Fan Film: Superman Classic

This is pretty old in Internet terms but I can't believe I didn't post it onto the site. It needs little introduction so just watch this great retro-style Superman Animation by Robb Pratt:

New Dark Knight Rises Viral Videos: REAL or FAKE

What do you make of these three videos posted to YouTube by the account "TheFireRises"? They appear to show Gotham News Channel footage of a breakout from the infamous Arkham Asylum and presumably the havoc caused by the rampant inmates on the streets of Gotham. Some credibility was lent to them by a tweet from @DC_Nation that actually led me to them in the first place. Looking at DC's Twitter stream for the evidence for this post, however, it appears to have been vanished. Take a look at the videos below before we uncover their true nature.

Trailer: Boy Wonder

Boy Wonder is billed as a "riveting and gritty psychological thriller" so it's not exactly for the faint hearted. From the look of this trailer, this film promises to accomplish something that I haven't ever seen in a "superhero" film before. OK, so calling it a superhero film is clearly contentious but it appears that the themes and at least the start of the character's journey are common heroic story devises. That thing this film might do that other hero flicks haven't? Really present the questions of morality and ethics in the real world. When someone is either so angry or has such a burning desire to fight injustice that he goes out into the street on a mission, where are the boundaries between right and wrong? Do the ends justify the means? Are the ends ever justified? What does the self-appointed hero get out of it? Peace? Satisfaction? Or do they fall deeper and deeper away from humanity? And what for the duality of man?

OK, so maybe I'm piling on just a bit too much pressure after seeing the trailer...

Boy Wonder is aiming for an iTunes release in October 2011.

If anyone's seen this film at one of the festivals it's been touring, please let us know what you thought of it in the comments below!

DC's Open Letter to Fans

Dan DiDio, DC co-publisher, posted this message to fans on Facebook after yesterday's announcement of the relaunch of the entire DC line.

Folks, as you wonder and wait for the new series announcements to unfold, I just wanted to let you know that we are spending an extraordinary amount of time and energy to reinvigorate our line of characters and bring the best books possible for the widest audience possible. Sorry if anyone is feeling disenfranchised, especially since that's not the intent. Quite the opposite, we are trying to create a place and story where older fans can point for new fans to start, whether in periodical, graphic novel or digital. A place where everyone can share in the excitement of the DC Universe.
As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and there are a lot of great things that don't need fixing. But we're also saying that we will not stand idly by and let series run on inertia and let the industry fade around us. All of us here at DC love the form and the characters way too much for that.
Tomorrow we begin filling you in on all the excitement we have planned, plenty of real news to talk about and it's time for everyone to join in the fun.

best,
DD

I think this demonstrates DC's awareness if just how much power the uber geek internet troll has to utterly destroy something before it's even gotten underway. This is especially important to avoid in this case given that the most fickle of audiences, those outside of the hardcore few, are exactly those DC is trying to attract. At least they are not just pandering to that hardcore few and it's actually quite refreshing to see someone essentially saying, "Just pipe down and wait and see!"

Catwoman Game on the Way?

Rocksteady Studios has just released a new trailer for the upcoming sequel to Batman Arkham Asylum, Batman Arkham City, which showcases Catwoman as a playable character.

It looks like a lot of work has gone into giving the character her own tricks and moves, which makes you wonder whether a Catwoman spin-off could be coming down the road. Quick poll: Would you buy it (check out the poll in the right column)

What to Expect in the DC Relaunch

You may have heard that come September, DC is planning to relaunch its entire line of 52 titles and reset the numbering to #1. BleedingCool.com's been frantically keeping track of all the news as it emerges, such as Jim Lee working with a team of artists to contemporize costumes (roughly translating to Superman losing his red briefs and DC females wearing more practical outfits instead of the fetish gear most of them currently flaunt!).

Aside from these superficial changes, what does a relaunch of the entire DC line really mean?