New Post-Covergence Batman Revealed!

Who is in the new robo-batsuit? Well, we were supposed to find out from DC's free book on Free Comic Book Day, but a page from that been has leaked. Click below to find out the new person behind the cowl. Be warned it is a SPOILER!

Breaking Down TNT's Teen Titans' Roster

A few months back, rumors were aswirl that TNT was developing a TV show based upon DC Comic's Teen Titans. Now finally we have some new developments on the project thanks to our buddies at Nerdist. They claim that TNT is looking to cast actors for DC characters Nightwing, Starfire, Hawk+ Dove, Raven, and lastly and most surprisingly Batgirl! So with this supposed team roster leaked, I figured I would break it down character by character, telling you who should stay and who should have no business being near a TV show (besides TNT of course). So Titans, Let's Go!

Source: Nerdist

Titans Roster

1. Nightwing/Dick Grayson (Lead Character) - Easily the MVP of the Titans. Dick is the biggest draw of the show. He has ties to Batman, but also has a  wildly different personality and crime fighting style than the Bat does. This show should cement how awesome of a character Dick Grayson is. Also with four women and only one other guy on the team, Dick will love those odds. Especially with 2 red heads in the mix.

2. Starfire/Koriand'r - Star has been a longtime member of the Titans. She was always an expected member because of her close association with the team from comics and also from the cartoon Teen Titans. Starfire is an alien who is adjusting to Earth's customs, which is always good for comic relief. Yet at the same time she is very powerful. Even though it will be hard to do special effects for her powers on a TV budget, I approve of Star on the squad.

3. Batgirl/Oracle/Barbara Gordon - Babs was a surprising add to the team. With one Batman associate already here some may ask why Barbara is needed. Well, it's because she will be confined to her wheelchair as Oracle and not swinging from rooftops as Batgirl. Oracle was the original computer hacker/expert for superheroes. Chloe Sullivan and Felicity Smoak, you both may be cool, but y'all didn't invent the game like Babs did. So because she is staying back at home base and providing important sources of information for the team, I approve of Orcale on the squad.

4. Raven/Rachel Roth - Like Starfire and Nightwing, Raven is another longtime member of the Titans. She is the daughter of one of their greatest enemies, Trigon, and will be the magical member of the squad. Like Star, I'm nervous of how her powers will look on a TV budget. As long as it's better than Smallville's special effects, I think it will be alright.

5 + 6. Hawk + Dove/Hank Hall + Dawn Granger - Hawk + Dove have always gone together. Most of the time as brothers, but TNT is said to be looking at the New 52 version of the characters. In that version, Hawk and Dove are a man and woman, who are also dating one another while fighting crime together. I have never found either version particularly compelling and find their inclusion here odd. I would have much preferred Connor Kent/Superboy and Donna Troy/ Wonder Girl to take these dopes' places on the team. Then the show would have ties to each member of the Holy Trinity (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) in Titans rather than some loser couple. So someone tell Hawk + Dove to get the fuck out.

That's my thoughts on the Titans roster. Thanks for reading! Do you miss Cyborg and Beast Boy? Sound off in the comments. And be sure to follow us on Twitter @Caped_Informers or follow me @cstrand73 for all your up to date comics news.

Analyzing the Batman Franchise (Pt. 3 of 8): Batman Forever (1995)

Batman Forever

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

Batman/Bruce Wayne: Val Kilmer

Love Interest: Dr. Chase Meridian (Played By Nicole Kidman)

Villains: The Riddler (Jim Carrey), Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones)

Sidekick: Robin/Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell)

Score: Elliot Goldenthal, but really it's so forgettable that who gives a shit. So here is Seal!!

High Points:

• Kiss From A Rose was in the End Credits.
• Like Danny Devito before him, Jim Carrey gets credit for trying. He made a solid effort.
• Batman killed less people. (Still not good enough)
• Robin's origin was pretty close to his comic counterpart. (Expect he isn't suppose to be 30 fucking years old)
• By stopping Two-Face's bomb plot at the circus, the Grayson family did something more heroic than Batman did in either of his first two movies.
• Nicole Kidman also wasn't given much to work with and tried her best. She also provided us with the first ever nude scene in a Batman movie. (Joel, you risqué motherfucka!)
• Two-Face's origin that is shown in a news clip is spot on to his origin from Jeph Loeb's The Long Halloween. (Somebody read a comic!)
• The Riddler destroying the Batcave was fun.
• Arkham Asylum looked kinda cool.
• There were some better fight sequences than Burton's films. (That ain't saying much)

Favorite Line: "Riddle me this, riddle me that, who's afraid of the big, black bat?" - The Riddler

Favorite Scene: Robin saves Batman

Why?: Dick and Bruce have one of the longest running friendships in comics, so it was great to see the start of them being partners.

Low Points:

• Jim Carrey's Riddler was a spurned stalker fan-boy of Bruce Wayne. It was a shitty origin for any super villain character, but has for some reason it keeps being re-hashed in superhero flicks. First time it was re-used was for geeky Aldrin Killian who swore revenge on Tony Stark after Tony skipped a meeting with him. Then lameass Electro cried into birthday cake cause Spiderman wasn't his best friend. Hell the only time being a fanboy turned villain ever worked was for Syndrome in the The Incredibles.
• Tommy Lee Jones is an awful Two-Face. The character is all about duality, but Jones just tries to be a rip-off of Nicholson's Joker. Way too over the top and ridiculous. And where the hell does he buy those suits he wears?
• Robin is too goddamn old.
• Joel Schumacher left behind the beautiful art-deco sets of Anton Furst for crazy giant statues, bright colors, and dutch angles.
• I know writing riddles can be hard, but try not having riddles that Scrappy Doo could solve.
• Joel Schumacher's Legacy - The introduction of the Bat-Nipples. 
• Why the fuck wasn't Billy Dee Williams (LANDO!!), Two-Face? Answer me Joel!
• Somebody invited Val Kilmer.
• Somebody also invited Michael Gough and Pat Hingle back as Alfred and Gordon.
• Chris O'Donnell is whiny, uncool, and just a douchebag, everything Dick Grayson isn't.
• The mass production of Riddler's tech The Box could not be done in a weekend, nor could they erect an island to mass produce it in that amount of time either.
• Am I the only person who is sick of the "damsel in distress" in the climax.
• Unneeded flashbacks to parent's funeral and Thomas Wayne's red journal were unneeded.

Worst Line: "Holey rusted metal, Batman!" - Robin

Worst Scene: Two-Face teaches the Riddler how to punch.

Why?: There was a lot to choose from, but this particular scene just shows you how much these two villains suck and how this movie should not be taken seriously.

Verdict: Some people like to say the fall of the Batman film franchise started with Batman Returns. Those people have a right to their opinion (even if it's wrong), but I believe it started as soon as Joel Schumacher signed on as director for Batman Forever. The return to the campiness of Adam West's Batman occurred because of parental backlash about the darkness of Burton's films. WB was scared and reverted back to full fledge family entertainment. And it was fucking awful. Everything in this movie was a joke. Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones were some of the hottest actors around in 1995 and even they couldn't save this crap. All the characters are over the top caracitures and there is no one really to even root for. Like is there anyone out there that thinks Val Kilmer's Batman was cool? At least Michael Keaton knew what to do when a woman wanted to fuck him. Am I being too harsh to this movie? Probably. It was not nearly as bad as it's sequel. There were some enjoyable parts. Personally I enjoy the Flying Graysons' scene. And you know what Bat-Wing and the Bat-boat looked cool. So what am trying to say is Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever wasn't all bad, it was just mostly bad. Overall this foray back to the 60's gets a 4.0 out of 10. 

Fun Fact #1: Did you know both Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale were both asked to play Robin. Thank god neither of those guys ruined their careers making that mistake.

Fun Fact #2: I gave this movie a 4 out of 10, but I still have a poster from it on my wall for some reason.

Thanks for reading. Stayed tuned for an the hardest analysis of my life as I take on Batman and Robin tomorrow. Wish me luck and make sure to follow us on Twitter @Caped_Informers or follow me @cstrand73 for all your comic book and Caped Informers news and stories.

Check out the rest of our look back at Batman's film history by clicking the link below.

Batman (1989)

Batman Returns (1992)

Personally I try to forget

Teen Titans Live Action Show Could Be Coming To TNT

DC is taking over TV. The comics company already has two shows on CW in Arrow and Flash and the highly anticipated Gotham is set to debut on Fox this month. Hell even the mystical side of the DC universe will be explored in Constantine on NBC. Now Deadline is reporting that TNT is developing a Teen Titans show called Titians with Dick Grayson/Nightwing as its lead. The site says "Titans revolves around the eponymous group of young Super Heroes-to-be from the DC Universe. The action series centers on Dick Grayson (probably best known for his alter ego as Robin), who emerges from the shadow of Batman to become Nightwing, the leader of a fearless band of new Super Heroes including Starfire, Raven and many others." Writer Akiva Goldsman (Batman and Robin) has written the pilot along with Marc Haimes (The Last Word). The project is expected to be green light for a pilot order soon. 

Sources: Deadline

                ComicBookMovie

                Variety

Now I've been clamoring for Dick Grayson/Nightwing on Arrow or in a DC movie for some time now. Never anticipated he would first appear on a Teen Titians show. Always thought it could work better as a movie, but I am willing to give this show a chance only because Dick is the lead. 

But God as my witness if this TNT crap doesn't allow for Dick to enter the DC Cinematic Universe in some capacity there will be hell to pay. I need to see Nightwing and Batman team up on the big screen before I die. Especially after what Chris O'donnell did to the character in the 90's. Who wrote those films by the way? O that's right, Akiva Goldsman. Glad this show is in good hands! Goldsman partnered together with a TV Budget is a match made in heaven. Most likely there will not be enough money for CGI for Beast Boy or Cyborg. And if there is any CGI it will probably water down both Starfire and Raven's powers. But then again TNT knows drama so I have the upmost confidence.

Tuesday Title Pull List: (7/8/14)

Some interesting new title launches this week. Miguel O'Hara gets his own series. The Suicide Squad gets a roster update that includes Deathstroke and Black Manta. And lastly the first issue of Grayson will be hitting shelves. I despise the idea of Dick Grayson becoming a secret agent. That being said I still will be picking up Agents of D.I.C.K. (as I like to call it) this week to support the character.

1. New Suicide Squad #1 (DC)

2. Spiderman 2099 #1 (Marvel)

3. Amazing X-Men #9 (Marvel)

4. Detective Comics #33 (DC)

5. Grayson #1 (DC)

Christian's Extra Pick: Deadpool #31 (Marvel)

Way too excited for this new Suicide Squad roster. Can't wait to read this new team dynamic. Deathstroke doesn't seem too keen on being a team player. Thanks for reading and make sure to follow us on  Twitter @Caped_Informers or me @cstrand73 to stay up to date on all comic news.