The Dark Knight Returns

   The year was 1986, and I was 12 years old. I had been reading Batman for a few months at this point. I had heard about this comic book that was "changing everything". At 12 I had no idea what that meant. I just knew I had to have this book.
   It first came onto my radar one night watching the evening news. In 1986 it was always on, there was no 24 hour news stations so we had to watch the news at 4pm with Tom Brokaw (NBC) to figure out what was going on in the world. I remember watching the news and hearing about how DC was taking brave new steps with this book, and how it was going to change everything everyone knew about Batman.
   I remember saving my money for weeks. Even skipping my lunch so I could save the 2 dollars to put towards this book. The book was $12.95 and when I saved the money I begged my mom to take me to Beachcomber in the Shore Mall to get it. She had no clue what I was getting nor did I.
   I didnt know then, right away anyway; but I had missed the original 4 books DC put out and this was the trade paperback. A compiled edition of the book. I got this book and immediately dove in, I would read as much as I could nightly.
   As I read this book I was enjoying it immensely. It was not however till I got into the final pages of this book that I realized what it was that would draw me to Batman. The moment that would change everything for me. The image so engrained in my mind I still remember it vividly to this day. Dont get me wrong, there are so many amazing splash pages that Frank Miller does in this book. The imagine in particular is not a splash picture but it is truly epic in its own right.

   This image right here hit me; extremely hard. I remember being a kid and thinking to myself, "Oh...my...God...Batman is going to beat Superman...HE IS AWESOME!!" It was not just that, it was Batman was representing the everyday man. The humans, the people who had to work hard to be great. In the book he is battling Superman, who is the do-good er. Who is working for the Government. Trying to stop Batman and Batman is just dismantling him.
   When I finished that book, I just stared at it for a few minutes, not really sure at that age what it was I just read. I just knew it was amazing and I wanted more of it. At that point I REALLY started buying everything to do with Batman. But I would continue to read The Dark Knight Returns over and over numerous times throughout my life. As the picture of my book shows by how worn out it is...

[My personal Copy of The Dark Knight Returns

]

   Today I look at that book and I think to myself. What is it that made this so endearing to me? What is it that made me fall in love with this book? It was/is pretty simply. It was at that point that DC allowed someone to take the "diapers" off of their readers and just come at them with a real world feel. They didnt try spoon feeding us baby stuff, Frank Miller just said THIS is how if Batman were real. THIS is how he would be. 

   I still look back over this book and although now Millers art style is definitely stand out on his own. I think at that time thats another thing. The artists were no where near as polished as they are today. Greg Capullo, Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel these artists today just wow you. Back then these artists were no where to be found. At that time Millers style just spoke volumes and wowed everyone. 

   The splash pages again were absolutely stunning. To any true comic book fan this is the one book you have. Not just Batman fans have this one. Comic book fans do because the recognize this book as the one that changed the way comic books would be written and viewed. 

   To me, this book is one of the all time greats and still holds up till this day. 

Thanks for letting me share a little bit with you all about this book...See you all next week in The Batcave...

Fatman on Batman

   So its no secret I love pretty much everything about Batman. The thing is though there is someone I truly admire and he is doing amazing things in regards to bringing the Bat right to me. Or at least the creative talent behind the comics, cartoons, everything.
   Kevin Smith (The Director of Clerks, @ThatKevinSmith on Twitter) has been doing a Podcast called Fatman on Batman. I have to start by saying if you have ANY interest at all in Batman then you have to listen to this Podcast. It is truly epic in that it brings you everything you want to know about the World of Gotham.
   What Kevin Smith does is truly awesome in the fact that he brings in such amazing talent and not only interviews them and talks about Batman. The thing is you get to hear how people got their starts in liking comics and Batman. To the point of how they break into "Batman". Hearing Mark Hamill explain his love for comics and how he never thought he would get cast as the Joker since he was Luke Skywalker. Hearing how Scott Snyder worked for Disney World as a "character" and this was to be his future. Listening to how Jim Lee's mom threw out his comic books when he was 13 years old. How Jims parents wanted him to be a doctor instead of an artist.
   Kevin Smith just has this creative way to get to the root of the story. The best thing is; he is known for talking a lot in real life. Yet in these podcasts he actually lets the creator talk. He knows the right questions to ask and to hear him "geek out" at the same points I do it is truly epic.
   The talent he has brought in to interview ranges from the cast of Batman the Animated Series, to Adam West (BATMAN HIMSELF!!) to Bat Writers Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, and Jeph Loeb to DC Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. (The list goes on...)
   Kevin Smith will never read this, that much I am pretty sure about. Regardless though I want to say "thank you" to him for the simple fact that each week he brings an enjoyment to my life that I always craved as a teenager. To know all I do about the creators of Batman...I now have it and it truly is amazing!!

See you all next time...from the Batcave...

Before we get started...[part 2]

-- Where I left off...
   Dave was/is my best friend. We both kind of just clicked when it came to being friends. We both loved baseball (He loved the A's, I loved the Giants). The bigger thing though was we both loved comic books. Him being a HUGE Marvel Guy (Wolverine was his guy) and I was a HUGE DC guy (Batman of course). I think to this day if you ask either of us, who is your favorite character in DC to him? He will say Batman. If you ask me mine in Marvel I'll reply Wolverine. This is the one thing we brought to each other was the knowledge of how amazing our favorite characters were.

   I continued to read comics all through high school and even a year or so after then I stopped...

   I think at this point you try to be "mature". Its time to "grow up". This all may very well be true. The thing of it is though comics and Batman always were in the back of my mind. Even though I stopped reading on a regular basis. I would still look back from time to time to see what was going on with the Bat. I would always look back over my shoulder as I was walking forward in my goal to be an adult. Looking back at my next best childhood friend to see what he was doing. I think I was always looking back and thinking about Bruce Wayne and what was becoming of him. Even though I would stop reading Batman on a regular basis I still made my love for Batman be known.

   I was off and on with Batman...till right around December 2002. 10 years of off and on reading culminated with my return to comic books...Batman Hush...

Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb roped me in, and in a big way. I fell in love with Jim Lee's artistic style and the way he drew Batman. Growing up my favorite Bat artist was Norm Breyfogyle but there was something about Lee that just blew me away. Well, then again, just look at the picture above. Its just amazing. Hush was a 12 part series that brought me back to the Bat like never before. The storyline was just unreal. The love story between Batman and Catwoman.

   It was just a rich story that told the story of a new Bat Villian (Which has the GREATEST Rogues Gallery in all of Comics). As well as the toying of the return of Jason Todd who was brutally murdered by The Joker back in the 80's.

   This story arc is hands down one of my all time favorites. What this did to me though was brought me from comics into my next love. Statues. I bought my first statue shortly after I read the Batman Hush storyline. It was a  Batman statue based on the art work of Jim Lee from the Hush story.

   I felt this was what I should do rather than buy comics. I would start collecting statues. A much greater and quicker return on my money. (Not that I have ever sold a statue) Hence where the term or phrase "Blogging from the Batcave" comes from. While collecting statues I started calling my "studio" the Batcave. Simply because I have Batman statues all over the room. 

   So this kind of explains some background in my years of the Bat. I will use this blog to talk about various Batman related topics that I find near and dear to my heart. From certain books, to statues, to movies to other great moments. 

   See you all next time....from the Batcave...