Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Gadget Spotlight: Tumbler
I've mentioned the Tumbler - Batman's pseudo-Batmobile from Batman Begins (2005) and its two sequels - before in a previous post, but that was just as a background element. An inside joke that, while still counting for the purposes of this blog, is pretty unofficial. But it made its full-page, actually-get-to-see-Batman-using-it debut in the pages of Detective Comics #20 (July 2013), which is part of the "Zero Year" storyline, and therefore a fitting appearance.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Cross-Universe Immigration: A Rarity
It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while, sometimes things from an alternate reality gets brought over to the mainstream universe. Maybe it's because the character is popular, or maybe it's a creator's pet, or it could be any of several other reasons. I've touched on this before here. Today, we have three new examples, this time from Marvel (and one from DC).
The first is Monica Chang, who first appeared as the new Black Widow in Ultimate Comics Avengers #3 (December 2009). She later appeared in Avengers AI #1 (September 2013) as a SHIELD agent.
The second is Geldoff, who first appeared as a Latverian mutant villain in Ultimate Spider-Man #40 (July 2003). He later appeared in the 616 universe as an Avengers Initiative trainee named Proton in Avengers Initiative #8 (February 2008).
Number three is Sophia Sanduval, aka Chat, who first appeared in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #53 (September 2009), as a mutant who can talk to animals. She later jumped to the mainstream in Spider-Girl #4 (April 2011).
And finally we have Carrie Kelley, the future Robin from The Dark Knight Returns (1985). She made her debut on Earth-Zero as a student at Gotham Community College who had been giving Damien Wayne acting lessons; her first appearance was Batman and Robin #19 (June 2013).
The first is Monica Chang, who first appeared as the new Black Widow in Ultimate Comics Avengers #3 (December 2009). She later appeared in Avengers AI #1 (September 2013) as a SHIELD agent.
The second is Geldoff, who first appeared as a Latverian mutant villain in Ultimate Spider-Man #40 (July 2003). He later appeared in the 616 universe as an Avengers Initiative trainee named Proton in Avengers Initiative #8 (February 2008).
Number three is Sophia Sanduval, aka Chat, who first appeared in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #53 (September 2009), as a mutant who can talk to animals. She later jumped to the mainstream in Spider-Girl #4 (April 2011).
And finally we have Carrie Kelley, the future Robin from The Dark Knight Returns (1985). She made her debut on Earth-Zero as a student at Gotham Community College who had been giving Damien Wayne acting lessons; her first appearance was Batman and Robin #19 (June 2013).
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Gadget Spotlight: Thing Rings
Back in the 60s and 70s, adapting comic books into cartoons was really popular, but actually staying true to those comics wasn't. And possibly the best example of this is the late 1979 cartoon "The Thing", one half of the cartoon series Fred and Barney Meet The Thing. In the cartoon, The Thing is a kid named Benjy Grimm who can turn into The Thing when he touches two magic rings together as he says, "Thing Ring, do your thing!" (The jury's still out on whether he needs to say it or if it's just an affectation.)
Someone - Matt Fraction, to be exact - finally found a way to incorporate those into the comics in FF #1 (January 2013) with the introduction of Darla Deering, aka Ms. Thing. Deering uses two decidedly not magical rings created by Reed Richards that release Thing-shaped unstable molecules when she touches them together. She too says "Thing rings, do your thing!" but it is definitely not necessary.
Someone - Matt Fraction, to be exact - finally found a way to incorporate those into the comics in FF #1 (January 2013) with the introduction of Darla Deering, aka Ms. Thing. Deering uses two decidedly not magical rings created by Reed Richards that release Thing-shaped unstable molecules when she touches them together. She too says "Thing rings, do your thing!" but it is definitely not necessary.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Character Spotlight: Scorn
A long time ago, someone had the idea, "What if there were someone that was exactly like Batman...but EVIL?", and everyone else looked around and said, "That's a GREAT idea! We'll make our own too!" Just off the top of my head, there's Killer Moth and The Wrath and Owlman and Prometheus and Batzarro and Catman and who knows who else. But oddly, not a single one of these characters had an anti-Robin...
...until Scorn came along.
Scorn, aka Andrew Mallory, is a sidekick - and younger brother - of Wrath who first appeared in an episode of The Batman called "The End of the Batman"(February 2008).
He didn't appear in comics until Detective Comics #22 (September 2013), this time as Clyde Anderson, no relation to Wrath (but still his sidekick), and possibly one of several people using the Scorn name. Unfortunately, his costume is ridiculous compared to the original, but that's because the New 52 hates fun.
...until Scorn came along.
Scorn, aka Andrew Mallory, is a sidekick - and younger brother - of Wrath who first appeared in an episode of The Batman called "The End of the Batman"(February 2008).
He didn't appear in comics until Detective Comics #22 (September 2013), this time as Clyde Anderson, no relation to Wrath (but still his sidekick), and possibly one of several people using the Scorn name. Unfortunately, his costume is ridiculous compared to the original, but that's because the New 52 hates fun.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Character Spotlight: Diggle
The second post today is John Diggle, who first appeared in the Arrow pilot, played by David Ramsey. He was originally presented as Oliver Queen's bodyguard and driver, but has since been brought into the secret and also acts as Arrow's muscle (and his conscience). We've also slowly learned that, being ex-military, he has ties to both ARGUS and the Blackhawks.
As perhaps the only original character in Arrow, it was only a matter of time before he made the jump to comics and he finally did so in Green Arrow #24 (October 2013).
His name is a reference to well-known Green Arrow author Andy Diggle, which is also the name of Diggle's brother.
As perhaps the only original character in Arrow, it was only a matter of time before he made the jump to comics and he finally did so in Green Arrow #24 (October 2013).
His name is a reference to well-known Green Arrow author Andy Diggle, which is also the name of Diggle's brother.
Character Spotlight: Otis
It's been a while (as always seems to be the case these days), but today I have two entries! First up is Otis.
Otis first appeared in Superman: The Movie (1978), portrayed by Ned Beatty. Otis is Lex Luthor's bumbling, tackily dressed henchman. He also appeared in Superman II (1981), but did not return for any sequels.
Despite appearing in the tv series Young Justice (Episode: "Satisfaction") and the comic book Superman Family Adventures - versions of him, anyway - he didn't make his first mainstream appearance in comics until Forever Evil #2 (October 2013) as one of Lex Luthor's security guards. He looks different, but his personality's pretty much the same.
Otis first appeared in Superman: The Movie (1978), portrayed by Ned Beatty. Otis is Lex Luthor's bumbling, tackily dressed henchman. He also appeared in Superman II (1981), but did not return for any sequels.
Despite appearing in the tv series Young Justice (Episode: "Satisfaction") and the comic book Superman Family Adventures - versions of him, anyway - he didn't make his first mainstream appearance in comics until Forever Evil #2 (October 2013) as one of Lex Luthor's security guards. He looks different, but his personality's pretty much the same.
