This week: Former DC and Marvel Comics editor Bob Greenberger brings us up to speed on Batman and discusses his awesome Essential Batman Encyclopedia. We get our a capella geek on with The Blanks (a.k.a. Ted’s Band from Scrubs). And we talk V, sharing our thoughts about the new remake. In the news: Dollhouse’s cancellation (and possible Dr. Horrible news?), Avatar’s half-a-billion-dollar budget (and killer story), and Modern Warfare 2’s $300 million opening day.
Loving the 'cast guys. Audra I agree with you about Michael Keaton’s Batman. His verson was always my favorite. I had the biggest crush on him when I was a kid.
To compliment what the guest said about starting Batman, I’d definitely say Year One would be a good start. From there I’d probably say…start around batman 600 or alternatively with the new ongoings that are only like 6 issues old at this point. Great place to jump on if you want to be current and don’t really want to be bogged down with continuity.
Best thing to do is talk to your local comic shop guys. They’ll be able to give you a good jump-in point.
Loved the cast. Great “interview” this week.
I just called in a couple hours ago but in case it was unintelligible (I often am on the phone) but another fun place for Batman is the new Cartoon Network show Batman: Brave and the Bold. Basically its the Batman from the 50’s or so sans Robin. Its is more of a light hearted Batman who is fairly dry witted, which sometimes makes him a little bit of a dick. But the show does have some dark moments. There have been quite a few on screen deaths.
Each week they show the show in two segments one right before the credits which is a quick mini adventure (it pretty much the end to an adventure that we dont see) then after the credits is the main story adventure. For both he teams up with another golden age DC hero. Mostly he teams up with “B” level heroes but sometimes he teams up with an “A” lister. However the A level hero is normally not one of the more popular versions, like Green Lantern is Guy Gardner instead of Hal Jordan. He also normally fights against the lesser know villains. Its a great way to learn and get indoctrinated into the Batman’s Gallery of Rogues.
The show has had some really awesome guest stars including Wil Wheaton as the First Blue Beetle, Mark Hamil as the Specter, and most awesomely Neal Patrick Harris as the Music Meister in the Musical Episode.
Bing!
baltar
Loved the “V” talk. More please???
A cappella, it’s a rough lifestyle.
Hope to see/hear more of The Blanks in the future, those guys are fun (and the zinger quota was met and surpassed, congrats Audra :D).
I would trade 10,000 bar hopping frat boys for a single Batman. Not sure why being a bar hopping frat boy is so great, but there ya go. World needs more Bruce Waynes.
Not done listening yet, but awesome cast so far!
The accapella take of “Superman” is so beautiful~! They almost made me wanna cry, thinking about the show and all… (And it’s not everyday that I do that!)
I figure Zack Braff sounded that death knell when he quit the show to do Spiderman III. What happened after that? Did he return to Scrubs??
Hey Chuck, could you be so kind as to extract that accapella section of the 'cast into a separate mp3?
I could be wrong, but I understood that Scrubs was wrapping up in Season 8 anyway. There was some discussion about a new Scrubs series to star a largely new cast, but I haven’t heard anything more about that yet. Certainly the newbies they introduced in S8 could carry some weight.
The tune, BTW, is meant to be a sample. May I recommend picking up their album [Riding the Wave] (available via Amazon, BN, or their site, I believe), which has not only this but a ton of other incredibly cool stuff including everything they did on the show and much more. I’m a proud owner. 
Moi aussi. I bought it from CD Baby which is where their website directs you. Getting the thank you note from CD Baby is almost as awesome as the album itself.
They are doing a 9th season, it doesn’t even feature all the newbies from 8 though =/ Only people returning are I think Cox, Turk, Kelso, prolly Ted, and Jo.
In one of the Alex Ross Justice League Trade books, there’s this scene where The JL members are all at the pentagon about some problem. Batman isn’t there officially, but he is in the building following the conversation in the shadow. When Martian Manhunter begins to communicate with him, he’s impressed, and Batman says something like:
“It’s just another building, with different kind of lock on the doors”
It’s one of the Batman moments that is really cemented in my mind. Batman is awesome. In terms of DC, I’m a Superman fan, but I also really like Batman.
Zach Braff was in Spiderman 3?
Thats part of what I love about Batman, no pretension. He doesnt posture or self-aggrandize, he has no desire to be in the spotlight. He sees a problem or a need and he plans and takes the appropriate steps.
That being said Ive never understood the appeal of Supes. I mean, he saves the planet, great, but there is usually no risk. The dude is invulnerable for all intents and purposes (kryptonite and the rare bit of magic notwithstanding) and rather than impose some damn order on his chaotic planet hes content to stop robberies by petty crooks (and the occasional supervillain). Not to mention a costume seemingly designed for someone who loves being in the spotlight (unlike Batman). And even worse in my eyes, a total lack of any intellectual curiosity. Havent really read all that much Superman but he doesnt seem to try bettering himself in any real way in all of the other media Ive experienced him in. /end Mini-Rant
Superman is appealing to all of us boyscouts who want to do the right thing. As much as Batman is about ridding the world of Criminals, Superman is about Protecting and Defending. Fans of Superman are (in my mind) the people who dream of (and become) Firefighters, Policemen, or just good people helping out in their community. Superman and Batman appeal to different kinds of people because of what they are and what they represent. Superman is in the spotlight in part out of a measure of hope. He inspires people to do right, help out, be responsible. His costume, born in the early 20th century, is really about patriotism, and representing the noble values that the ideal America is supposed to have. In that respect, Superman should really be in the spotlight. It’s not about “being in the spotlight”, as it is about doing the right thing, and not hiding that you want to do it.
Batman stays out of the spotlight for various reasons. Attention disrupts his work, creates problems, and removes the element of mystery and fear. Batman’s entire persona is built to inspire fear and enable him to solve problems without disruption.
If Superman was trying to create fear in the criminal element, he’d probably act a bit more like batman.
I suppose this is the bit I dont understand. Batman does the right thing, only he does it at great personal risk to himself. He protects and defends Gotham city by capturing criminals, exactly the same thing Superman does in Metropolis. Firefighters and Police Officers also do what they do at great personal risk to themselves. Superman does the right thing but there is zero danger to him, hardly worth the admiration. Is he lauded because he doesnt have to do the right thing, but he does it anyway? If so that could be said of anyone. I guess Im more impressed by someone who actually has to sacrifice in order to uphold their ideals.
If getting into Batman, I think the emmy award winning Batman: The Animated Series is a good place to start. Many of the episodes are currently avalible on DVD.
You guys forgot one:
“What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?”
“The Drummer”