Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987):

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987):

“The Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.”

Look, you don't need me to tell you it's bad. There's giant plot holes, cheap sets, reused shots, and cartoony action scenes. And yet, in light of current tensions, I thought I'd still enjoy Superman throwing nukes into the sun. I was wrong. Very wrong. It's like they had one good idea...Superman throws nukes into the sun to try to achieve world peace. But, didn't think through the rest of it at all.

Lex Luthor busts out of prison and creates Nuclear Man from Superman's hair and the energy from the nukes thrown into space. Superman meanwhile, is trying to go on a double date as both Clark Kent and Superman. Nuclear Man crashes through buildings and says he'll “hurt people!” and “Destroy Superman!” He also talks like a caveman.

So, Superman does the logical thing, and fights Nuclear Man around the globe. In Italy, and China. He rebuilds the Great Wall with his eyes somehow, and stops a volcano by throwing a mountain into it (Why?), and freezing it with ice breath. Finally, he fights Nuclear Man on the moon, where Nuclear Man is shown to have less power, and still Superman gets pounded into the moon like a Looney Tunes character.

When the sun rises, Superman flies back and drops Nuclear Man into a nuclear containment facility after a short battle. He reasons that the sun must be the source of enemy's power. (Did he forget it's his too? Did he forget he has ice breath?) Meanwhile, in a goofy subplot, the Daily Planet almost turns into a tabloid that says Superman is dead. But, then is just bought by Perry White again, without Superman at all.

None of this makes sense. There are too many inconsistencies and plot holes. Superman is shown at one point to have radiation poisoning from Nuclear Man. That was kind of interesting. But, then how was he cured? I thought at least the fights might be cool, but instead it's Looney Tunes style bonks, and slap fights in space. I think the most Nuclear Man does is bonk Superman.

I like Christopher Reeve as Superman. He's a hopeful incarnation of the character I think we need back, in terms of style and body language. But, not like this. Not as a big goof flying around back and forth in re-used footage. I think they had one good idea. Superman trying to help the world. The rest is just idiotic. Do I need to say it? Skip this one.

Superman: Doomsday (2007):

Superman: Doomsday (2007):

If you’re expecting Cyborg Superman to show up, or a retelling of “The Death of Superman” comic book storyline, you’ll be disappointed. I was. This version of the story has Superman returning as an “evil clone” created by Luthor. There’s no Steel (Metal Superman!) even! So, basically, if you watched this film, it’s to watch Superman fight Doomsday. That’s it. Once the mystery of the clone is solved, there’s no more dramatic tension left.

Of course, the fight with Doomsday is fantastic. But, that lasts like 5 minutes. Including Doomsday’s arrival. You can tell the fight is intense just by the sounds of each hit. A real super slobber-knocker! Superman is still a man though, and still gets tired. After being dragged through a power station, hit by a subway, and thrown around with a few earth-quaking impacts, Superman starts to tire and stagger, while Doomsday does not. It really is like watching the ultimate boxing match. In the end, Metropolis is basically a crater.

Well, that was fun. But, what happens next? Well, not much. After the funeral, Toyman terrorizes the city (Voiced by John Dimaggio! Really, kudos to the voice casting in this movie! Everyone is spot on!) and it looks like Superman has come back, but after it’s revealed only minutes later that this is a clone under Luthor’s control which he gleefully wails on with Kryptonite knuckles, all the excitement goes away. In the original comic, there was more exploration of what people did to carry on his legacy. This is just a dumb clone plot…I honestly preferred the Evil Superman in Superman 3. At least he was the result of a split personality.

Here, when Evil Superman starts threatening old grannies and kills Toyman, it’s just awkward. I will say they did a good job explaining away early 90s Superman’s awful mullet haircut. His robot dug up his unconscious body, so presumably he didn’t have time to cut his hair. The robot is voiced by Tom Kenny! Anyway, to even the odds against his evil clone, Tom Kennybot gives him a Kryptonite gun, and a black solar suit, making him look weirdly gothic. Real Superman wins, of course. With the help of Lois Lane.

Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this movie. It doesn’t really teach anything, and doesn’t really capture Superman’s legacy. The original comic storyline showed many different sides of Superman, some of which were evil, and some of which were good. It just seems to me that lumping all that into “Evil clone with Luthor’s personality.” is a huge waste. Luthor even ends up in the hospital once the clone becomes paranoid. So, he’s more evil than Luthor. It should’ve at least included Superboy, the good side of Luthor’s clone.

Now, a couple things this film's got right in the end, are the music and the voice acting. The Superman theme here begins from space in the intro, as it usually should. But, does that triumphant music really fit the death of Superman? I know, it’s a Superman movie…but with a title like Doomsday…you know what you’re really getting is that last, or should I say first, fight! Secondly, the voice-acting is stupendous, as I said before. And it does deliver on that Doomsday battle!

Seeing one of the most iconic Superman comic book stories reduced to a one-note doppelganger plot is hugely disappointing. But, it does have redeeming qualities, most of which I’ve listed above. (Voice-acting and music, Doomsday, etc.) It succeeds in a strong presentation of weak ideas. Really, it’s all about that Doomsday battle. Oh, and explaining away that mullet! 2/5 stars. Not very super, but makes you expect it will be. And that’s worse! I mean, you might like it, but like Superman, the film nearly dies after Doomsday.

WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES (2019):

WONDER WOMAN: BLOODLINES (2019):

“Wonder Woman tries to help a troubled young girl, Vanessa, who has fallen in with a deadly organization known as Villainy Inc. headed by Dr. Cyber.”

Well, another one where there's a ton going on! Steve Trevor arrives on Themyscira followed by parademons. Wonder Woman believes his arrival means that an attack is coming, so she leaves the island and comes to modern day Man's World to help. One of the things I like about this one is how Diana comports herself like an ancient Amazon.

For example, she apologizes to a woman for crooks “hampering” her day, and says to her host family's daughter Vanessa that her “sleeping chambers” were quite similar to hers, just with servants. Vanessa feels slowly neglected by Wonder Woman as her popularity grows; so, jealous of her, she joins Villainy Inc.!

The rest of the quest is to save Vanessa and stop more monsters and villains from attacking. Vanessa becomes Silver Swan with the help of Dr. Poison and Dr. Cyber. I'm impressed with this movie's villainess roster. Cheetah, Giganta, Dr. Poison, the Minotaur, and even Medusa all show up. Wonder Woman can punch through walls, and throw giant pillars, so the fight scenes are good...there's always the lasso, too!

After she defeats Silver Swan, they have to figure out how to get back to Themyscira. There they can use the aptly-named “purple healing ray” to cure her. But, everyone who leaves the island magically forgets where it is! They work out the location, but there is a major betrayal in the team. Overall, the film does a good job showing Wonder Woman's powers and code of honor. I liked it!

It's kind of like an extended Justice League episode. With more villainesses than probably in the average Wonder Woman movie! It kind of feels like they were riding high from 2017's Wonder Woman success, which is a good thing. I'm always up for more Greek myths and superheroes. I feel like animation can show things that just look ridiculous in movies, like invisible jets, no matter how good your CGI is.

I think this is worth watching, if only because it throws a lot at you. At times, it's not afraid to have fun, but you're never bored either way. It's a nice mix of action-comedy. If you wanna see Wonder Woman at full power, I'd recommend this movie. Give it a watch, if you can!

Injustice (2021):

:

“On an alternate Earth, the Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane, which causes a rampage in the hero. Superman decides to take control of Earth, Batman and his allies will have to attempt to stop him.”

Superman is tricked into killing a pregnant Lois, Metropolis blows up, and Superman loses his grip on humanity. Which is fine, when it exists to make Superman the bad guy in a fighting game. But here, it just makes him look really insecure. I suppose it's to show that he's slowly losing his innocence. First, he forces world leaders to sign treaties. Then, illegally imprisons protesting superheroes.

Like all narratives where Superman loses control, he eventually allies with villains; this time it's Ra's Al Ghul. Soon, he's eye-lasering children who are in harm's way to protest his rule. Some heroes die, and some villians too. But, it hardly reminds me of it's comic book/videogame counterpart. Batman hacks Cyborg. Nightwing is in there.

At first, it's cool when Superman goes crazy and shows his true powers. But after that, it's just him slowly becoming evil and killing/imprisoning heroes like a paranoid jerk. Harley Quinn goes good though, so that's kinda like the comics; pretty cool. And she knocks out Green Arrow. Mr. Terrific is pretty good in it, and I don't even remember him in the game.

Overall, it's pretty good, for what it lacks in plot. Where it tries to be high-minded, and address issues like freedom vs. security, I think it falls a little flat because...well, it's an action animation based on a fighting game comic book. (Red Son at least had alternate historical context to explore ideas.) They need to fight scenes, so it all just boils down to a fight. Enjoy it with snacks, maybe. But, once was enough for me.

DEATHSTROKE: KNIGHTS AND DRAGONS: THE MOVIE (2020)

DEATHSTROKE: KNIGHTS AND DRAGONS (2020):

“Assassin Slade Wilson leads two lives: a relentless killer known as Deathstroke and a family man. Can he atone for the sins of the past-or will his family pay the ultimate price?”

This one is a doozy! It's an adult animation (read: cussing, partial nudity, and violence.) featuring Deathstroke from DC comics. The story is about him trying to protect his family from learning that he's a super-powered assassin. But, that goes out the window when he's attacked at home by the HIVE, a mercenary group.

They steal his kid, Joseph, and re-name him Jericho, subjecting him to the same military experiments as Deathstroke. It's said that while Deathstroke is a handgun, so to speak, Joseph is a nuclear weapon. He has psychic abilities on top of his fathers superpowers and healing factor. The HIVE plans to use him to plot terrorist attacks, and control world leaders.

Meanwhile, Deathstroke uncovers that the HIVE leader is someone from his past. Joseph even sides with them for a while, before uncovering his abuse. A motif that's repeated via a bedtime story is that Deathstroke sees himself as a knight, protecting his family against dragons. In the end, Joseph believes he's still the knight, and fights beside his father against, among others, Lady Shiva.

It's pretty good for an adult animation in 2020. I'm not spoiling too much if I say I'm dissatisfied with how they defeat Lady Shiva. Overall, they cram a lot into 89 minutes, but it's a good and bloody story. It's an origin story, a betrayal, and a future story all at once. Give it a watch if you don't mind the violence!

Harley Quinn and Batman (2017):

Harley Quinn and Batman (2017):

“Batman and Nightwing are forced to team with the Joker's sometimes-girlfriend Harley Quinn to stop a global threat brought about by Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man.”

Harley Quinn and Batman team up to stop Poison Ivy. Batman's former sidekick Nightwing finds Harley working as a waitress in a cosplay-based restaurant, and figures she knows where Ivy is. Harley says she wants to just live a normal life. Eventually they tickle each other, and decide to work together.

Now, usually the DC movie universe doesn't like to make fun of itself. But, this is a Harley Quinn comedy. So, it's much more slapstick and fart jokes than the usual Batman fare. I kind of liked it. They have fun. They sing karaoke before they find out where Ivy is, thanks to a tip.

Turns out, Ivy is in Louisiana working with Floronic Man to turn all life into plants. Harley pleads with Ivy, and is able to convince her to stop. But, she can't stop Floronic Man. She tells Batman that if he's just made of plants, they should be able to just burn him. (In comically whispered dialogue.) Nightwing and Batman kiss her cheek, and that's all folks.

It's pretty good for a DC animated movie. Especially for a DC comedy. You definitely have to be in the mood for this one. I don't know. Watch it with some snacks. Be prepared for fart jokes. If you like Harley Quinn, and have a good sense of humor, you should enjoy.

SUPERMAN: RED SON (2020):

SUPERMAN: RED SON (2020):

“What if baby Kal-El's rocket landed, not in Kansas, but in the Soviet Union? That is the premise of this Elseworld's tale from DC Comics.”

There's a lot going on here. This is an alternate world based on the 2003 comic by Mark Millar where Superman was raised in the USSR. He kills Stalin after he finds out about the gulags. He beats back capitalist Bizzaro created by the US with Lex Luthor. He defeats the Green Lanterns as they are recruited in the Cold War, and single-handedly wins the Korean War for the Communists.

So, in this world, Kal-El is still the same person. He still cares about helping people, only he believes the Soviet system is the way to do so. Even with his vast power, and big heart, he finds that he can't control people the way he'd like to in the name of equality. He fights Batman over this. In this version, Batman survives the gulag.

To add to the list of heroes making a cameo, he courts Wonder Woman on a diplomacy mission. Eventually, she withdraws when she finds out that with the help of Brainiac, he's been turning people into robots to make them more agreeable. Superman discovers that the villain soon can't be trusted. This leads to a showdown between Brainiac and US President Lex Luthor.

All-in-all, this is a fantastic showcase for a DC what-if scenario. The comic is a bit more detailed, but I highly recommend this one for a watch, however you can. It really shows the ability of comics and animation to transport us to other worlds. Plus, I like Jason Isaac's faux Russian accent. In Soviet Russia, Superman cartoon watches you!



READ MY SUPERMAN:RED SON COMIC REVIEW HERE: https://bit.ly/2XmZ4xg

Birds of Prey (2020) a.k.a. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey:

Birds of Prey (2020) a.k.a. Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey:

“It's open season on Harley Quinn when her explosive breakup with the Joker puts a big fat target on her back.”

Right away, we're given a nice little animated sequence on who Harley is, and the breakup with Joker. So, she sets out to become her own self, burning down where she and Joker met, and going around looking to correct her grievances. But, that attracts the attention of other psychos (and the cops.) who want to take her down.

Eventually, she's captured by mafia boss Black Mask. If she can find him a diamond, she's free. Now, overall, this isn't a bad setup, and I cut this movie a lot of slack for being filmed during COVID-19. But, here's where things get messy. See, it's not just a Harley Quinn movie. They have to squeeze in the Birds of Prey.

Harley Quinn by herself is still cool to watch. What I didn't like was stopping the action in the middle to introduce another team member to the plot. It's not very cohesive, and the Birds of Prey don't really get together until the last 10 minutes. The final fight scene in the carnival, and the fight scene in the police station are the best parts.

The Suicide Squad (2021) is a better Harley Quinn team-up movie. Unlike this film, no one character felt wasted. Black Mask felt like just “Not-Joker” to me. Margot Robbie's good, as always. But, they should've taken more time to develop each unique character. You can skip this one unless you really like Harley Quinn.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021):

THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021):

"Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese."

The Suicide Squad is a fun movie. I feel like what makes it work is the slapstick, and the characters. A team of DC supervillains is sent off to investigate alien technology on a hostile island nation. As the name implies, several team members die. But, most the deaths are played for laughs, and I won't give spoilers regarding who makes it out. There's no one character that feels underdeveloped. Even the goofier ones like Polka Dot Man.

Speaking of characters, Harley Quinn gets her own few moments in the sun here. Her character does great with the movie's action-slapstick tone. John Cena plays the hilariously unaware and superviolent Peacemaker. Idris Elba does most of the dramatic heavy-lifing as Bloodsport. Overall, I think the movie works because it's aware that it's a comic book movie.

Comics are kind of weird, and so is this flick. It's superviolent, funny, and yet it's never truly dark. It has a kind of heart in the way that the characters live and die. It's definitely not for the squeamish, but I say give it a watch if you like weird comics and action movies!

Avengers vs. Justice League: War

Avengers vs. Justice League: War

Captain America: “We need a plan of attack!”

Iron Man: “I have a plan. Attack!”

So, in my last post, I made the claim that there are aesthetic differences in the movie Justice League: War to make it different from Avengers, but that it was basically the same plot. The main aesthetic difference I argued, was fear as a motivator. From the beginning, it is established that Batman is a fugitive, hunted by Green Lantern.

    The heroes in Avengers, however, start out as heroes, and active members of their respective communities from SHIELD to India, for The Hulk. In Justice League: War, The impetus for banding together was only the invasion; but they didn’t have 3 hours to jibe and develop relationships between the characters. Iron Man/Hulk do a good job joking and teaming up to work on the alien object, even though Cap chastises them for being unfocused.

   So, from the start the heroes are paired together, and play off of each other. I often say of the Avengers movie that it is a good example of a viable theory of group communication called “Forming, storming, and norming.” It is of course, arguable that Hawkeye needed a little more exposure, but as the only one in this group who hadn’t had a movie yet, he couldn’t be in the first two stages. Justice League: War has little time to develop and thus normalize the heroes roles: essentially we have “forming, storming, Batman!” But, what is forming, storming, and norming?

    Forming is when the group forms. Black Widow serves this purpose, as well as SHIELD, as well as pairing off the heroes to form relationships…as when Cap breaks up a fight with Tony Stark. Superman also fought with Batman like this. But, then, Batman has to rescue Batman. Also, it’s telling that Wonder Woman avoids meeting the President. I know that’s comic relief, but she acts as a fugitive as well. Whereas Cap keeps the group focused by remaining in his past role: The soldier.

  In this respect, each Avenger contains something that connects him to the mission….and that they’re opposed to. Storming is when they question the mission. Even Tony Stark’s suspicion of SHIELD plays on Cap’s trust in SHIELD. Hulk’s rampage and defeat by Thor connects him to Thor. So, he ends up paired with him. Justice League: War has a storming stage, but it is short, since the heroes never meet until the invasion, and Batman rescues Superman. Abducting Superman for conflict reasons, I feel is an odd choice, but it served to show Batman as a leader, and he takes charge, but the end result is the group never feels solidified…it’s Batman’s show…but that’s okay! They have forming, storming, Batman.

   In sum,  Avengers had more time to dealt with forming, storming, and norming. The norming is solidified by the teams mutual avenging of the death of Coulson. It feels less dark because there is more humor (Iron Man’s a jerk, sometimes, but he enjoys himself!) and has more time for the group’s conflicts to resolve. But, in Justice League: War, DC wants the tension to be there, to use a phrase, because he’s Batman.

  Batman thrives off of being a fugitive, and why not? Batman is popular, and this gets the team together quicker…at the cost of character development. In a sense, DC must go with the Batman feel at this point, because the audience already knows him. In a similar vein (Although you have to credit the writers!) Marvel’s Avengers follows the aesthetic of it’s most bankable character for much the same reason. And they are both billionaires…ironic since they are the most bankable.

Ultimately, the cultural aesthetic comes down to who was leading the group. Cap leads the Avengers, kicking into full army mode and formulating his plan of attack! Batman serves as a leader, but only after Superman is underplayed. But, the circumstances called for him to step in…Because he’s Batman! And it would save them making more movies.

Even though Justice League: War is a good preview of what a Justice League movie might look like, to me, it’s clearly following an Avengers formula…but that’s okay! It’s a good decision. That just means they’ll have to go with more familiar characters, and resolve less interpersonal conflict. But, Batman thrives on conflict, and just happens to be the most recognizable character in that universe. Yes, the Avengers all had movies, but DC is playing catch-up, and doesn’t have time to build up there characters. So, Batman may be the hero the DC movies deserve…but not the one they need! Only time will tell!

Bonus Question: Who do you think would win? Avengers or Justice League?

Justice League: War (2014) Review

Justice League: War (2014)

Batman: “The world’s afraid of us.”

Green Lantern: “You say that like it’s a good thing.”

Batman: “It’s necessary.”

Justice League: War explains the origins of the Justice League and how they united to fight against Darkseid. But, first some had to fight against each other. Green Lantern chases Batman around Gotham believing he is an alien with a bomb. But, he’s actually stopping an alien with a bomb! In the fight and battle of wits that ensues, Batman disarms Green Lantern! It’s a very good demonstration of Batman’s skill and shows that he isn’t just a guy in a batsuit.

Really, I guess that’s the only problem I have with the film is that it’s way too Batcentric. Movies seem to have lost the idea of how to portray Superman as a leader and symbol of hope. Here, he’s an Old Testament-type God-figure, introducing himself by tossing Batman around until he realizes he’s not the enemy. It’s a might-makes-right philosophy…and I think it’s telling that they can’t represent hope without it choking fear. We can’t let Superman stand on his moral authority like Christopher Reeve's Superman did. Batman leads the Justice League now. With fear as a necessity.

But, also against this, we see the story of Wonder Woman, who prefers to spend the day eating ice cream with a girl instead of meeting with the President until the invasion. She at least provides some comic relief. And feminist philosophy. At one point, she gets one of her protestors to admit that he cross-dresses as Wonder Woman via The Lasso of Truth. It’s funny, and at least shows her philosophy of fighting for Truth, rather than hitting everyone right away.

Now, eventually we see characters like Flash (Who analyzes the metal from the bomb.) and Cyborg, and Shazam. All these characters are played spot-on. Flash has his signature fast-talking quick wit. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir…Batman…Batman, sir!” Cyborg’s backstory is the most detailed, which I believe they should focus more on should they make more movies in this storyline. His scientist father basically reveals that he missed his son’s football game to analyze the metal, because whatever he can do with football (in the world of superheroes.) is a joke.

Later, when  he becomes infected with an alien symbiote, his scientist dad uses a “quantum computer” to save his body, and he becomes Cyborg. It’s a cool story, and shows how technology can make us compete with superheroes. With a power chair, I know this firsthand.

And then of course, there’s  one of the JL’s greatest opponents, Darkseid. He appears out of the alien rift caused by this terraforming bombs. Superman again is a little underplayed here, and he gets abducted, and Batman rescues him. But, this is Batman’s era. I thought how all the team fought together using their powers (Flash for distraction, Green Lantern to repel the army, etc.) was nice. Wonder Woman stabs out Darkseid’s eyes, perhaps in a nod to the Cyclops myth. Oh, yes, it’s an adult cartoon, so there’s blood, and swearing…but that’s what I expected.
 
Overall, it’s a great feature, and the animation is gripping…reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series. Very refreshing to see hand-drawn styles, at least…I miss hand-drawn style. It sounds weird, but as I’ve said before I’m a secret animation geek, so it really pulled me in. Especially with the plot! I’ll add a star just for seeing some good animation.

So, in conclusion, yes, Superman’s ideal (Justice) is underplayed for Batman’s fear-based aesthetic. He even wears the Man of Steel (New 52, actually.) outfit! But, I can get used to a Batcentric JL if that’s really what people want in the post-9/11 world. But, is it “necessary”? No. Okay, that’s my final philosophical critique. I actually really enjoyed this movie and the animation, and the essence of the characters.

I mean, there’s Cyborg’s technological genius, Shazam’s bravery (And Shazam is voiced by Sean Astin!), Green Lantern’s willpower, Wonder Woman’s Truth, Flash’s quick wit…if DC’s looking to copy the success of the 2012’s Avengers (Hint: They are. Superman is Hawkeye here, Flash is Iron Man, Wonder Woman is Captain America…even the star-spangled outfit…has to rediscover the modern world.) They succeed here! Now, just make Superman a little more useful than Hawkeye! Oh, snap! 4/5 stars from me! Go see it!

BATGIRL VOL. 2: KNIGHTFALL DESCENDS (2012) REVIEW:

"Are you seriously going to complain that you can walk again? You think you’re the only person who’s ever regained mobility?”

- Black Canary to Batgirl

Oddly, with Batgirl Vol. 2, Gail Simone goes back to Batgirl’s past rather than immediate recovery after The Killing Joke. It begins with the day she became Batgirl and puts on a bat suit while trapped in the GCPD. This volume deals more with the psychological damage caused by the Joker, instead of her physical frailty. More to the point, it incorporates The Court of Owls and even a Bane-type character in a gang. I get that it all connects her to Batman’s history, but frankly it feels a little recycled.

Batgirl faces three enemies: An epicure in a devil mask named Grotesque who can channel electricity. Now, I liked this part of the story, but mainly because there’s a brief cameo from Black Canary who trains with Batgirl and reminds her she never complained before when she was in a wheelchair. (As Oracle, leader of The Birds of Prey.)

From there, there’s a weird subplot about a young girl, (Ms. Carnes.) whose home was invaded by a mass murderer, and she now tortures evildoers for revenge! And now James Jr. is a psychopath working with The Court of Owls. Ew. Too many good-guy-turned-evil twists. But, I guess comics just work that way.

That’s not the Bane girl. Her name is Bonebreaker, her gang member. Their leader is the young girl…who’s name is Knightfall. But, as Batgirl is tracking Grotesque, the Owls take over Gotham. This is clearly meant to overlap with The Court of Owls storyline, which was running at the same time. Fair enough. I just don’t see why James Jr. had to be brought in. We’ve established that the histories are intertwined. Leave Batgirl’s family alone.

Also, her estranged mother comes and leaves again. And it’s established that Joker is tracking her a la The Killing Joke near the end. Poor Batgirl just can’t get a break with the family issues. Although I guess it follows the same logic as Court of Owls Vol. 2, where it’s revealed that Batman’s long-lost brother is leading the owls.  Not a lot I liked about this one, with it’s constant interwoven plot twists.

 One part I did like though, was when she mistakenly battles Batwoman in a police detective’s apartment, believing her to be an undercover agent of Knightfall’s gang. (Yeesh. What a corny name: Knightfall. Even the name Knightfall recalls Bane‘s entry title!) So in the end, she’s able to track Knightfall and work with Batwoman to free the prisoners. She gets the prisoners to hold Ms. Carnes back so she can fight her. The end of the novel seems to suggest a volume 3, with all Batgirl’s former villians being freed, (Mirror, Grotesque, and Gretel.)

Overall, I feel like Volume 2 kind of sacrificed the originality of exploring her recovery in favor of getting her back into action. This is okay, since action is what heroes and heroines do, but I was more upset by the co-opting of The Court of Owls and Bane-type plotlines. Surely, Batgirl can survive with an original rogue gallery rather than cheap Batman knock-offs. And not to dwell on the training scene with Black Canary, (My favorite part!) but that one scolding scene is basically all we get from the recovery angle so richly explored in the first volume.

So in conclusion, the action was fun, and I really enjoyed the first half, until The Court of Owls and a Bane clone were brought in. I don’t think Batgirl should be a Batman clone. She’s got her own individual origin (Explored in this volume!), rogue gallery, and set of issues to deal with…such as being paralyzed by Joker.

Now, some might say she can’t dwell on it forever, but I maintain that without her own set of issues, Batgirl becomes a Batman clone…and she’s capable of more than that. In sum, I knew they’d drop the recovery angle, but I guess I…was still disappointed by how quickly it was dropped. By the way, for the original characters in the first half, I give this 3 stars, but the Owl/Bane parallels are groan worthy.

BATGIRL VOL. 1: THE DARKEST REFLECTION (2012)

BATGIRL VOL. 1: THE DARKEST REFLECTION (2012)

“I'm not Barbara Gordon. I have to keep remembering that. Tonight, I'm not Barbara. Tonight, I'm not the Police Commissioner's daughter. Tonight, I'm the one who pored over the details of the confidential police and reports when her dad wasn't looking. I'm the one who recognized the vintage costumes you wear. Tonight? Tonight, I'm Batgirl.”

- Batgirl

     I have to admit, when I first heard that Barbara Gordon was out of the wheelchair for The New 52, I was extremely skeptical. But, far from avoiding disability issues, this graphic novel deals specifically with Batgirl becoming accustomed to being able-bodied again. In any case, it is rare that a graphic novel directly addresses disability and able-bodied presumptions.

She accepts her time in the chair, and even says as much throughout the comics:  “Does everyone see me as broken?” I was a little upset that they only had her as Oracle (That is, disabled.) in the story, for 3 years. But, no matter, maybe she got Bat-physical therapy.  She’s out to prove that she never was broken and is ready to take on cases alone.

A big theme of the comic is self-doubt, and contrasting her new able-bodied life with her old one. She keeps her lift-van. We begin by seeing Batgirl taking down a Halloween-themed gang of youngsters, The Brisby Killers, whose costumes she recognizes. After she takes them down (But, she’s critical of herself for using the wrong intimidation tactics.) we’re introduced to two new characters: Mirror, the graphic novel’s primary villain…a Federal Agent after people who got second chances while others didn’t…and Batgirl’s new radical-feminist roommate Alysia.

Outside the apartment, Alysia makes a comment about her lift-van and being in a wheelchair “Like being in prison.” Batgirl gives us this stunning insight in an aside: “She doesn’t mean anything by it. I know she doesn’t. She doesn’t know what it’s like, what the chair helps you do. And I guess I don’t feel like explaining that to her able-bodied-but-well-intentioned self right now.” How many times I’ve thought this to others myself!

Okay, so Batgirl got me hooked on the disability issues. But what about the villain, and the action? Well, Mirror’s got a list of survivors, and Batgirl’s on it. The first victim should’ve drowned, so we meet him drowning someone with a hose. But, Batgirl meets him in a hospital where he attempts to shoot her in the spine and break her legs even. He knows how to exploit her survivors guilt. Because he was one. He survived a terrorist train-bombing.

So, not only does he “mirror” the accidents the survivors lived through, but also their fear, which makes him kind of bizarre and nightmare inducing. He sets several traps for Batgirl, including in a cemetery, on an exploding train, and finally, in a hall of mirrors where she tells him he can survive, and defeats him by using his fear against him.

Now,  there’s a ton of other self-conflicts throughout the comics, especially when she fights Nightwing who wants to prevent her from being put back in the chair (irony?), but Batgirl insists that she must fight Mirror alone…each relationship has sort of an overprotective, presumptive quality that I dare say I’m used to. For example, when Barbara goes on a date with her former physical therapist, he tells her: “Miracles do happen.” Batgirl replies: “I’m a skeptic. I don’t believe in miracles.” (Yes!)

Also, when she goes to tell her father about where she was, two word bubbles appear, one is “What I want to say is” followed by “But, what I really say is” she is exhausted by the over-protectiveness. And I’ve been there too. Sometimes, it feels like others just see nothing but the disability, even in spite of more obvious talents.

Finally, in the last story, we meet a villainess named Gretel who can hypnotize people. Once hypnotized, they chant “338” and become zombie-like. But, it turns out Gretel was actually shot in the head three times by a mobster with a .38; Batgirl uncovers this after their first meeting. Gretel’s hypnotic ability functions as part of her trauma.

Gretel has since declared war on all powerful men, because they like to stay in power while others suffer. Her next target is Bruce Wayne. But, Batgirl realizes he’s faking being a zombie for the sake of his identity; in the end, she avoids getting hurt and Bruce whispers: “You were always meant to be Batgirl…” Finally, some confidence! After turning Gretel in, Batgirl says she’s been where Gretel’s been too, and can’t blame her. So have I!

To conclude, the art is beautiful…but I don’t think…I would’ve overcome my apprehension about this story if it weren’t so masterfully crafted by Gail Simone. I mean, I always knew Batgirl was disabled, but I guess somewhat foolishly I presumed that once she wasn’t Oracle, she’d be done with disability issues. I’m happy to be proven wrong. If you need a glimpse of disability issues in comics, I think this graphic novel would be in my Top 5 recommendations. 5 stars…Go read it!

UPDATES, PLUS DISABILITIES AND SUPERPOWERS

UPDATES, PLUS DISABILITIES AND SUPERPOWERS:

Hey everybody! Long time no see! Here are some updates! I had another paper published, enjoyed the Doctor Who 50th, and had my own birthday on 11/22. With conventions coming up (notably Ohayocon!) you can be sure I’ll have some anime reviews, and possibly a review of Ohayocon 2014! Stay tuned! For now, here’s  a copy of the article that was published in HireGround. ( From Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.) It’s called  “Disabilities And Superpowers”.

Disabilities and Superpowers
By Chris Bowsman

Editor’s note: Chris Bowsman, age 28, has a B.A. in German, M.A. in Intercultural Communication

If you enjoy Chris’ writing, look him up on the VSA website at http://www.vsao.org/, or follow his personal blog “Through Alien Eyes” at http://www.christopherbowsman.blogspot.com/ (Chris’s Note: Hey, that’s here!)

  I’ve always loved superheroes. When I was a kid I wanted nothing more than to be like Professor X, leader of the X-men. I didn’t have his superpower of telepathy, but hey, I was in a wheelchair, like him, so that was a good start, right? Or at least, that was the reality I lived on the inside.

But on the outside, much of my daily existence was just an exercise in willpower forged from dealing with my dependencies. It still is. Nobody saw my mental Professor X; what they saw was a kid rolling around or occasionally being pushed, often demanding extra attention and struggling to articulate words that were often hard for them to understand, limbs sometimes jerking in unexpected directions.

This was the overlay I grew up with. It’s the titanic clash between the multitudes of disabilities people see on the outside, versus what those of us experiencing a whole different world within can create mentally. One of my favorite poets laid it out this way: (Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself")

Do I contradict myself?

Very well then I contradict myself,

(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

I am accustomed to people making assumptions about my intelligence and capabilities based on what it looks like I can do, so that really isn’t even a big deal anymore. What I want to say, however, is that my super strength is just determination. My telepathy is called listening. The strengths that I possess are really strengths that anyone can have if used correctly. It is our choices that make us who we are, far more than our abilities … listening and the power to keep fighting, are far better, far more real than telepathy or being able to punch someone into atoms!

If superhero stories tell us anything, it is that people have hidden talents beyond what others can see. Charles Xavier is not just a professor, but the world’s most powerful telepath. Mild-mannered Clark Kent is Superman. Of course, no one looking on from the outside could see these powers of the great superheroes, either. But the invisible (Much more human) lessons we can learn from them involve determination, empathy, and wisdom…just to name a few.

You see, everyone tries to make meaning out of their abilities; what they can and can’t do. I’m still trying to make meaning out of mine. I’ve come a long way from just wanting to be Professor X, to traveling abroad, obtaining my degrees in German and Intercultural Communication!

Two of the most dangerous things you can do, in my opinion, are assuming that physical differences are bad, or pretending that we’re the same as you if you don’t have a disability. Above all, a body must be lived in, and all of us embody a little different view of the truth. Remember the Walt Whitman quote above? And as Professor X said: “We’re not dangerous…we are different.” Don’t be afraid to learn from these differences. Embrace them! Understand them! You may be surprised.

   In sum, I don’t have telepathy; but I have empathy. I don’t have super strength; I have my spirit. To me, superheroes are just about simple human abilities that I have, and how to use them. Each one of us has some amazing abilities if we try to discover them. Who knows? That mild-mannered reporter could be Superman. Yes, even that guy in the wheelchair could be Professor X!

Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader? (2009) Review

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAPED CRUSADER? (2009) REVIEW:

“You don't get heaven or hell. Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman? 

You get to be Batman.” 

- Disembodied voice

Whatever Happened to The Caped Crusader? is a story by Neil Gaiman in which Batman dies. Many times. Each villain/person in the story tells a story of when Batman dies. It’s essentially a reboot story. Batman is able to deduce that the disembodied voice is a result of a near death experience (NDE) that takes the form of his mother. As Batman notes, each story is different, but remains the same. Catwoman, Alfred, Joker, Robin, and Riddler all tell stories of how Batman died; honestly, I found it kinda cheesy for a reboot comic.
   
Catwoman’s story takes place in the ‘40s, back when she wore a cat’s head mask and no one knew she was a woman. She tells of their first encounter and when he discovered she was a woman. Batman ends up wounded by her some years later after he rejects her advances. She ties him up and allows him to die near her, which is creepy. Then, she quits crime and opens a pet store for high society “ladies.” (But, she uses a different word.)

Alfred’s story was my favorite, and by far the most creative interpretation.  This story reveals that Alfred belonged to a troupe of actors. After Batman’s parents died and he swore vengeance, ALFRED dressed up as all Batman’s villains, and hired helped from his acting to troupe to employ people like Penguin and Riddler. Riddler then shoots Batman after Batman discovers the truth.

Speaking of other villains, the art here is very good, even if some of the stories are a little lackluster. Joker in particular looks like straight out of The Animated Series, and has some great bits….(For maximum effect, read in Mark Hamill’s Joker voice.) “I don’t just randomly kill people. I kill people when it’s FUNNY!” But, then again I always imagine Mark Hamill’s voice paired with The Joker, including his laugh. Joker’s story is that after he kills Batman with his Joker venom, he didn’t even smile…and then he realized killing Batman wasn’t very funny after all.

After every villain says their bit, Batman deduces that he’s dying, and the disembodied voice is his mother. She tells him that there’s nothing he can do but say good night. Then, the book turns into a strange Batman version of Goodnight, Moon. The story ends with Batman being born in a hospital. A symbol of his rebirth in The New 52. Touching, if not chronologically and contextually confusing.

This is a reboot comic, so I will say they did a pretty good job. It had some nice tributes…in particular the art on The Joker and placing Catwoman in the ‘40s. But, the story doesn’t feel that heroic to me. All the stories are of Batman dying. (In creative ways, I must say!) It seems to me you could find other ways to show off a reboot then multiple deaths.

Death worked for Superman because he was split into about five different people and then put back together. Batman could’ve done absolutely nothing to deduce his death, and the comic still would’ve been the same. There was no action. Apart from some nice conspiracy theories, this essentially does nothing but show Batman as weak. Yes, I know, Batman never gives up, etc. But, he could’ve given up here, and nothing would’ve changed…I still give it a solid 3/5.

FINAL BATMAN ANALYSIS: JUSTICE LEAGUE - CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS (2010)

FINAL BATMAN ANALYSIS: JUSTICE LEAGUE - CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS (2010)

Batman: “There is a difference between you and me. We both looked into the abyss, but when it looked back as us, you blinked.”

- To Owlman, fighting him on Earth Prime 

I think this will be my last Batman analysis for a while, then I’ll cover some more movies and games directly incorporating disabilities. I didn’t mean to get so into Batman, but then Ben Affleck happened. Anyway, superheroes are great sources for disability theory because it’s all escapist fantasy. When you don’t have the ability to deal with issues physically, you develop coping mechanisms that address the conflicts in other ways. But, that’s a theme for The Watchmen or Professor X to deal with directly. 

    Anyway, since I introduced Owlman last time, I thought it would be fun to examine his choices in comparison with Batman’s. In this world, the Justice League (Crime Syndicate) are the villains, and the usual villains are the heroes. Good Luthor travels to the world where the familiar Justice League exists, at the expense of the life of his Joker counterpart, Jester. Every hero has a counterpart and Harley Quinn is a monkey.  

   

  Ultra Man and Superwoman are counterparts to Superman and Wonder Woman. The evil Wonder Woman is a conqueror and likes the idea of conquering other worlds. Owlman is a nihilist who‘s built a reality-destroying bomb; the QED device. The Crime Syndicate holds their world hostage. 

     

    Until the other Justice League shows up. Wonder Woman, according to this story,  steals her invisible plane from Owlman. Superwoman actually manages to take down Batman until he outwits her. But, the key here is to recognize that even though they have opposite values, the characters still make choices to act on them, which leads to Batman’s above quote in his showdown with Owlman on Earth Prime. Batman’s a deontologist…someone who believes actions have value…his countepart is a nihilist…someone who thinks our actions are meaningless…in this case, because of parallel worlds.

    This point and its counterpoint are of course paramount to any philosophy, and reveals Batman’s central philosophy, like the abyss. Actions have inherent value. There may be other crime fighters out there, but he makes the choice to punish criminals his way. One of the things this animated movie does well is highlight each heroes worldview, and how they act on it. For example, Superman is adamant about not killing, but jailing, the Crime Syndicate and says: “All it takes for evil men to succeed is for good men to do nothing.” Superman is compassionate, unlike his gangster counterpart.

   Speaking of Superman, I have a few quibbles about Superman’s powers in this movie. Superman claims that good Luthor’s “internal organs are reversed.” but when he X-rays him, clearly only his heart is reversed.  I know this is a metaphor for his heart being with the other side, The Good Guys. But, was it necessary to reverse all his organs? And since we see that they’re not, does that mean Superman lied as justification to intervene on another Earth? And why doesn’t Batman (Who doesn’t want to get involved at first.) double-check? Surely, he’s not going to just take Superman’s word for it. And yet, he totally does. Thank goodness Martian Manhunter can read minds, and discovers good Luthor’s intentions. Otherwise, that would be a major plot hole.

   And speaking of Martian Manhunter, several lesser-known superheroes make appearances, which is nice. Among them are Aquaman, Black Canary, Black Lightning, and Green Arrow. Okay, Aquaman is well-known but, I haven’t seen Aquaman in a position of respect since his comedic appearances in Batman: The Brave And The Bold! Also, Flash’s counterpart is Australian, for some reason? Possibly as a joke about running to the other side of the globe real fast…? Don’t think about it too hard…it doesn’t make sense. (Plus, he’d be The Reverse-Reverse Flash!)

    Overall, I have a lot of minor quibbles with this film. It doesn’t approach its own questions very seriously, and doesn’t obey its own mirror-world logic. I think it’s a noble effort though…to show that how we act with our abilities and values makes a difference. Especially because it shows that everything contains the quintessence of its opposite. (Even if it doesn’t always follow it logically.) Especially for those of us with disabilities, I find that true. Our disabilities are secretly abilities, it just depends how we act on them.

    

In closing, I give the film credit for dealing with some of philosophy's Big Questions. Are we alone in the universe? What gives our actions meaning? But, it is somewhat ironic that Batman and Owlman fight on Earth Prime. Because in the world we know, superheroes cannot be the solution. Superheroes do not exist. I guess I just worry that some will confuse this reality with the fantasy one. But, even if you do, that’s still your choice. I’m glad to be done with Batman for a while at least. A good film, but Watchmen (The comic, not the movie.) deals with its themes in a more mature way. 2 stars for this Justice League adventure.    

Batman Vol. 2: City of Owls (2013)

Batman Vol. 2: City of Owls (2013)

Talon: “Bruce Wayne…The Court of Owls…has sentenced you to…”

Bruce Wayne: *Hitting Talon on the head with a 2x4* “Yeah, I got it the first time!”

     Batman: City of Owls is the sequel to Batman: Court of Owls. (Reviewed here: http://www.christopherbowsman.blogspot.com/2013/07/comic-review-batman-court-of-owls-vol-1.html) This time, the Talons (Owl assassins.) are hunting Bruce Wayne. Now, since it was revealed…(spoilers?) what the Owls’ true origins are last volume, Batman seeks out Mr. Freeze to figure out how they are still alive. But, of course, not before he must defend the manor as just Bruce. (Scene above.) From there, I feel the book devolves into a character study of Mr. Freeze and others…which is expertly done, but feels like it belongs in another book with Mr. Freeze as the main villain.

     It’s fun to see Penguin helping Freeze escape (“Wah, wah!”) but really I just wanna see more Owls. But, that really doesn’t happen either. After the attack on Wayne Manor, Batman interrogates and lures Freeze in, but the book gets so bogged down by its own symbolism and psychology that it becomes pretentious and dull. For example, (mild spoiler) through Batman’s interrogation, we learn that Freeze’s ice fetish was actually caused by the death of his mother, who fell in ice. That’s nice, but this is an interrogation, not psychoanalysis…that and he was with his prison therapist pages earlier!

   All Batman should’ve uncovered was evidence of the Owls using Freeze’s tech. He does find out through a bit of serendipity that the Owls have apparently committed suicide when he investigates their roost, robbing him (so it would seem.) of his revenge. But, all that changes when Batman discovers a heart pin on his mother’s lapel on a portrait back at the Manor. (Lincoln March described such a pin in the first book.) In a random twist, Lincoln, once located, now claims to be Batman’s brother, Thomas Wayne Jr.!

   Don’t get me wrong, the epic showdown is good, and Lincoln March traps Batman in a children’s hospital, blows it up, crashes him into buildings while gliding on a Batgrappling hook in an owl costume…epic stuff. But, is the psychoanalytic “lost brother” touch really necessary? Lincoln as Owlman should be enough of a threat on his own. And since Batman himself concludes (spoilers!) that it doesn’t add up…why toss that angle out anyway? To make him look crazy? I think that was accomplished by the owl suit.

   Long story short, there’s too many side-narratives and pseudo-analysis going on here. In my opinion, the book sets one up to believe that the owls are coming, and Batman is on the run. This could work. Then, it derails itself by making the Mr. Freeze connection, and the owls’ subsequent super-convenient suicide.

   I like seeing Batman as a detective (and one of my favorite Batman stories is Am I Really Batman? An interesting play on the “I’m Batman.” catchphrase, though it predates it…An amnesia story.) but there’s too much symbolism, not enough Batman here. The Dark Knight Rises had the same problem. Besides, Mr. Freeze’s origin was already covered brilliantly in Batman: The Animated Series. It was his wife, not mother!
 
I of all people (communication theorist, translator, intercultural analyst.) know that Batman is open to interpretation, but this is a bit of a stretch. I blame the symbolism. There’s been a push lately to make Batman some sort of psychoanalytic figure…anyone who dresses up as a Bat clearly has issues, as Christian Bale’s Batman said. But, let’s not force the connections! We don’t need to hear about Freeze’s mother, Alfred’s father, Batman’s maybe-brother, and Dick Grayson’s grandfather. That just distracts from the action, but I get that it’s trying to say…The Owls predate Batman.
 
Overall, Court of Owls was a good story, but it’s sequel is maddeningly rambling. It sets up action scenes, then defuses them with back history and psychoanalysis…there’s even a story about Alfred’s father Jeeves’ warning Alfred never to come to Gotham. Frankly…with all due respect to Beware The Batman’s action-oriented Alfred…who cares?

 The reason I like both Batman: The Animated Series and Beware The Batman is that they both embrace all the flavors of Batman. The detective, the dark knight, Bruce Wayne…who isn’t afraid to be a bit foolish, even when dispensing justice. You see, my sense is…City of Owls set up a good enemy for Batman, (Lincoln March and The Owls.) and then didn’t know how to end.

   Good Batman stories always agree on tone. Beware The Batman has always been a detective story for kids, while Batman: The Animated Series was essentially the dark knight angle for 90s kids. I liked Court of Owls, where The Owls’ trap Batman, and take over his city. But, then you wait for their attack in the sequel, and there is one. Exactly one. It’s a lot of build-up with little payoff, for a gang who just took over the city. Overall, I echo Bruce Wayne’s sentiments: “Yeah, I got it the first time!” 1 star
rating from me…read it…but prepare for psychoanalytic babble.

Superman: Red Son (2003)

Superman: Red Son (2003)

“Let our enemies beware: There is only one Superpower now!”

    

   Yesterday, I read Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar. Superman: Red Son is an attempt to look at what would happen if Superman were born in the USSR. Every panel of Superman: Red Son is like a well-crafted propaganda shot. We see it through the eyes of those times. Through black-and-white televisions, satellites as they evolve, and of course live action from the comic's view. At first, Superman has the best of intentions: He only wants to help people and use his powers for good. He even has a certain childish naiveté about being used as a Communist soldier.

    It begins innocently enough. After Luthor brings down Sputnik, Soviet Superman saves it from crashing into Metropolis. But, that is only Luthor’s first test for the Man of Steel. (PS: I think I already knew “Stalin” translates to “Steel”, but I never thought of it as “Man of Steel” until this comic pointed out there are two Stalins…mind-blowing!) He also creates Bizarro as an American Superman, and even hires Green Lantern by order of John F. Kennedy!

    Although Superman’s intentions are good, he doesn’t respect the freedom of others. He just wants to keep them safe and healthy. By 1978, the USSR, not the U.S., controls the world politically. But, Superman has taken on a frightening appearance, almost demonic, as he begins to rule the USSR and replace dissenters with robots. Everyone has a job. No one complains. The world runs like an Orwellian nightmare.

    In this universe, Batman’s parents were shot by the head of the KGB in a purging. This of course makes him the head rebel against Superman. He’s even got a wool hat with a Bat symbol on it. Anyway, since Superman only listened to propaganda in this universe, he never finds out about his weaknesses, and Batman beats him near to death under red sunlight, courtesy of Luthor.
 
   Batman is eventually cornered by Wonder Woman, a Communist convert. I enjoy picking on DC about this. It does always seem to come down to Batman vs. Superman, no matter what universe. but I won’t spoil anymore, because it’s a great book and a treasure to look at…a truly mind-challenging comic!

    My point is, this comic could’ve easily been very one-dimensional. But, it’s not. You see Superman change from just wanting to feed the hungry to replacing dissenters with robots. It’s truly haunting and invokes Orwell for me. Through it all though, there’s one thing that never happens: Intercultural dialogue.

Throughout the real Cold War, both sides sat down and talked to avoid going to war. Here, since Superman rarely talks to anyone in the U.S., and is routinely betrayed by his own friends looking to climb the Soviet political ladder, his connection to humanity becomes very remote, and hence he always forces his will on others.

His closest advisor becomes a former enemy. The lust for power replaces gradually any need he might have left for compassion…or does it? Since I promised I won’t spoil…But, it really is a life-changing 4-star comic with great lessons about communication, power, friendship, and history. 4 stars for this one! And remember…He’s watching you.

Beware The Batman Episode 5 “Broken” Review:

Beware The Batman Episode 5 “Broken” Review:

Humpty Dumpty: “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…couldn’t put Humphrey Dumpler together again!”

This episode was kind of goofy and creepy at the same time. It reminded me of that Christmas episode with the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series. Part of what makes Humpty Dumpty a creepy character though, aside from his appearance is his childish nature. He traps Gordon and his former boss Tobias Whale (who’s no doubt going to be an ersatz Penguin.) inside giant toy soldier-bombs, but he seems genuinely unaware that he’s hurting people. He just wants to play with toys and get revenge on his boss for dragging him into a game he doesn’t want to play.

    Great detective work here, as Batman figures out how to disarm the bombs, and tracks down Humpty Dumpty. (Funny moment: When Batman asks the Batmobile what Humpty Dumpty’s last known location is, it responds, “A wall.”) Humpty Dumpty shoots at Batman with a big laser gun as he’s trying to disarm the bombs, and Batman explains that he forgives him, but doesn’t excuse his actions. He can’t just pretend he’s not responsible. Desperate, Humpty jumps off a building to reveal…some kinda robot? It was vaguely creepy. The creepiness comes from Humpty’s childish naiveté. He’s a “broken” man.

   Another subplot involves more of the mystery of the Soul Stealer sword. It can apparently really steal souls and everyone including The League of Assassins is after it. Perhaps it will play a bigger role in another season, with a possible Ra’s Al Ghul appearance…that would be nice! Alfred mentions that even MI6 and the CIA are looking for the sword, so Katana had better keep it safe.
   
A good episode, though a bit goofy at times. The giant toy soldier-bombs were a bit much, but added to the creepiness. Strong themes of forgiveness and personal responsibility. Also, Gordon seems to be warming up to Batman. I predict Batgirl will come into the show soon, when Gordon trusts Batman!

  If Humpty was just some kind of fat egg-shaped robot…maybe he’ll return? In contrast to Professor Pyg, I feel this was a more faithful translation of Grant Morrison’s more macabre characters. He’s animated very strangely; peering out of darkness and waddling like a skiddish child. Very creepy and good episode.  B+ for a rating; just because of the toy soldier and nursery rhyme gimmicks!

Beware The Batman Episode 4 “Safe” Review:

Beware The Batman Episode 4 “Safe” Review:

Dr. Burr: But I thought Wayne Manor was safe!

Katana: You are never safe.

Episode 4 of Beware The Batman (“Safe”) brings back The League of Assassins. Dr. Burr is attacked by ninjas after creating the ion cortex, a power source that Bruce Wayne plans to sell. After being attacked and the ninjas beaten by Katana/Batman, Dr. Burr and co. are sent to Wayne Manor for protection. But, as Katana warns Dr. Burr, just because Wayne Manor is safe doesn’t mean they are safe.

   This is a pretty good episode with an okay villain. It’s more about Katana and her connection to the League of Assassins than Batman. Although she learns to trust Batman despite his secretive nature because he fights with honor. He even saves Katana from Silver Monkey, one of the League of Assassins’ goons. The real villainess we never see. It’s her I’m most interested in.

Apparently not only is this villainess (Lady Shiva) interested in the ion cortex, but also Katana’s Soul Stealer sword. Also, they do that Inspector Gadget Dr. Claw thing where you never see Lady Shiva, so it adds to the mystery. Also there’s a silly plot point where Dr. Burr acts as comic relief and fawns over Katana. (Whose clan name “Katana” we actually hear in this episode, instead of Tatsu Yamashiro.)

   A pretty good action-oriented episode. Not too much detective work, since they spend the majority defending themselves. But, good to see Katana fight alongside Batman, and gain her trust. The episode could set up a lot of possibilities. Will we learn why The League of Assassins wants the Soul Stealer sword?

Or the ion cortex? I’m probably most excited for a possible return of Ra’s Al Ghul, who may still be the head of the League of Assassins in this version. Or it may be Lady Shiva! Still, in the midst of all these obscure “re-skinned” villains from Grant Morrison’s rogue gallery, it’s nice to see a familiar cornerstone of the Batman Universe like The League of Assassins! Solid episode…I give it an A! Can’t wait for more.