Bill Reed
Theory: Christian Bale’s Batman = Adam West’s Batman
Thanks to The Hub, I’ve been treated to an episode of the brilliant 1960s Batman TV show just about every night of the week. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen many of these stories, and I’m positively delighted to experience them once again. Being a tenth-level geek, however, has the back of my mind spinning, weaving together connections between the campy pop series and later Bat-lore. The inspiration it provided the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher films seems readily apparent– Batman Returns borrows a plot from a Penguin episode, Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze may as well be Otto Preminger’s, etc– but what could 60s Batman possibly have in common with the grim avenger from the current Bat-flicks? Why, quite a bit, actually.
You see, I’ve determined that Christopher Nolan’s Bat-films take place in the same continuity as the Adam West-led series. Yes– they are prequels, and I can prove it!
Style Equals Substance?
Sometimes, the style in which a work is presented becomes the substantive element of that work, a thematic tactic used to make allusions outside the confines of the narrative. Form often follows function, but sometimes, form is function.
So Matt Seneca wrote this pair of pieces about Grant Morrison’s short-lived revamp of Wildstorm’s Wildcats and Authority properties, both of which suffered from crib death after an issue or two, never to return. That makes them little nothings, overlooked and ephemeral curios, but that also makes them fascinating. Were these comics too beautiful to live?
Sunday Continental Breakfast: 2/13/11
Your regularly-scheduled Brunch has been sent to Aunt Mabel’s farm for a while, whilst other projects take shape. That said, here’s a few neat links anyway…
Sunday Brunch: 2/6/11
Your weekly-ish survey of the news, criticism, and art, sequential or otherwise, found on the comics internet. I hope you’re taking good notes, because there will be a quiz.
Sunday Brunch: 1/30/11
The comics internet, in Dagwood sandwich form. (One bite! I dare you!)
Sunday Brunch: 1/23/10
WHITHER THE COMICS CODE? So DC and Archie, the last bastions of the Comics Code Authority, have dropped the seal’s use entirely. Which begs the question, hopefully for an actual comics journalist to answer: Who was the Comics Code Authority? Where was this self-governing body headquartered, who was on it, and what will they do now? As something that’s existed for something like 60 years, you’d think we’d know more about it. Sure, we know what created it, but how has it been maintained these many years? What caused its complete loss of power (the direct market, I presume)? How will it be remembered?
Box of Comics: New Year’s Resolution Comics
For 2011, I’ve told myself to only buy masterpieces, or comics that are as good as I remember comics being when I was a kid. Reviews of such comics– under the cut!
Sunday Brunch: 1/9/11
In which the author gives himself an existential crisis about the state of pop culture, and also links to a picture of a bear eating a space ninja
2010: The Year We Make “Best Of” Lists
What, 2011 already? Isn’t it high time for another renumbering?
Lo, as prophesied, comes the day when humanity remembers the things it liked in the past year and then ranks them according to preference. I’m forgoing the usual countdown, however, and skipping to the #1s from various lists! Only the best need apply!
Sunday Brunch: 12/26/10
Below the fold: presents left under the tree, stocking stuffer stuff, aired grievances, and other secular, nondenominational metaphors for stuff I found on the comics internet.
ROM Needs You to Help Bill Mantlo!
You could own this Todd Hoffman piece!
JK Parkin at Robot 6 has just brought my attention to this, and now I am bringing your attention to this: As you may well know, comics writer Bill Mantlo suffered a traumatic brain injury almost twenty years ago now, and needs constant care. One of the best things he ever wrote was ROM Spaceknight, and now you can bid on some ROM art to help out Bill and his family. You’ve got the rest of the week to do it, so be a Spaceknight and put in a bid or two (or ten, or 75 plus four annuals)– I know I’m going to.
Sunday Brunch: 12/12/10
More like Sunday Continental Breakfast. A light week, with a selection of webcomics, art, and criticism for your reading pleasure.
Sunday Brunch: 12/05/10
Much like a delicious turkey, today’s post is moist, delicious, and has a stranger’s hand up its arse. Much like the vegan option, tofurkey, it tastes like whatever you cook it with and is beloved by hipsters everywhere. Yes, we’re well past Thanksgiving by now, but that’s okay, because this column is always comprised of leftovers.
Now that I’ve alienated all six of my readers, we can move on.
Sunday Brunch: 11/21/10
I’ll take “Potpourri” for $1000, Alex.
Sunday Brunch: 11/14/10
NARCISSISM DEPT: Today at our sister blog Robot 6, I sit in as the guest on What Are You Reading? I assume they asked me because Jon Hamm was too busy appearing everywhere else. Of course, I’m writing to you from the distant past of Friday, so for all I know Mr. Hamm found a spare half hour in his schedule and I have been pre-empted. Damn you, Hammmm!
