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L.A. Times Festival of Books Wrap Up

 Books, Comics, Community, Events, Marvel / DC  No Responses »
Apr 222013
 
Flash has just run around the world. Again. The Justice League showed off their best moves before reading "I am Aquaman: Justice League Visits Atlantis," which is part of HarperCollins' "I Can Read" series.
by staff writer Laura Davis

That’s it for LATFOB 2013. What a dizzying assortment of books, talks, characters and people! The Trojan marching band was spectacular  despite the heat, and it seemed that after a week of heartbreaking and terrifying news, everyone was ready to enjoy a pleasant weekend. Festival organizers made not only the impressive food court at USC available to attendees this year, but about a dozen gourmet food trucks were also on hand, so people had a huge variety of choices, and were generally able to get food in a reasonable length of time. Many festival fans are still upset over the venue change from UCLA to USC, but USC has plenty of shade and plenty of places to sit and take a break, a flat campus, and better parking and accessibility. As great as the festival was at UCLA, it’s better at USC.

This year, Warner Bros. had an even greater presence in the Children’s area, featuring the Mystery Machine and Scooby Doo, and Justice League characters, activities, and photo opps. Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Flash put in an appearance on the children’s stage to read from I Am Aquaman: Justice League Visits Atlantis, and the kids were mesmerized.

Lucy Dahl, daughter of Roald Dahl and inspiration for his Matilda, gave a warm talk, and in reply to a question about advice for young writers, she shared a letter written to her by her father on December 10, 1986, while he was writing Matilda:

“Dear Luke (that was his nickname for Lucy, she explains), the reason I haven’t written for  a long time is that I have been giving every moment to a children’s book…and now at last, it’s finished and I know jolly well I’m going to have to spend the next 3 months re-writing the second half. The first half is great, about a girl who can move things with her eyes, and about a terrible headmistress who lifts small children up by their hair and hangs them out of the upstairs windows by one ear. But I have got now to think of a really decent second half, the present one will al be scrapped: three months’ work gone out of the window. But that’s the way it is. I must have re-written Charlie 5 or 6 times, although no one knows it.”  She laughs and adds, “Well, now you do! So, I think that to answer [the] question, it’s not easy to write stories and to get them right.  I know that one of his biggest fears while writing, and I’ve heard him say this many times, was to lose the attention of his reader and to keep them with him all of the time.”

Authors Austin Grossman, Scott Hutchins, Lydia Netzer, and Robin Sloan formed a lively panel, Fiction from the 22nd Century; and John Scalzi gave a great talk, in conversation with Richard Kadrey. We’ll feature full coverage on both of these events shortly.  Stay tuned!

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Holy Reboot, Batman!

 Comics, Marvel / DC  No Responses »
Mar 262013
 
Batusi TV Exclusive Toy
by staff writer Laura Davis

Photo courtesy of DC Comics

Photo courtesy of DC Comics


DC Comics and Warner Brothers announced this week that they will be releasing Batman ’66, a digital-first comic series based on the 1960’s Batman TV series. The new series, due out this summer, will bring back all of the fan favorites and bring some new ones into the picture, keeping true to the campy style of the Adam West Batman. Jeff Parker is writing the new series, with cover art by Mike Allred, and the first 3 stories illustrated by Jonathan Case. The digital versions will be released in 10-page installments, followed by the release of 30-page print versions.

In an interview with Comic Book Resources, Parker said of the new series, “When I write this, I hear Adam West and Burt Ward speaking. But I also have the unlimited budget of the artist’s skill, and Jonathan Case makes this look like a summer blockbuster. Batman and Robin can do insane feats that even hardened stunt men would fear. And the henchmen they fight really look like monstrous goons. If I do it right, though, you’ll hear West.”

Batusi TV Exclusive Toy

courtesy of Mattel

In 2004, DC Comics quashed a proposed cover of Solo, which depicted Batman doing the Batusi, but with the reboot comes a new attitude, and they’re now embracing the Batusi, a dance at the pinnacle of campiness. Though it appeared in only two episodes of the 60’s series, it left an indelible mark on campy Bat-culture. At San Diego’s ComicCon 2013, Bat-fans will have the opportunity to get their hands on an exclusive Mattel  “Batusi TV” toy: a 6″ figure of the Adam West Batman doing the Batusi. The awesome window box features the work of graphic artist SHAG.

Yesterday, DC and Warner Bros. also announced the upcoming release of a new PC game called Infinite Crisis. Though it shares a name with their 2005 release, it’s not directly based on the previous game. The PC-based MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) is set in the DC multiverse, and features familiar characters like Green Lantern and The Flash, and twisted variants like Nightmare Batman and Gaslight Catwoman. The game, developed by Turbine-a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment- will be free to play, and users can sign up for a chance to get in on beta at the Infinite Crisis official site.

With the revival of campy Batman, DC closes the circle of Batman fans: now there’s something for everyone. The Millennial generation grew up with The Dark Knight trilogy as its predominant Batman exposure. Will this generation warm to the campier version that Generation X grew up on? Will Boomers who enjoyed the 60’s series as young adults and Gen-Xers feel the nostalgia strongly enough to support the new material? Tune in this summer.  Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!

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What do you think? Dark Batman or Campy Batman? We’d love to hear your opinions!

‘Legends of the Knight’ Wins Its Funding

 Charity, Comics, Hero Community, Marvel / DC, Real Life Superheroes  No Responses »
Mar 202013
 
hospital_visit

Batman Documentary Rallies Fan Support

hospital_visitSince its launch, the trailer for the film “Legends of the Knight” has over 100,000 views on YouTube. The film explores the inspirational impact of Batman and the power of heroic storytelling.

Krypton Radio originally reported last February on the efforts of producer/director Brett Culp to get the film funded. Over 850 supporters have financially contributed to make the film possible. The funding campaign on Kickstarter met its initial goal of $31,850 within 48 hours.

“Batman has become contemporary mythology,” producer/director Brett Culp said. “We want to show how enduring stories like this shape us. Our goal is to inspire everyone on the planet who loves Batman to embody his spirit, engage with the world, and make a difference. Together, we are Batman.”

Culp is a life-long Batman fan. Over the past year, he and his team have filmed stories in 12 cities, recording 48 interviews. They captured the stories of individuals whose love of the Dark Knight has inspired them to overcome devastating obstacles, to motivate and encourage young people, and to contribute to their communities.

Well-known Batfans who appear in the film include:

  • Michael Uslan – executive producer of “Batman”, “Batman Begins”, “The Dark Knight”, and “The Dark Knight Rises”
  • Denny O’Neil – legendary Batman writer
  • Lenny B Robinson – visits children’s hospitals around the country as Batman
  • Jill Pantozzi (The Nerdy Bird) – Superhero journalist with the spirit of the Caped Crusader
  • Rabbi Cary Friedman – author, “Wisdom from the Batcave”
  • Dr. Travis Langley – author, “Batman & Psychology”; teacher of university course in psychology called “Batman”
  • Gotham Chopra – co-author, “Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes”; son of best-selling author Deepak Chopra

“Human beings have always been stirred to greatness by the tales of heroes,” Culp said. “We connect with Batman because he is the super hero with no super powers. Just as he has committed himself to making the world better, we can dedicate ourselves to a noble cause and make a difference. This type of inspiration is a core function of storytelling in society.”

The production team for “Legends of the Knight” is currently raising funds through Kickstarter to finish the film. The 30-day funding campaign gives supporters of the project the opportunity to pre-order copies of the finished film and other incentives as a way of funding this documentary project.

In the spirit of Batman, all revenues generated by the completed film that are beyond production, screening, distribution, and administrative costs will be donated to charitable organizations.

Release date will be Summer 2013.

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New 52 ‘Batman Year Zero’ Builds The Mythology, June 2013

 Comics, Marvel / DC  No Responses »
Mar 122013
 
greg_capullo__s_batman_inked_by_glenludlow-d3f5oyr

greg_capullo__s_batman_inked_by_glenludlow-d3f5oyr

by Krypton Radio staff writer Michael Brown

Ever since DC Comics’ New 52 relaunch of its DC Universe in 2011, one of the most popular and nagging questions from comics fans has concerned the timeline of Batman’s crime fighting career. Now, at least some of those questions will be answered in “The Year Zero”, an 11-issue story arc that will take place in the pages of Batman beginning in June.

Key elements of Batman’s history are staying the same– such as the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents– says Scott Snyder, who has been writing Batman since its debut as part of the New 52 relaunch.

“It’s not ‘let’s redo the origin’,” he said Monday. “It’s time for a new story showing how Batman became who he is in the New 52.” Snyder said the decision stemmed from the success of the first year-and-a-half of the New 52, a comprehensive reorganization of DC Comics’ characters that saw many given new origins and costumes that combined those from their first appearances decades ago with some contemporary twists.

Snyder also said readers will see how Bruce Wayne found his calling and his early challenges when first wearing the cape and cowl.   “We tried to preserve as much of Batman’s history as we could and keep what we could of this history intact,” Snyder said about the change. “It’s ‘The Zero Year’, the one that no one has told the story of before. We see how Bruce became the Batman, built the cave, faced off with his first super-villain.”

Snyder also urged that he will not be taking apart “Year One”, the Frank Miller-David Mazzucchelli four-issue arc that recounted how Bruce Wayne began to fight crime after years away. “It’s time for a new story showing how Batman became who he is in the New 52,” Snyder said. “It builds up the mythology.”

Batman was created by Bob Kane and made his first appearance in the pages of Detective Comics #27 in May 1939.  The Year Zero will be penciled by Greg Capullo, who has also been with Batman since its 2011 relaunch.  Scott Snyder is an Eagle Award-winning writer whose other works for DC include Swamp Thing and American Vampire.

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Batman Collars Criminal For Police In Bradford, U.K

 Hero Community, Real Life Superheroes  No Responses »
Mar 062013
 
UK-BRITAIN-BATMAN

UK-BRITAIN-BATMANIn the early morning hours of Monday, February 25,  a man dressed as Batman handed over a wanted man at a police station in Bradford in the northern U.K. and disappeared into the night.  Police said the costumed crime-fighter marched a 27-year-old man into Trafalgar House Police Station.  The man was then charged with fraud and handling stolen goods.

Despite speculation on social media the arrested man could know the mysterious crime-fighter, West Yorkshire Police said: “We do not know the identity of the man dressed as Batman and do not know if he is friends with the man who was handed in.”

Continue reading »

Movie Review: ‘Batman: Year One’

 Animation, Marvel / DC, Movie Reviews, Movies  No Responses »
Feb 282013
 
Batman Year One 2011 Hollywood Movie Poster
Reviewed by Movie Moxie’s Alicia Glass

Batman Year One 2011 Hollywood Movie PosterStudio: Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment

MPAA Rating: PG 13

Director: Sam Liu, Lauren Montgomery

Review Rating: 7

Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham after years abroad, along with Chicago cop James Gordon, and their lives intersect in unexpected ways over the course of a year.

It is exactly as one might expect, at least from the Batman story point of view. Bruce Wayne (Ben McKenzie) comes home all tormented, still, by his parents death, and is ready to kick the butts of the bad guys in his beloved city, yet he’s still lacking a few things. Real life practice, and a symbol to strike the fear into the villains, mostly. After a run-in with the corrupt cops, and hey a newly appointed Lieutenant Gordon, Wayne is bloodily lamenting his weakness to his fathers bust, when a bat crashes through the window and screams at him awhile: eureka! Yawn.

On the opposite end of the scale, James Gordon (Bryan Cranston) and his pregnant wife Barbara just moved to Gotham. Jimmy, as he’s now known to his new corrupt partner Detective Flass, just wants to do his job and clean up Gotham from all its’ dirt, both illegal and legal. The cops, the ones in crime boss Carmine Falcones pocket especially, don’t see it that way and conspire to beat the snot out of Gordon, threaten to expose his affair with another lady cop, and even menace Gordon’s wife and her newborn. We know Jim ain’t havin none of this, and he just ends up going to town on all the bad guys, aided whether he likes it or not by Batman in the end.

Selina Kyle is tossed in there, first as observer of the newly returned Wayne making his practice runs in the East End, and then taking her cue from Batman, Kyle dons a mask of her own and turns to burglary that just happens to end up aiding her future nemesis. The pace of the movie flows without interruption, giving us proper glimpses of only the things we need to see that tell the story, and leaving out extraneous bits of fluff that just get in the way. The style of animation is gritty and wonderful, reminiscent of the 90’s Batman cartoons, as it should be. Month by month, Gordon and Batmans’ paths cross and recross, the light and the dark and how necessary they both are for each other is brought forth in glorious storytelling.

Each icon gets his own monologue, sadly their voices are a bit similar so sometimes it’s hard to determine who’s thinking out loud. Unfortunately, in this take on the early Batman years, Gordon’s story is the more entertaining of the two. Frankly, everyone knows Batman’s original story at this point, the slaughter of his parents by a villain and how he vowed to strike fear into the hearts of the wicked and clean up his city of crime from behind a mask. What we didn’t know, and what we learn in Batman: Year One, is how much his legal counterpart James Gordon is a badass!

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Kickstart This: Batman Documentary “Legends of the Knight”

 Comics, Community, Hero Community, Kickstarter, Marvel / DC, Real Life Superheroes  No Responses »
Feb 232013
 
hospital_visit

Documentary film “Legends of the Knight” to explore the inspirational impact of Batman and the power of heroic storytelling.

We love superheroes. With a station name like “Krypton Radio”, that’s kind of a given. Superheroes are symbolic of our personal struggles to be better individuals.  They inspire us to do better, to be better, and to make life better for our having been a part of it.  The iconic heroes of comic books are an important part of our modern mythology, the stories we tell one another to help us make sense of the world around us.

We can think of few iconic heroes more important to the fabric of our culture than Batman.  Producer / Director Brett Culp is in production on a documentary called Legends of the Knight which explores the impact of legends and tales of the Batman on the lives of fans around the world.  And he needs YOUR HELP to finish it.  It’s hard to imagine a more deserving project on Kickstarter.  Go give them money.  We’ll wait. Then come back and finish reading.

Back?  Good.

hospital_visit“Batman has become contemporary mythology,” producer/director Brett Culp said. “We want to show how enduring stories like this shape us. Our goal is to inspire everyone on the planet who loves Batman to embody his spirit, engage with the world, and make a difference. Together, we are Batman.”

Culp is a life-long Batman fan. Over the past year, he and his team have filmed stories in 12 cities, recording 48 interviews. They captured the stories of individuals whose love of the Dark Knight has inspired them to overcome devastating obstacles, to motivate and encourage young people, and to contribute to their communities.

Well-known Batfans who appear in the film include:

  • Michael Uslan – executive producer of Batman, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises
  • Denny O’Neil – legendary Batman writer
  • Lenny B Robinson – visits children’s hospitals around the country as Batman
  • Jill Pantozzi (The Nerdy Bird) – Superhero journalist with the spirit of the Caped Crusader
  • Rabbi Cary Friedman – author, “Wisdom from the Batcave” Dr. Travis Langley – author, “Batman & Psychology”; teacher of university course in psychology called “Batman”
  • Gotham Chopra – co-author, “Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes”; son of best-selling author Deepak Chopra

The film’s production team is offering a unique opportunity for supporters to interact and ask questions via a free online video webcast TODAY on Saturday, February 23 at 2pm EST. The webcast will be hosted on www.WEareBATMAN.com.

“Human beings have always been stirred to greatness by the tales of heroes,” Culp said. “We connect with Batman because he is the super hero with no super powers. Just as he has committed himself to making the world better, we can dedicate ourselves to a noble cause and make a difference. This type of inspiration is a core function of storytelling in society.”

The production team for “Legends of the Knight” is now raising funds through Kickstarter to finish the film. The 30-day funding campaign gives supporters of the project the opportunity to pre-order copies of the finished film and other incentives as a way of funding this documentary project.

The campaign raised nearly $5,000 in pledges in the first 12 hours.

In the spirit of Batman, all revenues generated by the completed film that are beyond production, screening, distribution, and administrative costs will be donated to charitable organizations.

Release date will be Summer 2013.

Official website: www.WeAreBatman.com

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Links

 

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