Comics | Youseph Tanha

Christopher Nolan’s Joker

I know this post is coming out of left field, but this is an idea I have had floating around in my head for a while. In the last Batman movie (Batman: The Dark Knight) the Joker lived. But the actor Heath Ledger past away. Now I highly doubt that the next Batman movie will have the Joker in it. Which is sad because the battle between batman and the joker has always been and on going one. But should they decide to bring the character back in the next film think the actor Brad Dourif is the best possible replacement. Brad played a character on the X-files once, named Luther Lee Boggs and I think based this roll proves he is the best replacement for Heath Ledger as the Joker.

That’s just my two cents from left field.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

Batman The same NPR article that made me what to read “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” also had a link for an older NPR peace on “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?”.

Gotham City is plagued with crime and corruption in places high and low, but one man has taken a stand against evil of all forms: the dark avenger known as Batman. But now the Dark Knight is dead. “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader” is a captivating and mysterious tale, the likes of which Batman and friends have never experienced before. Delving into the realms of life, death and the afterlife, no stone is left unturned in this exploration of every facet and era of Bruce Wayne’s life. Neil Gaiman, the multiple award-winning author of “Sandman” and “Coraline”, is joined by legendary artist Andy Kubert (“Batman and Son”) for the ultimate Batman story!

The hardcover edition I picked up also came with other Gaiman stories from Secret Origins #36, Secret Origins Special #1, and Batman Black And White #2. I felt that some of these stories where on par, if not better then “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?”. One is a story on Poison Ivy which really lets you see her true side. A side I had never seen before.

Another story focused on the Riddler. I found this one very interesting because the Riddler is a character from the early days of Batman villains like King Tut, Book Worm, and Egg Head. The Riddle still exists today but (at least in my opinion) never really has found a nitch in the comics like the Joker, or Catwomen. In the comic it’s brought up by the Riddler and he comes off as depressed by it. It was just a good a good read.

Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

Not long ago I came across an NPR article about a special hardcover edition of “Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

In 1986, DC Comics decided that Superman’s dense 48-year history had grown too confusing for new readers. Worse, his backstory contained elements that seemed slightly twee in light of the tonal sea change that was beginning to take place in comics. It was the year of grim, violent books like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, which showed readers the superhero genre’s sinister side.

Superman, on the other hand, had over the years featured such sunny conceits as Krypto the superdog, with his tiny red cape.

So DC cleaned house, rebooting the Superman franchise from scratch. Going forward, nothing would remain of what readers had come to know about the Man of Steel. Henceforth, he would be the lone survivor of Krypton — no dog, no cousin Supergirl, no shrunken Kryptonian city in a bottle, peopled by hundreds of thousands of microscopic (though similarly super) people. Gone, too, the Fortress of Solitude. Even archnemesis Lex Luthor would morph from mad scientist into billionaire businessman, trading his skintight purple getup for a crisp bespoke suit.

In 1986, DC Comics decided that Superman’s dense 48-year history had grown too confusing for new readers. Worse, his back story contained elements that seemed slightly twee in light of the tonal sea change that was beginning to take place in comics. It was the year of grim, violent books like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, which showed readers the superhero genre’s sinister side.

Superman, on the other hand, had over the years featured such sunny conceits as Krypto the superdog, with his tiny red cape.

So DC cleaned house, rebooting the Superman franchise from scratch. Going forward, nothing would remain of what readers had come to know about the Man of Steel. Henceforth, he would be the lone survivor of Krypton — no dog, no cousin Supergirl, no shrunken Kryptonian city in a bottle, peopled by hundreds of thousands of microscopic (though similarly super) people. Gone, too, the Fortress of Solitude. Even archnemesis Lex Luthor would morph from mad scientist into billionaire businessman, trading his skintight purple getup for a crisp bespoke suit.

I also learned that the book was written by Alan Moore, who has written other comics such as the “WATCHMEN“, “V For Vendetta“, and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen“. When I learned that Alan Moore had written “Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow” I had to pick up. Which I did and read it in one sitting.

I found “Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” to be a very good ending to the original Superman story line and think anyone interested should read it. It really is good and worth the cost. The Deluxe Edition that I picked up also includes a couple of other Superman Comics written by Moore. “Superman: FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING” as well as another story between the man of tomorrow and Swampthing.

“Still Me” by: Christopher Reeve

StillMeUSpap Put very simply, “Still Me” is a book written by Christopher Reeve where he writes about his experiences as an actor and about his horseback riding accident which produced his paraplegia and its effects on his life.

I am a fan of Christopher Reeve and what happened to him was just awful. It’s quite interesting to read how he deals with his life after the accident and what his life was like before his horseback riding accident and after.

The book starts out well and good. Bouncing between happier times and what his life was like after the accident. Before you know it he is describing in great detail what happened to him and his horse. The beginning of the book reads a lot like a man who has been though more therapy then any normal person could realistically afford. Halfway through though, you start to really get a sense of who Christopher Reeve was. Almost like halfway through the book he started speaking his mind and was not so influenced by his therapy. The book is also filled with hope that one day thanks to all his hard work and the work of medical scientists a cure for his paralysis will be found within his life time.

Christopher spend a lot of time in this book talking about how he started out in theater. Working as a stage hand, learning as much about the trade as he cold. Eventually Christopher Reeve made his way as an actor. It’s been a real eye opener for me learning about all that goes into a play production. Having close friends heavley involved with the theather I never really thought about all that is needed to put on a play in a theather. But now I feel I have a much better understanding.

My favorite Christopher Reeve movie is “Somewhere in Time“, followed by “Superman“. Both of which are very much worth seeing if you have not.

I remember the day Christopher Reeve passed away. October 10, 2004. It just seemed so gut wrenching that such a good man, such a positive man, with all the hope he gave people left us. I remember that date well. I made a little memorial for him on my website quoting the final pages of Superman Comic issu #75, The Death of Superman.

Like weary boxers who have gone the distance, the combatants collide in one last explosive effort.

In the years to come a few witnesses will tell of the power of these final punches… That they could literally feel the shock-waves.

Others will remember the enormous crater that resulted from the sheer force of the blows.

But most will remember this sad day, as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell.

For those who loved him, one would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son, this is the darkest day they could ever imagine.

They raised him to be a hero… To know the value of sacrifice.

To know the value of life.

And for those who served with Superman in the protection of all life, comes the shock of failure.

The weight of being too late to help.

But it will.

For a city to live a man had given his all and more.

But it is to late.

For this is a day, that a Superman Died.

Like weary boxers who have gone the distance, the combatants collide in one last explosive effort.

In the years to come a few witnesses will tell of the power of these final punches… That they could literally feel the shock-waves.

Others will remember the enormous crater that resulted from the sheer force of the blows.

But most will remember this sad day, as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell.

For those who loved him, one would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son, this is the darkest day they could ever imagine.

They raised him to be a hero… To know the value of sacrifice.

To know the value of life.

And for those who served with Superman in the protection of all life, comes the shock of failure.

The weight of being too late to help.

But it will.

For a city to live a man had given his all and more.

But it is to late.

For this is a day, that a Superman Died.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very difficult to put down once I opened it. I highly recommend it if you where a fan of Christopher Reeve or a fan of theater.

So, I Saw Transformers 2

Yup, I saw Transformers 2, and it was a cinematic abortion. A phrase I have used on Twitter, and Facebook when asked about the sequel to the first live action mistake that Micheal Bay directed in 2007.

Now I know I have said I would never pay to see Transformers 2. I started saying that shortly after seeing the first film. Truth be told I didn’t. A good friend of mine paid for my ticket to see the movie. Partly as a joke. Partly because of the friends we went with like to see me rant and rave about it. But mostly to celebrate the birthday of a good friend.

The movie so rudely, and blatantly went against the 25 year history that Hasbro has with Transformers. Micheal Bay probably can’t tell you a thing about the Transformers mythology. Rather then reading up on it, he reinvented it, changing just about every single aspect of the Transformers story line. He would talk on his website, and forum, explaining his process of auditioning a couple of the original voice actors for the movie parts. It came off as if he was doing all the fans of Transformers a huge favor. As if auditioning them, and giving the voice actgers a roll in his movie would make all his re-imagining of a 25 year old beloved mythology, acceptable to the fans.

I think not.

With the release of Transformers 2 I can easily say I am not the only one who was disappointed with this movie. Professionals in the industry are also not happy with it.

…a horrible experience of unbearable length.” “The day will come when Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be studied in film classes and shown at cult film festivals. It will be seen, in retrospect, as marking the end of an era. Of course there will be many more CGI-based action epics, but never again one this bloated, excessive, incomprehensible, long (149 minutes) or expensive (more than $200 million).” Roger Ebert

Transformers 2 has a shot at the title Worst Movie of the Decade. Peter Travers of Rolling Stones

for the uninitiated, it’s loud, tedious, and at 147 minutes, way too long. Ray Bennett of the Hollywood Reporter

it is Bay’s worst-reviewed movie, topping Pearl Harbor. The Washington Post

As I have said before I hope that these Transformers movies bring some interest to people to go back and read and watch the original stories. I hope before I die someone comes along and makes a Transformers movie that should have been made.