Hey gang, this blog has moved to a very similar address:
http://www.popcultureshock.com/comicbookclub
This particular blog will still stay active, though I’ll only use it to update our podcast feed. So I guess you could follow both of ‘em? Who’s stopping you? No one!
Heck, I don’t know what we’re calling it. The Dark Knight 2? Batman Still Forever? Nolan’s Folly? In any case, there’s a rumor that’s got the net all hot and bothered, suggesting that Aaron Eckhart might return as Two-Face in Nolan’s third go around in Gotham. It all stems back to this quote, once again originating from MTV’s Splash Page:
“I think Harvey — if he’s not dead — is in a serious coma,” stated Eckhart, “and I’m not sure he’s coming out. They might pull the plug on him.”
Come on guys, this is an easy one. Watch the clip, and ignore the “knowing laugh” comment… Eckhart is making a joke. The interviewer prompts him with a question, he laughs, and says the above quote, which is clearly a joke. A joke, I might add, that in no way indicates Dent is still alive. If anything, it furthers confirms he is dead as a doornail.
Now for those of you who are skeptical about the “knowing laugh” comment… This is Eckhart keeping things open. Of course, he’d love to come back for another film. If he says he’s 100% dead, he doesn’t get more press. If he keeps things enigmatic, the press picks it up (as they have), and film execs hear how (potentially) excited fan-boys are for him to return, which means they pressure Chris Nolan, which means Eckhart has a better than 0% chance to be in the new movie.
Christopher Nolan doesn’t know what happens in the next movie. David Goyer doesn’t know. Warner Brothers doesn’t know. And Aaron Eckhart certainly doesn’t know.
Now, that out of the way, I want to add one more thing before we go: it didn’t occur to me, on first viewing of The Dark Knight, that Harvey was dead at all. It seemed obvious that he had fallen, been knocked unconscious, and then Gordon and Batman pretended he was dead, so he could keep on going being Gotham’s White Knight. This seemed obvious, as:
1) There was the whole scene with Eric Roberts showing how a fall from heights won’t necessarily kill you. Harvey fell from about the same height.
2) Previously, Harvey, Gordon, and Batman were involved in an extensive cover up pretending someone was dead.
I just assumed the stored him somewhere deep in Arkham, and he would be back to terrorize some more.
So it wasn’t until later, when I heard that both the novel, and the film script state that Two-Face was dead, that it occurred to me there was even a possibility he was not alive. Having that out in the ether (in particular, the novel) seems to suggest that my previous suppositions are unlikely, but who knows? Sarah Tancredi* came back from a severed head, so anything is possible.
*Where my “Prison Break” fans at?
How can you have an entire press release about all new Terminator comics without one “I’ll be back” joke? Honestly, Dark Horse should be ashamed:
Dark Horse to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Terminator with all new comics!
In 1990, at the start of the boom of licensed comics, Dark Horse began publishing Terminator. Now, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the first Terminator film, Dark Horse is excited to announce the return of all new Terminator material for a whole new generation of fans!
With renewed interest in the property in both television and film, Dark Horse announced today its intent to begin creating new comics for release in conjunction with the film’s silver anniversary in 2009.
Rand Marlis, President of Creative Licensing Corporation who represents all Terminator tie-ins, said “I’m thrilled to be once again working with Dark Horse. They are a superb comic book company and really know the Terminator world. Our prior Dark Horse comics are classics and we look forward to more quality stories and art from the Dark Horse team.”
Dark Horse president and publisher, Mike Richardson stated “We’ve had great success with the ongoing saga of Sarah and John Connor in the past, and the worldwide interest in Terminator has us eager to begin a brand new series picking up where we left off.”
The publisher went on to say that the storyline is being developed and the creative team will be announced shortly.
Dark Horse’s successful Termintor Omnibus Vol. 1 & 2 are currently available at a retail price of $24.95.
Evidence #1 that Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama is a huge comic book nerd is, of course, that infamous picture of him standing in front of a Superman statue.
Evidence #2: During a recent roast, Obama poked fun at the picture, and himself, stating, “Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the planet Earth.” Dude, that’s pretty specific.
Evidence #3: At a recent rally, Obama stated that:
“John McCain suggested that he would be the one to change George Bush’s policies,” Obama said, before adding that if that were to happen it’d be “like Dick Cheney attacking George Bush.”
“It’s like Robin getting mad at batman. John McCain hasn’t been a maverick. He’s been a sidekick when it comes to George Bush’s economic policies.”
So I think we’re really beginning to build a case here that Obama is, possibly, the most famous comic book fan in the world. Tell you what: if anyone can get him to guest on our live show, I will buy your comics for a year. No joke.
You do! Here’s the footage that played at this past weekend’s Scream Awards. Basically the same as the first trailer, with some new, cool shots:
I kind of thought this was a joke when I read Bendis’ tweet about it, but nope, the legit press confirms it: Terrence Howard is out, Don Cheadle is in.
Which is actually not that shocking, if you think about it.
At first, my reaction was one of shock: in the current movie landscape, the consistency of the product is important to fans. In particular, Iron Man 2 is in the precarious position of keeping Marvel Studios going. Since Incredible Hulk didn’t dominate the B.O., IM2 has to do spectacularly, or the first movie ends up seeming like a fluke. So you don’t want to piss off fans, who generally enjoyed Howard’s performance.
However, and bear with me for a second, Katie Holmes replacement didn’t hurt The Dark Knight.
Now, first off, I know nobody loved Holmes in Batman Begins. However, I’d argue that The Dark Knight would have done just as well, and been just as good with or without Holmes. No knock to Maggie Gyllenhall, but Rachel Dawes is a crappy part, crappily written. Nobody had a problem with the replacement actress.
Jim Rhodes, in Iron Man, was the girlfriend part, not Pepper Potts, who played the partner role. With Rhodes stepping it up in the next movie, taking out the soft voiced actor (Howard), and replacing him with an actor skilled in conveying bad-ass (Don Cheadle), is actually a smart move.
It’s not going to throw anyone, I think; and, in fact, it may make the movie better.
Got word from a little bird that Bill Murray will be on the Mike & Juliet Show on Friday morning talking about Ghostbusters 3. Here’s the official word, with a quote:
In an interview with “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” airing this Friday October 10th, Murray comments on the rumors that there’s a ‘Ghostbusters 3’ in the works being penned by a pair of writers from ‘The Office.’
“It’s promising, it’s never been promising before…[The unnamed writers] are probably pretty funny. And the idea of having a new fresh look at it, is a great idea, you know, to see if through someone else’s eyes. I think a new idea would be great, I think it’d be fun.”
I guess I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’d be up for a good new Ghostbusters movie… And you?