Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Funko booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
As someone who gave custom Batman Funko Pops to the groomsmen at my wedding, I had to stop by their booth during my Toy Fair trip. Unfortunately their area was forever crowded so I had to settle for a quick walkthrough on my own. This does not come as much of a shock though. To say that Funko has transformed into a phenomenon these last few years is a bit of an understatement.
Funko’s Pop line of collectible vinyl figures started with Batman and now features thousands of characters from Film, TV, comics, and pop culture. There are also seemingly as many variations of Batman as there are total number of properties they license. The Pop brand has expanded to include t-shirts, household items, and several monthly subscriptions based on properties like Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars and now Disney. Funko also sells Dorbz, Mystery Minis, Rock Candy, Vinyl Vixens, Super Deluxe, Hikari, and several different lines of action figures.
Comparing the first wave of Funko’s to the latest generation reveals stunning progress on these figures. They have an uncanny ability of capturing an actor’s appearance into a perfectly realized 3D vinyl caricature. Just look at the JOHN WICK, GODFATHER, TWIN PEAKS, WESTWORLD, and STRANGER THINGS figures. You do not need any packaging to tell you the identity of each figure.
While there were hundreds of Funko items on display, I tried to focus my photos just on the ones that are relatively new or have not yet been released. Below are some of my favorites, including a peak at some new lines…
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the DC Collectibles booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
It is no surprise that the majority of items featured in the DC Collectibles booth were related to characters appearing in JUSTICE LEAGUE, WONDER WOMAN, and SUICIDE SQUAD. One of the most impressive items was a beautifully sculpted statue depicting Harley Quinn and Batman fighting atop a runaway roller coaster. This piece is notable not only for the extreme detail but also for something it doesn’t include: Mr. J. Sure the Joker’s face appears on the coaster cart but it is quite refreshing to see a statue depicting a showdown just between Bats and Harley, and her pet hyenas Bud and Lou.
Wonder Woman was also prominently featured, including statues from comics, and her standalone film, as well as from JUSTICE LEAGUE. While I am not a big fan of how Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor looks in statue form, I think Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman is best represented in that two-piece statue.
The Batman and Superman statues from JUSTICE LEAGUE are both highly detailed but I do not think either is as dynamic as the set DC Collectibles released for BATMAN v. SUPERMAN. However, if I did not already own the previous statues, I would definitely pick these up since Batman’s new look is fantastic and Superman’s pose is fairly iconic. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about The Flash, as his awkward stance ruins what could have been a great piece.
On the figure front, the clear standout was a special edition set of Superman Vs. Doomsday, complete with a ton of accessories to recreate the iconic fight. The tattered cape flag and “Krakadoom” onomatopoeia word bubble really put it over the top.
Other highlights include a pretty spot on SUPERGIRL (TV show) statue, a few more bombshells, a menacingly creepy Killing Joke statue, and a working Bat signal that will surely be at the top of my Christmas list next year.
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Neca booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
The Neca booth called out to me from afar with their lifesize foam figures of Deadpool, Harley Quinn, and Spider-Man. Unlike most items of that size, these were not just for display purposes. You can actually purchase each of these figures for around $1,000 each. Aside from the price, a total lack of space, and a wife I’d like to keep, I could certainly see myself a collector splurging on one of these because the quality is astounding.
Luckily, the attention to detail carries over to their much smaller scale collectibles. Their Evil Dead II Ultimate Edition 2-figure set was one of the most fun things to photograph at Toy Fair, especially due to the awesome cabin diorama that sadly does not come with the figures. The quarter scale Ninja Turtle figures look as if they were perfectly cast from molds of the original Jim Henson creations. Dr. Strange may be their most accurate Marvel figure from the Avengers lineup and the Mayor edition of Penguin from BATMAN RETURNS is simply astonishing. Other highlights included the massive Predator display, a Muhamad Ali / Superman 2-pack, and a surprise Batman / Aliens 2-pack that features a Joker Xenomorph!
I am not sure if I am supposed to have a favorite company at Toy Fair but lets just say Neca knows what they are doing. Not only are their figures high quality and reasonably priced but Randy Falk, their Director of Product Development, is absolutely killing it on Twitter (@Neca_toys). Seriously, all companies need to be as interactive and passionate about their products on social media. Check out the images below to see what he is so proud of…
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. Founded in 1903, there is some serious history behind this show, which takes place every February at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Unlike Comic Con and similar pop culture events, the public is not allowed to attend. This meant that instead of a claustrophobic mess of fans and cosplayers, the completely manageable crowd was mostly comprised of well-dressed business people, the occasional company mascots and seemingly omnipresent Power Rangers promoting Bandai.
While I hoped to pick up a few “samples” of cool collectibles during my trip, I left with nothing in my backpack aside from some business cards and product catalogues. However, there were quite a few hands-on displays to test out products and it is pretty spectacular seeing adults in business attire playing with preschool toys. It also makes one wonder how to apply for a job like that because I would totally crush it.
Speaking of displays, I was also surprised to find many booths were completely enclosed. A general rule of thumb is that the bigger the company, the less that is on display publicly. Companies like Mattel, Hasbro, and Lego required appointments, often made weeks in advance. Since our invite came a bit last minute, we will have to save them for next year. However, I did get to peep some truly cool products from companies like NECA, Funko, and Diamond Select that I am excited to share with you.
Rather than overload this page with hundreds of photos, I will make a few posts broken down by the specific companies and add a link below so that all the coverage can be found in one place. I will also be posting an awesome little video demonstration on Augmented Realty from Pai Technology and an interview with the creator of Movie Buff, a trivia game that should be of interest to everyone reading this site. The rest of my photos can be found below!
When it comes to movie concepts, this flick may have the oddest, most tangled roots of all. But somehow things just snapped together (excuse the pun). Three years ago the movie world was stunned when a little kids’ flick, starring a beloved toy, became a box office (ahem) blockbuster! That may be because the WB folks thought outside the (toy) box and enlisted film makers and writers who brought something totally unexpected to the project: satire. Oh, and parody, and a big dose of zany anarchy. It was inevitable that THE LEGO MOVIE would spawn a sequel. But this is more of a spin-off. That earlier flick focused on the journey of everyman Emmet Brickowski and the folks he encountered. Since the Lego company makes themed toys around classic licenced characters, Emmet and his pals teamed up with Batman, whose gravelly voice was supplied by the great comic actor Will Arnett. Though a “super-friend”, Arnett’s Batman stole a Batboat full of scenes. And so, while we wait for Ben Affleck to don that suit, let’s spend some time with a “not quite so” dark knight in THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE.
After a very funny opening title sequence (shades of DEADPOOL), we’re taken to the candy-colored big block streets of Lego Gotham City. The Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) has enlisted almost all the residents of Arkham Asylum to grab an airliner full of explosives. Where’s the city’s hero?! Why right on top of things, as Batman (Arnett) easily thwarts this plot (after telling a heartbroken Joker that he’s not his main enemy). Joker slithers away as Batman returns to the Batcave for some microwaved lobster thermadore. While channel surfing he stumbles across a news interview with Superman (Channing Tatum) who explains how he banished his arch foe General Zod to the Phantom Zone via a special projector. Of course Batman is not impressed. But life goes on , as Bruce Wayne visits a local orphanage the next day and encounters one very excited, kinda’ nerdy lad, Dick Grayson (Michael Cera). That evening, Bruce attends a retirement party for police commissioner James Gordon (Hector Elizondo). His successor is announced, his daughter Barbara (Rosario Dawson). Bruce is disgusted when she says that her main goal is for the police force is to form a close partnership with Batman. The festivities come to a halt when the Joker and his gang arrive. But he surrenders without a fight. Bruce is livid. Returning to the Batcave, where Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) reminds him that he has adopted Grayson, Batman hatches a plan: he’ll steals Superman’s projector and send the Joker to the Phantom Zone. Unfortunately the clown prince of crime ends up sending hordes of pop culture monsters and menaces to Earth. Now Batman faces his greatest challenge: accepting help from others and becoming a team player.
The vocal dream team seems to be having a real blast (the feeling’s contagious). All appear to be following the lead of the, well, film’s lead. Arnett’s got that all too somber growl down perfectly which makes his absurd boasting riffs (bragging about his 9 pack) and opening battle rap musical number real comic highlights. But he’s not afraid to show us the vulnerable side as Batman finally must ask for help, all while battling that out-of-control ego. And he’s got a great rapport with his co-stars. Cera’s bumbling, hyper-excited Robin is a perfect complement to his grimacing mentor. That goofy youngster delights in living out his dreams, ignoring that garish uniform (“it doesn’t blend in anywhere!”). Bruce’s mentor (kind of an uncle, I suppose) is Fiennes as the dry, acerbic Alfred (very close to John Gielgud in ARTHUR). He’s the scolding voice of reason, the only person who can put Bruce in his place (though he’s often too stubborn to listen). Galifianakis expands on the notion of the Joker as Batman’s mirror image, but twists that with a bit of the jilted or spurned suitor (he dies a bit when Batman says he likes to “fight around”). His own partner, Harley Quinn, is voiced with naughty girl relish by the great Jenny Slate. The whole “bad guy gang” boasts a roster of terrific comic talent (special kudos for Two Face). Rounding out the cast are two superb actresses who give the caped crusader a great assist. Dawson ‘s a quite tough, but tender Babs AKA Batgirl, while Ellie Kemper endows a rainbow-colored brick with loads of personality.
TV vet Chris Mckay (“Moral Orel” and “Robot Chicken”) makes spectacular use of his big screen canvas. Every frame is chock full of bits of whimsy and wonder (lots to see when you hit the pause button on the disc). The big problem is that second half lull, which seems like a let-down after the manic barrage of gags and slapstick in the movie’s first half hour (no way they could keep up that pace). Perhaps the disjointed nature is the result of far too many cooks (five screenwriters) trying add too much spice. But the jokes that land really hit hard, delivering big laughs. The best gags may be those centering around our collective nostalgia for the main character. Loving jabs at all the incarnations of Batman jump out, from the comic books to TV to animation, and, of course, the big blockbusters. If we haven’t “Made America Great Again”, at least they’ve “Made Batman Fun Again”. It’s a nice break before that “gloomy Gus” is back with the JUSTICE LEAGUE. Like that 2014 flick, this is a wry satire that’s truly perfect for the whole family. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is “dada-dada-dada-dada-delightful”. 4 Out of 5
WAMG readers may know me as “That Weird Movie Guy”, but I’m also a collector and seller of Vintage toys and have set up at the Toyman Toy Show in St. Louis selling old toys for the past 26 years. I specialize in Baby Boomer Toys from the ‘60s and ‘70s and have a massive collection of Batman, Universal Monsters, Munsters, 007, etc toys from those decades.
I’ll be speaking at The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis (5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis 63112) on January 12th at 7pm. It’s a lecture called: From the Screen to the Playroom: Movies, TV, and Toys They Inspire. This is to tie in to their current exhibit there called “Toys of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s” that runs through January 22nd. This is a FREE event. I will deliver this lecture that features hundreds of images from my massive collection of TV and movie-related toys from the 1950, 60s, and 70s. I’ll discusses the connections between movies, television, and the toys we play with. This lecture will last about 90 minutes. Don’t miss it!
Batman has always been the face of DC Comics and the favorite superhero of millions of fans. Now those fans have the chance of owning a unique Batman Varsity Jacket from fjackets.com. The company recently contacted me to try out one of their jackets, and after wearing it a bit… Here is my review.
When I first got the jacket, I thought it was going to be like some of the othet jackets that I had seen. I ordered a varsity jacket from another country last year for my Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ Halloween costume. This, however, is of much better quality. Heck, this jacket blows the other jacket out of the water! The stitching is great, and the fabric is incredibly nice. The jacket is comfortable, soft, and perfect for fall, or winter with a hoodie under it if you live in colder areas! Oh, and the sleeves are not leather unless specified, FYI.
It’s also great for tall people. I normally have a problem with arm length due to my height, but not with this jacket. It has a very nice length (both torso and arm length). I do want to offer a ‘heads up’ when it comes t sizing. The chart is not typical of American sizing. I’m 5’10 1/2 and ordered the small, and it’s a little big on me. (Thanks to my identical twin, Mindy, for allowing me to photograph her in the jacket! I had a hard time taking pictures of myself in it. Then again, I’m a giant klutz!)
This stylish Batman Letterman Jacket is made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. The color of the collar, cuffs, buttons and waist is yellow while the entire jacket is in black. It adds a nice contrast of colors that is seen in the logo, which is made on the chest. There are two outside pockets and two inside pockets to keep your important things safe.
There are a ton of different styles, and they even offer custom work, which is pretty cool! The Batman jacket sells for $49.99 and can be found on fjackets.com. Check them out now!
It’s fun to root for imperfect people that run amok in an imperfect world. Flaws are what makes characters on-screen appear human, and yet, the greater and more abundant the flaws, the more villainous they are usually perceived. You can’t have a strong hero without an equally matched villain. Thankfully, the DC Comics’ universe is populated by the most colorful and deliciously evil around (sorry Marvel).
Amanda Waller is one of those great villains in a film chock full with hitmen, gangsters, and other villains known as “meta-humans.” As a government operative, she wants to protect the public, but does so at a cost. She manipulates evil to defeat even greater threats through a group nicknamed the “Suicide Squad.” She’s the puppet master pulling the strings of these imprisoned villains while offering reduced sentences for their services. It may sound like a sweet deal, but it is very clear that Waller doesn’t care who gets caught in the crossfire to protect the greater good.
On this squad you have Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith), Killer Croc, Boomerang, Enchantress, Diablo, Slipknot, Katana, and their leader Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman). There’s no need to fret if some of these names don’t ring a bell. Lengthy intros are presented for most of the Squad, though a few are left on the cutting room floor for some reason, despite Deadshot and Harley both getting intros even before the opening credits… and then given another set of intros from Waller at dinner with her cronies not too long after. The real mission is trying to squeeze everyone in along with a Joker (Jared Leto) as the wild card who occasionally shows up. It becomes evident within the first few scenes that this mission of finding balance is doomed for failure.
SUICIDE SQUAD is as sloppily assembled as any major studio film I’ve seen in a while. The first hour is haphazardly edited together and has no structure or sense of rhythm. It becomes a series of music videos where five minutes can’t go by without a pop song blaring – everything from The Rolling Stones to Eminem to The White Stripes is thrown in. It’s like an ADHD child scanning through the radio dial for almost an hour with no regard that the music is actually overtaking some of the dialogue. After an hour of flashbacks and meetings and skipping around between characters in cells, you are finally given the opportunity to see these loose cannons run wild in this twisted playground. Or so you thought. Try as hard as they may, the talented cast is never really let loose to explore their characters or to bounce off each other. The character moments that made the trailers so darkly whimsical are few and far between. They are a team of misfits, but it never feels like an odd-ball team because of a weak script that doesn’t embrace the quirkiness of each of its members.
The mission has the setup of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, complete with injections into their bodies and a mission to save a secret someone that is trapped in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Sound familiar? Like most of David Ayer’s filmography, the second half becomes a standard issue military film where the mission and macho posturing share center stage. When Rick Flag isn’t barking orders at other military guys who tagged along, he’s at odds with Deadshot while the rest of the squad is relegated to the background. This battle of bravado goes on like a merry-go-round until the next action sequence comes about to show off the fetishized gunplay. In between these darkly lit scenes occupied with (literally) faceless enemy thugs, more humor and character beats could have been injected. All of this eventually builds to a nonsensical final battle where there’s a magical swirling portal that has to be closed. You know the routine: there’s flashing lights, banter from the big baddie, and nothing at stake. At this point, you will be wondering more if there’s a mid-credits stinger than if the gang is going to live to tell the tale.
SUICIDE SQUAD is never as weird as it thinks it is. It should feel exciting or downright a little dangerous to enter into a world where you are forced to root for the bad guys; the type of men and women who would kill or do anything to get ahead in life. Yet, we are given repetitive shoot-outs, a derivative villain, and a lackluster final set-piece that undermines the thrill of seeing these great characters on-screen. In a way, you almost wish that Batman or Superman would show up just to rattle the cage a little (even if I’m still washing out the bad taste from this year’s previous film). It’s important to have two sides to a coin – to pit good vs evil. SUICIDE SQUAD attempts to present a new type of comic book movie: evil vs. more evil. However, this is just a thin facade created by a writer/director who doesn’t truly have a firm grasp of the characters and the property. Whether this is because of producers and studio meddling is yet to be confirmed. Yet, one thing is for certain, this time around, it doesn’t feel good being bad.
Overall rating: 2 out of 5
SUICIDE SQUAD is in theaters everywhere August 5th
Warner Bros. Pictures showcased an impressive lineup of talents and highly anticipated films at this year’s CinemaCon, which generated tremendous excitement for the Studio’s wide-ranging slate. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara opened the program and announced that Ben Affleck—who will again play the role of Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie—will direct, as well as star in, a new stand-alone Batman feature.
The Studio’s presentation was highlighted by trailers and film clips—including some never-before-seen footage—and appearances by some of the major stars and filmmakers involved in each of the movies. It also served to illustrate Tsujihara’s statement about the diversity of the slate: built on the foundation of the key franchises of DC Super Heroes, animated LEGO® features, and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” but also encompassing a broad scope of dramas, action adventures, horror thrillers and comedies.
There were also speeches from Sue Kroll, in her new post as Warner Bros. Pictures President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, who was recently named President of Worldwide Distribution.
Remarking on the Warner Bros. event, Kroll said, “CinemaCon is always one of the high points of our year: when we get to introduce our upcoming slate to our partners in the exhibition community who are responsible for bringing our films to audiences worldwide. It was wonderful to have this opportunity to showcase the broad range of films Warner Bros. has on the horizon, as well as some of the extraordinary artists behind them.”
Kwan Vandenberg added, “We appreciated the enthusiastic participation of actors and filmmakers from every title, who added tremendous star power to the presentation. CinemaCon gives us a chance to reinforce our commitment to the big-screen experience on a global level.”
Kicking off the film presentation with a bang, Ben Affleck and Amy Adams introduced a thrilling reel spotlighting the Studio’s ambitious slate of DC films. The roster includes the new Justice League film, as well as stand-alone features for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. Director Zack Snyder closed the reel with a greeting from the Justice League film set, surrounded by his stars.
The DC preview also included a glimpse of the summer’s hotly anticipated action adventure “Suicide Squad” and, immediately following, writer/director David Ayer took the stage and introduced the main ensemble cast, led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman. The extended version of the “Suicide Squad” trailer was met with loud applause and the buzz surrounding the film was palpable.
Host Mario Lopez then took the attendees through the rest of the summer line-up, including advance footage from the wide range of titles.
The stars and filmmakers who excited the crowd about their upcoming films included: Russell Crowe for the action comedy “The Nice Guys”; Emilia Clarke for the drama “Me Before You” (from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer); James Wan, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson for the supernatural thriller “The Conjuring 2” (from New Line Cinema); Teresa Palmer and David F. Sandberg for the horror thriller “Lights Out” (from New Line Cinema); Kevin Hart and Rawson Marshall Thurber for the action comedy “Central Intelligence” (from New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures), which included a taped greeting from Dwayne Johnson; Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Christoph Waltz for the adventure “The Legend of Tarzan” (from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures); and Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper for the comedic drama “War Dogs,” which is based on real events.
Looking past the summer, Warner Bros. unveiled some of the films on the drawing board from the Warner Animation Group, or WAG for short. Three of the brilliant minds in the WAG think tank—Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and Nicholas Stoller—came to the stage to introduce a special reel featuring a few of the titles in the pipeline, anchored by three new films in the LEGO®movie franchise: “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” “The LEGO® Movie 2” and “Ninjago.” Stoller, who co-directed the next WAG film on the slate, “Storks,” was joined by fellow director Doug Sweetland and voice talents Andy Samberg and Katie Crown to present new footage from the heartwarming and hilarious family adventure.
The animation portion wrapped with never-before-seen footage from “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” which gives the breakout star of the hit “The LEGO® Movie” a film of his own. Drawing laughter and enthusiastic applause, the clip was presented by producers Lord and Miller, joined by the voice of LEGO® Batman himself, Will Arnett, who made a surprise appearance to the delight of everyone there.
Warner Bros. closed the presentation with a look at the most magical film of the year, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, which will bring moviegoers to a new place and time in the wizarding world. Four of the film’s stars, Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell, came to the stage to introduce the new teaser trailer and a look behind the scenes of the film, which has already captivated fans.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ screen pairing of the world’s most iconic super heroes has at last answered the question “Who Will Win?” by winning over movie audiences and setting box office records around the world this weekend with an estimated worldwide box office total of $424.1 million.
Batman and Superman. Gotham and Metropolis. Lex Luthor, Doomsday and—for the first time ever on the big screen—Wonder Woman. With its stellar lineup of heroes and villains and bigger and better battles with even more at stake than the destruction of the Earth, Zack Snyder’s BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is an epic Super Hero journey like no other.
Pit the two greatest heroes in the world against each other and the unthinkable becomes inevitable in the form of a truly seismic clash: Batman, the underground vigilante, a knight in the darkness, and Superman, the unbeatable alien in the sky—who can possibly win such a war?
From director Zack Snyder comes BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, starring Oscar winner Ben Affleck (“Argo”) as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the characters’ first big-screen pairing.
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with each other, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it has ever known before.
To capture this epic world, director Snyder turned to director of photography Larry Fong, with whom he’s worked several times. “It was exciting developing the look for the film,” Fong says. “Zack definitely has his own style but he’s not afraid to try new things as well.”
While the camera work on MAN OF STEEL was mainly handheld, Fong says for this film Snyder wanted to change it up. Therefore Fong took a more classic approach, with mostly dolly, Technocrane and Steadicam moves. “Designing the shots with these tools was good discipline. We wanted a naturalistic look, but with a heightened reality. That was the feel we were going for.”
The variety of shot designs was only dwarfed by the variety of formats. “When we first starting talking about format, Zack was immediately drawn to 35mm anamorphic with single-camera coverage. But by the end, we had shot in 16mm, 35mm anamorphic, 35mm spherical, 65mm, GoPro, digital and IMAX,” Fong laughs.
IMAX presented one of the biggest challenges, according to the cinematographer. “IMAX cameras are big and heavy, with very shallow depth of field. Zack likes to move the camera a lot,” he adds “so we really pushed the limits. We attempted some very elaborate camera moves and even handheld shots with it, and our camera operator, John Clothier, and first assistant camera, Bill Coe, were incredible. The results are amazing. You can really feel the immense scope of the format.”
The role of Batman required Ben Affleck to appear intimidating enough to go up against Superman. “It was important to me that Batman be bigger because Superman is infinitely stronger than the best that humanity has to offer,” explains director Zack Snyder.
“Theoretically, the best that man can do is still nothing in the face of Superman, but I wanted him to look like he stands a chance. Ben is 6’4”; with his boots on he’s 6’6”. And he’s handsome, smart, charismatic and mature. For the road-weary Batman that we wanted, Ben was perfect.”
Batman has been a staple of pop culture throughout the decades.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #27 was the very first appearance of the Bat-Man in the six-page story “”The Case of the Criminal Syndicate!”” This issue also featured the first appearances of Commissioner Gordon and the revelation of Bat-Man’s secret identity as Bruce Wayne. The film’s screenplay by Chris Terrio, an Oscar winner for ARGO, and David S. Goyer (THE DARK KNIGHT) is inspired by several graphic novels and story arcs from the classic DC comics. First and foremost is Frank Miller’s seminal 1986 work “The Dark Knight Returns” which concludes with an epic battle between a greying Batman (probably a good ten years older than in the film) and the seemingly immortal Superman, who is now an agent of the government. The “bat armor” worn by Ben Affleck echoes the enhanced uniform designed by Miller. Much earlier in the film, Wayne glances at a combat suit encased in glass on display in the Batcave. On closer inspection we can see a raised “R” over the left breast. This may be a reference to the celebrated story arc that ran in Batman comics #426-429 in the late eighties written by Jim Starlin and penciled by Jim Aparo. Readers were offered a chance to vote on the fate of second Robin Jason Todd via 900 phone number. Ultimately Todd perishes when he throws himself on a bomb, this after barely surviving a brutal beating from a crowbar-wielding Joker. Another famous story arc referenced is “The Death of Superman” from the DC Superman titles in 1992, which had Kal-el giving his life to protect Metropolis from the raging, near-unstoppable monster Doomsday.
Though Superman made it to movie screens first in 1941 in a series of highly lauded animated shorts, Batman beat him to the punch in the live action arena with 1943’s Columbia’s fifteen chapter serial BATMAN. Lewis Wilson was Batman and Douglas Croft played Robin, now fully authorized US undercover agents. They were assigned to stop nefarious Axis agent, the Japanese mastermind Dr. Daka, played by the Irish character actor J. Carrol Naish. A year after Superman’s live action serial debut, Columbia produced a fifteen chapter follow-up, BATMAN AND ROBIN with Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan in the title roles. The dynamic duo faced off against a mysterious, fully-masked scientific genius known as the Wizard (his identity a secret until the final installment). Two supporting characters from the comics were included for the first time. Jane Adams was intrepid news photog Vicki Vale and former matinee idol Lyle Talbot was Police Commissioner Gordon. The caped crusader didn’t return to movie screens until the 1966 Twentieth Century Fox feature film BATMAN, which starred the TV cast and was rushed into production in order to capitalize on the gigantic popularity of the twice-weekly ABC network show.
In 1989, Warner Bros. released the live-action feature film BATMAN; directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as the title character.
The film was a huge success; not only was it the top-grossing film of the year, but at the time was the fifth highest-grossing film in history. The film also won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction. The film’s success spawned three sequels: Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997); the latter two of which were directed by Joel Schumacher instead of Burton, and replaced Keaton as Batman with Val Kilmer and George Clooney, respectively. The second Schumacher film, while a box office success, failed to outgross any of its predecessors and was critically panned; causing Warner Bros. to cancel the planned fourth sequel, BATMAN TRIUMPHANT, and place the film series on hiatus. (Wikipedia)
In September 2015, The Hollywood Reporter ran a story that DC Entertainment had announced that Bill Finger, who worked with Bob Kane on early Batman comic strips as well as co-creating Green Lantern and other characters for the company, would be receiving official credit for his work in film and television projects based on his creations.
Finger, who died in 1974, made a number of critical contributions to the Batman mythos, including coming up with the names of the hero’s alter ego Bruce Wayne, as well as the city in which the hero fights crime. He was also co-creator for a number of iconic Batman characters including Robin, Catwoman and the Joker.
Although Kane received sole official credit for the character as part of the original deal signed in 1939, the artist talked in later life about Finger being an important influence on the development of the series. In his 1989 autobiography Batman and Me, Kane described Finger as “a contributing force” on the series, noting “I must admit that Bill never received the fame and recognition he deserved.”
See BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE in theaters now.
