to see, huh?

NRAMA That we will, then. Well, finally then, what does the 100% concrete, no equivocation reveal of his survival story do for Jason as a character, in regards to his relationship with Bruce and others? Where can you go with him as a character now?

JW: This is the story of how it happened. This is the story of how Jason Todd came back and it will fill in the blanks, answer the questions, and show everyone how he got to where he is. Over the past year and change, we’ve been reading/experiencing what Jason’s return has done to the characters of the world of Batman. As I've said many, many times before, i was always less interested in how Jason came back as to what his return would do to everyone. How Batman reacts, how Alfred reacts - which has been one of my favorite beats, how Gotham would be affected.

That being said, I always knew the story of how he came back, and I knew we would tell it. I knew we would tell it last.

NRAMA: That’s right – with James Robinson and then Grant Morrison coming on to Batman, you’re pretty much done, right?

JW: Right. This is my last Batman story for the foreseeable future. This Annual will mark the end of my run, my tenure of writing Batman monthly. I'm very proud of the work we've all done on these arcs. So many moments that I just dig so much. From Batman blowing the eyes out of Amazo, to Alfred asking Bruce if he wants him to take down the "Robin memorial in the cave" to all the Black Mask stuff, and to Jason Todd as the Red Hood, taking the identity of the man who killed him. I just really, really had a great time making this story with everyone.

I know this last chapter with enrage as many readers as it delights. I know that. But, regardless or what any one ever says or will say about it, I'm proud. It’s a good story. That's all I ever wanted to do.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/BATANN2508.jpg

[MSth08]

DIDIO ON ADAM & ANDY KUBERT ON ACTION & BATMAN
And the brothers finally have homes.

Speaking to Newsarama, DCU Executive Editor Dan Didio confirmed that Andy and Adam Kubert would be drawing Batman and Action Comics, respectively. The first Kubert issue of Batman hits in July, and the first Kubert Action Comics is issue #841, which puts makes it July as well.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batman/andykubert.jpg

Didio said the fits were perfect, indicating that Andy is a Batman fan, and Adam is a lifelong Superman fan. Not to mention, on Batman, Andy is a kindasorta big fan of the writer, the as revealed at Wonder Con, Grant Morrison.

“Well, Batman we put Andy on, because of the particular story that he’ll be working on by Grant has much more of a superhero twist to it, and we wanted to have him on it in particular,” Didio said, confirming that Morrison’s story will be a follow-up of sorts to the 1987 formerly quasi-continuity graphic novel Son of Batman, which saw Batman father a child with Talia, Ra’ al Ghul’s daughter.

For Morrison, Didio said, all it took to convince him to write Batman was to hear the artist’s name. “Grant is somebody who Andy really wanted to work with, and conversely, Grant really wanted to work with Andy. I gotta say, Grant wasn’t necessarily thinking about Batman, but when he heard of Andy’s interest, all of a sudden, he had a whole bunch of Batman stories he wanted to tell. They just really clicked really well. They’re really seeing eye to eye on terms of tonality and direction, and the editor Pete Tomasi is spending a lot of time and energy on all the classic elements of Batman, which is just what Grant wants to write, and Andy wants to draw.”

As for Action and who’ll be writing the scenes Adam illustrates? Didio isn’t squealing. The yet to be named team will be, according to the Executive Editor, working hard to reestablish Action as the premiere superhero book.

“Action is the first superhero book, and in many ways, the book from which everything else is judged,” Didio said. “We wanted it to be Action Comics and make it special again, and that’s the way to do it.

“Everything that we’ve got going on right now with Superman is really trying to reestablish him as the premiere superhero. And what you see with Adam and Carlos Pacheco coming on to Superman – we want to make sure we have the right artists on board to project the strength and power, as well as the sensitivity of the character, which both Carlos and Adam bring out in spades. I couldn’t be happier with the level of work they’re putting into him right now.”

As for the brothers’ scheduling, as they’ve been known to, on occasion, take a little longer than the time available to finish an issue? “Well, if you noticed, we haven’t seen or heard much of Adam and Andy since they signed with DC last year,” Didio said. “And while they had to complete their commitments to Marvel, we’ve had them working on these titles. We know what our creators’ limitations are, as well as the expectations of our fans when it comes to titles like Superman, Batman, Action, and Detective, the expectation is that you have a book on the stands every month, and that’s what were going to see.”

[MSth08]

andy's batman, the cowl looks weird in that shape, dun have the natural curve of the cowl...

[gogetter]

Looks like he used starch on his cape. Andy Kubert has never been very good at drawing capes.

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama....

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #4, the next issue of the blockbuster series written by Frank Miller and illustrated by Jim Lee & Scott Williams, will feature an incredible 6-page foldout of the Batcave. This amazing illustration will give readers a view of Batman's underground lair in unprecedented detail.

"As always, the madness started with Frank Miller's script," says Lee. "Always looking for new and exciting ways to frame sequences, Frank called for a 6-page spread of the Batcave. The trick for me was to top the previous shot of the Batcave I had done in Hush. Simply working on six pages made it a challenge because of the dimensions; when a spread is so much wider than it is tall, the art runs the risk of looking like a mundane police lineup of objects in the Batcave. Flat. Small. Lifeless."

Lee continues, "Luckily, there's always a way of weaving method into the madness. To create depth, I spotted blacks and shadows on the immediate foreground elements to better pop them off the background. Multiple vanishing points helped create the sense of unending vastness that Frank envisioned for the new Batcave while canting the whole windscreen image with a slight upshot. A fisheye-lens angle helped complete the illusion of size and scope. In many ways, you have to compose the piece more as an abstract piece of art to keep it dynamic and interesting as your eye moves left to right, pulling in and out, taking in the individual parts and the whole all at once. And of course, we all prayed that the computer would be robust enough to handle the metafile for coloring this piece."

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #4 (NOV050225) is available for advance reorder and is scheduled to arrive in stores on March 22. Also scheduled to arrive in stores on that date is the ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #4 VARIANT EDITION (NOV050226) featuring a cover by Frank Miller.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/allstarbatman/ASBR04_06_11.jpg

[MSth08]

http://www.newsarama.com/NYCC/DC/jimlee/DCU_All_US_JimLment.jpg

[lokeskywalker007]

Jim Lee's art never fails to impress me.:supz: Which reminds me that is the only reason why I pick up all star batman and robin.

[MSth08]

batman #655
http://www.newsarama.com/NYCC/DC/DCU/BMCv655.jpg

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama, extracting from NYCC...

Barbara Gordon will still be in a wheelchair.

Black Canary – Didio “Still sexy.”

Dynamic Duo – “Flamebird and Nightwing.”

[MSth08]

from the pages of newsarama...extracting from NYCC...

NYCC: McFARLANE/DC TEAM FOR BATMAN/SPAWN
Kinda/sorta buried in the “Todd McFarlane & Friends” panel held Saturday at New York Comic-Con: a new Batman/Spawn crossover special – and more. Though offered the option to make the announcement of the comic from the stage, DC Executive Editor Dan Didio opted to wait until the question and answer portion of the panel, standing in line, and waiting his turn to ask the creator if he’d like to do a crossover with Batman.

Newsarama caught up with Didio after the panel for a little more information on the project.

“It’s being done by Todd and Greg Capullo, and they will be handling all the creative on the issue,” Didio said. “It’s going to be one special, but also what we’re gong to do along with it is a Batman/Spawn statue, co-produced by DC Direct and McFarlane Toys. The statute will actually tie into the story.”

Didio said that for him, both personally and professionally, the opportunity to work with McFarlane was something too good to pass up. “Todd’s one of those guys that everyone wants to take a shot at their characters, and the fact that he’s working with Batman and Spawn again, is really good for me, because I just love both of those characters. I can’t imagine them being in better hands, and create a more exciting project.”

The comic/statue combination has been in the works for a while, Didio said. “Everybody was wondering what Todd was going to be doing next, and we’re just really lucky that his next project will be co-produced by DC Comics. Right now, it’s not scheduled yet, but we’re looking at having the comic and the statue come out at the same time. Once we have our production scheduled fixed on both the comic and statue, we’ll be able to set a release date.”

Didio gave a slightly…interesting answer when asked about whether or not the crossover will be in a “set apart” area of continuity, saying, “That’s something that we’re going to be sitting down and talking about, and is one of the things that’s really exciting because it’s truly going to be collaborative. Todd’s an incredible talent, and full of ideas, and I just want to hear what he has to say. I’ll be acting as an editor on the book too, so I get a chance to work with him first hand.”

And yes, this will be the first inter-company crossover that DC has produced in many years. “I’m not a big fan of company crossovers, unless they’re rally important or really special, and this one covers both my food groups.”

[MSth08]

just get batman #650 today...did batman actually throw the batarang and let it land at jason todd's neck?

[MSth08]

previews of detective comics #817

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p01.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p02.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p03.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p04.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p05.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/DTC817p06.jpg

[MSth08]

anyone already get this week batman annual 25?
read a posting from the other forum stating that the return of jason todd isn't appealing...seem that i will make a trip to get it to find out tomorrow...

[gogetter]

I flipped thru it at the comic shop. Didn't picked it up cos it cost a whopping US$5.99! Personally to me it isn't that special that it'll make me spent $5.99 for it.

[MSth08]

extracting from newsarama...:laugh:
JIM LEE: IT'S GOTTA BE THE SHOES
by Rik Offenberger

Perhaps one of Jim Lee’s most iconic and popular images of Batman, the cover to issue #608, features the Dark Knight’s…well, footwear – prominently. Continuing that (admittedly stretched to breaking) theme, Lee has designed more footwear for Batman, or, more accurately, footwear with Batman on it.

In what’s sure to become geek chic for the coming convention season and beyond, Lee has designed a limited edition Chuck Taylor All Star Batman shoe for Converse.

The description of the shoes, which retail for $65.00 US, reads:

“Comic book artist Jim Lee collaborated with Converse and the WB television network to design a Batman-inspired Chuck Taylor. Images of the Caped Crusader swoop across this limited edition shoe; clear outsole features a Gotham cityscape. Canvas upper, vulcanized rubber midsole and outsole for increased durability and flexibility.”
http://www.newsarama.com/Merchandise/1U017_R_400.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/Merchandise/1U017_F_400.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/Merchandise/1U017_OS_400.jpg

[MSth08]

i just got my batman annual #25 and detective comics #817 this afternoon.

batman annual #25, the plot is average but still something to look toward how jason todd returned from death.

as for detective comics #817, i feel it's a must buy! it's one year later after the series 52 end..batman and robin are back, the batsignal is back, dent is back and a friend of batman is back too....he's Commissoner . . .... . . :D

btw annual #25 is $4.99, not $5.99 :phew:

to add on...
at the last few pages of batman #650, the batarang is landed at jason todd's throat and then he seem to be blown off by the joker for the 2nd time...really dead this time?

check up nighting #118 cover, the dagger looks familiar!!!!
http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4932_400x600.jpg

[gogetter]

I think Jason Todd will be a major player in Batman, either as an ally or an adversary, so unlikely they'll kill him off so fast. Harvey Dent is back as friend or foe? I dun quite recognise that dagger on the Nightwing cover, why is it familiar?

[MSth08]

I think Jason Todd will be a major player in Batman, either as an ally or an adversary, so unlikely they'll kill him off so fast. Harvey Dent is back as friend or foe? I dun quite recognise that dagger on the Nightwing cover, why is it familiar?

from the few pages of detective comics #817 of OYL, dent is back as the so-called gotham protector, his face is recovered. i think it is temporary before his spilt personality is back...

the dagger belongs to the red hood aka jason todd.

[MSth08]

reading the comics shop news, jason bard will be back in detective comics and batman, to join in the hunting too...

[gogetter]

Sorry gotta ask this again cos I'm dun read Batman and thus not familiar with the supporting characters, who is Jason Bard?

[MSth08]

Sorry gotta ask this again cos I'm dun read Batman and thus not familiar with the supporting characters, who is Jason Bard?

it's ok. :)

i've forgotten who's jason bard too...did a search last night and have a bit of recall that he has reappeared in the pages of birds of prey back in 1999 or 2001 when i am still getting BoP.

Gotham City private eye and ex-Marine JASON BARD is a young "resourceful, battle-scarred Viet-Nam vet, his only weapon a cane and a razor-sharp intelligence." In the straighter-than-thou world of DC of the seventies, Jason was positively mod-looking, what with sideburns and a fair mop of hair (albeit neatly-trimmed). He doesn't carry a gun, and he needs a cane to get around due to injuries he sustained to his right leg while in Vietnam. He also seems to be rather cocky, referring to himself in later years as Gotham's brightest, youngest private investigator.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Jason attended college on the G.I. bill, majoring in criminalogy, before becoming a P.I. in Gotham where, occasionally, even Batman used his services

He lives alone, although he went out with the daughter of Police Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, better known as Batgirl, for a while. Batgirl doesn't seem to pop up in costume in any of Jason's cases that I've read, although evidently, at some point, Babs and Jason were even engaged to be married.

[MSth08]

outsiders #34, OYL
from the cover, i only know nightwing, captain boomerang II and metamorpho. i dunnoe the rest of the member....

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/4979_400x600.jpg

[gogetter]

I did collect the current Outsiders early in the series, the gal on the left is called Grace. I'm guessing that the gal on the right is Thunder, daughter of Black Lightning, but she looks kinda different from when I was still collecting the series. The gal with the katanna is called Katanna, one of the original Outsiders from the 80s.

[MSth08]

hmmm....i'm wondering what's captain boomerang II doing in the outsiders team for OYL...a hero or wat?

[gogetter]

During Infinite Crisis, Owen was part of Luthor's group of villains. He, Captain Cold, and Mirror Master were sent to guard a factory against the Outsiders, under the command of Deathstroke (who was actually Arsenal in disguise). When the ensuing battle between Outsiders and Rogues destroyed the machinery in the factory, the Rogues left Owen to die in the explosion in order to save themselves. He was saved by the Outsiders, and after the One Year jump in the DC Universe, Owen has become a member of their team.



Something interesting about Boomerang II.
Around this time the Rogue War began, in which the "reformed" Rogues fought the Rogues under Captain Cold. Ashley Zolomon is told by Harkness himself (before he permanently dies) that Golden Glider is not Owen's real mother. Though Captain Cold and Owen have already pondered this out loud, it isn't known until later that Meloni Thawne, descendent of both Professor Zoom and Cobalt Blue and mother of Barry's grandson Bart Allen (Kid Flash II), is Owen's mother. Apparently, during a fight in which Wally and Barry fight both Zooms on the cosmic threadmill, the fight went through various time periods, one of which being Harkness in his younger villain days. During the fight, a time bolt from the treadmill struck Harkness, who was taken to the 30th century. It's not known whether Meloni had Owen or Bart first.


So it seems like Boomerang II is Bart's half brother.

[MSth08]

new robin's penciller freddie williams from #149 onward...

link to freddie williams interview :
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=61902

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Robin/RobinSketches.jpg

[MSth08]

Something interesting about Boomerang II.

So it seems like Boomerang II is Bart's half brother.

hmmm....:thinking: a "complicated" family tree....

[gogetter]

That explains his super speed.:thinking:

[MSth08]

already stopped reading the flash for a couple of years...always feel the speed force family is very complicated...

Around this time the Rogue War began, in which the "reformed" Rogues fought the Rogues under Captain Cold. Ashley Zolomon is told by Harkness himself (before he permanently dies) that Golden Glider is not Owen's real mother. Though Captain Cold and Owen have already pondered this out loud, it isn't known until later that Meloni Thawne, descendent of both Professor Zoom and Cobalt Blue and mother of Barry's grandson Bart Allen (Kid Flash II), is Owen's mother. Apparently, during a fight in which Wally and Barry fight both Zooms on the cosmic threadmill, the fight went through various time periods, one of which being Harkness in his younger villain days. During the fight, a time bolt from the treadmill struck Harkness, who was taken to the 30th century. It's not known whether Meloni had Owen or Bart first.

No explanation for Owen's superspeed has been given (Bart's speed was inherited from his grandfather Barry Allen) but it has been theorized that, due to his genetic connection to the Thawnes, Owen inherited a fraction of superspeed despite the fact that his mother never exhibited this ability herself. The fact that he somehow time-travelled to the current era might have influenced his power as well.
:phew:

[gogetter]

Flash's heritage has always been pretty complicated to me, there's time travelling and Speed Force.

[MSth08]

teen titans illustration from #33, nightwing has wings on his costume...
seem like nightwing's costume has altered...
http://www.newsarama.com/general/Nauck/TT33_04.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/general/Nauck/TT33_05.jpg

[gogetter]

Ha, he now looks like the Vulture from Spiderman.:laugh: Is Nightwing the name of an actual bird or just simply a name?

[MSth08]

i just realised that the altered costume is nightwing's second costume after flipping through my TPB of batman's knightsend. there was no wing attached backthen...

as for the name of nightwing...i don't really know the background of it and did a search...

Nightwing begins
In Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity, "Nightwing" was an alias used by Superman in adventures shared with Jimmy Olsen in the city of Kandor, a Kryptonian city that had been shrunken and preserved in a bottle. In Kandor, Superman had no powers and was branded an outlaw due to a misunderstanding. To protect themselves, Superman and Jimmy created vigilante identities inspired by Batman and Robin; however, as neither bats nor robins existed on Krypton, Superman chose the names of two native avian species: Nightwing (for himself) and Flamebird (for Jimmy). After Superman's departure, the identities were assumed by two Kandorians named Van-Zee and Ak-Var.


Nightwing's first costume. Art by George Perez.Following the reboot of the DC Universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Grayson was for a time regarded as the one and only Nightwing there had ever been, as the classic version of Kandor in which the other ones had had their adventures was no longer held to have ever existed, and although in Post-Crisis continuity Grayson's Nightwing costume was partially inspired by his father (who at one time wore circus performer garments that were a variant of colleague Boston Brand's Deadman attire), the Kryptonian origins of Nightwing would be later partially restored.

Secret Files & Origins #1 and Nightwing: Year One tells the full Post-Crisis version of how Dick Grayson gave up his identity as Robin and was inspired by Superman's tales of an ancient Kryptonian hero named Nightwing. This tale retroactively erases the notion that Superman and Jimmy Olsen or anyone else before Grayson and Bette Kane ever held the titles of Nightwing and Flamebird, except for the birds and the legendary figures named after them. In this story, Dick, uncertain to what to do with his new-found independence, turned to someone he knew would understand: Superman. Briefly, Grayson had considered giving up fighting crime; but he couldn't imagine his life any other way. Asked what Dick should be, if he could not be Robin, Superman told a tale of long ago on Krypton, about a man who was cast out of his family, just like Dick had been. He dreamed of a world ruled by justice, and set out to protect the helpless of Krypton. His true identity was never revealed; he was known only as Nightwing. Dick then decided to honor the legendary Kryptonian by renaming himself Nightwing. It also was revealed that Bette Kane, a brief romantic interest of Dick, assumed the name of Flamebird after being inspired to become a superhero because of her infatuation with Dick and association with Superman (in Pre-Crisis continuity, Bette Kane had assumed the identity of Bat-Girl to get close to Grayson). The direct association between Superman and the role of Nightwing was restored in 2001's Man of Steel #111, wherein Superman and Lois Lane travel to the Kryptonian past to assume the names of Nightwing and Flamebird themselves.


The evil Raven disrupts Kory and Dick's wedding in New Titans #100 (1993).Various members of the Titans were abducted by a rogue Jericho and the Wildebeest Society. This adventure affected the team immensely. The group entered into tumultuous times, where members came and went, longtime friends were maimed or destroyed; although Dick persevered through it all, and remained the heart and center of the team. After these events, Nightwing adopted his second costume.

[gogetter]

This is definately not Nightwing's first costume change. I remember at least 2 other version, first is his original costume which has disco type collar, the other one appears early during his series and is a darker costume like Batman's.

[MSth08]

This is definately not Nightwing's first costume change. I remember at least 2 other version, first is his original costume which has disco type collar, the other one appears early during his series and is a darker costume like Batman's.

the other one (darker costume) is the lastest one until OYL...

[MSth08]

ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #6
Written by Frank Miller
Art and cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams
Variant cover by Miller

To show the world that super-heroes police their own, Superman has assembled a "Justice League of America." Can the Earth's most powerful heroes rescue the kidnapped Dick Grayson and save Gotham from the clutches of a Dark Knight who has obviously gone mad? Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers by Jim Lee & Scott Williams and Frank Miller. Please see the retailer order form for details.
On sale June 21

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/June06/Batman/AllStarBatman_RobinCv6.jpg

[MSth08]

DETECTIVE COMICS #820
Written by James Robinson
Art by Leonard Kirk & Andy Clarke
Cover by Simone Bianchi
In Part 7 of the 8-part "Face the Face," the clues come together and the murderer of Gotham's villains is uncovered - but will it be too late for Harvey Dent?
On sale June 7

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/June06/Batman/DetectiveComicsCv820.jpg

=====================================

BATMAN #654
Written by James Robinson
Art by Don Kramer & Michael Bair
Cover by Simone Bianchi
Batman vs. Two-Face vs...Harvey Dent? The 8-part "Face the Face" storyline ends with a bang in a grand finale that will have a long-lasting impact on Batman and Robin's relationship!
On sale June 28
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/June06/Batman/BatmanCv654.jpg

[MSth08]

NIGHTWING #121
Written by Bruce Jones
Art by Paco Diaz & Bit
Cover by Jock
Nightwing's been captured, and the only man who can save him is...Nightwing? When Jason Todd's life is on the line, will Dick Grayson be ready and willing to save him? After Jason's actions in this issue, he may not!
On sale June 14

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/June06/Batman/NightwingCv121.jpg

we still get to see jason todd around...

[MSth08]

batman annual #25 2nd printing, new cover by shane davis.
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/InfiniteCrisis/BMANNCv252ndprint_t.jpg

[MSth08]

BATMAN: CITY OF CRIME TPB
Written by David Lapham; Art by Ramon Bachs and Nathan Massengill; Cover by Lapham

Collecting the epic tale from DETECTIVE COMICS #800—808 and #811—814 written by David Lapham (Stray Bullets)! As the Dark Knight tries to shut down a drug ring turned deadly, Bruce Wayne must contend with a wayward 14—year—old who's dangerously close to Gotham's underworld!

On Sale July 5, 2006

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/5402_400x600.jpg

btw, anyone read it? read it from the other forum that the story isn't appealing...

[gogetter]

Nope, it's been a while since I've picked up a Batman TPB or HC, think the last one was Hush.

[Jedi Chard]

Yo G!

I recommend you get your hands on BATMAN: Under the Hood TPB. It's a swell read that shows the mysterious Red Hood surfacing in Gotham to take on both Batman and gotham's underworld.

The action is intense!
Chard

[MSth08]

speaking of TPBs, i still enjoyed reading the 3-parts knightsaga now, read many times ever since i first bought it 10 years ago. the illustration by jim aparo, norm breyfogle and barry kitson are good.

[gogetter]

Thanks for the recommendation, chard!

[MSth08]

NIGHTWING #118 is going for second printing, a recolored version of the cover by Jock.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/OYLpreviews/2ndprints/NTWCv118secondprinting.jpg