Once Upon a Geek

Just a heads-up… I appeared in a couple recent episodes of the Views from the Longbox podcast and The Unique Geek podcast.

Views from the Longbox Episode 59A & Episode 59B feature Michael and I marking the twentieth anniversary of the seminal Batman story ‘A Death in the Family‘. Yes, two decades have gone by since a poll was taken to determine the fate of the Jason Todd Robin and we look at it from all angles. Sure this story has been kind of rendered moot, but there is still much to discuss.

Views from the Longbox Episode 60 features Michael and I covering the 1989 Batman story ‘Mud Pack’.  I’ve never actually read the story, so I’m pretty much there just as the color guy.  We also discuss the current state of comics, as well as give some recommendations for other blogs and podcasts.  By the time you read this, he should also have the next episode uploaded in which we cover ‘Batman: Year Three’ and ‘Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying’.

The Unique Geek Issue #79 features the usual gang discussing the life and times of Michael Crichton (plus we sing a little Bon Jovi).

The Unique Geek Issue #80 features the usual gang discussing the current season of television, such that it is. And we prove without a shadow of a doubt that Jon is actually a teenage girl.

I recently recorded an episode of Views from the Longbox with Michael Bailey in which we covered the 1988 story “Batman: Death in the Family“.  The episode should be available for download within in a few weeks.  “Death in the Family” is the story in which the second Robin, Jason Todd, was murdered by the Joker.  … Sorry if I spoiled anything for you there.  You should probably be caught up enough in your reading to know about that. If not, my bad. I mean, it only came out 20 years ago.

Reading that story inspired me next to re-read the 1989 stories “Batman: Year Three” and “Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying“.  “Batman: Year Three” chronicles the third year of Batman’s crime fighting life, the year Dick Grayson came to live with him and became Robin.  Published immediately after “Batman: Year Three”  was “Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying”.  That story is set in modern times and tells the story of teenager Tim Drake and his desperate attempt to reunite Batman and Dick Grayson (now known as Nightwing).  During his quest, Tim Drake finds himself becoming the newest Robin.

So I’m only two issues into my new reading assignment, but I just gotta rave about “Batman: Year Three”  — well, at least Parts 1 & 2.  Wow!  What great comics!  First off, check out the amazing cover below for Part 1.  George Perez did an outstanding job depicting the death of Dick Grayson’s parents, while wrapping other story elements around the image.  Just a truly iconic cover.

The inside isn’t disappointing either.  Pat Broderick’s interior art is impressive!  His facial expressions always communicate exactly what the character is feeling.  He is also a master of creating a sense of motion in his work.  Finally, in this comic there are typically 6 panels per page (some with as many as 10 panels).  This is something you just don’t see in modern comics any more.  The panel per page count is WAY down nowadays.

The reoccurring theme throughout “Batman: Year Three” is that Batman is over the edge.  Just months before, Batgirl was crippled by the Joker.  Shortly after that, Robin was murdered.  Batman is mentally traumatized and descending into a brutal existence.  Despite a long-standing strained parental relationship, Dick Grayson returns to try and help Batman mentally recover.  This provides the framework to tell how Dick Grayson came to live with Bruce Wayne and eventually became Robin.

I won’t go into too much detail here because we’re going to review these stories on an upcoming “Views from the Longbox” podcast.  However, I have to compliment Marv Wolfman for putting together a phenomenal story.  It’s structured incredibly well with three intertwining plots — Batman trying to stop an organized crime killing spree, Dick Grayson trying to reach Batman emotionally, and Alfred doing what he feels is right to protect his loved ones.

Each issue is packed with story and you walk away feeling like your time was definitely worth it.  This is Marv Wolfman at the top of his game.  It’s a real shame “Batman: Year Three” has never been collected into a trade paperback.  I guess it probably never will be now, since the more recent “Batman: Dark Victory” provides a slightly different origin for Dick Grayson’s Robin.

If you don’t own these issues, you can pick them up dirt cheap at Mile High Comics right now.  “Batman: Year Three” runs through  Batman issues #436-#439.  Seriously, at the time of this writing you can buy all four issues from Mile High for a combined total of $3.05 plus shipping.  If you also want to pick up “Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying”, that story runs through Batman issues #440-442, and New Titans issues #60-61.  That story will set you back a whopping $5.20 plus shipping (at the time of this writing).  It’s a great time to buy back issues if you are interested.

If you already own these issues, I highly recommend you dig them out and re-read them.  I think you’ll  find a satisfying story that offers a quality and quantity that seems to be lacking in most comics nowadays.

This is brilliant!  The Dark Knight Trailer recut.  My thanks to lessthan12parsecs for posting this on THE UNIQUE GEEK.  If you can’t view the embedded video, click here.  Enjoy!

The new cartoon “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” is beginning to look like awesome!  Check out this teaser trailer below.  The music has me totally groovin’!  If you can’t see the embedded video, click here.

How cool does that look?!?!  I know many of us believed this cartoon would be for little kids (like the “Super Friends” action figure line), but I gotta say after seeing this trailer it looks pretty interesting.  For most of us geeks, nothing will ever compare to “Batman: The Animated Series”.  However, I think this show has a chance of being great with a different kind of Batman.  At first glance, it looks like this cartoon will embrace the kookiness of the 1960’s TV Batman, and meld it with modern action and fun superheroics.  How can it not be awesome with fantastic guest stars like Green Arrow (Van dyke-less), Blue Beetle (the new BB), Plastic Man, the Atom, Red Tornado, and Aquaman?

I’m willing to give this new cartoon a chance to win over my heart.  And if the music in this trailer is indicative of the music in the series, then it had me at “Hello”.

My thanks to EDP over at “I don’t read my blog either” for posting this video and making me realize how cool this series could be.

Check back here tomorrow for the conclusion of my comic book t-shirt gallery.  Meanwhile…

If you haven’t been listening already, be sure to swing by “Views from the Longbox” and check out the week-long mini-series BAT WEEK!  From this past Sunday (August 17) through this coming Friday (August 22), there is a new episode of “Views from the Longbox” available for download each day.  All six of them are dedicated to the film exploits of the Caped Crusader himself, the Dark Knight Detective, one half of the Dynamic Duo … Batman.

Michael Bailey, host of “Views from the Longbox”, was kind enough to invite me to join him on this deep-dive into the Batman films. Along the way we mention peripheral items (such as trading cards), and even dedicate a whole episode to the Clown Prince of Crime himself, the Joker. To enhance BAT WEEK even further, Michael has been posting related YouTube videos on his site.

So be sure to check out the podcasts and his site!  It’s more fun than a barrel full of missile-launching penguins!

This week I attended a day-long educational workshop related to my job.  The workshop was held in one of the meeting rooms at the Tallahassee Antique Car Museum.  It was a pretty good workshop with interesting speakers.  On a break, I was strolling through the museum thinking about the topics and real-world applications for use back at the office.  Needless to say I was in total “work mode”.  Then I rounded a corner and found myself face-to-face with a major piece of geekdom… Batmobiles!

Yup!  I said Batmobiles… as in plural.  I’ve known for years that the museum had at least one of the Batmobiles, but I wasn’t expecting all the items I found.

Here is the 1960s Batmobile from the TV series.  There was no sign, so I can’t vouch for whether this particular car was actually featured in the TV series, or if this is a replica.  Either way, it’s a really sweet looking car!  It’s amazing how a 40 year old design can still look awesome.

The Batman Returns Batmobile.  According to the placard, this is one of two Batmobiles constructed and used in the filming of “Batman Returns”.  There is a corvette engine in this bad boy!  And for the record, this is my favorite Batmobile.  When I actually saw it with my own eyes, I was astounded.  This car is REALLY big. I’d hate to have to park it.

Batmobile from Batman Forever.  Again, no sign so I can’t validate whether this is original or not, however, I imagine it’s the real article.  For the record, I don’t care for this design. It looks like a Hot Wheels car to me… hate the big fin on top.

The 1960’s TV Bat-Cycle…

…including the Robin sidecar!

The Batskiboat from Batman Returns!  Neat to look at in real life.

Here is the Penguin’s Yellow Duck transport from Batman Returns.

So after picking my jaw up off the floor, I snapped these pics for your enjoyment.  Then I had to figure out a way to purge all my geeky giddiness and get back into “work mode”.  Eventually I was able to focus on the workshop, but there were fleeting moments of daydreams filled with, “Atomic Batteries to Power…”

When you are raising a very young child, you always want to keep a few things in mind when purchasing toys. First, you want to be sure the toy is safe. Second, you should ensure some of their toys have educational value. When I say educational value, I don’t mean academic education, like “book smarts”. I mean real life, need-to-know, common sense kind of education. Y’know, the kind of stuff that people really use in life. In the pursuit of giving my 2 year old daughter the best upbringing, I made it my mission to get fun, safe, and truly educational toys. I believe I’ve reached the pinnacle of that mission. Sadly, from here on out I believe I’ve “jumped the shark” when it comes to vitally important teaching toys.

I proudly present my daughters new educational toys…

From here we’ll begin educating her on some important principles that will guide her throughout life. These toys can teach her important things such as:

• Truth, Justice and the American Way.

• With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.

• Criminals are a Superstitious, Cowardly Lot.

• It’s Against My Programming to Impersonate a Deity.

and most importantly …

• Together We Can Rule the Galaxy as Father and Daughter!

It’s very gratifying when you can educate the youth of today on truly important matters.