Ace of Spades HQ

August 10, 2012

Random Recommendation: Batman: Under The Red Hood
— Ace

One reason I'm sort of biased against the Nolan movies is that the Animated show and the subsequent animated movies are so good.

Downloadable from Amazon for like $2.99 or something is Batman: Under the Red Hood, from a year or two ago. I watched it expecting little and wound up being nicely surprised.

A long time ago Batman had a second Robin. The first Robin had split off to be his own superhero, Nightwing. The second Robin, Jason Todd, was generally disliked by the fans. DC did a nasty little stunt-- they wrote a plotline in which Joker apparently murders Jason Todd, and asked readers to call in (paying $0.50 a call, of course) to vote on whether to Keep Him or Kill Him.

They voted to kill him. And DC did.

Under the Red Hood is about this incident, or, rather, the aftermath of it.

They did something comic books always do -- they brought Jason Todd back. But it's one of the few times All Is Forgiven because it's a pretty neat storyline. As to how he came back -- well, I won't spoil it, but it makes sense (in the comic book universe of Batman, anyhow).

And when Jason Todd came back, he came back angry. Angry at violent criminals, and angry at Batman, whose coddling, morally weak non-lethal manner of dealing with violent crime resulted in his own death. Although the Joker is a major character in it, the main conflict is between Batman and Jason Todd's vigilante alter-ego, the Red Hood, and it's actually pretty well done.

They took a lame, unpopular character and made him pretty interesting.

Below is a clip from one of the last scenes in the feature. It's kind of stupid to include such a late scene -- spoilers -- but I really like it.

If you have any interest in this movie, though, don't watch past 2:00. Just watch the first two minutes to see if you like the central conflict here. If you watch past that, you kind of just watched the whole end of the movie.

I never was a big fan of Batman and Robin, but somehow Batman Versus Robin is pretty compelling.

One major demerit because Mark Hammill doesn't do his perfect voicing for the Joker. They got someone else. This guy's pretty good, but Mark Hammill is so plainly the definitive Joker Voice, it's a little disappointing.

The Second-Best Batman Storyline:

Posted by: Ace at 04:58 PM | Comments (176)
Post contains 421 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:02 PM (6o4Fb)

2 Yeah, Red Hood was probably one of the best ways a character's been retconned. It was actually interesting and points out one of the major flaws of Batman's approach.

Most of the animated movies are very good and take the implications of the 'verse seriously.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Avec nachos sans jalapenos. at August 10, 2012 05:02 PM (Gk3SS)

3 First!

Posted by: Fareed Zakaria at August 10, 2012 05:02 PM (qs9G3)

4 That does sound interesting but I'm having a hard time comprehending this part: "One reason I'm sort of biased against the Nolan movies"

Oh no, no you didn't. Also, first?

Posted by: Adam at August 10, 2012 05:02 PM (/YJYi)

5 Damn it.

Posted by: Adam at August 10, 2012 05:02 PM (/YJYi)

6 I completely made up the First! thing

Posted by: Fareed Zakaria at August 10, 2012 05:03 PM (qs9G3)

Batman is a RINO. Robin is the One True Conservative.

Posted by: fluffy at August 10, 2012 05:03 PM (3SvjA)

8 Jensen Ackles plays the voice of Jason Todd, for those who are fans of the show Supernatural.

Posted by: Christina Hendricks's Mighty Jugs are Really SMOD in Disguise at August 10, 2012 05:03 PM (+AV7H)

9 I also made up the First! thing when I wasn't.

Posted by: Fareed Zakaria at August 10, 2012 05:04 PM (qs9G3)

10 Is there a gay pron version?

Posted by: Exeter; Doug Exter at August 10, 2012 05:04 PM (GkwjL)

11 Yeah, the porn version was called "Batman: it's better when you're under little red riding hood (and she's really a he)". It's one of Harry Reid's faves.

Posted by: Adam at August 10, 2012 05:06 PM (/YJYi)

12 Yeah, this was great. One issue I have with Nolan's Batman is his humanity. The real Batman is a little colder, much more a buffed version of Sherlock Holmes, except he's crazy and dresses like a bat.

Posted by: Max Power at August 10, 2012 05:07 PM (q177U)

13 Oh damn, another American athlete said something about God. Do I need to republish my article that talks about how, despite calling myself a Christian, it unnerves me when people talk about God in public?

Posted by: Some asshole for salon.com at August 10, 2012 05:08 PM (/YJYi)

14 This was pretty good, as Joker now has to deal with someone even more ruthless and effective than him. So it's not just Batman vs Joker, it's more like Batman vs Joker vs Red Hood.

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 05:08 PM (doBIb)

15 Does this show come on before or after iCarly? Hope it's after cause my mom makes me finish my homework before I can watch tv.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at August 10, 2012 05:08 PM (gkSHY)

16 Really,Batman's no kill policy makes no sense.Further,he started out willing to kill in 36.It was the comics code that made him warmer and fuzziere(and having a young partner,Robin)

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:09 PM (6o4Fb)

17 enh.

Posted by: Hepcat at August 10, 2012 05:09 PM (frbyY)

18 The Ambiguously Gay Duo did it better and first.

Posted by: MrCaniac at August 10, 2012 05:09 PM (1grxW)

19 "One reason I'm sort of biased against the Nolan movies"

If you've seen Batman the Animated Series, then the Nolan movies are a bit of a let down. It also makes the Bale Batvoice in the Dark Knight even more hilarious than it is because it is incredibly obvious that he's trying to do Conroy's voice and fails. Utterly.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Avec nachos sans jalapenos. at August 10, 2012 05:10 PM (Gk3SS)

20 And bringing Jason back is just like Ras. He enjoys testing the Detective and probing for weaknesses. And to use Batman's own sidekick against him. Right up Ras' alley that is while providing the near immortal Demon Ras al-Gul some entertainment.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 05:10 PM (FVHPd)

21 13 My cousins son gets Sports Illustrated.Their issue this month was all multi culti pc Olympics with lesbian soccer players etc.

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:11 PM (6o4Fb)

22 I was never a comic fan as a kid, which might be why I dig the Nolan Batman movies so much. To me, even as a kid, Batman seemed like a really serious character with a lot of dark psychological baggage. Nolan's version is that in spades, and Christian Bale did a great job of showing a Bruce Wayne just barely able to keep a lid on his rage. If the animated movies keep a serious tone and don't make it silly, they're worth checking out.

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 10, 2012 05:12 PM (WYOrt)

23 6 I completely made up the First! thing

Posted by: Fareed Zakaria at August 10, 2012 09:03 PM (qs9G3)

You didn't make that up on your own!

Posted by: barack obumbles fauxcahontas at August 10, 2012 05:14 PM (p18em)

Yeah, like it's real important that everyone in the world knows what sex floats your boat.

Posted by: Jayne Cobb at August 10, 2012 05:15 PM (wUFaM)

25 One reason I'm sort of biased against the Nolan movies is that the Animated show and the subsequent animated movies are so good.

We missed your review of The Dark Knight Rises, didn't we?

Or do you not like a movie you haven't seen?

Again?

Posted by: Rocko at August 10, 2012 05:15 PM (wqffJ)

26 I'm so glad that instead of NBC showing, you know, actual sports, that they bore me with pieces on British culture that I couldn't care less about.

Posted by: Adam at August 10, 2012 05:15 PM (/YJYi)

27 They aim to misbehave.

Posted by: Mal Renolds at August 10, 2012 05:15 PM (wUFaM)

>>Jensen Ackles plays the voice of Jason Todd, for those who are fans of the show Supernatural.

-----

I just finished watching all 7 seasons...good show!

Posted by: CanaDave at August 10, 2012 05:15 PM (zsu+c)

29 Ace I suggest you check out the animated series Young Justice. It may give you a bit of appreciation for Batman and Robin's interactions. One of the best lines of the series so far to me has involved Wonder Woman getting very accusatory about why Batman would allow a 9 year old to join him in his fight. There's only about a season and a half of episodes now.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 05:17 PM (GULKT)

30 You mean after Robin got beaten bloody, he didn't get tied over a barrel and ass raped? Shame.

Posted by: Andrew Sullivan at August 10, 2012 05:18 PM (wUFaM)

31 OK, so why didn't retard Robin simply splatter paint the walls with Joker's brains when he had the chance? Robin always struck me as kinda dim.

Posted by: @PurpAv at August 10, 2012 05:18 PM (3Thg4)

32 Headline on DailyMail.com---- EXCLUSIVE: Meet Obama's slumdog sibling, the hopeless drunk from a Nairobi shanty town who is the President's BROTHER Bwahaha!

Posted by: Nukie at August 10, 2012 05:18 PM (AzwZn)

Oh, you should definitely check out Justice League: Doom.

Its based off of the comics "Tower of Babel" storyline.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 05:19 PM (GULKT)

34 Major buzzkill hearing about Luke Skywalker's lack of involvement. He is the definitive (non-Ledger) Joker and maybe even the definitive (non-Ledger) Batman villain.

For fans of the goofy TV show, they did something similar with The Riddler. They did plotlines based on him when Frank Gorshin wasn't available, and hired some other guy. It SUCKED.

Still, sounds like an intriguing concept, even without Skywalker

Posted by: The Q at August 10, 2012 05:21 PM (B/yDO)

35 I am really confused. First ace is posting this late. WTF? I thought ewoks when to sleep when the went down.

Second, the post has nothing to do about Harry Reid being a pederast

Focus dammit.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo-intellectual at August 10, 2012 05:22 PM (3ZjAP)

36 Robin is a catcher.

Posted by: Alfred at August 10, 2012 05:23 PM (jucos)

37 Yeah, the DC Animate movies are consistently very good. Probably because they are run by Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett-- the same guys behind the great DC animated cartoons in the 90s and 2000s. Also, an element of pop culture weirdness. It was written by Judd Winick -- one of the original Real World cast members, the MTV reality show. His career was actually made by that show and his friendship with the gay guy who died from AIDS. He wrote a comic book about it, which was his big break into the comics industry. And he's risen from there to writing screenplays.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 05:24 PM (R+6Q+)

38 Oh, good gravy. Ace needs a second site for this kind of stuff! Note I didn't say he should stop it, since I think he's really good at pop culture and movie reviews, but it's weird to see it here.

Posted by: Reggie Love and Kal Penn at August 10, 2012 05:24 PM (I2LwF)

39 Ugh, sock

Posted by: Verdadman del Norte, iPhone ninny at August 10, 2012 05:25 PM (I2LwF)

40 >>>Oh, good gravy. Ace needs a second site for this kind of stuff! Note I didn't say he should stop it, since I think he's really good at pop culture and movie reviews, but it's weird to see it here. meh, it's not like it was this OR a political post. I knocked off at seven; I did this one for fun.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 05:26 PM (fxHyG)

41 I'd like to look under that Boy Wonder's Red Hood.

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 05:27 PM (vjyZP)

42 and I did see the dark knight rises, recently. It's okay. I didn't love it.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 05:27 PM (fxHyG)

43 Ace has eclectic interests.

Posted by: toby928© at August 10, 2012 05:28 PM (QupBk)

44 I liked the part where the lithe boy was tied up and squirming. Good recco.

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 05:28 PM (fxHyG)

45 This joker is JOe DiMaggio, perhaps best known as Futurama's Bender. He ain't Mark Hammil, but then again Hamill said he wasn't going to do Joker anymore....with the exception of the two newest batman videogames, which are quite excellent.

Posted by: taylork at August 10, 2012 05:28 PM (ppNDn)

46 What has two thumbs, and an erection over the first scene? (three digits up) This guy!

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 05:29 PM (fxHyG)

47 and I did see the dark knight rises, recently. It's okay. I didn't love it. Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:27 PM (fxHyG) -------------------------------------------------- Plot holes big enough to drive a truck through.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at August 10, 2012 05:29 PM (jucos)

48 Nathan Fillion is the latest Hal Jordan voice in the new Green Lantern animated movie....

Posted by: taylork at August 10, 2012 05:30 PM (ppNDn)

49 Speaking of lesbians, I've been watching this detective series called Inspector Brunetti. It's written by a American woman who lives in Venice Italy. It really shows a different side of the city. So, if you like Venice check it out. Though the books are written in English, the series is by a german production company. You get use to the german fast. Oh, lesbians...there are two reoccurring characters -beautiful blond lesbians.

Posted by: Redd at August 10, 2012 05:30 PM (78TcD)

50 Here's my contribution to the Batman world. A pic of the missus for Halloween a couple years ago...

http://i46.tinypic.com/20it65u.jpg

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 05:31 PM (doBIb)

51 The DC animated DVDs are becoming the greatest hits of the DC. They are taking the best stand alone stories from 70 years of comic books and animating them. So you start with a story that has already stood the test of time. And then it gets condensed down to a 70 minute DVD and with excess continuity taken out so it can stand alone. For some of them I wish they had a bit more time, but animation is expensive and these aren't big money makers. And like everything DC, only the Batman movies make money. They've made some good DVDs of other characters, but the fans don't buy them.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 05:31 PM (R+6Q+)

52 For animated Batman with Mark Hammill's Joker, watch Mask of the Phantasm. Old but still good.

Posted by: Ranba Ral at August 10, 2012 05:32 PM (G99e4)

53 Is there a gay pron version?

I wrote a version that was recently seized by INTERPOL, does that count?

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 05:32 PM (HtUdo)

54 What's this crap with the extended oral exegesis when the bad guy is still an existential threat? This is such a common and transparent plot trick is makes me ill. Cap the fucker, then you've got all the time in the world for naval gazing and moralizing.

Posted by: @PurpAv at August 10, 2012 05:33 PM (3Thg4)

55 Yeah, the Batman Animated Series was really well done. They had a lot of good voice acting in them which made the stories that much better. They easily beat the craptastic Batman movies before Nolan did his trilogy reboot.

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 05:33 PM (doBIb)

56 what does this have to do with cake girl?

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:34 PM (Dnbau)

57 Chicago teachers are the highest paid in the country, shortest school year, shortest days and the dumb-fuckiest union leader of all dumb fucks is going on strike. Rahm, fire 'em, you arrogant prick

Posted by: Dodging bullets in Chicago at August 10, 2012 05:34 PM (WqcDi)

58 46 This joker is JOe DiMaggio, perhaps best known as Futurama's Bender.

He ain't Mark Hammil, but then again Hamill said he wasn't going to do Joker anymore....with the exception of the two newest batman videogames, which are quite excellent.

Posted by: taylork at August 10, 2012 09:28 PM (ppNDn)

The DC animated movies have tried getting various actors to do the voices of their characters. Kevin Conroy and the guy that did Superman have probably done 3 of them so far, but that's kind of rare and are usually having guys doing one shots at the characters. Like Adam Baldwin and Mark Harmon have both been Superman in these animated films.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 05:35 PM (GULKT)

59 Powerball Saturday night has a jackpot of .. wait for it ... $253million annuity or $170.5million cash. Can afford your own zombie apocalypse ranch with a 30 year supply of Valu-Rite and other very essential items. Or make your own Cake Girl as Catwoman movie with money left over.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 05:35 PM (y2dm+)

Anyone seen the new Bourne movie? If so, is it any good? I'm just glad they got rid of Matt Damon's whiny emo assassin.

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 10, 2012 05:35 PM (WYOrt)

61 OT, Tim Tebow threw an interception. We suck. On the other hand, Rex Ryan looks hawt

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:37 PM (Dnbau)

62 The cost of CG cartoons keeps coming down. So I expect DC to shift to to CG animation sometime before 2020. Traditional animation is great, but expensive. To keep production costs down they keep moving to poorer and poorer Asian nations. First it was Japan, then Japanese animators got too expensive. Then South Korea. Right now it's Vietnamese animators. Somewhere there's an animation production house training some Cambodian peasants to draw Batman from a 3/4 pose.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 05:38 PM (R+6Q+)

63 Wow, I agree with the UN on something...the US should halt bio-ethanol.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19206199

THIS is our chance to kill that retarded corn ethanol program and blame it on someone else. We should grab it.

Posted by: @PurpAv at August 10, 2012 05:38 PM (3Thg4)

64 And Mark Sanchez has pumped up so much in the off season it looks like he has grafted baby heads on to his biceps. So I get to look at Tebow, Sanchez, and Ryan But right now they still suck

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:38 PM (Dnbau)

65 63 The cost of CG cartoons keeps coming down. So I expect DC to shift to to CG animation sometime before 2020.

Traditional animation is great, but expensive. To keep production costs down they keep moving to poorer and poorer Asian nations. First it was Japan, then Japanese animators got too expensive. Then South Korea. Right now it's Vietnamese animators.

Somewhere there's an animation production house training some Cambodian peasants to draw Batman from a 3/4 pose.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 09:38 PM (R+6Q+)

They already have. On Cartoon Network they have a Green Lantern series that is CGI that is similar to the Clone Wars. Next year they start a new series "Beware the Batman" that will also be animated in the same manner.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 05:40 PM (GULKT)

66 BTW all you complainers when ace does a comic book or movie thread jus give it already.Can't be 100% serious shit all the time.

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:40 PM (6o4Fb)

67 I think Warner Bros/DC animation is great but I feel that Under the Red Hood is a pretty mediocre story. Robin #2 is better when he is dead and a symbol of Batman's failure. I knew Batman was going to make his self-righteous speech about "I can't kill the Joker because I would be just like him" routine at the end. I thought it was hilarious when Batman and Nightwing are fighting the robot, the thugs are given the task of exposition for the audience: "That's Nightwing, he was the 1st Robin." How the fuck would these crooks know that off the top of their head? I could do without the Amazo robot and the cyber ninjas and Black Mask acting like Al Pacino in Scarface. I wish they would stop directly adapting comic stories and write their own stories for the animated movies- taking elements of stories is fine but directly adapting is lazy. I like the Nolan movies because they take elements from the comic stories (Year One, Knightfall, Long Halloween) but they create their own thing. I highly recommend Batman: Mask of the Phantasm if you want the best animated Batman movie.

Posted by: Naes at August 10, 2012 05:40 PM (4WQJ/)

68 Well Mark Sanchez will at least look buff as he throws 22 interceptions this year.

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 10, 2012 05:41 PM (WYOrt)

69 Soooo. We've got Chess threads on Sunday. Game threads. And now COMIC BOOK threads?

I feel like I'm visiting my kid in junior college. Can you all get any geekier?

Posted by: Hylozoic at August 10, 2012 05:42 PM (Vh0f5)

70 Anyone read Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth?

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 05:43 PM (caAEA)

71 That guy sounds more like John DiMaggio than Mark Hamill. DiMaggio voices Bender, Jake in Adventure Time.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at August 10, 2012 05:44 PM (ZhEoC)

72 Listen Ugga, my hubby is a rambling wreck. And right now Sanchez looks good and Tebow is on the bench.

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:44 PM (Dnbau)

73 Have you watched Cowboy Bebop yet? It's well worth the investment of time. And doubly so before Hollywood ruins the aesthetic with whoa Keanu.

Posted by: Anthony at August 10, 2012 05:45 PM (1vHjc)

74 Pretty much anything that DC's animated division has put out has been worth watching. Not so much their live action movies but yeah.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 10, 2012 05:45 PM (r4wIV)

75 Comics stopped being fun when they started to make me have to buy a thousand variants of the same damn issue.

An now comic art is about as horrible as you can get.

Give me Romita, Kirby and Miller.

Lee and McFarlane ruined comics

Posted by: General Woundwort at August 10, 2012 05:45 PM (DWgdc)

76 UtRH was terrific in my book, too. Glad it got a shout out here!

I would also recommend the recent "Superman vs. the Elite" DVD release. It's also done by much of the same crew, and it's also quite good with some good moral dilemmas to ponder.

The basic plot is that a new group of very charismatic superheroes show up that soon begin to kill the bad guys without mercy which eventually pits them against Supes. Supes has to do some pretty heavy soul-searching to understand why they are so popular when they cross that killing line with regards to his own place in today's world.

It's not too heavy-handed and actually pretty much leaves it up to the viewer in the end to decide which way is the better way. I was afraid it would be too preachy given that a lot of comic writers are of course died-in-the-wool liberals (not Frank Miller if you've read about him, though), but it wasn't.

A very good watch,too, if you like this stuff...

Jon

Posted by: Jonathan at August 10, 2012 05:45 PM (Fy1Mo)

77 Heres something I found.The Batplane was equipped with machineguns too(so much for Batman not using guns). He hurled them off rooftops Â— including one member of the Frenchy Blake gang whom he tossed with Â“a mighty heave.Â” In the first Bat-story, Â“The Chemical Syndicate,Â” he punched a criminal into a vat of acid, and says, Â“A fitting end for his kind.Â” He also strangled criminals to death with his lasso, kicked them so hard he broke their necks, and punched them so hard they fell to their deaths. In Batman #1, he kills a bunch of Hugo StrangeÂ’s henchmen with a machine gun. Â“Much as I hate to take human life, IÂ’m afraid this time itÂ’s necessary!Â” Batman shouts. Source: Tales of the Dark Knight, Mark Cotta Vaz, Batman Unmasked by Will Brooker.

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:45 PM (6o4Fb)

78 Holy shit, I just watched a little of the Jets game and Rex Ryan HAS shed a lot of weight this year. I've always been of the opinion that guys with access to world class athletic facilities and nutritionists really don't have an excuse to be a huge fat ass, though.

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 10, 2012 05:46 PM (WYOrt)

79 Anyone play the Arkham Asylum game?

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 05:46 PM (doBIb)

80 @66 Right. Although technically those are the cartoon series. The animated DVDs get a higher budget and still are using hand-drawn animation. The budget (cost per minute) of a cartoon series is much lower than even a straight to DVD animated movie. The animated movies get a $3-$5 million budget or so. Whereas each episode in a cartoon series will get a small fraction of that.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 05:47 PM (R+6Q+)

81 I'm s telling you I did not recognize Rex Ryan on the sideline. He looks hawt. Like Race Bannon hawt.

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:47 PM (Dnbau)

82 @70, Dude. Your kid lives at junior college? That's a comic book plot, right there.

Posted by: comatus at August 10, 2012 05:47 PM (qaVK+)

83 Cartoon? Cartoon, Ace?

Jeeez.. Cartoons are not comics.

I read the comics in the 60's. Batman was my fave. Superman second.. then there was Action comics - mostly Superman - and later the Justice League..

But I was also there for Issue #1 of Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.

At no time did any self-respecting comic book reader ever consider cartoons, that hit TV with a vengeance in the 70's, as something worth watching. It's a fucking cartoon, Ace!

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 10, 2012 05:48 PM (UTq/I)

84 Ryan has lost a metric shit ton or about 100 lbs I'll bet. I am pretty sure he had his stomach stapled though.

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:49 PM (Dnbau)

85 I love comics. I cant wait to go to Toronto at the end of the month. There's a huge comic convention called FanExpo that they have every year. Stan Lee is gonna be there!

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 05:50 PM (S5PAk)

86 Anthony, a live action Cowboy BeBop with Keanu 'Whoaaaa' Reeves as Spike. Make it stop!!!! But even in the live action, Ein will be far smarter than Spike.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 05:51 PM (y2dm+)

87 there were at least 5 robyns. Jason Todd is the one who died in "A death in the family" Which I have/had, I don't know haven't checked my collection in a while.

Posted by: Douglas at August 10, 2012 05:51 PM (YKOnu)

88 85 Yeah,lap band.

Posted by: steevy at August 10, 2012 05:52 PM (6o4Fb)

89 Wouldn't Batgirl, Under Her Red Panties, make a more compelling story?

Posted by: Redd at August 10, 2012 05:53 PM (78TcD)

90 Batman really burns through his Robins. Maybe someone should call CPS.

Posted by: Naes at August 10, 2012 05:53 PM (4WQJ/)

91 ugh, why are her panties red (cringing)

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 05:53 PM (Dnbau)

92 Cake Girl as Cat Claw? Or Alexthechick in her stompy boots?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Claw

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 05:54 PM (y2dm+)

93 Barbra Gordon fingering her old Batgirl costume that is on display in the bat cave next to Nightwing's costume.

"I see you repaired the bullet holes."

Batman Beyond, episode Curare.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 05:55 PM (y2dm+)

94 I can go on and on about this stuff. Some recommendations: Batman: The Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Batman: Year One (they made an animation movie released a few months ago), Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC's next animated film will be based on this one)...I can go on.

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 05:56 PM (a1l5l)

95 As a comic geek of long standing (as if you couldn't tell by my sig), I believe DC Animated films are, for the most part, very good. Some are just plain excellent. Any of them are much better than the DVD animated features Marvel has done to date. Recommendations: "Batman: Year One" and "New Frontier". My favorite, though is the animated short featuring The Spectre. It's done in a 70s-cop-show-meets-Night-Gallery style that's just awesome.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread, having confessed his geekery, will never ever get a date now at August 10, 2012 05:56 PM (5J54Q)

96 Actually, two demerits. Kevin Conroy isn't the voice of Batman. There's been no better. Not even close.

Posted by: Scott at August 10, 2012 05:58 PM (NaSR0)

97 >>>71 Anyone read Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth? I did. Don't believe the hype. I know people think it's good but... I think they're just mistaking obscurantism for depth. It's a series of hard-to-parse pictures with almost no connecting scenes between them -- baffling vignettes -- of Batman just going from one room in Arkham to another, and seeing weird shit that makes no sense. And the bizarre font is almost impossible to read. And if you do read it, it makes no sense. Just put me down for "I don't get it."

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 05:58 PM (181g6)

98 So here at the outdoor festival an entertainer who looked kinda fey said, "hey, you in the blue shirt, come up here". The lady in the shirt didn't respond at first. Her shirt was more aquamarine. But maybe it was turquoise. This brings up some interesting questions. Is wondering about aquamarine versus turquoise MORE GAY than a Batman and Robin thread? Discuss amongst yourselves

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at August 10, 2012 05:59 PM (yD3P6)

99 91 "Batman really burns through his Robins. Maybe someone should call CPS"

Who goes through young boys faster? Batman or Harry Reid?

Posted by: The Q at August 10, 2012 05:59 PM (B/yDO)

100 Like most fiction, Batman's respect for human life goes about as far as the current author's mood. I'm okay with a Batman who can be pushed to the point where he kills. He's not Dexter, but he's not Darcy Do-gooder either. I think it's more instructive to define *where* that line is than simply pretent you can never cross it or you'll turn into a Gremlin, Star-Wars style (mind you Jedi killed an awful lot of people).

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at August 10, 2012 06:00 PM (bxiXv)

101 I think Grant Morrisson was in his "how many drugs can I take and still live?" phase when he wrote "Arkham Asylum".

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at August 10, 2012 06:00 PM (5J54Q)

102 Is wondering about aquamarine versus turquoise MORE GAY than a Batman and Robin thread?
Discuss amongst yourselves Posted by: boulder toilet hobo
...........
Not in a million years..

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at August 10, 2012 06:00 PM (UTq/I)

103 Er, just out of curiosity, did I just stumble into a script writing conference meeting for "The Big Bang Theory"? Just sayin'....

Posted by: GuyfromNH at August 10, 2012 06:01 PM (kbOju)

104 a serious house on serious earth just seems to be the writer free-associating whatever Jungian connections/dream-representations he sees in the Batman villains and then packing them all in in dialogue and pictures. Like, Mad Hatter's a pedophile. Okay, whatever, that one's obvious; I get it. But then there's some weird Lightning Symbolism with Maxie Zeus. I forget. Made no sense. Looks like he just went through his Thesaurus of Symbolism.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (181g6)

105 100 91 "Batman really burns through his Robins. Maybe someone should call CPS"

Who goes through young boys faster? Batman or Harry Reid?

With all due respect to Batman's prowess, Harry Reid sounds like the name of a serial pederast. "Let me show you my Harry Reid."

Posted by: Naes at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (4WQJ/)

106

Is wondering about aquamarine versus turquoise MORE GAY than a Batman and Robin thread?

Mais oui, Messieur.

Posted by: Hogarth de la Poubelle, Member, The League of Ugly Shirted Gentlemen at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (QoYBj)

107 97 Actually, two demerits. Kevin Conroy isn't the voice of Batman. There's been no better. Not even close.

Posted by: Scott at August 10, 2012 09:58 PM (NaSR0)

Yeah like I said, they like to get different actors for these things. Kevin Conroy and guy that voiced Superman in the animated series are actually and exception that they have done 3 of them so far. Most end up doing a one and done stint as the voice of the characters.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (GULKT)

108 baffling vignettes -- of Batman just going from one room in Arkham to another, and seeing weird shit that makes no sense.

Sounds like trying to make sense of Wm S. Burroughs...

Posted by: @PurpAv at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (3Thg4)

109 So Boulder Toilet Hobo. That longbow of yours is equipped with arrows of Turquoise or Aquamarine fletchings and bandings? Discuss.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 06:02 PM (y2dm+)

110 Well it is Arkham Asylum. The Mountains of Madness meets Bats and the Joker. Roll for your sanity.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 06:04 PM (y2dm+)

111 No love for #51?

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 06:06 PM (doBIb)

112 >>>Well it is Arkham Asylum. The Mountains of Madness meets Bats and the Joker. Roll for your sanity. I don't know how to put this, except: No. The Killing Joke painted a picture of madness and the short drop down into it. This is, seriously, just very random. I cannot stress enough that there is no narrative. it's all him just riffing on Symbolic Interpretations. Batman just walks around saying things like "Huh?" and "Wha?" This book sucks.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:06 PM (181g6)

113 a serious house on serious earth just seems to be the writer free-associating whatever Jungian connections/dream-representations he sees in the Batman villains and then packing them all in in dialogue and pictures. Like, Mad Hatter's a pedophile. Okay, whatever, that one's obvious; I get it. But then there's some weird Lightning Symbolism with Maxie Zeus. I forget. Made no sense. Looks like he just went through his Thesaurus of Symbolism. ----- It is really messed up. I can't imagine how many drugs Morrison was taking when he wrote it, but back when it was written (1989) it was a very different take on Batman. The Maxie Zeus part, IIRC had something to do with him being a mad God who believed that his shit had magical powers. Or something. It's required reading for any serious Batman fan, but maybe not so good for newbies. Not my favorite book by a long shot, but it's up there.

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:07 PM (caAEA)

114 Always been more a chartreuse man, myself.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at August 10, 2012 06:08 PM (QLB8r)

115 The Killing Joke painted a picture of madness and the short drop down into it. This is, seriously, just very random. I cannot stress enough that there is no narrative. it's all him just riffing on Symbolic Interpretations. Batman just walks around saying things like "Huh?" and "Wha?" This book sucks. ---- I do like what they did with Two-Face though...

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:08 PM (caAEA)

116 Random Recommendation: Batman: Under The Red Hood

One reason I'm sort of biased against the Nolan movies is that the Animated show and the subsequent animated movies are so good.

Downloadable from Amazon for like $2.99 or something is Batman: Under the Red Hood, from a year or two ago. I watched it expecting little and wound up being nicely surprised.

They voted to kill him. And DC did.

Under the Red Hood is about this incident, or, rather, the aftermath of it.

They took a lame, unpopular character and made him pretty interesting.

Below is a clip from one of the last scenes in the feature. It's kind of stupid to include such a late scene -- spoilers -- but I really like it.

I never was a big fan of Batman and Robin, but somehow Batman Versus Robin is pretty compelling.

Posted by: Fareed Zakaria at August 10, 2012 06:08 PM (8hBZi)

117 Another recommendation--Batman: The Cult. Holy crap, dude. Awesome, awesome book.

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:10 PM (caAEA)

118 112 No love for #51? Outstanding....costume.

Posted by: Bcochran1981 at August 10, 2012 06:11 PM (GEICT)

119 Er, just out of curiosity, did I just stumble into a script writing conference meeting for "The Big Bang Theory"? Just sayin'....

So once again CBS has rejected our script "Thirty minutes of Penny jumping on a trampoline". Any other suggestions?

Posted by: Alex at August 10, 2012 06:12 PM (oL8vk)

120 Jets are playing like a two headed baby

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 06:12 PM (Dnbau)

121 Now Fareed, we talked about this...

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:13 PM (181g6)

122 take that back, a three headed baby

Posted by: thunderb at August 10, 2012 06:14 PM (Dnbau)

123 If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

Posted by: Tuco wondering why Red Hood doesn't just STFU and shoot at August 10, 2012 06:15 PM (WItBr)

124 Outstanding....costume.

She won a costume contest with it.

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 06:15 PM (doBIb)

125 I asked blue shirt lady. She said it was aquamarine, not turquoise. I was right first time. Now I can sleep tonight

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at August 10, 2012 06:16 PM (1X3i+)

126 This thread is making me misty for my ROM space knight doll.

Posted by: General Woundwort at August 10, 2012 06:16 PM (DWgdc)

127 I probably should explain something. I know the Batman mythos along with other parts of the DC universe. Some of the stories I have been exposed to by friends are good. I even know how fandom reacted to The Killing Joke and what happened to Barbra Gordon, but I have never bought the comics. I could not afford to get every comic DC and Marvel seemed determined to cross-over with. It was a cheap ploy for them to sell comics and I have never forgiven them for that serious jerk pull. And when they went variant cover insane, which persists to this day, it was another reason for me to avoid them at all costs.

So instead I am one of those who liked independent comics and translated manga. I could count on those to have an interesting story and not jerk me around with cheap marketing ploys. Plus when an author ended his comic, that was it.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 06:16 PM (y2dm+)

128 EC, yes she is a very nice Harley Quinn. For Batman: The Animated Series I just adored Harley Quinn. She is just trying to do the best she can, alas she falls for literally the wrong guy. Even with her hyenas, she had a better grip of reality than the Joker.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 06:18 PM (y2dm+)

129 Red Hood's alright but he ain't no Winter Soldier. Those of you who know, know what I'm sayin' and the rest of you...be glad you don't.

Posted by: UndeadDillinger at August 10, 2012 06:20 PM (D+gdB)

130 EC, yes she is a very nice Harley Quinn.

Thanks! I told her that too.

Harley's a funny character and I liked that all the original voice actors did Arkham Asylum the videogame too. A nice piece of work to make the game seem as real to the cartoons as possible.

Posted by: EC at August 10, 2012 06:21 PM (doBIb)

131 There's about 100 reasons why comics have dropped in popularity since the early 90s. It's so odd to me that Avengers and Batman can make billions at the box office but there is never a corresponding increase in people buying comics.

Posted by: Naes at August 10, 2012 06:21 PM (4WQJ/)

132 Ace, thank you--I'll have to look this one up. I maintain that "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" is the single best Batman movie ever made, live-action, animated or other, but I admit I've not seen "Under the Red Hood."

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 10, 2012 06:26 PM (i0App)

133 @132

Because all of the best story lines are 20 years old at least.

There have been no comic book movies made that feature original stories.

They are some variation of stories from a handful of storylines.

Posted by: General Woundwort at August 10, 2012 06:29 PM (DWgdc)

134 Anyone see Superman vs The Elite?

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:30 PM (caAEA)

135 I have Joffen. I liked it. Not the best of them. But certainly very good.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 06:31 PM (GULKT)

136 @132 The title sequence was great.

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:33 PM (caAEA)

137 I simply do not watch "superhero" movies. I left that superhero comics shit behind when I was a freshman in high school. I firmly believe such movies are for people who have no patience for reading/thinking and think they are getting something more by looking at pictures.

It helps explain why liberals love such movies. They never learned to read words/sentences or think in terms of "argument" and "logic". Just good/bad in pictures.

/rant

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 06:35 PM (41zfH)

138 Nice work Jim. You just insulted at least half of the commenters here. Plus Ace. And you showed yourself to be an idiot. Congrats.

Posted by: Bcochran1981 at August 10, 2012 06:37 PM (GEICT)

139 Well I don't care. It's a dorky interest, I admit. What I don't get is why some people *care so much* about other people's interests. It's almost like Jim's *offended.* I get this a lot here. I don't really understand the conceit, but I do know there are some people who get pretty offended if your interests are not precisely aligned with their interests. LIVE *MY* WAY, DAMNIT!!!

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:41 PM (181g6)

140 Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 10:35 PM (41zfH) ----- Whoops!

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:43 PM (8gSqv)

141 Among the other reasons comics have dwindled is the rising price of each issue of a comic. Makes waiting for the trade seem smart. And then there are the writers who think they can write serious stuff in a comic and what they end up doing is insulting the readers. Anyone remember the whole hero schism thing that had Captain America fighting his former allies,

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at August 10, 2012 06:44 PM (y2dm+)

142 beckoning, it's been years since I saw mask of the phantasm but I think maybe this is better. The animation's better, that's for sure. I think I just never really cared about The Phantasm in that story. It was obvious who it was, and I didn't care. It was a conflict made up for just that movie. It felt contrived, in that sense. "Here's this important thing from Bruce's past you never, ever heard about before. Now... CARE!" One advantage the Red Hood flick has is that the Jason Todd thing is an event which has been around for a lot of years. What also makes it interesting to me is that Jason Todd has a really, really, REALLY good point. It's one thing for Batman to Punch Evil Out and all that. But Todd here is kind of... right. I just love when he says "Why is this guy still alive, asshole? He *murdered* me, if you remember. Asshole."

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:44 PM (181g6)

143 Ace have you read any of DC's New 52 stuff? I dont know how much youre into comics...

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:47 PM (8gSqv)

144 I get this a lot here. I don't really understand the conceit, but I do know there are some people who get pretty offended if your interests are not precisely aligned with their interests.

LIVE *MY* WAY, DAMNIT!!!

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 10:41 PM (181g6)

Post Survivor reviews every Friday Ace! Do it you know you want to. Me and Peaches will enjoy them. Fuck everyone else.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 06:47 PM (GULKT)

145 wanna hear something odd? I've kind of been doing something with Jim Shooter's independent comic book house, which I've never talked about, because I never talk about such things, and also, because I'm way late on one thing and other people are way late on the thing I finished. and that was because someone saw me posting here about comic books. So. Which reminds me, I have to make calls about one of those things. It's going to be a conservatively-themed comic book, with different stories by bloggers and such. mine's called The Green Monster. It's a takeoff of Young Frankenstein (or Frankenstein) where Igor seeks out Albert Einstein's brain for the Creature, but comes back with Albert Gore's (because Einstein's is too big and heavy).

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:54 PM (181g6)

146 It's one thing for Batman to Punch Evil Out and all that. But Todd here is kind of... right. ---- That's the whole point, right there. At what point is Batman justified in killing people? Should he just kill the Joker and that's it or should he feel justified in killing everybody? Should he just kill the major villians like Two-Face and Bane or should he go after the lesser villians like the Mad Hatter and the Ventriloquist? Where does one draw the line? Furthermore, why does Batman feel justified in killing the Joker only after he murdered someone close to him? The Joker has killed TONS of people, and hardly anyone argued Batman should kill him. Again, where's the line?

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 06:55 PM (2PrrK)

147 I also enjoyed the animated adaptation of Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One" that came out about a year or two ago. It surprisingly was faithful to the graphic novel (one of the few Batman titles I've actually read, along with the upcoming "The Dark Knight Returns" two-parter). It is so odd that DC's animated productions are incredibly successful (both critically and commercially), but they are so scattershot when it comes to the big-budget live-action films. There really need to talk to the brain trust behind these animated titles since they obviously get what works about the DC universe and what doesn't (which Marvel was able to do with their in-house productions).

Posted by: Synnerman at August 10, 2012 06:56 PM (0Bdlg)

148 The new 52 has good art but they aren't that fun to read. The main audience for comics nowadays is 40 years old. Everything has to be super-serious and every other character has to be gay (to be socially relevant) and everything is written for the trade paperbacks so there are issues where literally nothing happens because it's part 3 of a 12 part story. These are probably some of the reasons why they are not as popular.

Posted by: Naes at August 10, 2012 06:56 PM (4WQJ/)

149 obviously batman can't kill him because he's the company's third most lucrative intellectual property and an important contributor to its first most. even getting away from batman -- no one else in gotham owns a gun? No cop ever said to himself, "Let me spare the taxpayers some money here"? I mean, the whole deal with comic books is they basically tell the same stories over and over again, with minor variations. Continuity is a lie, of course.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 06:58 PM (181g6)

150 Ace, did you ever think about starting up a sister blog for Pop Culture items like TV, Movies and Books? I do enjoy your takes on the subject and a devoted website could eliminate some of the whiners and could earn some additional readers who don't care about the 24/7 politics angle (unlike us regular morons)?

Posted by: Synnerman at August 10, 2012 06:59 PM (0Bdlg)

151 11 Yeah, the porn version was called "Batman: it's better when you're under little red riding hood (and she's really a he)". It's one of Harry Reid's faves. Posted by: Adam at August 10, 2012 09:06 PM (/YJYi) I'm likin' it. I love it!! BTW, Is Gerg here? Gerg, I'm sorry about last night. It happens with us older guys every once in awhile. I really wanted last night to be special for you. I have more incense, too. Call me.

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 07:00 PM (iiCBx)

152 >>>did you ever think about starting up a sister blog for Pop Culture items like TV, Movies and Books? I do enjoy your takes on the subject and a devoted website could eliminate some of the whiners and could earn some additional readers who don't care about the 24/7 politics angle (unlike us regular morons)? sounds like work

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 07:01 PM (181g6)

153 Please keep mixing the pop culture with the politics. Righteous indignation 24/7 is exhausting.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 07:03 PM (R+6Q+)

154 Jim Shooter's blog has had some good, funny stuff.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at August 10, 2012 07:04 PM (R+6Q+)

155 @149: I think the only reason a lot of characters are gay is because, well, aren't most artists liberal?

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at August 10, 2012 07:04 PM (caAEA)

156 Who goes through young boys faster? Batman or Harry Reid? Welllllll.... *blush*

Posted by: Harry Reid at August 10, 2012 07:06 PM (iiCBx)

157 140 Well I don't care. It's a dorky interest, I admit.

What I don't get is why some people *care so much* about other people's interests.

It's almost like Jim's *offended.*
**********************************

I'm not "offended". I just gave my "opinion" --- AS IF that's what your entire site is about, opinions. If people didn't care about other people's opinions this blog would be totally irrelevant.

Maybe you can employ Pixy as your opinion gate-keeper--- we've seen how well HE's done as webmaster.

But God forbid I should commit lÃ¨se majestÃ© by disagreeing with Ace!

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 07:59 PM (41zfH)

158 Heh. Once again,Pixy's lack of competence is on display. Can't have none of them Frency diacritical marks now, can we................

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 08:01 PM (41zfH)

159 Joker played by Bender.

Posted by: Furious Diaper at August 10, 2012 08:18 PM (+n4Qh)

160 Jim, you sure seemed to package your "opinion" as an insult: >>> simply do not watch "superhero" movies. I left that superhero comics shit behind when I was a freshman in high school. I firmly believe such movies are for people who have no patience for reading/thinking and think they are getting something more by looking at pictures. It helps explain why liberals love such movies. They never learned to read words/sentences or think in terms of "argument" and "logic". Just good/bad in pictures. ... What would you say of my own opinion that based on what I've seen you write I believe you to be a dullard? You see, insults are indeed opinions, but they are still insults. Be a man, and own your distemper. Don't whine about it like a *girl* when you're called on it.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:12 PM (fxHyG)

161 do you not see the difference between "I don't like comic books" and "I don't like comic books and believe people who do are stunted and incapable of thinking"? Or is this just the usual way you express your opinions, and the typical manner in which you engage the world? Again, I don't really care all that much, but don't sit here and whine that you were *only* expressing your "opinion" that I am "incapable of reading/thinking." As I said, you seem rather dull-witted to me, one of those people perplexed and befuddled by anything except the comfortingly tangible. That's a rather nasty opinion of mine, isn't it? And I wouldn't express it, because generally people don't go out of their way to be rude and insulting to others. But if we're just "expressing opinions" here, there's mine. Shall we continue expressing such opinions, or shall we both admit there's something to politeness?

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:16 PM (fxHyG)

162 I don't want to get into this and ride you any further. But I would check your own politeness levels. People seem to think that on the internet, they can just express their inner rude/insulting person. After all -- the people on the other end of it aren't real people, right? Or aren't likely to say anything back? Well, wrong. They are.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:21 PM (fxHyG)

163 Dwayne McDuffie (RIP) would probably have a field day talking circles around Jim.

Posted by: buzzion at August 10, 2012 09:22 PM (GULKT)

164 "As I said, you seem rather dull-witted to me, one of those people perplexed and befuddled by anything except the comfortingly tangible. That's a rather nasty opinion of mine, isn't it? And I wouldn't express it, because generally people don't go out of their way to be rude and insulting to others."

**************

Well, heh. Dull tool that I am, I still "get" the irony of insulting me and then pretending not to.

Ace, had I only known (grovel grovel, cringe cringe) that I had sinned against you personally (grovel grovel, cringe cringe) by saying that the mass enthusiasm for superhero movies reflected a paucity of intellect (grovel grovel, cringe cringe) I would have course said NOTHING.

Nthing.. That's the best response...right?

Nothing.

God for fucking forbid that anyone should have the temerity to disagree with your tastes and interests.

God for fucking forbid that you might counter with, .."Well, you might make a case for what you think, but....

Still, I see my error, which is : "Do not piss off the blog's owner--- no matter what you do, no matter how on-point you think your comments are."

That was the lesson Cahrles Johnson's blog taught me, but I seem to have forgotten it.

Thank you for schooling me with a strap across my back.

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 09:32 PM (41zfH)

165 Jim I really don't want to fight with you and I don't want to be enemies with you. And I don't want to make your night worse that it should be. But I am attempting to explain that that is precisely what happens when one begins broadcasting honest, but no less derogatory, opinions. You probably didn't envision fighting with me tonight. And I didn't envision fighting with you. People have social inhibitions against insults in real life. They just know, somehow, that certain opinions are a little too insulting for open broadcast. People seem to abandon this posture on the internet and assume everyone wants their unvarnished opinion, even if it is insulting. No one does. I don't, and neither do you. Social inhibitions and a bias towards politeness are very useful. They keep us from having dumb, pointless, meaningless squabbles with complete strangers at 1:38 am. As I said, you could have expressed your opinion that comic books were dumb *without* going on to pretty expressly state your opinion that I cannot read or think without pictures. And I think you should have. There is nothing wrong with an opinion, but yes, people will be insulted by insults. That's the point of insults.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:39 PM (fxHyG)

166 now, am I bothered a lot by this? No, I'm kind of used to it. That said, is this REALLY where we both need to be right now? Arguing with each other on the internet? Throwing bad feelings back and forth across computers? No, we shouldn't be here. This was a bad detour. Let's just stop and just agree that I like comic books and you don't, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:41 PM (fxHyG)

167 It is just completely unfathomable to me that a blog has built a reputation for wit, intelligence, AND, on snot, bile and political japery, could violently object to a comment questioning the taste of those who find meaning in comic book superheroes and the movies based on them.

I stand by what I said. I seem to have wounded Ace through expressing my opinion, but haven't we have enough of people bleating that they have been "offended" by "objectionable" remarks?

Crikey! I can go to Kos for that kind of stuff. Except I was banned from there years ago, for upsetting their applecarts.

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 09:42 PM (41zfH)

168 OK: truce.

We seem to have reached an (un)happy medium of sorts.

I love this blog.

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 09:45 PM (41zfH)

169 Dude, now you're just being whiny. I attempted to show you what happens when people decide to just let their real opinions -- their insulting ones -- fly without regard to whether they're insulting the target. You seem to understand that you don't like it when I do that, but still can't seem to grasp why you shouldn't have done so to start with. I will remind you of something called the Golden Rule and hope you can figure it out from there.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:45 PM (fxHyG)

170 whoops, and now I'm the asshole for not seeing your acceptance of the truce. Please disregard my last pointed barb, and I accept the truce in turn.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 09:46 PM (fxHyG)

171 OK, Ace.

No prob.

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at August 10, 2012 10:00 PM (41zfH)

172 and just so you know-- I don't mind your opinion that comic books are stupid, or dorky, or for kids, or whatever. When you add to that that "people who like this stuff are incapable of reading/thinking without pictures," that's a shot at me, and anyone else here who likes this stuff. Right? Opinions are fine.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 10:04 PM (fxHyG)

173 just don't say anything bad about CakeGirl. Or her magic Sex-Cakes.

Posted by: ace at August 10, 2012 10:06 PM (fxHyG)

174

Chose..

The girl or the guy!?

Posted by: I'm batman at August 10, 2012 10:31 PM (D7lJF)

175 Plot holes big enough to drive a truck through. Posted by: Truck Monkey at August 10, 2012 09:29 PM (jucos) --------------------------------- Nice try, but just because Nolan didn't slow down to explain everything to you (OMG, how could Batman have gotten back into Gotham?!?!?!) doesn't make it full of plot holes. Learn to pedal faster.

Posted by: Truck Monkey's Reckoning at August 11, 2012 01:41 AM (GVKdF)

176 The BtAS episode "Mad Love" is probably the most realistic portrayal of an abusive relationship ever committed to animation. The part that ends with "My fault. I didn't get the joke" is incredibly effective. It takes Joker (apparently) dying for her to escape.

Posted by: GamerFromJump at August 13, 2012 04:40 PM (nY9PC)

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