5 SUGGESTIONS FOR MAN OF STEEL 2

After some speculation, rumors, and people just saying random things it's finally been confirmed that a true sequel to Man of Steel is in active development at Warner Bros. For fans of the first film, such as myself, this is very good news! While MoS definitely has its critics, it also has a passionate fan base. For my money, Henry Cavill has been a great modern-day Superman. Clark is a very tough character to crack. On the one hand, he needs to be the world's greatest hero. On the other, he's still just a regular guy trying to figure out love, work, responsibility, and all the things that come with being an adult. Some people think that he's unrelatable because he's so powerful but really they are missing the point. Superman may be the most powerful hero on Earth, but Clark Kent is just a man. He's very relatable. I mean, how many of us can relate to being billionaires or Amazon warriors, or being faster than the speed of light? Yeah . . . didn't think so!

With talk of a real sequel to Man of Steel coming up I started thinking about all the things I wanted to see in a new Superman movie. Things we haven't seen before. New takes on old favorites. In my mind, Batman v Superman covered a lot of what I would've wanted to see in a Superman sequel including the world questioning Superman's place, Superman struggling with his identity and what his role in the world is, and even Lex Luthor and his brilliant manipulation of Superman and his loved ones. So what should happen in the next go round? I have a few thoughts . . .

MORE CLARK KENT

One of the things that I absolutely loved about the Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition was the inclusion of more Clark Kent. They fleshed out his story as an investigative reporter and a champion of the little guy. That's something that has always been important to Superman's history. While Clark may be invincible, he still has bills to pay and he's not exactly the richest guy in Metropolis. It makes sense that he would want to make sure all the people of Metropolis are being treated fair and as equals. I would definitely like to see more of Clark as the Reporter. It's definitely something that has never really been explored in the other Superman films. It was done a little bit on Smallville and Lois and Clark but I would love to see a sequel that focuses on Clark Kent's reporting skills and what makes him worthy of sharing a by-line with the "great Lois Lane". Speaking of which . . . 

STRONGER LOIS LANE

One of my favorite parts of Man of Steel was how Lois figured out Clark's abilities. She even helped stop the Kryptonians by the end of the film. Then in Batman v Superman, she started off strong investigating the incident in desert and Lex Luthor's involvement with it. Then by the third act of the film, it just seemed like she was getting in the way or constantly needed Superman to save her. That's not Lois Lane to me. Lois needs to be the type of woman that can stand up to any threat that comes her way. She doesn't need Superman to save her. She is more than capable of taking care of herself. We saw a lot of that in MoS but less in BvS. That bothered me. I want a strong, tough, takes no bull shit Lois Lane. The type of character that shows no fear standing next to General Zod. The type of woman that Superman looks up to. I hope to see more of that Lois Lane in Man of Steel 2 and especially in Justice League. I mean, she's Superman's best friend/lover/life-mate! She's gotta be tough!

MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT BRIGHTER . . . 

Again, I loved Man of Steel. Great film. Awesome action scenes. Good stuff there. But . . . I can't argue with the critics when they say there was a filter on the camera that made everything look a bit darker. Honestly, it's probably why the film has more critics than it probably deserves. The darker color scheme is a visual trick used in some horror or drama films that kinda brings the mood down. For those types of films, it makes perfect sense to bring the mood down. After all, you want people to feel uneasy during a horror film and in a drama you want the audience to have be in a place where the emotional moments are going to hit them just a little bit harder. However, that type of filter has no place in a summer blockbuster, let alone one about a flying man wearing a bright red and blue suit. While I don't expect to see Henry Cavill's costume start looking like Christopher Reeve's costume, I would like to see that filter taken off the lens during the editing process. Superman wears primary colors proudly in the comic books. Let's not forget that during his cinematic adventures! And speaking of brighter . . . 

HOPE

Throughout Man of Steel, we're told a few times that the "S" on Superman's chest stands for HOPE. Yet, we don't get much of that in the first film. While I think he did inspire hope in quite a few people, including Batman, during BvS, I think it was lost a bit in MoS. Supergirl has done a fantastic job of showing that the House of El is full of people willing to inspire the people around them. Jor El was not able to do it on Krypton, but his hope was that Kal El could do it on Earth. I think that should be shown more in the new film. Show Superman  as a symbol of hope. Plus, it will be interesting after his inevitable resurrection in Justice League what that will mean for the people of Earth. Does that mean hope never dies? Supergirl was trying to send a message of inspiration and hope throughout her first season, and I imagine that it will continue during season two. I'd love to see more of that in the films. Christopher Reeve was great at seeming like he could either kick your ass into the ground or be your best friend depending on what side you chose. I think Cavill needs to be a bit more like that. He's already a very intimidating man given his size. But I'd love to see more of the softer side of Superman. That's very important for his character to emphasize going forward post-BvS and Justice League. Especially considering that the world is going to be very wary of aliens after those films. It will be important to show Superman as "the good one" so to speak. He's the one we can count on to save us, even if there are others trying to kill us. Because that's what Superman does. He gives us hope! But not everyone will agree . . . 

THE SUPERMAN REVENGE SQUAD

As far as villains go, this is one thing we've never seen in a Superman film to date. We've never really had a great team up of Superman villains. I mean sure we had Superman II with Zod and Luthor but that wasn't really a team up as much as it was . . . whatever it was. I don't really know how to describe it. I'd love to see a true villain team up. Granted that can spell disaster for a superhero film, just look at Spider-Man 3 and the Amazing Spider-Man 2. 

These guys just can't catch a break!

Superman doesn't really have the BEST rogues gallery out there, ironically that would be Spider-Man and of course Batman. But he does have some pretty heavy hitters. I think a return of Lex Luthor mixed with Metallo, the Parasite and Bizarro would be an awesome idea for a sequel. First of all, it kind of does away with the alien invasion story that had been done in Man of Steel plus what's being done in Justice League and it's sequel (we assume). I'd love to see more man made villains that come after him due to either a personal vendetta or because they want to prove how tough they are by taking down the Man of Steel. It would be something different to do with a Superman movie. While Kal is trying to inspire hope these guys are doing the opposite, not by tarnishing his name but by trying to kill him and showing the world that they can do it. Oh man . . . yeah! That's exactly what they should do!.

These are just a couple broad ideas that I'd love to see tackled in a new Superman film. When I was a kid I was such a huge fan of the Christopher Reeve Superman films. I've spoken already about how much I loved Supergirl season one. I've been a Superman fan for a long, long time. I have high hopes for anything involving the character. While I've enjoyed the most recent films, I still feel that there is more that can be explored with Clark Kent and Superman. In the meantime though, I'll just geek out over (hopefully) seeing Superman in the black costume. 

Squeal!!

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!

10 THINGS SUPERGIRL GOT RIGHT IN SEASON ONE

The first season of any show can easily make or break it. Look at how many shows do not get picked up for a season 2 or barely make it out with a first season.

Too soon?

However, Supergirl, unfortunately, seemed to face much more of an uphill battle that other TV series. First of all, the show is about a female superhero which, for no reason science can explain, seems to be the kiss of death. Look at all the female led superhero movies that have come out recently!

I'm not going to share a picture because, as of this writing, there are none that have been successful. So the show was already a risky venture. Factor in the fact that it was premiering on CBS rather than the more appropriate CW, which has been (thankfully) changed for season 2. Then there's the "obvious" thing that all executives always ask themselves, "Will guys like the show? Will girls watch a superhero show? Will it appeal to everyone?" Translation - if it isn't a white male in the lead then the odds of it being a successful superhero show/film are extremely rare. 

This hadn't premiered yet! Plus Netflix is the exception to the rule! (Jerks)

The first few episodes of season one were good but they were no where near the caliber that Arrow and the Flash first seasons were at. After rewatching the series I figured out the problem: the show started off too formulaic. The show had to have the best friend that was in love with the protagonist (Winn), the new guy that she meets that she instantly falls in love with (James), the sister (Alex), and the overbearing boss (Cat, and to an extent, Hank). Plus there were the constant references to Superman. It was the same problem that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. suffered from. "Hey we know Superman! But you'll never see him!" It's like a constant reminder to the audience that they're never going to see what they "really want" and instead they're getting second best. Once the producers/writers realized that they don't HAVE to fall into those stereotypes the show vastly improved. Basically, the "girls can do anything boys can do" theme was dropped. Instead, the theme became "a young person discovering herself in a complicated world". Now THAT'S a story that anyone can relate to! Once the Superman references died down and the love stories took a backseat (ish) to the main action and storytelling the show became much more exciting and fun!

While there are still cheesy moments, after all it is a comic book show, the show lived up to its hype in my opinion. After watching the wonderful first season, I thought I would share the best things about it. Hopefully you will want to check it out on DVD or Netflix when it inevitably gets there!

HANK HENSHAW/MARTIAN MANHUNTER

This is quite possibly my favorite twist that the show provided. When the series was first announced, David Harewood was cast as Hank Henshaw. This of course led to speculation that he was going to be the main villain of the series as the Cyborg Superman. And while that would have been a good show to watch, it wouldn't have been very interesting. During the first few episodes, it was clear that Hank was hiding something. As the audience, especially those of us that are well versed in comic book lore, the secret was probably that he was a robot with the powers of Superman. However, the wrtiers and producers had a very different and much better idea - he was J'Onn J'Onnz, the last survivor of Mars. I'll never forget the episode where it was revealed. My jaw dropped to the floor. I cheered and couldn't wait for the next episode to see more of one of my all time favorite Justice League members. J'Onn was so awesome during the animated Justice League Unlimited. He was a wonderful character and I was so stoked to see more of him in live action. 

While the Cyborg Superman story would have been cool with the whole "is he really a bad guy or can he be redeemed" type of story, I must say that Martian Manhunter was a WELCOME change of pace. It added much more of the "lonely survivor from a dead world" story to Kara's journey. Plus, it opened up the show to have his rogues gallery, specifically the White Martians (more on that later), make appearances and terrorize National City. His story was a tragic one but very different from Kara's story. However, there is a lot of similarities between the two and the chance to explore that in the series made it so much more exciting for fans. 

ROGUES

One of the MANY issues with adapting a superhero to TV (or film for that matter) is the villains. You don't want the villain to overpower the hero's story but you also don't want them to be bland and uninteresting. It's a very delicate balance and it's very hard to achieve. Luckily, I think Supergirl did a good job of having interesting, if not at least fun, villains to fill up an hour long show with. While the show did have its duds, it did have some wonderful actors come in and bring us some cool threats for Kara to face every week. Villains like Bizzarro, Livewire, Silver Banshee, and Reactron while somewhat cheesy were still fun to see brought to life and make life hard for Kara. It helps that the series made a genuine attempt for Kara to try to see the good side in every villain she faced. She tried her best to redeem them or talk them out of their evil ways before trying to fight them. It's exactly the kind of hero that Supergirl needs to be. It's the type of hero that Superman tries to be. It's wonderful to see her reach out and try to help everyone, even if it seems like they do not deserve it. 

JAMES OLSEN

Here's a character that could have been either really bad or really cheesy, which is arguably worse than being bad. When Mehcad Brooks was first announced to play Jimmy Olsen on Supergirl, let's just say there were some fans that were less than excited. I had never heard of him so I had no opinion on the matter. Just like Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin and even Melissa Benoist I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Luckily, I was not disappointed. Brooks proved himself to be a very capable actor - he was good at comedy, drama, and action. Jimmy Olsen needs to be all of those things. You don't get to call yourself "Superman's pal" for nothing ya know! He was everything he needed to be at first which was Supergirl's confidant and potential love interest. Then he grew into more than that. He was a hero in his own right. When he found out there was a bomb at the station where Lucy Lane was at, he didn't hesitate to run to her rescue. When Kara lost her powers, he did everything he could to help the people of National City. Plus, and this is important, just like Kara's gender didn't become much of an issue in later episodes as it was in the first couple, Brooks' race was not a factor. It would have been very easy to make him a stereotypical "black man trying to make his way in a white man's world" character. While there were hints of that and it was discussed here and there, it did not overpower his arc this season. He was able to a person. Just like Kara was able to be a hero and her gender didn't make a difference anymore, his race was unimportant. It's a very powerful message to send to the haters and non-haters alike - He might look different but he's just a man trying to be the best he can be just like you! Plus - this dude is hot as hell! I mean damn man! (I have no shame in saying that)

WINN AND THE TOYMAN

Winn was a character that seemed so easy to figure out in the first few episodes. He was Ducky from Pretty in Pink. He's the best friend that's in love with the female lead and he's going to go crazy in the Friend Zone. The actor, Jeremy Jordan, was announced as playing Winn Schott. Just like with the Hank Henshaw name, that had resonance for us Superman fans. The next stage was thinking, "Oh here it comes! He's going to become the Toyman!" In the first few episodes, it seemed that our suspicions were spot on. He pined after Kara and was jealous that she seemed so interested in James Olsen. It didn't seem like so illogical that the next step was "proving" himself to her by building toy bombs and terrorizing National City. However, just like with the Hank Henshaw twist, the producers had another idea, a far better one. Winn is instead Winslow, Jr and his father, Winslow, Sr is the real Toyman and has been in prison for a long time. This made for a far more interesting story than if Winn decided to become evil to try and "Winn" Kara's heart.

But seriously, having the father be the crazy one and try to reunite with his estranged son was a far better story, and more shocking to the audience, than if Winn had turned out to be a bad guy all along. Plus the episode where Toyman returned finally brought to a head the feelings that Winn had for Kara. There was the awkward kiss, the rejection, and then the eventual rescue from Psycho-Dad that romantic comedies are known for. Well maybe not that last part, but you get the idea! Either way, the producers were able to resolve the Winn-Kara romance swiftly and better than if that particular subplot had been dragged out for another season or two. The actors, Benoist and Jordan, were able to perform it believably and when it was resolved it felt natural and realistic. It was a great way to utilize the Toyman storyline without having to destroy/villianize one of the show's best characters. 

MAXWELL LORD - NOT A LEX LUTHOR SUBSTITUTE

One of the things that anyone would ask when making any sort of Superman-related project is, "Where is Lex Luthor?" He's Superman's #1 adversary and one of the best characters in the DC canon. But since the DC Film side of things are stupid jerks, we were not going to get Lex Luthor on the show.

I'll calm down now because I loved his performance (stupid jerks)

Instead, the producers needed a different billionaire to oppose Supergirl and give the "human" villain that we all crave and need with these types of shows. Or maybe not need . . . It does happen a lot though . . . ANYWAY! Peter Facinelli was cast as Maxwell Lord, a billionaire narcissist that loves to invent new and cool things for the world and hates aliens. So . . . he's pretty much Lex Luthor. Well, in the hands of a lesser actor, he would have been, yes. Luckily, Facinelli proved to be much more than a Luthor-lite and gave us a rich, complex character that I hope we get much more of in season two. He was funny, fun, charismatic, and had real chemistry with his co-stars. Although he started off as just a billionaire hell-bent on destroying Supergirl's reputation, he became much more than that. He was a real person with a real motivation for disliking not only aliens but the government as well. In the last few episodes he even proved himself as an invaluable resource to the DEO in stopping Non's plan to destroy the world. 

Let the record show that I truly hate the Twilight movies and everything they stand for. When I heard it was Facinelli that was cast I was not pleased. Much to my surprise and pleasure, he turned out to be a wonderful addition to the story. What could have easily been a disposable, unlikable character became one of my favorite villains and one that I couldn't wait to see more of. I'm hoping that he returns for season two for more Lord shenanigans. Given how the first season ended with him and General Lane, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back better and stronger than ever!

THE FLASH CROSSOVER

For someone like me, seeing The Flash and Supergirl work together was nothing short of a dream come true. For a non-fan, it had to have been at least a super fun episode! In the episode, Barry is stranded on a different Earth but decides to team up with Kara to face two of her deadliest opponents, Silver Banshee and Livewire. While the episode wasn't without it's flaws, I will maintain that it was definitely the most fun episode of the entire season. Anytime the superheroes team up, it's a joy! Luckily, the producers were smart about it and were able to tie it into the Flash's story from his series as well as find ways to have him shake up the dynamics of the series. He was able to be a great friend to Winn because they are both geeks, a rival for James because Kara was seemingly interested in a new guy, and he was able to give the people within the show, like Cat, a new hero to get excited about. In short, the crossover was very successful in what it was trying to accomplish. Also, was anyone else rooting for Kara and Barry? I mean not as heroes but as a potential love story? I mean, seriously! They were so cute together and so fun to watch. They had instant chemistry and I was sad when Barry left at the end. Hopefully season two will have the two Earths merge, like Flashpoint did in the comics, and we'll get to see more crossovers with Barry and Kara. 

They've already announced a musical two-part episode so . . . yes. Now please! Thank you!

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Whether we want to admit it or not, special effects can make or break a superhero show. When Lois and Clark premiered it was considered ground breaking. A weekly superhero show? Let alone a complicated one like Superman? Given the restrictions and expense of CGI back in the early 90s, that series did well for itself. When Smallville premiered it was the same story. Luckily the producers were smart and kept most of Clark's powers restricted to "growing up" and all that jazz. They were able to limit what they could do based on the character's age. They still pulled off some impressive effects even for a show that was on basic cable back in 2001. Then suddenly, the CGI craze was huge! Arrow was a little more grounded so the CGI was limited to just a few shots per episode. 

Fun fact - All the arrows he shoots are CGI because it's too dangerous for everyone on set to have real arrows in the bow.

Then there was the Flash! I'd like to think that that this particular show really made it possible to do almost anything the writers could imagine in a weekly series that was therefore unheard of just a few years prior. So then it came time for Supergirl. Not only could the main character fly, but she was super strong, had heat vision, super speed, arctic breath, and faced a super-powered adversary on a weekly basis. Smallville was good at that but that was before people were comfortable with the main characters wearing fantastic costumes and having goofy code names. Plus a character like J'Onn J'Onnz and his backstory requires an expensive CGI makeover. Luckily the series not only provided this but exceeded my expectations on what a weekly series can do. Hopefully the move from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada won't have too much of an effect on this going forward. However, I'm still confident that we will see exciting, groundbreaking visual effects from Supergirl. 

THE FAMILY YOU'RE BORN WITH

What people love to see on weekly TV series more than anything is drama. The Will They - Won't They story is a trope that so many shows do these days. Luckily, a lot of producers have gotten to the point where they get to the "Why they won't/can't" sooner rather than later. We can't always be dealing with 10 years of Ross and Rachel ya know! However, not everyone can relate to the "Will They Won't They" story so there is another trope that shows use - Family. There are two types of family stories that just about anyone can relate to - the family you're born with and the family you choose. I have many friends that will call themselves brothers, sisters, sons, daughters to someone that they have absolutely no blood relationship to. This is because at a certain point in your life you become family with the people you care most about, even if they're not the ones you go home to see at Thanksgiving. 

In Kara's case, her family died years ago on Krypton. Much to her surprise tho, she finds out that her mother's twin Astra and her husband, Non, are on Earth and looking to take over (or save as they put it) Earth. That's family that Kara was born with, but she chooses to reject. This is a family that is blood related but is doing terrible things that she does not agree with. Let's just say I can relate to that. We all have family that we're told that we need to "love no matter what" because they're family. For Kara, believing in people is her greatest superpower but she still struggles with dealing with her feelings for both Astra and Non. However, lucky for her, she was also given a second family on Earth, the Danvers. 

Yeah! There they are!

They raised her like she was their own daughter along with their actual daughter, Alex. It was a great arc throughout the first season where we see how much Kara misses her mother Allura on Krypton but also loves her adopted mother Eliza just as much. It's the extended family that we're told to love just as much as we love our parents and siblings. Kara struggles with that not only because she grew to love the Danvers so much, but because Non and Astra are . . . you know . . . trying to destroy the world. But . . . 

THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE

There is always the family you choose. One of my best friends introduced his brother to me. They both looked alike and had a similar sense of humor. It wasn't until a few months later I found out that they were not actually brothers. They chose to call each other that because they had been through a lot together and were such great friends that the word "friend" or even "best friend" was not enough for them. I found that to be an exceptionally heart warming story. I was reminded of that while watching Supergirl. Kara was adopted by the Danvers family but still only refers to Eliza as her foster mother. However, she doesn't hesitate to call Alex her sister. Alex and Kara have a bond that is clear from the pilot. As the show goes on, their sisterly relationship is clearly what defines these two women as they go forward with their lives and their life choices. Not only that, but when the series begins it's clear that Alex looks up to Hank, especially after losing her father at a young age. As the series goes on, and Hank's true identity is revealed, it's clear that he regards Kara and Alex as daughters he never had. Or rather the daughters that he lost and he now has a second chance with. 

J'Onn lost his family on Mars and came to Earth as a refugee. Jeremiah Danvers recognized his gentle nature and bonded with him. When it seemed as though Jeremiah was dying, he asked J'Onn to look after his family. J'Onn did that and bonded with the two Danvers women. To them, he is a father figure that every young woman needs. To him, they are the young women he is proud to look after and watch grow up. It's a story that a lot of people can relate to and honestly brought tears to my eyes watching them bond over the first season. 

And this image I chose for this entry? That's one of my favorite scenes from any of the DC TV series. Seriously, heartwarming as all get out! :')

HOPE

For anyone out there that complained about Man of Steel or Batman v Superman not living up to the message of HOPE that Superman is supposed to embody, look no further than Supergirl. In the first episode, Kara says how the "S" doesn't stand for super, it's her family crest for the House of El. Later she states how it means "stronger together" which is what the House of El tried to live by on Krypton. As the series goes on, she begins to understand that, to the people of Earth, that S shield means a hell of a lot to them. For the people of Earth, it means hope. It means that help is coming. It means strength. It stands for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Kara realizes that during the finale when it's time to help the people of Earth save themselves from Non and Astra's evil plan. She broadcasts the S shield to them as a way to inspire them out of being mindless drones for the Kryptonians and to stand up for themselves as human beings. It's something that Clark tells her he's proud of her for and, as a fan of the comic books, I was proud too. 

The producers stated early on that they hoped their series would serve as loving homage to the Christopher Reeve Superman films. I think that with the message they tried to send, especially in the finale, and the way Kara grew as a character from the pilot, they more than succeeded in that endeavor. The show is full of fun, optimism, and excitement. It's something that I can recommend to children, boys and girls alike. I really can't say enough about this show. There is a definite message of hope and inspiration in there. Not because someone has come to save us, but because she has inspired us to save ourselves. That's really the ultimate goal of Superman. He wants us all to be super. So does Kara. 

Season one of Supergirl is now available on DVD. I highly recommend this series to anyone that's a fan of comic books but also to fans who love to feel good about the shows they are watching. The show was full of great moments and picking just 10 to discuss was hard to do. This show definitely put a smile on my face and I can't wait to see what happens next!

CYBORG SUPERMAN! I'm calling it!

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie! 

THE DC CW CROSSOVER MEGA EVENT - WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

Every year it seems that Arrow and it's various spin offs have tried to make an annual event out of a crossover. Technically, it started with Barry Allen being introduced during season 2 of Arrow. The next year we were treated to a two episode crossover. The year after that we got a glimpse of what was going to happen on Legends of Tomorrow. This year, the producers and CW executives have promised the biggest crossover yet! With Supergirl officially joining the other Greg Berlanti produced superhero shows, we'll get to see some sort of 4-part crossover that will kick all the other crossovers' butts! Or . . . I assume.

The word from the producers is that the crossover will actually center around Supergirl herself. Well that's interesting considering that Supergirl, as of now, takes place in an alternate universe. How will the shows crossover? They will literally have to cross dimensions to do it! We've seen this already on The Flash but I'm kind of thinking that that would be too much work. But then again, maybe they'll build up to it . . . Who knows?

Anyway, I was thinking about Supergirl and the other shows and I wondered, what could bring them all together for a huge event? Last year it was Vandal Savage and the introduction of the Hawks. Let's run down a list of possible events big enough to warrant a four-part mega event like this!

CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

While slightly far-fetched, this one is definitely not out of the realm of possibilities. Let's assume that the producers decide to keep Supergirl and the other heroes on separate Earths. It's been established already that there were heroes on Earth 2 and Jay Garrick was from Earth 3. Whatever number Supergirl's Earth gets assigned is irrelevant, because she'll be the one that realizes there's something wrong in the Multiverse and she travels to the other Earths trying to save them and enlists the help of the Flash, Green Arrow, and the Legends. 

During my Green Lantern post I said how the producers love to go big or go home. It's why most of Green Arrow's rogues gallery was introduced in the first season of Arrow, or why Gorilla Grodd and King Shark were able to be such prominent villains during the Flash, or how all the Legends with their various powers could come together on a weekly basis! These people LOVE to push the envelope! An adapted Crisis event is something I'm sure they are planning whether it's this year or next or whenever! The only reason I think it won't happen during this crossover is because it's too big a story for a mid-season event. This would have to be like a season finale crossover or like a TV movie that's produced or something! In my opinion it's a matter of when it happens, not if.

WHITE MARTIAN INVASION

This one I believe is the most likely scenario. Given that the White Martians were introduced during Supergirl's first season and there was talk of "more of them out there" it's definitely a safe bet that we will see them one way or another. I think the best way to do it would be do that would be during the mega crossover. It makes sense considering that the White Martians were introduced during the famous JLA arc written by Grant Morrison. The Justice League were being upstaged by a group of heroes claiming to come from another world to protect Earth. They were actually the evil shape-shifting White Martians. They used the guise of heroes to earn the people's trust and then turn on them. They almost took out the Justice League but they pulled through and saved the world!

Yeah . . . THIS is what they should do! Now, let's assume that Supergirl now takes place in the regular Earth of the other shows. I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be done due to "Flashpoint" happening on The Flash and there is talk that those events will alter the other shows as well. Also, since Miss Martian has been cast for Supergirl it makes sense for this storyline to be where she is also introduced. It fits with the "new hero(es) being introduced every year" theme that the shows like to do. The White Martian Invasion IS another case of when not if. I'm thinking the crossover would be a great place to do that. 

A GREEN LANTERN IS INTRODUCED

Out of the suggestions I've made thus far, this is probably the most far-fetched. However, I'm still going to bang on this drum till my hands fall off. Green Lantern and the Corps absolutely should be introduced into the DC CW-verse. The crossover event, as stated, is one of the best places to do it. Those episodes tend to get higher ratings due to the epic nature of putting together these shows and bringing in major threats for all of them to face. A threat that starts with Supergirl meeting a Green Lantern and then consulting the other heroes would be pretty epic and amazing. 

While this suggestion is unlikely, I'd like to think it's still in the realm of possibilities. It seems like every couple of weeks we are hearing about a new superhero casting - Miss Martian, Citizen Steel, Vixen, Stargirl, the list goes on! Why not bring in a Green Lantern or two? While it's great to see the members of the Justice Society and other "lesser known" heroes get the spotlight in a big way, it's also awesome when the more popular ones get their time to shine.

Plus, remember what I said in the previous post? Who doesn't love a good redemption story! Let's give one to Green Lantern and give him some friends to back him up!

THE BAT-FAMILY IS INTRODUCED

Ok so of the long shots that I could take, this is the longest. With Gotham on FOX and Ben Affleck currently working on a solo Batman movie there is little to no chance in this story happening any time. However . . . Anything is possible! I never thought we would get to see Superman on Supergirl and yet . . . he's going to be in at least the first two episodes!

So exciting!

It's highly unlikely that Nightwing, Oracle, Robin, Azrael, Batgirl, Red Hood, or even the Bat himself will make an appearance, it would still be a hell of a gimmick and possibly the best crossover ever!

THE REAL CYBORG SUPERMAN

So . . . I have this theory. Since it was revealed that the Hank Henshaw on Supergirl is not actually Hank Henshaw but J'Onn J'Onnz in disguise. At one point Hank Henshaw and Jeremiah Danvers (Cain) were working together to track aliens, which is how they met J'Onn. Henshaw died but Danvers is presumed to still be alive within Project Cadmus. I have this theory that the next time we'll see Dean Cain he will be the Cyborg Superman, meaning Henshaw's brain will be in his body - albeit a robot body. It's a little out there mind you, but I'm willing to bet that something like this will happen. Using the Hank Henshaw name and not doing a Cyborg Superman story would be crazy talk! 

I loved the twist in the series when Henshaw was revealed to be Martian Manhunter. To me, that was an excellent idea and totally unexpected. In the same vein, it would be awesome if the real Hank Henshaw was still alive and in a different body. I mean, all sorts of crazy shit happens in the comic books all the time! What's to say that one man's brain can't be put in another man's body and then that body be turned into an evil robot Superman? Stranger things have happened . . . 

Theses are just a few ideas/suggestions that have been floating in my head regarding the upcoming crossover. I'll never forget when Barry Allen was announced as a guest star on Arrow. Then he got his own show, then Firestorm showed up, then the Atom, Black Canary, and it just went on and on! I love all four of these shows and I get so excited to see what they'll do next. Despite being cable shows, they have far exceeded my expectations in terms of the stories they've told and the types of villains they've introduced. I can't wait to see what they come up with next! 

As long as it involves Green Lantern of course ;)

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie! 

DARK NIGHT: A TRUE BATMAN STORY - REVIEW/REFLECTION

Sometimes I feel like I don't utilize the "Comic" in the Comic Junkie in my name enough. Sure I can discuss movies and TV shows and once in a blue moon the video games all day long, but what about the comics? The source material, man! Let's talk about that too! . . . Or at least, that's what I say to myself . . . Anyway!

I don't really do comic book reviews anymore because they are time consuming and frankly it wasn't that much fun. I'd rather throw my opinions out there and see what sparks people's interests. Plus, I like keeping the site positive and exciting. Often when reviewing comics, you'll find that many that you buy aren't that great. I'd rather focus on the positive stuff since there is so much negativity out there these days. I like feeling like I'm doing my part to brighten someone's day.

But today, we're going to do things just a little different. I am going to give a review (of sorts) of a recent graphic novel I read, but I'm also gonna share my side of things. And yes, this is me shamelessly ripping off the great Paul Dini, but I'd like to think that he'll read this one day and be happy that his story inspired someone.

Dark Night: A True Batman Story is not exactly a Batman story. It's actually an autobiographical story about Dini himself and a traumatic event that he experienced and how he rose above it, but more importantly, how that event still haunts him to this day - and that's ok. For those of you that don't know, Dini was a story editor/writer for Batman: The Animated Series.

You might have heard of it 

Paul gives us a backstory on his childhood and then working for Warner Bros Animation. He then opens up about the night he was mugged and beaten nearly to death. He spent the next several months recuperating both physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's a really touching story where the Bat-Rogues are putting him down or encouraging his self-destructive behavior (drinking, self abuse, procrastination) but Batman is there telling him to get up and get back to work. Ultimately, Dini does go back to work and ends up writing several of the best episodes of the series as well as working on Superman: the Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and Justice League. Dini's story, while exaggerated, is extremely relatable. I think at some point in all of our lives we have all gone through some sort of life changing event. Now for a lot of people it could be moving, falling in love, going back to school, or some sort of tragedy. Well for me . . . It was all of those . . . 

Since Mr. Dini was brave enough to tell his story, I thought I would share mine. Now granted, Dini's story is much more colorful and exciting because he had the great Eduardo Risso illustrating it and I just have this blog. So bare with me if my story is slightly more boring. Also, my apologies for shamelessly ripping off Dini's idea. But then again, Harley Quinn was based on the henchgirls that the Rogues had during the 1966 Batman TV series so who's the real hack here? HUH? . . . Me. It's still me . . . Anyway!

About four years ago, it was New Years Eve and I was all alone. I was working full time at a Neurology office in North Carolina and as a part time delivery driver at Pizza Hut. Well, needless to say most of my friends came from Pizza Hut since they were closer in age. That year, I realized New Years was coming up and not only did I not have a date but I didn't have any plans. I wanted to fix that! I asked a few of the guys what they were doing and got very non-committal responses. Same with the girls. "Oh I dunno. I might go to this party. I might go downtown. I'm not sure yet." I could tell they were lying to me. Worse still, I KNEW they were lying when I heard a few of them saying they were definitely going to their friend's house downtown. I called them out immediately, "I thought you said you didn't know what you were doing?" I got a blank stare as she tried to come up with an answer, "Well I don't. I mean I'm supposed to go to my friend's house but I don't know for sure."

"Uh huh," I replied. I went out on a delivery and burst into tears. All I could think was, "Why didn't I get invited? What's wrong with me?" I had felt that way for a very long time. I felt like no one cared about me, at least not in North Carolina. When I got back to the store, that same girl looked at me and said, "Were you just crying?" I said, "No." She didn't believe me and hugged me. Truthfully, it was little comfort. I didn't tell her why I was upset. I didn't say much of anything. I finished my side work for the night and went home. I bought some beer on my way home and drank myself into the New Year. 2012. Awesome, another miserable lonely year.

I called my sister that lives in Pittsburgh and asked what it was like to live there. "I'm thinking about moving there. I hate it here. I feel like no one cares about me here." She was excited about the idea of me moving to Pittsburgh. She even offered me her basement so I could have some privacy and live rent-free while I figured out what to do. I thought it sounded great. So we made a few loose plans. Then . . . SHE happened. Yepp . . . I met someone. I had pretty much given up on dating at that point. But . . . You know how it goes. She was a waitress at Pizza Hut and at first I thought she didn't like me until she accepted an invite to a party I was hosting. She actually came! I said aloud and in my head. She seemed shocked that someone would say they were coming to a party and then not show up. Well, not long after, we went to a couple more parties together. Then she came over one night after work. And we made out . . . a lot. It was pretty awesome. Then we started dating and fell in love and yada yada yada.

My sister said to me, "I'm so happy for you. But I'm kinda mad cuz we would have had so much fun in Pittsburgh." Well, she was right. It would have been fun but I was convinced I had found the ONE. I even started putting money aside to buy a ring. We talked about getting married, she helped me go back to school, and we even went on a couple of vacations together. 

Fall 2012 - things were really serious. We even had a favorite TV show - Arrow. It was one of those, "Don't watch it without me" shows. I was forbidden to watch it unless we were together. We had a few other shows like that but Arrow was special to me because of how much I loved The Dark Knight films and I mean jeez it's a comic book show that a pretty girl wants to watch with me!!

Although I think I had the bigger crush on Stephen Amell

She and I had really hit it off. I couldn't believe how crazy I was for her and that she was crazy for me. Fast forward to April 2013, with the blessing of my family and hers, I proposed and she said yes! We decided to put the wedding off for 2 years while she finished grad school. We got our first apartment together and things seemed to be going well. Until . . . they weren't. Arrow came out on DVD and she didn't seem interested. "Uh, I've already watched it. Plus I'm not really into it anymore." That was a strange thing to say from someone who threatened to break up with me if I watched it without her (jokingly of course). The next few months seemed really strange like something was off. She spent a lot of time out with her new (guy) friends, we weren't as (ahem) intimate as we used to be, plus wedding talk died down dramatically. I figured it was the stress of grad school. Then there was the weekend she went away. And then a second weekend she went away. I sat her down and said, "What's going on?" She said that she had indeed been very stressed out, school was very hard, plus living together was harder than she thought it would be. I admitted that I was stressed out too. Between going back to school part time, quitting Pizza Hut therefore not making as much money, and worried about what the fuck she was doing all the time, it had all gotten to me. .

"I feel like you're going to break up with me," I finally blurted out. She looked me dead in the eye, held up her ring finger and said, "See this? You're stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere!" That did make me feel better. Maybe I was just being silly. We loved each other right? We were gonna be ok! 

The following week my sister invited me to New York Comic Con. I did have some put aside from my Pizza Hut days. My fiancee couldn't go but she encouraged me to go and have fun with my sister. She and her friends took me to the train station late one night and dropped me off. I remember she hugged me and said, "No I'm not gonna cry! I'm not!" as she pulled away. I thought that was strange considering I was only going to be gone a few days. While there, unlike the year before, I didn't hear that much from her. That Saturday it seemed like she was ignoring me. It was unlike her not to respond right away. When I finally did get a hold of her she claimed to have been sleeping all day. I was pretty upset by that. When she took her "getaways" I made sure the house was clean when she got home. She didn't seem to be sharing that idea, even though she originally talked about us being on a strict cleaning regimen. I was really put off. And I wasn't the only one. My sister kept saying how weird that was. "It's weird that she's not saying much to you. You're supposed to be engaged. She's acting weird." My sister was right. Even my other sister, who unfortunately couldn't join us, agreed. She was saying the exact same thing.

As I got on the train to go home, I received a text from her that said, "Can you find a ride home? I have to work late and I don't want to leave you out there all night." I was a little annoyed thinking, "Jeez, I want to see you!" But I said yes, and my stepmom agreed to come pick me up. During the train ride she texted, "I love you." My first thought was, "That's really random!" Then I laughed at that and the weird twist in my stomach and responded, "I love you too." My stepmom was waiting there for me at the train station, joking how she got there right as my train pulled up. She was excited over her luck. We laughed a bit when my fiancee called her. Again, weird I thought, calling her and not me. "Did you pick up a JJ?" she asked in an excited voice. Since it was on bluetooth I said, "Yes dear! I'm here!" I could hear her smiling, "Oh good! Listen, I have to run to my mom's real quick but I promise I'll be there when you get home!" I said, "Ok good. I'll see you there! I love you." "I love you too." 

My stepmom took me to Wendy's for a quick dinner. I tried texting her but she did not respond and her phone kept going to voicemail. I even texted her mom asking if she was with her. Nobody was answering. Still with that twist in my stomach, I chalked it up to a dead phone (she was bad about charging it) and her mom's phone being in another room. Then my stepmom drove me home. I saw a piece of paper wrapped up on the door. I figured it was a take out menu. I was wrong. It was a good bye letter from the woman I was planning on spending the rest of my life with. I only read the letter once and the only other person that ever read it was my therapist. The bullet points are this:

• We're not getting along any more and I don't think I love you anymore.
• You're drinking too much and it's bothering me.
• We're too different.
• I found paperwork that says you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I can't deal with that.
• I've written letters to your family explaining why I did this.
• Please don't contact me.
• Good bye forever.

I fell to my knees weeping hysterically. My stepmom was flabbergasted. She called my dad and he said the same thing. I called both of my sisters as well as my mentor/best friend, and told them what happened. They had all met and loved her. Each one of them was completely shocked by her complete 180. My father was furious. My stepmom couldn't believe it. My oldest sister, who I had just gone to Comic Con with, said she was coming to get me and take me to Pittsburgh with her. My other sister was also furious. My mentor was extremely shocked and appalled. No one could believe it. And let's break down those bullet points:

• We weren't getting along because she would either come home very late or not at all and it was bothering me. So we fought as to why I was spending my nights alone rather than with my fiancee. 
• Yeah, Ok. I was drinking a lot. But she smoked a lot. So there! 
• We were only different because it turns out she lied about liking things like comic books and  Arrow just to impress me.
• There is absolutely no paper work anywhere that says I'm bipolar. None. My encounter forms from my therapist office said I was major depressive disorder. And plus - Hi! Going to therapy! Some would say that's a step in the right direction.
• There were no letters. My family claims to never have received any letters. They all admitted that even if they had there is no way in Hell she could convince them that she was in the right anyway.
• I won't contact you. And I didn't. All I did was text her mother and tell her I wanted the ring back. I never spoke to her again.
• Good bye forever. I can't believe I ever loved you.

So you might be wondering at this point, what does this have to do with Dark Night or Arrow? Well, here it is. That year is when season 2 of Arrow started. It literally started the night I got on the train to go to New York. My sister and I had grown obsessed with it. In a year that was supposed to be filled with pre-marital bliss and wonderment, I was instead all alone in a half empty apartment. All that work we had done setting it up and still making plans for it was all for not. I didn't have much going for me except the support of my loving family and friends, some brand new friends that had never met her, Arrow, and Modern Family. 

While Arrow became much more of the awesome comic book fueled adventures that I had hoped for in Season 1, Modern Family was this weird little show that I had always heard of but had never seen. It wasn't until the USA Network picked up the reruns that I really got into it and laughed out loud at almost every episode. I had seen a couple while sitting in the apartment wondering where my fiancee was but then my sister and I watched it in the hotel room in New York at night. We became infatuated with it. It was so funny and we saw a lot of ourselves in the characters. 

So there ya go. During what should have been the toughest, saddest, most depressing year of my life I had two television series at my disposal to keep me entertained and my mind off of this terrible, life altering event. I bought every season of Modern Family and watched it almost nonstop for almost a month straight. Every Wednesday was a new episode of Arrow and there was even talk of a spin off for The Flash! 

We all know how that turned out 

I can never truly repay my family and friends for being there for me during this event in my life. My father called it a robbery and I was the victim. He isn't wrong, is he? Truth be told I've learned that man is rarely wrong but don't tell him I said that ;)  I made new friends that learned my story and told me I was better off. I don't know what it was but I always believed it. For the first time in my life, I genuinely felt like I was better off without her. A few months before that I couldn't dream of my life without her. Now I look back and wonder what the hell I ever saw in her. She was a liar, a manipulator, but worst of all, she didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye. Lucky for me I had Modern Family to make me laugh and Arrow to make me go "What the fuck! How is Oliver gonna get out of this one?!" Both shows brought me a lot of happiness in a time of my life that was truly difficult. 

While I doubt the writers of Arrow and/or Modern Family will ever read this I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I went through a truly heart wrenching event but it was much easier to go through while I was laughing my ass off with the Pritchetts and the Dunphys or while I was cheering for the Arrow to save Starling City. 

I also want to thank Paul Dini. When I was a kid I was absolutely in love with Batman: The Animated Series. When I was in high school, the DVDs started coming out and I watched them over and over again. I couldn't believe how sophisticated the storytelling was! When I was a kid it was cool to see Batman fight the Joker. Now that I was older, it was cool to see WHY they were such polar opposites. When I heard about the Dark Night story I was intrigued. It sounded kind of interesting and I've always loved Dini's work. Then I read it. I was mesmerized. I loved it so much. I felt like I could connect. I can never imagine such a brutal attack but I did have my own trauma. Dini survived his ordeal with the help of his imagination and the endless love he has for Batman and his rogues. I survived mine with the help of Oliver Queen and the hilarious hijinks that the Dunphys and Pritchetts seem to always get into. 

So that's my story! Maybe one day I'll shamelessly steal Paul's idea and turn it into a graphic novel. But for now, I felt like it was ok to share this with you. This blog is very personal to me. I love writing down my ideas and getting excited for new comics, movies, games, TV, what have you. It always makes me smile and I hope it does the same thing for you!

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie!

"ONE BAD DAY" ACROSS BAT-MEDIA

It's somewhat embarrassing being a comic book fan. I mean sure there's the cosplaying when I'm not at all in shape, or the constant quoting of movies, comics, TV, to my friends that may not get the joke. But ya know what else is embarrassing? Claiming to be an expert and then not realizing the homages when they are right in front of your face! Batman: The Killing Joke is now available on Blu Ray/DVD and Digital Download. Basically, this film is everything you want it to be and more. I mean, the first 25 minutes notwithstanding, and the less said about it the better, but the actual adaptation more than lives up to my expectations.

While I enjoyed The Dark Knight Returns, Under the Red Hood, and Year One and those performances by those Batmen and Jokers there is something truly special about Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill's performances. Maybe it's that they compliment each other so well. Maybe it's the nostalgia factor that makes it so memorable each time they come back in the roles whether it's the Arkham video games or the upcoming Justice League Action animated series. Who can say for sure? Either way, to my generation of fans and friends those two ARE Batman and the Joker. But we're not here to discuss the awesomeness of those two guys. Cuz that would take forever and while I'm willing to do that I have something else I want to get into.

As I said, sometimes the homages to the comic books escape me. I don't know why, but I'll be reading an article or a review and someone will point it out and I'll think, "Damn! I can't believe I didn't see it!" After watching The Killing Joke, I realized that in almost every adaptation of Batman and the Joker since the comic came out in 1988 has used it to some degree. Some in subtle ways that I will mention that you probably didn't catch either and some that are so obvious that it seems silly that I'm only now realizing it. Maybe it helps that the characters were moving and talking as opposed to just sitting there on a page. Or maybe I'm not as smart as I think I am. Well . . . it's definitely not that! Anyway, let's look at how the Killing Joke has influenced Bat-media since it's debut!

BATMAN - THE MIRROR SCENE

Tim Burton was very much inspired by the Killing Joke when he created his version of the Joker. It's obvious from the way the Joker dresses and Batman's obsession with catching him. One scene in particular that's practically ripped from the comic book, albeit with some differences is the "Joker sees what he's become and laughs his ass off" moment. In the comic, The Joker pulls off the Red Hood, sees his reflection in a puddle and bursts into his iconic maniacal laughter. In the film, the Joker is getting some sort of botched plastic surgery and the dude either fucked up or was totally incompetent. Joker screams for a mirror, looks at his face, and bursts into his maniacal laughter. It's a truly terrifying moment. At that moment, Jack the gangster is dead and gone and the Joker has been unleashed. Nicholson doesn't say much in the scene but we get the point. In this scene less was more and the result was the audience knowing that Batman and Gotham City are going to be in big trouble. 

BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER - THE FLASHBACK SCENE

Now this one is more of a personal opinion rather than an actual homage to the comic so let me explain. In Return of the Joker, the Joker returns . . . That much is obvious. However, Terry is confused as to how the Joker can still look so young and wonders how he came back. He begs Bruce for an explanation but Bruce refuses to give it. Eventually, after a brutal attack on Wayne Manor and the Batcave, Barbara steps up and tells Terry the last time Batman, Batgirl, and Robin faced Harley Quinn and the Joker. Similar to the comic, it's a simple battle that only involves these characters and not Gotham City as a whole. However, the Joker's actions are sick, twisted and done just to mess up Batman's life. The Joker had kidnapped Robin and turned him into a mini-Joker. Tim Drake was seemingly gone and JJ (hey that's my name!) took his place. Essentially the Joker gave Drake his "one bad day" mentioned multiple times in the comic book. However, Drake's sanity reappeared long enough to kill the Joker. Depending on what version you watch, I recommend the uncut PG-13 version which has Drake shooting Joker in the heart and Joker's last words being, "That's not funny!" 

Of course, the Joker comes back with some comic book science, which is to say a super ridiculous idea that seems crazy but hey maybe it exists in real life (actually it might). I won't give it away because I love this movie so much. It's actually one of my all time favorite Batman vs the Joker stories. It's extremely well done. In my opinion, the flashback scene detailing Batman and the Joker's final battle is very Killing Joke-esque. It evokes the same basic idea of giving Batman "one bad day." Only this time, it works and the Joker succeeded in driving Robin crazy if only for a while. Plus, as mentioned before, it's Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy. So . . . the awesomeness is implied. 

BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD - ORIGINAL RED HOOD

Another great DC animated film, and the first stand alone Batman film, Under the Red Hood is actually based on the comic of the same name but both are written by the uber-talented Judd Winick. Now, the Killing Joke reference is quite small in the film, but if you dig a little deeper, as fans like to do, you'll see there is more to it than just a quick flashback. Batman and Red Hood's first chase scene ends at the Ace Chemical plant. This is a deliberate manipulation on Red Hood's part to get Batman's memory jogging of the first time he met the Joker and unintentionally created him, just like in the comic book. Red Hood tells Batman that this is the sight of his greatest failure but not his last. It's a wonderful moment that gives the audience the first clue to the Red Hood's identity. 

Later in the film, it's revealed that Red Hood is the resurrected Jason Todd, the second Robin. When you really think about it, Red Hood now is the product of Joker's triumph over Batman. He gave Jason Todd "one bad day" and now Todd is forever changed into a murderous vigilante hellbent on being better than Batman. Joker has created Batman's worst nightmare, a fallen comrade that pursues justice outside of the law. While Batman does work outside the law, he still upholds justice and liberty. Red Hood does not. He plays judge, jury and executioner. He's the best parts of Batman and the worst parts of the Joker. He has become Batman's worst nightmare. And it started with one bad day . . . 

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES - MAKE 'EM LAUGH

One of my favorite episodes of Batman: the Animated Series. The Joker has stolen some of Mad Hatter's technology and turned three comedy legends into crazy villains running amok in Gotham. Batman and Robin later figure out that these comedians were judges on an America's Got Talent type of show and they had dismissed the Joker. They of course didn't realize it was the Joker, he was in disguise, trying to prove himself as the greatest comic in Gotham City. Now the plot may seem kind of hokey but it's actually a great episode in my opinion. It's nothing really like the Killing Joke but I like to think that Joker's backstory of being a failed comedian does have some truth to it. He's trying to recapture that with this show and be the funniest guy in Gotham, just like he always wanted. In a way, it's almost a sequel to that idea. I doubt that the reference was lost on the producers and animators when they made this episode. 

BIRDS OF PREY - JOKER CRIPPLES BARBARA GORDON

History lesson - after the success of Smallville, the WB network tried to capitalize on the superhero popularity by creating a new show. Their idea was Birds of Prey and it starred Barbara Gordon as Oracle, Dinah Lance as a budding Black Canary, who was actually the daughter of the original Black Canary, and Helena Wayne, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. The show was . . . well it wasn't very good. Despite some promising ideas here and there, it really didn't hit the mark. The first problem was that it tried really hard not to be a comic book show even though it took it's name from one of the most famous comic books ever published. Secondly, the show was using the Smallville formula of having super-powered villains of the week. That was a mistake. Let's look further back in history - Superman is created and is insanely popular. Batman is created as a compliment. He's popular because he doesn't have any powers and is just a guy, so the stories are slightly more realistic. That SHOULD have been the direction that Birds of Prey went in, but they chose not to. Oh well. 

In any event, the show was off to a promising start. The first episode gave a backstory on Batman and Catwoman's relationship. The Joker is mentioned and he even figures out who Batgirl is and shoots her. This is very obviously taken from the Killing Joke, except the comic makes no mention of the Joker knowing if Barbara is Batgirl or not. He probably didn't, as he was just trying to drive Jim Gordon mad. However, the series went a slightly different direction and had the Joker attack Batgirl to get back at her and Batman for constantly beating him. Barbara becomes Oracle and still does her part to protect Gotham City. I have not seen this show in a very long time (maybe I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere) but I do remember this scene and loving the Killing Joke homage. Plus the voice of the Joker is none other than Mark Hamill. So that's an added bonus! 

THE DARK KNIGHT - THE FERRY SCENE AND LIKE THE WHOLE THING

More than any other Joker story, it's very clear that Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger were inspired by The Killing Joke. From the Joker having several different "how he got those scars" stories (his past is multiple choice), to his manipulation and driving Harvey Dent mad (as he tries to do with Gordon in the book), to the final battle with Batman for the "soul of Gotham City." That scene, more than any other, is a wonderfully crafted homage not only to the Killing Joke, but to the Batman vs the Joker relationship that had spanned across, at the time, almost 70 years of comic books. The entire ferry scene is crafted in such a way that it gives us two complete opposite approaches to the people of Gotham City. We are going to talk about it because I love it so much and it's my blog so shut up and listen. 

When the scene starts it's clear that Gordon was right and the Joker has plans to do something with Harvey Dent's prisoners. What transpires scares the hell not only out of Gordon but the people on the ferries, the people of Gotham City. Batman knows immediately that the Joker has something else up his sleeve. Gordon is already beginning to crack. He's convinced that one of the ferries will explode before midnight and if not then the Joker will blow both of them up. Batman is convinced that the people of Gotham will not kill each other. He knows who he is fighting for. When Batman finally confronts the Joker, Joker is excited, fully convinced that one of the ferries will blow up. Batman tells him it's not gonna happen. 12:01 arrives and neither ferry has exploded. "What were you trying to prove? That deep down everyone is as ugly as you? You're alone." Joker is genuinely confused and decides to blow up both ferries. Batman stops him of course. 

That line that Batman gives is almost verbatim from the comic book. Batman points out that "one bad day" doesn't always drive someone crazy. Sometimes, it brings out the good in them. The prisoner on the one ferry threw the detonator away. The unassuming, average man decided he couldn't kill anyone, even if they were hardened criminals. Batman knows that the people of Gotham are worth fighting for. That's why he goes out every night. The Joker thinks that no one is worth fighting for. Life is messy, chaotic, and not embracing that notion is utterly ridiculous. In a strange way, both men are right. In the film, just like in the comic, one bad day turns one man insane and another man stands by his convictions. In the comic book, the Joker goes insane while Commissioner Gordon remains sane. In The Dark Knight, the ordinary people of Gotham remain sane while Harvey Dent turns out insane. I suppose it's a law of averages, someone had to go nuts eventually right? It had to be Dent! Not just from the comic books, but in the film he's seen as a passionate D.A., on a mission to clean up Gotham City. Batman understands that things were going to get worse before they got better while Dent probably assumed that criminals would buckle under his enthusiasm. It's what made him such an easy target for the Joker. Gosh, didn't I tell you?? I love that movie so much. I could probably teach a class on it. 

These are just some of the examples I thought of while dissecting The Killing Joke with my friends. I know there are many, many more across the various interpretations of Batman and the Joker, but these ones are my favorite. What say you, Comic Junkies? What ones did I miss that you love? I hope to hear from you. Unless of course you are having that one bad day . . . 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie