Tag Archives: Batman

Jun 8 2012

Legends of the Dark Knight I: The Butler Did It

Legends of the Dark KnightToday, Patrick and Drew are discussing Legends of the Dark Knight I: The Butler Did It, originally released digitally on April 7th, 2012.

Patrick: We blather on about the traditional forms and functions of comic books on this website like we know what we’re talking about. We do it all the time – even though most of our editors have been actively reading monthlies for less than a year. You could call that precocious if we weren’t also grown-ass men and women with educations and jobs. In the DC Universe specifically, but also in comics generally, we are always playing catch-up, assuming that our keen powers of perception and articulation can help us bullshit our way through an article on a subject we actually know very little about. Superhero comics have become so much a part of my life now that the only way to properly express it is to use the phrase “down the rabbit hole.” I suppose “through the looking glass” would also be appropriate – but that’s my point: my experience exploring comics has been like that of Alice exploring Wonderland. Every time I think I know what to expect, a new issue or series or event comes along to dissolve that illusion. Legends of the Dark Knight, the digital-only adventures of a young Batman, has done just that by defying my very base expectations of a modern comic book.  Continue reading →

Jun 6 2012

Chat Cave: What Superpower Would You Have?

We’ve all this conversation before: “If you could have any one super power, what would it be?” That’s a fun exercise in an of itself, but the answers too frequently default to flight and/or invisibility. Given the assets and liabilities of the various superpower sources in the DC Universe (magic, speed force, being a God, whatever), which one is the most personally appealing to you? Welcome to the Chat Cave.

Patrick: I love Batman. I love all the Bat-allies. But I could never ever ever be a Gotham City gadget-based hero for one reason: Batman seems like a terrible boss. He may keep you well-funded and impeccably trained, but the man’s expectations are essentially psychotic. Can you imagine fighting crime all night and then still having to go and help him out of a jam from time to time? Plus, you have to keep up a secret identity, and all without the aid of proper staff. Batman only has Lucius and Alfred on payroll – that’s not a proper support staff. Continue reading →

Jun 5 2012

The Vault – Dinosaur Batman iPhone Case

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.

Website: Society 6

Who Would Love This: Batman lovers, paleontologists, people with eyes to see how awesome this is

Price: $35.00

This was sent to me by alert reader and dinosaur fiend Taylor Anderson, and I don’t have the words in my vocabulary to describe how awesome this is, other than to just point and say “Look at it!” Don’t have an iPhone? No problem! Society 6 is one of those sites that puts artists’ images on pretty much anything, so you can get this as a t-shirt, art print, laptop skin, etc. And if, for some bizarre reason I can’t understand, you don’t want Batman riding a T-Rex on your phone, there are actually a TON of comic book related images at Society 6 to check out. I only picked this one because….well, just look at it!

May 30 2012

Cram Session: Batman: Dark Knight 1-8

It can be hard to keep up with all the comics you love. But it’s damn near impossible to keep up with all the comics you’re interested in.

Retcon Punch got you covered.

We read a lot of good Batman books. We also read a lot of bad Batman books. This series falls firmly in the latter camp. It’s aggressively goofy and has more cameo appearances than a Robert Rodriguez movie. The Night of Owls issue was unremarkable, but not a total disaster. Catching up on the eight issues that came before it is totally unnecessary as there’s almost no over-lap in the characters, and a huge writer shake-up between issues 8 and 9. Still, there’s something charmingly dumb about this series, so it’s hard not to pay attention to it.

May 29 2012

The Vault – Superhero Snap Suits

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.

Website: Thinkgeek

Who Would Love This: Nerdy babies.

Price: $18.99 a piece

I don’t have a baby. I don’t plan on having any in the near future. All my friends and siblings should consider themselves warned, though: once they start having babies, those babies are getting a couple of these. No better way to declare your superhero allegiance than advertising on your child, I always say. I mean, isn’t that the point of having children? To force your own idea and opinions on them as soon as possible, to turn them into little mini versions of yourself so they can hate it, and then grow up to do the same thing?

May 25 2012

Batman: The Dark Knight 9

Today, Shelby and Drew are discussing Batman: The Dark Knight 9, originally released May 23rd, 2012. This issue is part of the Night of the Owls crossover event. Click here for complete NotO coverage. 

Shelby:  I’m not a regular reader of Dark Knight; like Catwoman I just picked it up for our Night of the Owls coverage. My esteemed colleague Patrick told me that I didn’t need to bother reading issues 1-8 because a) Issue 9 is so insulated from the rest of the story it’s basically a one-off, and b) Issues 1-8 really are not very good. Since I don’t like people telling me what to do, I read all nine issues anyway, and Patrick was completely and totally right on both points.
Continue reading →

May 24 2012

Batman Incorporated 1

Today, Peter and Drew are discussing Batman Inc 1, originally released May 23rd, 2012.

Peter: Batman Inc. has been a very intriguing concept since the first issue came out last year. The idea that there could be others who work in the same style of Batman and share ideals and resources sounds like a good idea, right? I am inclined to say yes, but, I don’t think this first issue really gets the point across. Continue reading →

May 23 2012

Cram Session: Nightwing 1-7

It can be hard to keep up with all the comics you love. But it’s damn near impossible to keep up with all the comics you’re interested in.

Retcon Punch got you covered.

Being so immersed in the Night of the Owls event makes it kinda hard to imagine that there are fans of the Gotham-verse not reading Nightwing. The series was quick to find a voice, and while it stumbled a bit with some vamping-for-time issues, Kyle Higgins’ Nightwing boldly directs the mood and action of the cross-over with almost as much authority as Batman. If you haven’t been following Dick’s you-can’t-go-home-again story, catch up with our video recap!

May 22 2012

The Vault – Batman and Superman Caped Pint Glasses

The Retcon Punchers spend an awful lot of time looking for ways to celebrate our nerdy obsessions. This means a lot of time sunk into scouring Etsy, Deviant Art, Think Geek or whatever. Sometimes we see things so great we just have to share them… and then clutch them fiercely to our collective chest. Throw it in The Vault.

Batman and Superman Caped Pint Glasses

Website: Spencer’s

Who Would Love This: Old-schoolers who can’t get down with the Blackest Night Pint Glass Set/anyone who needs more billowing when drinking.

Price: $9.99 each

Capes are hard. They’re always getting stepped on and caught in doors, and air drying them is such a chore. Nightwing says capes throw off his balance, and they would just slow the Flash down. BUT they look cool. Why, then, should we restrict capes to human shoulders? Now your glassware can get in on the action! Not only do they look great in a breeze, but the capes also complete an ensemble: note the belts and underwear at the bottom of the glasses.  Now you’ll be drinking in style — right out of the torso of your favorite heroes.