This issue: The Major Spoilers Crew takes a look at Batman and why he’s as popular today as he was in 1939.
[podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/majorspoilers/majorspoilers_209.mp3[/podcast]Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com
A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.
13 Comments
Matthew’s take on a Batman fanboy is the only character better than Batman himself.
And I’m so glad Stephen brought up Ra’s he such an under appreciated character.
…
But eh why didn’t you guys review Batman 700# I was under the impression this wasn’t just a retrospective show.
Keep in mind that the title of the show is Batman AT 700, not Batman #700. Also, we record the weekend show on Tuesday, not Saturday, and Batman #700 hadn’t hit the stands yet.
Gotcha, I was just mislead by the picture and the mentioning and the etc etc
etc etc’s can be very misleading with their gramatical term mind tricks and all. Even tricksier than Hobbitses. *nods*
The only thing you can trust is a >tt< from Damian Wayne.
I believe the Batman as Scout Master story that Matthew references is actually an issue of Legends of the Dark Knight (which DC NEVER should’ve cancelled) by Michael T Gilbert of Mr. Monster fame. I believe it came out in the late 80s/early 90s, not the 70s (unless the LofDK story was a retelling of another tale, which I suppose is possible.)
As I have never read an entire issue of Legends of the Dark Knight, your second supposition is most likely the correct one. The story that I’m referring to (and, given that the second browser link to it is a link to Major Spoilers, apparently I’m the ONLY one referring to it) was from a tabloid called “Batman’s Strangest Cases.”
A little intarweb digging indicates that the story was originally from Batman #250, circa 1973 or so, and was also reprinted in the first volume of ‘The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told.’
Well I have very few Batman comics, one of which is The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told so it turns out I do have the story you referenced, the LofDK I’m thinking of is issue #94 and is called ‘Stories’. It involves several people telling of their encounters with Batman, and each giving descriptions of Batman that gel with his varying portrayals throughout his history. Similar concepts, different issues, thus MY confusion…Glad we got that sorted out.
Isn’t Batman a modern version of Zorro with another animal theme? Fox cave, black costume, black ride, rich young man fighting for justice…
P.S. Batmanuel is a God ;-)
As a follow up to the Batman at 700 episode, any real fan of the Dark Knight needs to pick up the book “Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul.” This book takes you on a journey through the mind of all that makes up the Bat. It takes you through the real-life arguments as a justification or condemnation of all that Batman does or does not do. You go through classic discussions like: Why doesn’t Batman just kill the Joker. Everyone in Gotham would be better off, and no one would hold Batman accountable. Is it right to make a Robin? Batman is putting other lives in danger in the quest to uphold his promise to his murdered parents. Is it even right to make a promise that he know he can’t keep? The book also goes through other interesting arguements such as: If the court system routinely allows the defense of insanity, can we hold the Joker responsible for his actions? Is it Bruce Wayne the Batman, or is the Batman Bruce Wayne? Can they be mutually exclusive? Can the Batman be the Joker? Is it right for Batman to operate outside the law, and is his hatred of criminals virtuous?
Personally, Batman is my favorite of all the DC characters. The one thing that seperates Batman from ALL other DC heroes is that he is mortal. The same bank robber that Superman can just whack in the skull, THE END…Batman has a real world fear that any mission could be his last. Is this the day that some creep just gets lucky and ends the life of Bruce Wayne? This is the main reason the he keeps his little circle close to the cowl. The risks he takes are his and his alone and shouldn’t endanger anyone else.
Love the Major Spoilers. Love the Critical Hit. I wait in anticipation of future episodes.
-Brad Kalmanson
Hackensack, NJ
I liked the Superman/Batman Annual but found that it created its own continuity. They reference things from the comic that never happened in the cartoon and vice versa. This was marketed to be the kick off to the comic that was to be (essentially) season 4 of Batman Beyond and yet I find that this comic has VERY VERY little in common with the cartoon. (Luthor was never mayor of Metropolis, the city isn’t Gotham 2, people carry kryptonite in their bodies and don’t have cancer, Superman goes missing for years and the JLU does nothing even though they’re based in the city that Luthor is corrupting.)
It was fun to read but frustrating at the same time. Oh, and that Starro on Superman’s chest was Batman Beyond Season 3’s episodes “The Call part 1” and “The Call part 2”.
I was listening to this podcast, and when the team was debating about who Batman really is, I had a revelation. Batman is Torq. Well, obviously, a smart version. But, Batman is the guy who gets a 21 on a religion check with only a 1 in religion. That’s the simplest way to describe him in my mind. He is the guy who gets a critical hit when even Superman can’t seem to hit the foe.
Thoughts?
That sounds about right.