BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS PART ONE 1ST CLIP

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is the first in a two-part direct-to-video animated adaptation of the 1986 story of the same name that was written by Frank Miller. The film is being produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, and Warner Home Video. It will premiere in New York on September 20th, 2012, and in L.A. on September 24th, and will be available to the public to purchase on September 25th, 2012.

In the bleak and ominous future of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, it’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with racecars and liquor – but the Bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new … and old.

The Blu-ray combo pack of the film will have over 2 hours of bonus content including:

• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• UltraViolet™
• Sneak Peak at Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
• Featurette – “Her Name is Carrie … Her Role is Robin” – An all-new featurette. Experience the role of Robin, through the eyes of a female warrior.
• Featurette – “Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story” – A documentary comprehensively chronicling the remarkable life of the creator of Batman.
• Two bonus episodes from Batman: The Animated Series handpicked by producer Alan Burnett: Two-Face, Parts 1 and 2
• Digital Comic – “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (digital comic with cover art and three full comic pages)


Source: Batman Wikia.com / Superhero Hype

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BALTIMORE'S 'BATMAN' JUST WANTS TO HELP SICK KIDS

BALTIMORE, Maryland — Batman, the comic book superhero, stalks the night saving Gotham from villains, but Baltimore's Caped Crusader just wants sick kids to feel better -- a mission undeterred by last month's deadly shooting at a screening of the fictional hero's latest movie.

Clad in a heavy leather and neoprene Batsuit, the Baltimore man drove up on a recent day to the orthopedic wing of the east coast city's Sinai hospital in a slick Batmobile -- a perfect replica of the Hollywood one.

Excitement bubbled over just inside the entrance, where kids in wheelchairs, parents and medical personnel were eagerly watching the Dark Knight arrive.

In a game room set up for the special visit, a cardboard replica of Batman stood amid piles of Batman-themed crayon boxes, t-shirts, glasses, and necklaces made of bats.

The man behind the costume is Lenny Robinson, 48, a tall, muscular father of three adult children.
For the last 11 years, the wealthy former businessman has dedicated himself to these visits, bringing gifts and a bit of fun to the young hospital patients.

This day, Batman approached 6-year-old Farrah, whose legs were supported by metal braces.

"Farrah, do me a favor," Batman said, leaning towards the shy little girl, before whispering in her ear.

"I never ask kids how they are," Robinson later explained to AFP.

"I say hi, it's nice to meet you, and I give them a present," he said.

Then he tells them to "do Batman a favor: get better. That will make me very happy."

Robinson took up the Batman mantle at the inspiration of his son, who, he said, was "obsessed by Batman."

Robinson inherited the obsession, and then transformed it, ultimately organizing his efforts into a charity: superheroesforkids.org.

He doesn't get paid for his appearances, which average twice a month. Instead he spends some $60,000 (48,159 euros) a year from his own pocket on gifts for the kids. And he spent another $215,000 this year on a new Batmobile, which he donated to the foundation.

Robinson, who sold his commercial cleaning business to great profit in 2007, said he has plenty of time and money for the job.

"I swim, go on vacation, and go be Batman," he smiled. "It's a full time job."

"When the kids know he's coming, there is excitement," said John Herzenberg, head doctor at Sinai hospital's orthopedic wing.

"Anything to divert their attention from their troubles and the pain they are having is a good thing."

-- The caring, polite side of Batman --

Robinson has earned local stardom in his hometown, and his fame only grew last spring when, dressed as the masked vigilante, his Batmobile was pulled over by police.

Officers stopped him because the car -- an earlier version of the Batmobile that was really a decked out Lamborghini -- wasn't displaying its license plates. In their place was the bat symbol.

The police thought they were pulling over "some rich dude in a freaking Batman outfit" who thought he didn't have to follow the rules, Robinson laughed.

Then they realized that Robinson had the real plates in the car -- and that he was on a superhero mission to visit a local hospital.

A video of the incident went viral on the web.

But his mission suffered more of a setback last month, when a gunman massacred 12 people and wounded dozens more in a Colorado movie theater, on opening night of the latest installment of the "Dark Knight" trilogy.

Two hospitals immediately cancelled their long-planned dates with the Winged Avenger.

"The timing was unfortunate for Mr. Robinson's visit, as it was scheduled just three days after the shooting," a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Children's hospital in Missouri, told AFP.

"We felt our patients -- and their families -- needed some time and distance from those images," she explained, adding the hospital planned to reschedule the visit.

"I understand and respect the hospital's decision," said Robinson. "The last thing I want to do is to upset (the children). That would be the opposite of what I want to do."

Despite the shooting, Baltimore's Batman remains in high demand across the US -- with upcoming stops scheduled for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and New York. Even European hospitals have requested a visit.

Robinson, who at times adopts the voice of the children's cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants to avoid scaring the littlest patients, says, unlike the comic book hero, his Batman has no connection to violence.

"I'm the comical, funny, caring, polite, respectful side of Batman," he insisted.

Source: By Fabienne Faur (AFP)

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BATMAN'S NEW PERCH ABOVE GOTHAM: YOUR IPAD

From the shadows, Batman swoops down and lands on your iPad to fight a gang of thugs. But fear not! He’ll throw a lot of punches, but he won’t scratch your screen.

Hoping to bridge the gap between physical and digital toys, Mattel has created a line of enhanced iPad games called Apptivity. One of the first offerings in the line is Batman, inspired by the movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The starter kit, which sells for $20, comes with two toys, the caped crusader and his Bat flight vehicle, which use pressure-sensitive technology to interact with a downloadable game. The toys attach to a base that glides over the iPad screen without leaving a mark.

The game, intended for ages 4 and up, has nine levels in which Batman tangles with Catwoman and Bane, the villains from the movie, and roving gangs in Gotham City. In a nice visual twist, the characters appear as squat, chunky toys, similar to Batman.

The levels are only mildly challenging, but the graphics and sound are surprisingly good. After each level is completed, players can use accumulated points to build Batman’s arsenal. There’s also a quick mode that allows finger play, but I found it easier to use the toys.

Three other Batman figures are available for the game, each with its own mode of attack. But you can also upgrade the figure that comes in the starter set and get those same attack modes.

Apptivity games were also created for Mattel’s Hot Wheels and WWE Rumblers toy lines, as well as toys that unlock exclusive features for existing Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja and Cut the Rope games. For instance, using the King Pig figure with the Angry Birds game, players can turn the tables on the birds and fire the pigs instead.

Of course, the real question is whether any toys are necessary on a device that typically relies on the swipe of a finger for gameplay. Sure, you can use your finger to play other games, but then you won’t have a cool Batman toy to play with when you’re done.

Source: Gregory Schmidt / The New York Times
             Mattel

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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES PASSES $900 MILLION

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in five weeks since it's box office release has grossed to date world wide over $900 million dollars.

TDKR is projected to reach the $1 billion dollar mark once the movie is released in China and Italy.

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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - HISHE

From the fine folks over at HISHE (How It Should Have Ended) they bring us their second Batman animated short presenting us with some hilarious takes on how THE DARK KNIGHT RISES should have ended. Check it out.

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BATMAN TITLES FOR NOVEMBER 2012

BATMAN #14

Written by SCOTT SNYDER

Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV

Art by GREG CAPULLO and JONATHAN GLAPION

Backup story art by JOCK

Cover by GREG CAPULLO

Variant cover by TREVOR McCARTHY

1:100 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO

On sale NOVEMBER 14 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

• “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” continues!

• The Joker is back and somehow more sinister than ever! What caused this change? And can even Batman stop a Joker so driven and dangerous?

• And where is Alfred?

• Plus: In the backup feature, The Penguin is running out of options as he’s confronted by The Joker!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

DETECTIVE COMICS #14

Written by JOHN LAYMAN

Art and cover by JASON FABOK

Backup story art by JOCK

1:25 B&W Variant cover by JASON FABOK

On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

• When Bruce Wayne’s life is saved by The Penguin, what surprises are in store for The Dark Knight?

• And in the backup story, an intimate look at Gotham City’s most dangerous foes provides a hint of the maelstrom to come.

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #14

Written by GREGG HURWITZ

Art and cover by DAVID FINCH

1:25 B&W Variant cover by DAVID FINCH

On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Kidnapped and tortured by the Scarecrow, The Dark Knight is finally free and looking for serious payback!

• Is this the end of Scarecrow’s reign of terror? Not by a long shot….

BATMAN AND ROBIN #14

Written by PETER J. TOMASI

Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

On sale NOVEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Damian sets out to take down the Z Club!

• Batfans won’t want to miss this lead-in to the “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” event!

BATGIRL #14

Written by GAIL SIMONE

Art and cover by ED BENES

On sale NOVEMBER 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in as Barbara tries to save her family from a fate much worse than death!

• Has Batgirl come this far just to fall victim once again to The Joker?

BATWOMAN #14

Written by J.H. WILLIAMS and W. HADEN BLACKMAN

Art and cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

1:25 B&W variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• The Batwoman/Wonder Woman team-up epic continues!

• Batwoman may be out of her league as she chases down Medusa!

CATWOMAN #14

Written by ANN NOCENTI

Art by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARROGONA

Cover by TREVOR McCARTHY

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+

• A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in!

• Catwoman is caught in The Joker’s trap as he toys with her mind.

• But The Joker should beware because Catwoman always comes to play!

BATWING #14

Written by JUDD WINICK

Art by MARCUS TO and RYAN WINN

Cover by MARCUS TO

On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Batwing will need all the help he can get to take down a death cult led by Father Lost!

BIRDS OF PREY #14

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by ROMANO MOLENAAR and VICENTE CIFUENTES

Cover by ROMANO MOLENAAR

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• The Birds of Prey are hot on the trail of a mysterious cult with ties to Katana!

• But their hunt is about to be intercepted by the powerful force of CONDOR!

• And what is the connection between the Birds and the Teen Titans?

NIGHTWING #14

Written by TOM DeFALCO

Art by ANDRES GUINALDO and MARK IRWIN

Cover by EDDY BARROWS and EBER FERREIRA

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• The epic martial arts throwdown of the year: Nightwing vs. Lady Shiva!

• Nightwing may be outmatched this time, but he’s not going down without a fight!

• This issue leads directly into the “DEATH OF THE FAMILY’ event!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #14

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art by PASCAL ALIXE

Cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• Just as the team gets back to Earth, they are interrupted by SUPERMAN.

• There’s a Black Market alien technology being fenced and the Man of Steel has traced a connection to the Red Hood!

• An old friend of Jason is coming for him leading up to next month’s “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in issue!

TALON #2

Written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV

Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH

1:25 Variant cover by KEN LASHLEY

1:100 B&W Variant cover by GUILLEM MARCH

On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• What is THE TOMB OF THE UNWORTHY?

• How might the surviving members of The Court of Owls use it to destroy Calvin Rose once and for all?

• Introducing an assassin even more dangerous than Talon!

BATMAN, INCORPORATED #5

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art and cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

Variant cover by FRAZER IRVING

1:100 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

RESOLICIT • On sale NOVEMBER 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $3.99 US

• War in the skies of Gotham City!

• Bat-robots versus Talia’s Man-Bat armies!

• Leviathan and The Heretic increase the hostilities to a whole new level!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #14

Written by GEOFF JOHNS

Art and cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RICHARD FRIEND

Backup story art by GARY FRANK

Variant cover by JASON FABOK

1:100 B&W Variant cover by TONY S. DANIEL

On sale NOVEMBER 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T

Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

• The second chapter of a tale that lights the fuse that will ultimately explode in 2013’s TRINITY WAR.

• The League must fight the mysterious Cheetah… AND a monstrous Superman! The result will radically change the dynamics of the entire team!

• Amid all this, where is Green Lantern?

• Plus: The next chapter of the SHAZAM backup epic by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank!

This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

WORLDS’ FINEST #6

Written by PAUL LEVITZ

Art by KEVIN MAGUIRE, GEORGE PEREZ and SCOTT KOBLISH

Cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE

1:25 B&W Variant cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE

On sale NOVEMBER 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

• What happens when Huntress, the former Robin of Earth 2, meets Damian? The same thing that happens when anyone meets Damian: a massive fight!

• Huntress has managed to keep her true identity on this Earth a secret so far, but with Damian on her trail, can the world’s greatest detective be far behind?

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