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After last year's Dr Who anniversary extravaganza I was slightly depressed no such special celebrations would define 2014. But then came the 30th and 25th anniversaries of Ghostbusters and Batman. Let's face it they won't get as special treatment as the 50th of Who but it would be nice if minor plans were still afoot. So far it seems just Lego sets will be out for Ghostbusters which I'm less than impressed by. Can't stand Lego. Such a crap "toy" always was when I was a kid lol Surely there will be something better.

I heard a rumour on Facebook Harold Ramis, prior to his death, had recorded a new audio commentary but this time for Ghostbusters II (also celebrating it's 25th birthday). I really want the sequel to be granted a special edition, so why not this year? All these years I've wanted to see the lost deleted scenes featured in the end credits montage (and also incorporated properly into the film's comic book adaptation). Has anybody heard such plans? And with a new Ghostbusters III seemingly approaching for sure (despite the madness and bravery of the idea), attention for the sequel seems overdue.

In similar news of interest there is a documentary on the Turtles franchise coming up called "Turtle Power" which looks at the comics, the toys, the cartoon and the live action movies. It'll be fantastic but I really hope a UK audience shall get to see it. Ghostbusters also has it's own 30th anniversary doc coming up as well. With that in the can surely there is a planned dvd release somewhere to toss it in as an extra?

MTV is usually the last place I'd expect to see a Batman appearance of some sort. Today though I caught a video by one of my favorite bands, ZZ Top. Appearing with them in the video for the song "Sleeping Bag" is a pre-"Batman" Tracey Walter. Clock him at 2:13 for a full close up. Even engaging in a similarly "Batmobile like chase" with the snazzy looking ZZ Top car. I always thought he'd fit in well alongside that "little ol band from Texas"! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKJymx2KDWo

Speaking of music did anybody bother to catch the Grammy's recently? I merely tunned into the drivel hoping to catch guitarist Lindsey Buckingham's end performance with Nine Inch Nails who along with Madonna, Steven Tyler, McCartney and Ringo Starr were of course underplayed as much as possible to be the "has beens" their regarded as by some. Instead, cue irritating overrated garbage of Taylor Swift, Beyonce and of course Daft Punk. The space suit/Robocop garbed weirdos accepted numerous awards alongside the likes of collaboraters Nile Rodgers and Stevie Wonder. As I was commentating on how they had rode in on the coattails on these truer genius' to awards success, it occured to me the short dude in a pair of specs who spoke for them seemed to be Paul Williams. The voice of The Penguin himself! Who I believe is a songwriter. Another obscure Bat cameo in the music world.

No idea if this is true or not but thought some might be interested in reading this post I found on the Superman Homepage website. According to them plot and design details have leaked out on Batman vs Superman due to designers having to leave the project (or fired?) because of the delay:


A message posted on the NeoGAF forums includes what is claimed to be plot details for the upcoming Superman/Batman movie leaked by "someone from the art department" who was either fired or left the production due to the 10 month delay.
If the information is true (and that's a BIG "if") there's no telling whether the details could be from an early version of the script (which could be going through a revamp/rewrites as we speak). Take this information with the appropriate amount of salt...

- The villians are Lex Luthor and Metallo.
- Batman forms a UN type deal to stop Superman from destroying another city.
- Aquaman is in it, but not called Aquaman. He's there because the world engine in the ocean did something to the fish.
- Wonder Woman poses as a Wayne Enterprises investor to retrieve an item that belongs to her people.
- Lex Luthor is in the shadows a lot, a manipulator. Not much face time with Superman.
- Robin betrayed Batman at some point, leading to a falling out between them.
- The Batcave was super cool looking, and the mobile looked similar to Burton's.
- Lois is investigating Lex.
- Metallo "kills" Clark.
- The Daily Planet is bought by Lex Luthor for PR purposes.
- At the end Superman is living in exile, and the Justice League is a government-approved superhero team.
Source: NeoGAF.com via Latino-Review.com



Intrigued by the idea that the Batmobile may possibly harken back to Tim Burton's. Certainly hope this is true. Uncomfortable with the idea of Metallo killing "Clark". Tell me their not going to kill his alter ego. I'm looking forward to seeing Cavill play the Daily Planet side of Clark Kent next time they avoided shockingly in "Man of Steel". Don't cop out on us all now.

Currently interested in reading some of the Dick Tracy comic strips. Their quite hard to find in my local comic store. Always been a big fan of the 1990 Warren Beatty film. No idea how faithful or not it was to the source material. I know a few slight details.

I hear Max Allan Collins work is most recommended. Most of the strip appears to be in black and white. Reading the 1990 movies trivia it states it was photographed in something like five specific colours that were all used in the original comic to capture it's look and feel. So are there Dick Tracy strips printed in colour that are fairly close to the movie? If so these are the ones I'd like to check out.

Are there any plans for more action figures to be produced for the Batman tv show? Almost completed my set and just lacking "Surf's Up Batman" and Robin (who is annoyingly as yet only available in a ridiculously expensive two pack set). Love seeing them all standing on their technicolour bases. It's a very camp sight next to my dreary and dark other Bat stuff.

Batgirl seems a popular choice to turn into a figure but I'd like more of the villains especially a Vincent Price Egghead (complete with a colourful white and yellow base to match his namesake, that'll be "Eggs-celent"! King Tut and Bookworm would be a riot too. Since David Wayne remains the only live action Mad Hatter we've ever seen he needs a figure for sure. Although the figures do not feature "action features" I'd love for Mad Hatter if they included a pop up panel in his top hat so you can catch a glimpse of his "super instant mesmerizer". Perhaps they could toss in Mr Bowinkle's bowler hat with tracking device as a bonus: "Do you always carry a remote bat transmitter in your bowler, Mr Bowinkle!" lol

It's likely we'll end up with variations of already available characters such as a "full suited" version of Frank Gorshin's Riddler (which I believe the tv show is responsible for introducing in the first place?). These can be a little frustrating as I'd prefer entirely new characters. However a new Joker in little purple mask and the "instant de-hydrator gun" and backpack from the 1966 movie would be lovely to see.

Most of all I especially want a Mr Freeze figure. Surely he's on the way? Even though George Sanders was the best tv portrayl by far I actually think it would be better for the designers to go with the Otto Preminger look (blue/white frozen face makeup). It's always looked more visually striking than the "spaceman" suit and helmet donned by Sanders.

Am I the only one slightly bothered by the collective title they call the three Nolan movies? Obviously it is a trilogy in story matters but I really dislike this idea of sealing themselves off in a bubble from not only the past Batman pictures but the forthcoming ones as well. How snooty can you get? lol

I remember when The Dark Knight was in pre-production they constantly referred to it on media sites as "Batman Begins 2" (an awful title in itself). But when Rises came along the rot had seemed to set in. Rises in it's early stages was called (*GASP*) "Batman 3"!!! Well it wasn't to me mates. Batman "3" has and always will be to me Val Kilmer's outing in the suit. Rises should have been Batman "7" if we're going by the Warners movie system and excluding tv and animation. If there was ever a sign of pathetically attempting to erase Batman movies-past then this was surely it.

I find it absolutely incredible the series began back in 1989 and despite a rest period (1997-2004, the "wilderness years" if you will) is still going strong today. That to me is far more epic than saying the series got rebooted in 2005 so there are two sets in existence (and soon to be a third with a certain Mr Affleck). I mean how boring and untruthful. Look at the long running Dr Who tv show and how proud it is of it's epic history.

I personally view ALL the Batman pictures as being part of the same series. Not in universe terms of course but when I screen them in sequence I often start with Keaton and move through to Bale, "James Bond" style. I never seperate the Nolan films from the rest and I am intrigued to ask if this is what other fans do or do not do.

With Christmas coming up thought some guys might wanna check this out. Watch at 1:50 for a very specially produced trailer for Superman III that BBC1 used to promote the film on it's Christmas 1993 showing. It's been done with special comic book style graphics and sound balloons. Note the new logo they gave it too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LDzXATTruA

Funny thing is this trailer has stayed in my memory all these years as my dad just happened to tape it on VHS when recording something else. Only just found it again through the magic of youtube and being so long ago I thought I'd only imagined it. How could I forget the gut wrenching final shot of Christopher Reeve being squeezed to death by that car crusher. That certainly made me want to watch this at the time to see the outcome as I think this was possibly my first ever glimpse at Superman III.

I guess if there's anyone reading this from the States or wherever you may not have seen these sort of trailers. It was something of a Christmas tradition back in the day to make brand new promotional spots for feature films getting their first tv broadcast on British tv. It doesn't really happen now. No special graphics being produced these days like this. Just plain old dull clips and a timeslot. The best one is a BBC1 ident for the network tv premiere of Batman on Christmas Night 1991 in which the BBC logo for one night only became a cool looking bat signal on a wintery night sky to introduce the movie.

Always wanted to read the comics where DC briefly introduced the Michael Keaton Batsuit to their universe. I recently came across "No Man's Land" which I've never read and I believe was the final series to feature the suit. Just wondering if there are any more trade paperbacks out there at the moment that feature the black and gold/yellow movie look of the character?

Never can understand why DC ditched this look and went back to the done to death Year One Batman look. It may have been a mere invention of the movies but I thought it looked way more striking and freshly new to use. I often tire of the black/grey Batman looks of today. Everybody seems to want to be Frank bloody Miller lol Wish they'd be bold to bring back the blue/gray days or the yellow chest oval. 

I never really liked Batman Beyond (which here in the UK was always called Batman of the Future strangely). Until I saw the Return of the Joker movie that is. Tying it all in with the original animated series and New Batman Adventures was a stroke of genius and quite unique and rare in animated shows. The only other one I can think of in this style is Real Ghostbusters and it's direct sequel many years later Extreme Ghostbusters.

The flashback sequence was clearly the highlight of the movie. If it was in the comics this wouldv'e been Batman's answer to Spider-Man's "The Night Gwen Stacy Died". I loved how it brought a sense of finality to the original series. It really felt like the final battle of Kevin Conroy's Batman era. The Joker actually learning his identity was especially shocking. But the biggest shock for me was that they were bold enough to actually kill Harley Quinn. Her falling into that bottomless pit is almost a connection to the Joker's movie girlfriend Alicia's death who "threw herself out of the window".

I was very disappointed however when at the end they bring her back as an old lady of the future. I didn't quite buy this. Harley going straight, surviving that fall and then even having some grandchildren? Er. For me that was a slight cop out that ruined a memorable dramatic moment. I know Paul Dini was against the idea but since we're dealing with a flashback in a movie set in the far future why not? It gives them the licence to gives those characters a conclusion we can never see elsewhere. So for me Harley defintely perished in that fall and it keeps up those themes of the Joker's ladies always coming to a sticky end at some point.

Anyplace online where you can watch full episodes of The New Batman Adventures?

It's dvd is extremely hard to get here in the UK.

Take a look at this crap collectible. I mean great idea to release the jacket as worn by the original Joker Goons of Jack Nicholson but this one bizarrely has Heather Ledger's face and playing cards in place of the original Joker comic logo:

http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=URTDK7001+XX-SMALL#desc

No doubt put together by a disgruntled fan? lol It just looks stupid. The 1989 goons wore 1989 clothes! This really couldn't and shouldn't fit in with anything to do with The Dark Knight.

I only buy screen accurate stuff myself. This is just needless and worthless garbage. Avoid.

Timelines were never important for the animated series on an episode by episode basis. But is there any evidence to suggest just when in the series the events of Mask of the Phantasm take place?

When I'm watching the entire series in sequence I often screen the movie after completing the volume one dvd.

I have one problem with the movie itself and it's the ending. It suffers from the same trouble as A Death in the Family in that you can't really kill off the Joker. So what happened there? How did the Joker escape Phantasm and what would his very next chronological appearance be in the series?

In Keaton related developments it's looking more likely Tim Burton will direct another Beetlejuice. I'd love a sequel to this. It's a chance for Keaton to re-emerge as the star he deserves to be and in a character he's defined as much as Batman. Plus to have Burton return to his earliest film routes is highly appropriate. I've been somewhat disappointed by his output in recent years. I guess everybody has a period when you fire on all cylinders creatively but it would be nice if Burton could capture that early magic again.

So far no word on the possibilty of any other returning faces. So who would we love to see back? Sadly we have to rule out the wonderful Glenn Shadix who played Otho. He passed away a few years back. It seems far too tragic he won't be involved as there were lots of possibilties with his character (who only really meets Beetlejuice briefly in the finale of the first film).

I really think they need to convince Winona Ryder to come back as Lydia. Besides the fact it was this character that ushered in my crush on her as a kid, the character became a major part of the universe (thanks in part to her "sidekick" role in the Beetlejuice cartoon series). It'd be great to see where that character is now and even if she's hung around still with Beetlejuice all this time. With Burton seemingly back it may be possible to persuade Ryder than a new director doing the job. Recently she worked with him on Frankenweenie which also featured her on screen stepmum Catherine O' Hara I believe. Perhaps Burton suggested the sequel to them there? Either way we simply MUST have the return of the Dietz family! Introducing a new family won't do. Their great characters I want to see more of as much as the ghost with the most. On the other hand what about Jeffery Jones? Great comic actor but his personal life has become less than savory since 1988. Would we now be comfortable seeing him again and would he perhaps alienate the return of any other returning faces? I loved the Charles character but given what Jones did in his private life I'm not sure he'd be so forgiven. Great shame.

The Maitlands were always controversial critically. Described as the most boring characters in the movie. But for me they were actually the leading characters. However I doubt we'll see them. Alec Baldwin seemed less than enthused by the final movie and of Tim Burton. The cartoon series further established there no longer around anyway. I'd like them back personally but these could defintely be a no no.

One idea I loved from the animated series was Beetlejuice's parents (and his utter disgust for them). I'd love to see them put on screen and to look just as their animated counterparts did.

I thought I had a vast knowledge of all things Marvel but it wasn't until this week I finally became aware of the controversial former Marvel artist Rob Liefeld. I'm not much of a Cable or Deadpool reader though I'm slightly interested in these characters and never knew Liefeld created them.

However I was shocked at how disliked this guy is. Not just his artwork but also the man himself. At first I felt sorry for him in all the criticisms. Perhaps his tendency to not be able to draw characters with feet was merely his style of drawing? But then I read achingly embarrassing accusastions of him stealing others artwork and passing them off as his original creations. Even offending people like John Bryne and Alex Ross. It really put me off buying any Cable or Deadpool books which I'd almost paid for this week.

There was also a very unpleasant rant by him on his twitter account in which he really insulted his own comic book colleagues, offending a Marvel editor over his weight. How do guys like this still get employed? Still I can't help but think that Liefeld is the greatest shining example of hope. If this guy could possibly work for Marvel surely anyone of us could? Couldn't we?!

So what do comic fans on this board make of him? What's his convoluted history? Is he truly a "hack" who got lucky or grossly misunderstood?

Lordy how do we even begin to discuss this one? Controversial or what?

It did give me a great chuckle in the theatre but I believe some fans chose to vomit into their popcorn instead at the mere mention of a Boy Wonder in the Nolanverse.

Now this has split me down the middle. I personally would have liked him to have really been Robin because one problem with the movie is the sheer amount of time we spent with this John Blake guy. A mere cop with a gun and we see him a lot more than we do Bale in action seemingly. Had he been the infamous sidekick I may have tolerated  his bemusing presence better with him being a new take on a significant character. On the other hand he's certainly not Dick Grayson or any other Robin for that matter.

So what was Nolan's deal here with that Robin reference? A mere joke to piss off more aggressive devotees? Or a statement of yep, this is the best we could do for the character by re-imagining him completely? Has he ever confirmed or denied anything officially? Levitt recently commented on Affleck's casting in the press and the writer of the piece did in fact refer to him as Batman's famous sidekick. It seems the media and public assume this but where on earth does this sit inside the fan base?

I've always wondered about those paintings The Joker wrecks in the museum. Do those works of art actually exist? Obviously if they did I doubt the filmmakers would use the actual paintings to cover with multi-colored paint. But they certainly look very professionally produced. Or are they just clever production art by say Anton Furst?

Has anybody visited Universal Studio's Marvel Super Hero Island in Florida? I'm considering a trip to Orlando next year and have long since wanted to check it out. Just wondering what the place is like and what activities does it feature? Thanks.

Hi all. I'm looking for any graphic novels featuring issues of the groundbreaking sixties Batman comics drawn by I believe Carmine Infantino. Basically the comics that saved Batman and inspired the tv show. The artwork I've seen on the dvd of the first movie look stunning. Unfortunately I've never seen any in comic stores. My local shop just have wave after wave of modern Batman books that don't look as exciting art wise. Is any Infantino stuff available in graphic novel form?

I can only find two such books: Batman in the sixties and The Dynamic Duo Archives Vol 1 and 2. That seems to be it. Does anyone have these and what stories are included? Even these books are quite tough to get on ebay. Seems quite bizarre DC haven't put out more from this era. I'm kinda tired of Miller and Jeph Loeb Batman now.

It's quite amazing I think that these comics saved Batman from cancellation. I can't believe it almost came to that. About as seemingly unlikely as Marvel almost going bankrupt (oops again). What do other fans think of this era?

Anybody see in The Wolverine a background extra wearing a black baseball cap which seemed to have a silver spider logo on? The spider logo sure looked a lot like the actual Spider-Man sign. Was this a mistake or a deliberate reference? X-Men is a 20th Century Fox series and Spidey's of course is Columbia. Isn't it illegal for them to do things like that if it was a nod? It was a nice moment to spot. You really have to keep your eyes peeled for it.

Also the ninja warriors were called the Black Hand right? So is this supposed to be the same ninja Hand featured in things like the Daredevil comics? Potentially two Marvel references there.

If I'm right about all this maybe we're just a few steps away from that "Infinity Gauntlet" adaptation!

Thought some would like to read this. An interview (at last!) with Mark Pillow (Nuclear Man). http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/what-happened-to-superman-iv%E2%80%99s-nuclear-man--153703667.html

Always wanted to hear his opinions and see what he looks like today (pic included). Was disappointed when he was not apart of "The Cinematic Saga of Superman" documentary in 2006. Those who have seen that may remember the tiny credit stating "every attempt had been made to interview both him and director Richard Lester". Would like to know the ins and outs of why those interviews couldn't be achieved. I felt the later parts of that documentary, great as it was anyway, were a hugely missed opportunity. Would liked a lot more focus on the three sequels than more retreading of the history of the original movie.

Also a very funny incident reported by yahoo of Terence Stamp confronting several Superman fans over their disappointment towards "Man of Steel" lol Great stuff, would love to have seen their faces at the sound of that booming Zod voice Stamp has http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/terence-stamp-interrupts-man-of-steel-conversation-in-cinema-toilet-113524601.html