Great Graphic Novel: Batman: Three Jokers

 In mid-2020 DC Comics published a 3-comic book run called "Batman: Three Jokers." It was hinted at in the comics back in 2018 (I believe). Recently they were published all together as a graphic novel and I got it as a self-Christmas present. It was Amazing!!

  Anyone who is a Batman fan, and is familiar with the iterations of the Joker since his inception in 1939 Detective Comics #27 (and the introduction of Batman) got to know the character as an evil criminal-type. As time went on, the Joker morphed into a psychotic clown, that killed the second of Batman's Robins (he's on his fourth as the others grew up and moved onto other identities). There's also the comedian-type criminal, which was my favorite depiction of the Joke in the 80s. 

This graphic novel addresses those character types in a pretty gripping story. I was also pleased to see that the Batgirl character was again a grown woman, not the ridiculous teenage character DC Comics had been portraying her as over the last 10 years. That said, this is a really gripping novel centered around the "Jokers," Batman, Batgirl and the Red Hood (former second Robin resurrected as a different hero). Get it!  Read it! Re-read it! I know I will. 5 of 5 stars. - Rob  

Great Book about the "Secret Co-Creator of Batman" : Bill the Boy Wonder

I'm a big fan of Batman and have been since I was a kid and watched the 1960s Batman TV show. The book "Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman" by Marc Tyler Nobleman (with illustrations by Ty Templeton) is an amazing revelation about Batman's creation.
I've been reading Batman comics since the 1970s, and love the character and all of the films and cartoons he's appeared in as well. However, since his debut in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939, his creation as always been attributed solely to a man named Bob Kane. Well, Kane actually collaborated with Bill Finger to revise the look of Batman and Bill Finger wrote decades of stories about him.

Here's some of what you'll learn: It was Bill Finger's stories that helped propel Batman into fame with characters like Catwoman, the Joker, Penguin, Riddler and others. You'll read about his part in developing Robin the boy wonder, too.

MY THOUGHTS:  The author, obviously a Batman fan, researched Bill Finger's family, history and work. Although a short book, and written and illustrated like a comic book, EVERY BATMAN FAN should read this. Bill Finger was married twice and had 1 son named Fred who was gay. The author's on detective work (which is a tribute to Batman himself, as he is known as "the world's greatest detective" - uncovered an heir to Bill Finger, living today... I won't give it away, however, he also uncovered that someone falsely claimed to be related to Bill Finger and was collecting royalties (which ended with the revelation).

Bill Finger was the co-creator of Batman with Bob Kane.

Bill Finger also helped co-create the original Green Lantern (Alan Scott).
He was an amazingly talented writer.
Again - Every Batman fan should read this book. - Rob

Go See Justice League at the Movies!

Wow. What a great follow up to the amazing Wonder Woman film from this past summer. GO SEE "JUSTICE LEAGUE."  This is a film that I've been waiting for since 1974 when I first read the Justice League of America comic book in 1974. It features so many favorites. 
   - If you loved Wonder Woman, you'll really like Justice League. If you thought the film "Batman Vs. Superman" was too dark (as I did), this is a LOT lighter and has humor relief from the characters of the Flash and Aquaman. I WILL get this on disk when it comes out. I LOVED IT      5 OUT OF 5 STARS.
   So, here are my thoughts on a character by character breakdown:
   Wonder Woman has a fantastic opening scene against terrorists in London. I was almost cheering, because that was truly the way Wonder Woman should be depicted. She's a True highlight.
    Batman - Ben Affleck's Batman was a bit dark, but that's what Batman is supposed to be! Dark, brooding, and analytical. He played the character perfectly.
    Cyborg - I confess, not one of my favorite heroes, and to me he will always be a member of the Teen Titan (because that's what he was developed for in the early 80s). The characterization was flat and I didn't care about the character (although he has some cool abilities)
    Flash - Before I saw the film I thought "Barry Allen/Flash is a blonde Police CSI, super smart - so why did they pick a young dark-haired actor?" - but the actor really pulled it off. Funny, making it light-hearted and was a treat to watch.  I wanted to see more of him.
   Aquaman - Like Flash, I thought it was an unusual casting, but turned out really appealing. Arthur Curry/Aquaman is a well-groomed, blonde-haired, muscular guy without tattoos. However, the actor cast had a shaggy head of dark hair, beard and moustache, and lots of  tattoos. There was a version of Aquaman in the 1990s that had that mountain man look (and I hated it). However, the film showed off the character's strength, and even had a sense of humor, which made him more appealing. The scenes of  him in Atlantis with Mera (his later wife) were well-done. 
   SUPERMAN!!! - Yes, by now everyone knows he is resurrected. Every single scene with Henry Cavill were favorites.  (Of course, when he came back to life and was shirtless for about 5-7 minutes, Tom finally stood at attention, as I did!- Henry is HOT).   **The interaction between Lois (Amy Adams) and Clark (Henry Cavill were fantastic and will bring tears to your eyes (well, it did to me).
   The Villain "Steppenwolf" and the "Parademons" - They made for an army of bad guys to fight, and the story was good. Of course, they hinted at Darkseid (a villain I'm tired of), but he didn't show. 
   Over all- Every single character was well-done in Comic-book style. The story was fast-paced, and I can't wait to see it again. I'm sure there were things I missed.  - Rob
(Note: Tom, not a superhero fan thought it was okay to good). 
https://youtu.be/r9-DM9uBtVI

A Classic Superhero collection: Showcase Presents: Batman Vol 4

I love comics of the 1960s - 1980s, and Batman has always been one of my favorites. Recently I finished enjoying a collection of over 500 pages of Batman (and Detective) comics reprints from the 1960s in DC Showcase: Batman Volume 4.
   These stories are from the 1960s, when Batman's popularity was at an all-time high thanks to his hit liveaction TV series. This collection includes battles with The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman and a league of assassins, and appearances by Robin and Batgirl. It's a really enjoyable collection  and nowhere near as "dark" and "brooding" as the Batman of the 1990s and 2000s.
  It's one for the collection that will be read over and over again.
  Stories in this collection highlight Batman's 300th appearance where in Detective Comics #327, editor Julius Schwartz decided to give Batman and Robin a "new look". This paperback is the fourth collection to reprint the first stories from Detective Comics and Batman with this new editorial approach in black and white, and in chronological order. This fourth collection reprints stories from June, 1968 to September, 1969.

Batman Stamps at the U.S. Post Office!

Even the U.S. Post Office is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of BATMAN with special Batman Stamps (which I already picked up). 

 For 75 years, Batman has protected Gotham City from the forces of evil. Since his debut, he has become one of the most iconic super heroes in history. This year, the U.S. Postal Service® chronicles the evolution of the character, from his origins to present day.

This new issuance showcases eight unique designs in a sheet of 20 stamps. Four versions of the iconic DC Comics super hero are depicted from four eras of comic book history. In addition, there are four incarnations of the Bat-Signal.

The first row of stamps features Batman with his fists clenched. This muscular, determined Caped Crusader has spent the Modern Age of Comics defending Gotham City from its most notorious villains.
The second row of stamps displays Batman dramatically staring up at the Bat-Signal. By the Bronze Age of Comics, artists had encased the super hero’s spare black bat emblem with a yellow oval. The insignia became the crime fighter’s trademark.
The third row of stamps shows Batman swooping into the frame with his cape flying behind him. The image, from the Silver Age of Comics, accentuates the super hero’s signature glowing white eyes and utility belt.
The bottom row of stamps highlights Batman as first envisioned by creator Bob Kane during the Golden Age of Comics. The super hero’s black cape and cowl and gray suit formed his iconic visual identity.

A column on the left side of the sheet includes four different circular stamps. Each is affixed with a different Bat-Signal, the spotlight Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon sent into the night sky to summon Batman.

The background illustration features a silhouette of Batman standing on a bridge with the skyline of Gotham City looming above him. The flip side of the sheet features two illustrations of Batman and text about the history of the character.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp sheet.

The Batman stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate.

Made in the USA.

Issue Date: October 9, 2014

A 2 Minute Video Look at Batman Over 75 Years!

Batman has been one of my (Rob) favorite superheroes since the 1966 TV show came out. This year, 2014, marked 75 years ago that he first appeared in Detective Comics #27. So, DC Comics put together this 2 minute video montage to show how the dark knight's appearance changed over time.

 

VIDEO:  Published on Oct 31, 2014

Celebrate Batman's 75th Anniversary with this visual trip through his past. Discover how Batman's look has evolved since his humble beginning as we journey through 75 of his batsuits, drawn by everyone from Bob Kane to Greg Capullo!VIDEO: http://youtu.be/10yAerkDf4o

Remember Actor Dick Kallman?

I was watching the 1960s Batman TV show and enjoyed one of the last episodes that included the Joker and Catwoman. In the episode there was a character called "Little Louis Groovy," a record producer whom they assaulted and stole from. He's a handsome guy and I looked him up on the Internet. What I learned really shocked me for a couple of reasons!
Here's what I found out:
    Dick Kallman (July 7, 1933 – February 22, 1980) was an American actor. Yes, he died at 47 years old!  Kallman was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He starred in the title role of the 1965–1966prime time television sitcom Hank on NBC, and later moved on to stage work with touring companies. He was also a singer and released a 1963 album of pop standards, Hits & the Misses, on EMI.

He also acted in episodes 110 and 111 of Batman.

Kallman, who by the time of his death was an antiques and art dealer, was murdered in his apartment in New York in 1980 during a robbery and he was gay. 

The life and death (murder) of closeted gay actor Dick Kallman

   Dick Kallman was an actor in movies and television in the late 50s and 60s.He was also an accomplished singer who recorded an album of standards for EMI in London, when he was

Dick Kallman

accompanied by orchestras conducted by John Barry and Ennio Morricone. In 1975, he joined a partnership to manufacture women's play clothes and party clothes and also began working as a dealer in antiques, silver, and art.

    Richard Kallman was also a gay man. On February 22, 1980 Richard and his partner Stephen Szladek were murdered in Kallman's Manhattan apartment by three men who gained entrance and stole a lot of valuable art, antiques, and jewelry. It was a well planned and executed heist and it took over a year before the three were caught and even longer for them to be tried, convicted, and given lengthy prison sentences.  27-year-old Charles Lonnie Grosso of Queens was convicted of the killings and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. None of the paintings, jewelry, and antiques stolen from the apartment were ever recovered.

 YVONNE CRAIG, WHO PLAYED BATGIRL IN THE BATMAN SHOW SAID THIS IN 2010: I loved his performance as Little Louie Groovy in the last season of Batman with Cesar Romero as The Joker and Eartha Kitt as The Catwoman.

by: Yvonne Craig  (SOURCE: http://www.datalounge.com/)

Here's a video of a song he recorded. He really had a good voice! 

VIDEO: http://youtu.be/LH-TmVNO19s

Amazing -Batman 1960's Television Show Documentary!

WOW!! I found this amazing documentary on You Tube about the BATMAN 1960s TV show!   
  I had never seen this before and it is amazing. It's 43 minutes long and well-worth watching! This totally made my week. - it was produced by the Biography Channel.
    Batman is a 1960s American live action television series, based on theDC comic book character of the same name. It starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the ABC network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968. The show was aired twice weekly for its first two seasons and weekly for the third, with a total of 120 episodes produced during its run. The program was known for its upbeat theme music and camp moral lessons, which included championing the importance of using seat belts, doing homework and drinking milk among children. 
 VIDEO: http://youtu.be/s6-kZhI_ths

New Trailer for TV Show "Gotham" (Before Batman) Looks Good!

I enjoyed this trailer of an upcoming tv series based on Bruce Wayne (Batman) in his early years, right after his parents were murdered and before he became Batman. The Fox TV network says "GOTHAM is an origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told."
  This TV series debuts this fall, and I'm looking forward to it! 
Starring Ben McKenzie ("Southland," "The O.C."), Donal Logue ("Sons of Anarchy," "Terriers," "Vikings," "Copper") and Jada Pinkett Smith ("The Matrix" films, "HawthoRNe"), GOTHAM follows one cop's rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. Executive producer Bruno Heller ("The Mentalist") wrote the pilot, which was directed and executive-produced by Emmy Award nominee Danny Cannon (the "CSI" franchise, "Nikita"). John Stephens will serve as an executive producer on the series.
  See more of Gotham on our official site: http://fox.tv/Gotham
ike Gotham on Facebook: http://fox.tv/Gotham_FB
Follow Gotham on Twitter: http://fox.tv/Gotham_Twitter
LINK TO TRAILER: http://youtu.be/0d1zpt6k5OI

(2012 Fan Film) BATMAN: DEATH WISH - Catwoman, Harley, Nightwing, Robin

While searching You Tube, I came across this really well done fan film about Batman and the related characters in the Bat Family (Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Batgirl, Oracle) and villains Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn.
  I thought this was a great film- They've  captured the personalities of all the characters perfectly. Everyone did a great job. -I particularly enjoyed Nightwing, Robin, Catwoman and Harley's performances, because their characters lend themselves to more personality (the Batman actor did a great job, too, but is limited by the character's personality). Great sets, and supporting actors.  Learn more about it below. -Rob

Uploaded on Jan 13, 2012 VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yEtRZwHdww

Batman, Robin and Nightwing investigate a mysterious assailant who is targeting the kingpins of Gotham's criminal underground. As more of the rogues gallery is ensnared, a disturbing revelation about the attacker's identity takes shape.
  "Batman: Death Wish" is a Batman fan film directed by Matthew Hiscox (Army of Two: 40th Day, Blunt Trauma) and written by Jennifer Zhang (Street Fighter High, Dead Inside).
  And we're proud to say the video features an *original score* and cinematography by Andrew Ceperley!
    Visit www.batmandeathwish.com for cast interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, bloopers, a movie stills and more! New updates each week.