You’ve probably never wondered to yourself, “What would it be like if Aardman did DC Comics superheroes?” (Aardman, in case you don’t know, is the claymation studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, and lots more.) Today you’re going to find out exactly what it’s like.

Cartoon Network is prepping a block of programming known as “DC Nation,” which is exactly what it sounds like — a group of new shows, shorts, and more, starring DC superheroes. Just one way Cartoon Network is promoting DC Nation is with this clever one-minute short from Aardman that features several DC characters behaving like children (and featuring real childrens’ voices). It’s kooky, it’s campy, and you have to watch it.

If this whets your appetite for DC Nation, here’s what you can expect:

• Green Lantern – a slick-looking CGI cartoon featuring the saga of the Green Lantern Corps
• Young Justice – action-packed traditional hand-drawn animation starring Superboy, Robin, Kid Flash, and more
• Tons of DC-influenced short films and short-form series, including a chibi-style Teen Titans, LEGO Batman, and loads more. The commercial embedded below offers a quick preview of the two flagship shows and the various short spots, and I think I even spotted some of the promo spots for Monolith’s Gotham City Impostors in there. The Aardman bit above fits in with these many other shorts, and word has it more of these DC/Aardman mashups are on their way to DC Nation.
• Beware the Batman (coming in 2013) – a CGI cartoon that presents a new take on the Dark Knight that’s darker and more serious than The Brave and the Bold
• Blue Beetle – a live action show based on the Jaime Reyes version of the character is in production, but it’s unknown if it’s a full-length series (perhaps planned for ’13?) or a series of shorts
• DC News – MTV-like news breaks with quick-cut features on happenings in DC Comics, movies, TV shows, video games, and more.

DC Nation is expected to kick into gear sometime this Spring.

LEGO has just released its first toys in the new “LEGO DC Universe Superheroes” lineup (“LEGO Marvel Superheroes” sets are coming later this year). To celebrate, adult LEGO builder Rod Gillies created this awesome TV displaying a Superman minifigure TV show — and it really plays.

Gillies’ ingenious MOC has a built-in scrolling function, allowing the background to roll by, which cleverly creates the illusion that LEGO Superman is flying over Metropolis. It’s a brilliant piece of work, and it couldn’t have been easy, since the entire landscape had to be created using perfectly vertical slats that aren’t connected. This is the only way the whole thing could be made to scroll. That he made such a thing work in such a small size only adds to its wonder.

Gillies posted the above video that shows how the TV set looks when it’s “on” and the background is scrolling, and it’s a pretty flawless effect. Major kudos, Mr. Gillies. Very impressive.

I’d love to see another video or maybe some photos that show how the scrolling mechanism works. I can think of a few different ways one could do this, and I can’t help being curious about what method he used.

LEGO Superman TV by Rod Gillies

DC’s New 52 is burning up the sales charts, dominating most of the monthly top 20 titles. Are you a true believer (sorry Marvel)? Or are you still mourning the old continuity?

Sound off!

People living in Australia are in for a treat toward the end of this month, though, and no one can really criticize the concept behind the yet-to-be-released license plates. By the end of the month, DC comics license plates are going to be released in the land down under for the first time.

I can already imagine the hullaballoo the announcement has created, with people lining up to get their own Superman license plate. Now while I do like Superman, I think that Wonder Woman is still the best choice. The rest of the DC comics license plates include Batman, Super Girl, Green Lantern, and The Flash. Take a look at the plates.

DC License Plates

I don’t know, but I am really partial to Wonder Woman, and the plates that have a discreet symbol in them – instead of the image of the character itself – look much better to me. What do you think?

If you are in Australia, and you want your own DC comics license plates, you can check out Vic Roads Custom Plates. I think it’s a good enough reason as any to consider moving there in the near future.

LEGO Superheroes logo

Holy crackers! This coming January, LEGO is making one of its biggest product line launches ever: LEGO Superheroes. And the products making up this toy line? Both DC Comics and Marvel characters. How did I not know about this?

Official LEGO DC Comics Minifigures

The news was announced a few months ago at San Diego Comic-Con International, but somehow I missed it. I’m reeling in shock here, give me a minute… The DC characters are the ones that premiere in January. Marvel’s LEGO toys are being held off until summer, to coincide with The Avengers movie.

LEGO Wolverine Minifigure

It’s easy to see how this one-in-a-million convergence came about. LEGO already has a partnership with Warner Bros. for the Batman franchise, so expanding that to encompass other DC heroes is a no-brainer, considering how well the Batman sets have sold. As for Marvel, they’re owned by Disney now, and LEGO has an existing partnership with Disney as well.

LEGO Iron Man Minifiure

But it’s still mind boggling that these two universes are coming together in the form of the world’s greatest toy. DC has for years refused to do any crossovers with Marvel because of some kind of animosity from DC towards Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. So the very idea that both of these titans will be united under a single umbrella is just incredible.

Anyhoo, below are some of the first images of some of the Minifigs and sets coming with the LEGO Superheroes line.

But you know where my mind can’t help but go with this news… They already made a LEGO Batman video game. How long until we see LEGO Avengers or LEGO Justice League?

Photos courtesy of FBTB.net and Eurobricks. Hit both links for lots more images.

DC Universe Online screenshot

Because it’s what all the cool kids are doing, Sony Online Entertainment says that DC Universe Online (FG Review: 5 out of 5 stars) is adding a freebie game mode come late October. There will be three tiers of service, in fact, from free up to $15/month, and here’s what you’ll get with each.

All three game modes will give players access to the open worlds of Metropolis and Gotham City, all raids (aka dungeons) and alerts, with standard gameplay, missions, and character leveling, along with periodic updates and patches. But from there, things diverge.

Free players will get the option to create 2 characters, 28 inventory slots, 12 bank slots, and the ability to join a league. Pretty much everything else of value, like DLC expansion packs, must be purchased in-game. This tier is aimed primarily at noobs.

Premium players — defined as anyone who spends at least $5 in-game — will be rewarded with this tier. It bumps you up to 6 character slots, 42 inventory slots, 24 bank slots, and 5 auction slots.

Legendary players — those willing to pay $14.99 a month for top-tier access — get every DLC pack at no extra cost, 16 character slots, 63 inventory slots, 48 bank slots, 12 auction slots, unlimited in-game currency and chat, the ability to create leagues, and more.

More information about DCUO‘s new plans is available here.

DC Universe Online screenshot

DC Universe Online screenshot

We could argue for years about what constitutes a “superhero weapon” and what doesn’t. For the purpose of this article, I’m defining it as an object or device that exists separate from the wielder. Wolverine’s claws — despite being one the coolest superhero weapons of all — don’t qualify, because they’re part of his anatomy.

Don’t forget to get involved in the comic book debates at the ForeverGeek Forum!

Batman’s Batarangs

Batarang

Batman uses so many different tools, gadgets, and weapons, but there’s no more emblematic or remembered weapon than the Batarang. It’s part boomerang, part throwing star. Part tool, part weapon. And all awesome. [Image source.]

Captain America’s Shield

Shield

Steve Rogers is as much of a symbol as he is a hero, so nothing less than a powerfully symbolic weapon will do. Over the years, Cap‘s shield has gone through many incarnations, but the most popular and memorable one is the round model made of the fictional substance Vibranium. In Cap’s hands, it’s a potent weapon for both offense and defense. [Image source.]

Ghost Rider’s Hellfire Enchanted Chain

Hellfire Enchanted Chain

Ghost Rider’s signature weapon is this enchanted chain that literally bends to his will. And it perfectly matches his metal/biker aesthetic. Sometimes it’s depicted with a glow, while other times it appears to be merely a typical black chain. [Image source.]

Green Arrow’s Bow & Arrows

Bow & Arrows

I’d like to say I was torn between Green Arrow and Hawkeye, but I’d be lying. Green Arrow is the character that’s better known by the general public. The feisty archer is obviously modeled after Robin Hood, and his skill with his bow is unmatched. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a billionaire and can afford to create a nearly infinite array of specialty arrows. [Image source.]

Green Lantern’s Power Ring

Power Ring

The powers of Green Lantern are among the most creative on DC’s roster. What could be cooler than the ability to conjure up anything you can imagine? The mythos behind the Green Lantern rings has grown and expanded hugely over the years, and now there are a full spectrum of ring colors and corps to go with them, each one drawing power from a different primal emotion. But green remains the greatest, built on a foundation of fearlessness. [Image source.]

Iron Man’s Suit

Iron Man

For Tony Stark, his costume is his weapon. It was built out of necessity — its power source keeps dangerous shrapnel from penetrating Tony’s heart, and the first incarnation of the suit helped him escape captivity — but he’s refined and remodeled it numerous times over the years into the sleek, powerful machine it is today. [Image source.]

Spider-Man’s Web-Shooters

Web-Shooters

Peter Parker fashioned his signature wrist gadgets himself, which allow him to shoot a special web fluid that acts like strands of a spider’s web. They’re useful for all sorts of things, including Tarzaning his way through Manhattan, tying up enemies, and grabbing falling objects. Thankfully, Spidey‘s grown more adept at that last one — a lesson he learned the hard way (poor Gwen). [Image source.]

Thor’s “Mjolnir” Hammer

Mjolnir

Bestowed upon him by his father Odin, Thor‘s enchanted hammer is more than a weapon. It’s the totem that transforms human Donald Blake into the Norse god he’s bonded with: Thor, God of Thunder. Thor can throw it at enemies and will it to return to him, he can conjure thunder and lightning with it, or he can just use it to whack the snot out of just about anything. [Image source.]

Witchblade

Witchblade

In the Top Cow Comics universe, the mythology states that there are 13 mystical artifacts/weapons that together hold the universe balanced between dark and light. Of the 13, the best known is the object called the Witchblade, as bonded to Sara Pezzini. The artifact is worn as a bracelet when inert, but can grow and transform into a gauntlet, a bladed weapon, or even a full suit of body armor. It also possesses some mystical powers. [Image source.]

Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth

Lasso of Truth

Diana uses her magic, glowing lasso to bind her enemies and force the truth from them. (It literally forces them to tell the truth.) Personally, I’ve always thought the Lasso is just about the lamest “weapon” there is; her male counterparts get gadgets and power rings and arrows and maces, and she gets a rope? But it’s an inseparable part of Wonder Woman‘s image. Hey, geek war: which would win in a fight — the Lasso of Truth or Ghost Rider’s Hellfire Chain? Go! [Image source.]

Sony Online Entertainment has spent a ton of money on DC Universe Online, and boy does it show. The massively multiplayer online universe has so much to do, you can and will spend months trying to get to it all. Of course, not everything is required of players; in fact, DCUO‘s diversity of options might just be its greatest strength. That, and the enormous playground that you’re given total freedom to explore and enjoy.

First things first. DC Universe Online presents players with the chance to create their own superhero or supervillain. You can customize almost everything about your avatar, including not just physical attributes and costumes, but down to even their fundamental styles of movement and fighting. There are hundreds of possible combinations, which is more than enough to ensure that no two players play the game exactly the same. You also select a mentor, who will be sort of your “coach” throughout the game and will influence which kind of abilities you have. Heroes can choose from Superman (meta), Batman (technology), and Wonder Woman (magic). On the flip side, respectively, villains get Lex Luthor, the Joker, or Circe.

The scenario is set up by a gorgeous CG animatic (viewable above) that reveals an Earth in ruins, torn apart by heroes and villains locked in a devastating war — which is when the evil Brainiac shows up with an invasion force. Lex Luthor, one of the few survivors, steals some of Brainiac’s technology and travels backward in time five years, where he disperses Brainiac’s “exobytes” across the Earth. This creates of thousands of new heroes and villains — aka, you and your fellow players — who can be trained to defend the planet from the impending invasion. (Yes, even the villains must fight Brainiac’s forces.)

This is the world in which you’re planted as you begin. Right off the bat, you’ll see that there are two fully realized, gargantuan cities to explore and play in: Metropolis and Gotham. These mega-cities are stunning in size and scope, with entire neighborhoods and skyscrapers dotting the sky — and everything in the cities is playable from the first minute you’re in the game. The game’s designers really let their imaginations run wild in coming up with the architecture of Metropolis and Gotham, and I enjoyed simply exploring these amazing cities.

There are missions awaiting you everywhere (accessed via the handy heads-up display), which almost always involve NPC enemies to dispatch. (Unless you’re playing on a PvP server, which is obviously a far more dangerous kind of play.) The differences between the two cities are day and night — literally. It’s always daytime in Metropolis, sunny, art deco, and optimistic. Gotham exists in perpetual night, all gloom and industrial machinery. There are some buildings in both cities that are inaccessible because they’ve been “bottled” by Brainiac, or essentially claimed.

Death for players is never a possibility. The worst that will happen is that you’re “knocked out,” which results in a few seconds of downtime while you regenerate. You’re returned to your starting point, or a nearby waypoint, forcing you to backtrack your steps to your enemies — during which they usually have time to do some healing. But that’s it: you’re not penalized by losing cash, inventory items, or power-ups.

To get around the cities, you’ll use one of three modes that you selected during your character’s customization: flying, speed-running, or tech-running. The latter two use speed or technology to allow you to run up the sides of buildings, and tech players can glide down from heights. But there’s really no substitute for flying. It’s smooth, intuitive, and really instills a sense of power. Once you try it, you’ll wonder why anyone bothers with the other two modes.

Both heroes and villains get their own safe houses and central headquarters, where they can go to interact with other players, buy cool exclusives, and take on specialty missions. But be warned that all of the exclusives you’ll be offered here can only be bought after you reach Level 30, and then only after you’ve completed a whole new slew of level grinding on specialty missions that significantly raise your renown with the item’s manufacturer.

One of the biggest draws of the game for me was the ability to choose what I wanted to do at any given time. There’s leveling to be done by fighting NPCs, and the requisite exploration and treasure-hunting missions, but you’re never required to do anything. This leaves you free to select an activity that suits whatever mood you’re in.

As for those levels, there’s a good variety of missions that mix things up in fun and satisfying ways. And every mission ends with you getting the chance to team up with one of DC’s known heroes or villains to fight against one of their established enemies. DCUO‘s developers wisely made extra sure that fighting beside these treasured comic book characters is just as awesome as it deserves to be. Each of these main characters is voiced by a mainstream actor — most of whom will be familiar to genre fans. Firefly and Chuck‘s Adam Baldwin makes a great Superman, while Mark Hamill takes on his familiar role of the Joker. Michelle Forbes (Battlestar Galactica‘s Admiral Cain and True Blood‘s Maryann) chews through her words as the villainous Circe, and Star Trek: The Next Generation star and geek guru Wil Wheaton appears as Robin. You’ll also hear from Dwight Schultz (TNG‘s Barclay and The A-Team‘s original Murdock) as both The Flash and Martian Manhunter, Buffy‘s Spike, James Marsters, as Lex Luthor. Firefly‘s Gina Torres effects an odd, almost-British accent for Wonder Woman.

Aside from generic leveling, there are raids, PvP arenas, loot vaults you can buy entrance to, and story-driven co-op missions that take place outside of the two main cities in cool settings like Smallville, Chemo-blasted Bludhaven, Area 51, a base on the moon, Arkham Asylum, and more. There are daily contests, races, Legends matches where you play against other players in the guise of major DC heroes, duo missions, bounties to collect, player leagues to join, feats to accomplish, and so much more. Frankly there’s more to do than I have room to list in this review. In short: you’ll never get bored playing DC Universe Online. It’s impossible.

Level grinding maxes out at Level 30, though I imagine that cap will be raised by a future update. My one and only complaint about the game is the drastic leap in difficulty that occurs when you finally reach Level 30. While leveling up, the game presents you with missions that complement your current power set, but once you reach the maximum level, enemies suddenly become radically harder to take down. So hard that it’s simply impractical to complete any further missions without teaming up with other players. Gamers who prefer to go it alone will find virtually nothing left to do once they reach Level 30.

For many players, this won’t be a problem. A lot of gamers join MMOs for the social aspects. Personally, I’ve never had a good experience playing alongside others in MMOs, and DCUO is no exception. On one occasion, I waited in a queue for hours to get into a dungeon (aka an “Alert Zone”). I don’t typically enjoy dungeons, but this one sounded cool — the level was set in the Batcave. But it was at least two hours before I finally gained access to the dungeon, and when I did, the seven other players, who were standing around the entry point doing nothing, immediately asked me to leave. It turns out they were all real-life friends who wanted to play through the dungeon together, and their eighth friend was having trouble with his Internet connection, which kept dropping him out of the game. The game had put me in the Batcave in his place, which prevented him from returning.

I understand the desire for friends to enjoy some virtual playtime together, and I know how difficult it can be to arrange such a thing in cyberspace, but the experience still left a sour taste in my mouth. Anytime I tried playing alongside others, there was never any communication among my “team,” and every player was pretty much just in it for themselves, refusing to work together.

Admittedly, these issues had very little to do with the design of the game, so Sony Online can’t be faulted. These were just my personal experiences, and could have just as easily happened (and usually does) in any other MMO.

I had my share of lockups over the course of a month of playtime. But given the complexity of constructing an MMO and keeping it running, my downtime was remarkably small — particularly when compared to other MMOs. Sony has definitely invested plenty of time into testing and stabilizing the game. I played the PlayStation 3 version, and DCUO was easily the best reason I’ve found yet for buying that console. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but once you get past that, it’s an absolute thrill to play. It’s simply the best MMO I’ve ever played.

Even though I’m not playing DC Universe Online anymore, I don’t regret one minute of the time I invested in it, and often find myself missing it, even now, weeks later. If that’s not the mark of a great game, I don’t know what is.

The title says it all, really. MAC’s Wonder Woman Makeup Collection of Spring 2011 has been catching the attention of fashion and beauty bloggers all over the place. Together with DC Comics, the cosmetic company (apparently, every woman’s favorite cosmetic company) came up with the idea to cater to those who want to “feel the magic of an iconic personality”, never mind that the iconic personality is a figment of the imagination. Don’t get me wrong – I love the idea of Wonder Woman makeup. Heck, I have a Wonder Woman shirt! I guess that copy just sounded overly silly to me.

I did look the line up in the official MAC web site, but it seems that they haven’t announced it yet. I found eyecatching photos of the new line, though, and I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on these.

Sorry, guys (and I mean the male readers). I know you probably do not get it, but hey, this is the perfect Valentine’s gift for your geek significant other. According to the grapevine, the line will be available in the United States on the 10th of February. The rest of the world will have to wait till March.

At last, the first Green Lantern trailer is right here. Plus, I’ve grabbed 55 high-res screenshots from it. Gander in awe at the effects, the heroics, and the glipses of Oa.

Green Lantern is being called “the Star Wars of the DC Comics universe,” and the trailer makes it easy to see why. I know a lot of fans aren’t entirely sold on the slightly creepy/organic look of Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern costume (neither am I), but Reynolds does a great job of filling Hal Jordan’s shoes believably.

Director Martin Campbell is untested when it comes to superheroes and science fiction, but he’s got plenty of street cred when it comes to smart action films (Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro). We’ll see how it all comes together next Summer, but for now, this trailer is something we can subject to intense observation over and over.

Update: New video embedded after the first disappeared from YouTube. You can also watch the super-high-res Quicktime version over at Apple.com.

By all indications, DC Universe Online looks downright awesome. I’ve always been more of a Marvel man myself, but as infrequently as good comic book games are made, I’m hopeful that maybe they’ll get this one right. Sony Online Entertainment has a solid track record, so the odds are good for DC Comics.

You’ll have to judge for yourself if this news is good or bad: SOE just announced that DC Universe Online is being delayed from its planned November 2nd release date to Q1 2011. DCUO is set to be the first-of-its-kind MMO on the PlayStation 3, and the first-ever MMO set in the DC Universe. The game is moving into beta testing, and Sony has decided to take extra time to fine-tune the game, based on beta-player feedback.

Access to the beta game will start being rolled out next week to players with VIP key cards or players who have registered at the game’s site. Pre-order the game by November 15th, and you’ll be guaranteed beta access by November 30th.

A PS3 Collector’s Edition has also been announced, which will include a DCUO Batman statue, an Art of DC Universe Online book, a DCUO Legends issue #0 comic book with a variant cover by Jim Lee, a limited edition poster of Lee’s variant cover, and a Prestige comic book that details the DCUO backstory.

Having already addressed the pressing issue of defunct comics I’d like to bring back earlier this week, I’m now turning my greedy eyes towards the individual characters I’d like to see receive their own titles, for each to enjoy at least 15 minutes of geek fame.

In no special order, I’d grant the following their share of the spotlight.

Nite Owl & Rorschach: The adventures of this potentially dynamic duo were alluded to in The Watchmen, but never materialized in the form of a separate book. And since Alan Moore turned down DC’s offer of the rights to The Watchmen in return for prequel and sequel work, we’re not likely to see their prior lives without divine intervention. Still, there are bound to be tales in their complicated pasts that I’d enjoy reading, and for that reason alone, I’m willing Alan Moore to work it out.

Jeffrey Garrett: AKA the dead kid from Academy X. Although he was present as early as X-Treme X-Men #20, he played his most memorable role in X-Men history as a student killed when Magneto destroyed the school. As a result his ghost haunted the rebuilt academy. Discovered and tamed by the New Mutants, Jeffrey went on to be a spectral student until Scarlet Witch’s reversal of mutant powers basically erased him from print. I feel there’s a lot that can be done with a ghost whose ability to affect reality is still so strong that he could, as we see in David’s dream, destroy an entire continent. And a ghost who remains a child with childlike impulses, as well. Jeffrey’s tale is really one of melancholy, and a limited run series exploring his time at Professor Xavier’s school would be one I’d surely collect.

Edwin Jarvis: AKA the consummate butler, originally in Tony Stark’s employment but now an important member of the supporting cast for the Avengers. The stories of the unsung always interest me, particularly when it comes to those who’ve put up with years of back story we can only imagine (even on top of decades of stories we already know). What kinds of beans does Jarvis have to spill? Inquiring minds want to know. Even if it’s only a one-shot, Jarvis has more than earned the spotlight for his years of faithful service to an often unmanageable cast of characters. (And let’s face it. Doesn’t being torn apart and eaten by your employers [Marvel Zombies] earn you a big break?)

Michonne: This unpredictable heroine of The Walking Dead is at times so twisted I look forward to seeing her part in the tale unfold from month to month just about more than any other character. While she’s not the main protagonist in the series, she’s become a massive force to be reckoned with, and I’d like to see how she got that way. Like, from the very beginning. A Michonne origins title would be exceptionally well received not just by me, but by the countless other geeks who hang on Robert Kirkman’s every word. We get a glimpse of Michonne’s past in the series, but a glimpse simply isn’t enough. This katana-wielding ass-kicking lawyer has far more to tell.

Evey Hammond: Let’s face it. Judging not only from my previous mention of V for Vendetta as a title I’d like to bring back from the dead, but also from the fact that the creators left the door wide open for any such spin-off material, Evey Hammond as V simply had to make this list. She emerged a pretty tough cookie in the end. Would she hold under pressure? Could she get away with the role? Does the world even need a V anymore, with the wheels of anarchy already in motion? There are plenty of questions. It’s high time we discovered the answers.

Stay tuned for part 3, wherein I deftly arrange superheroes into dream teams with more panache than a world-class interior decorator with Donald Trump’s budget!

Are you a bona fide comics geek, like me? You should check out Why I gave up comic books and its rebuttal Why I haven’t given up on comics here on ForeverGeek, too!

Consider me the Veruca Salt of comic book geeks.

First up in the grand scheme of things I’d change in the world of comics is to enact a rule by which all title cancellations would have to meet my approval and all previous cancellations, if met with my displeasure, would be undone. Add to this the option of bringing back any series that’s simply run its natural course. (I like to think this would generally improve the comic experience for fans everywhere, but it’d probably only serve to make it impossible to collect anything for sheer quantity of material.)

My messianic powers of comic book resurrection would touch the following titles, in no particular order of urgency.

Captain Britain and MI: 13: As a chick with a thing for Psylocke, it grieves me to think the name she once borrowed has lost its share of the spotlight. Captain Britain, the UK’s answer to Captain America, debuted in 1976 but his most recent series met the axe in 2009. I’ve always deducted points from Captain Britain for name and concept originality, and this title has never particularly registered as a big fan favorite. I, for one, have never gone ape for tales of Dracula on the moon. But more than the content of the series itself, I appreciate the delicious irony of its Hugo nomination after it got the chop. I may be the only person to read it, but I’ll take it.

Ms. Marvel: This sometimes-feminist has undeniably become one of Marvel’s most remarkable characters, likable both in her personality and her powers. The aforementioned feminism is the root of some controversy surrounding the title, but that hasn’t stopped her creators from confusing fans and activists alike since 1977. For my part, I love unfettered girl power – especially when it’s in thigh highs and a leotard – and I was disappointed to see her title go. At least she’s still around as a member of the New Avengers.

The Watchmen: DC had a good thing going with this dark title, which began and ended as a limited run series in 1986/1987. As a bonus it was adapted to film very well, something many, many…many comics can’t boast. What frustrates me is that when recently offered back the rights to The Watchmen on the condition that he create a prequel and sequel, writer Alan Moore flipped DC the bird. Thus we wallow without additional adventures of unforgettable characters like the inkblot-masked Rorschach.

V for Vendetta: I’ll readily admit I love a superpowered hero as much as the next geek, but some titles are made much more intriguing by a lack of superpowers and a boost of cold, hard realism. Add a heaping spoonful of politics and history with a heavy dose of anarchy, and you have a comic that I personally just about shed a tear to see end. I’ll also readily admit that it probably wouldn’t bear the same weight without the primary incarnation of its hero V, but there’s still a lot of room for growth and a lot left to be said.

Concrete: A seemingly unsung title – apart from its four Eisner Awards – Concrete’s simple black and white artwork may not make it a flashy read, but it’s an enjoyable one. It’s a shame that this solid Dark Horse series has all but faded into obscurity. At least if the rumored film adaptation with Bill Murray had materialized, we’d have a likely cult classic to relive Concrete by. As it stands, the alien-engineered rocky hero’s hearty adventures, which he embarks upon simply because he can, must languish in the past.

Up next in my free reign to complain are characters I’d like to see with their own titles, so stay tuned!

The strange part? The only difference appears to be that there are two different haircuts on the Robin action figures.

It’s also the first time in a while that the line doesn’t offer a bunch of obscure characters, other than maybe Creepers, who also isn’t insanely obscure like some past offerings.  

If anyone has a good reason as to why Robin has different haircuts I would love to hear it. More than likely it all boils down to Mattel hoping to sell more toys to fans who want to complete their collection.

What do you think about the new lineup of action figures? Here’s a closer look to help you decide:

And why shouldn’t she? Superman‘s costume may be iconic, but most other major superheroes — including A-lister Batman — have undergone changes since they were first introduced. DC Comics has always aspired to make Wonder Woman the third member of its A-list trio, but her books never sell anywhere near the Top 20 like her male counterparts.

Issue #600 of Wonder Woman finds fan-favorite writer J. Michael Straczynski reimagining her origins. Instead of being raised as Amazon royalty, Diana was smuggled from the island as a baby when her home was destroyed. Presumably, she’s since been raised on the mainland, where she’s clearly aware of her background, but has taken on a more fashion-forward and functional than the traditional “swimsuit” outfit she’s worn from her beginning.

Jim Lee, the celebrated DC artist who designed the new look, tells the New York Times, that he wanted to make Wonder Woman look strong “without screaming, ‘I’m a superhero.’”

What do you think?

DC is about to release yet another Batman/Superman movie, this time in the form of Apocalypse, yet another cartoon attempt for the company to make some extra cash.

The movie is based off Jeph Loeb’s “Last Girl from Kyrpton” arc which is basically a sequel to “Public Enemies.”

The movie is once again coming right to DVD so I’m not expecting anything spectacular.

Here’s the synopsis provided within the DC press release for the movie:

After a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor, Batman and Superman encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

Voices for the movie are once again feature Tim Daly and Kevin Conroy as Batman and Superman, while Summer Glau will be voicing Supergirl.

If you’d rather wait for the Green Arrow you can take a back seat until September 28th.

DC, where’s my Superman/Batman live action movie? DC readers/viewers what do you think about the synopsis for the new movie?

While the application is free, comic book downloads will run users anywhere from $.99 to $2.99 per issue. However you can try out the application with a free few selections including Batman: Black & White. The app also includes offerings from Wildstorm and Vertigo.

As Comics Alliance points out, paying the same price for a digital print as you will for a collectible paper print probably won’t make sense to serious comic book collectors and is meant more for casual readers. For example “Generation Lost” is released on the same day as the print copy for the exact same $2.99 price. Perhaps that pricing works for someone who can’t get to their local comic book store or a user who doesn’t have easy access to comics, which may open up an entirely new market to DC, but it probably won’t satisfy collectors.

A big plus is that DC offers “non-superhero titles” such as “Fables,” “Sandman,” “The Unwritten” and “The Losers” alongside their more popular titles, a fact that may open up the “indy comic arena” to a whole new set of readers.

Just like the Apple app store, comics are also given a star rating (up to five stars) with user reviews, a great option for readers looking to download a new series, but unsure of the series quality. Users can also read descriptions of each issue directly from that comics personal page within the store, but DC Alliance warns that some descriptions didn’t fit the comics they were touting so buyer beware!

Here’s a screenshot of the DC Comic store:

So what do you think, are you willing to download your comics in digital form? If you’ve already installed the app let us know what you think about the comic store and the actual digital prints of the comics.

FCBD is an annual event where comic book stores across America give away a bag full of free comics to all who visit their store. Every major comics publisher participates, publishing a special free comic just for today’s event. No purchase is necessary — just run down to your local comic shop and you’ll get 10 special comics entirely for free. It’s part of an effort to raise awareness of the unique art form that is comic books, and create new fans.

Marvel and DC are using the opportunity to promote new directions and events that are starting this summer: Marvel is launching its line-wide Heroic Age while DC is prepping War of the Supermen. Meanwhile, other publishers are offering free editions of Toy Story, Shrek, Archie’s Comics, new titles like Fractured Fables, the return of Doctor Solar and Magnus Robot Fighter (a couple of heroes from yesteryear), and David Petersen’s celebrated Mouse Guard.

Some local stores are known to throw in other special freebies as well. Many shops are also hosting artists and writers for in-store events.

Free Comic Book Day is today only — May 1st, 2010 — so get out to your closest comic book store before the day is out.

One of the hotly anticipated events would of course be Blackest Night. This is the third part of the trilogy that has been preceded by Green Lantern: Rebirth (Hal Jordan’s return!), and the Sinestro Corps War. Blackest Night revolves around the so called Blackest Night prophecy that will result in an all out war between the two corps and five new ones that will appear, which could end up destroying the universe.

Just to whet your appetite, here’s the cover for issue Number 1 of Blackest Night. I can’t wait for this!

DC Comics has said that the events that are happening right now will have far reaching repercussions in the Batman universe. I can’t wait to find out what it’s going to be.

And speaking of repercussions, I am also eagerly awaiting the big things that are going to happen with Green Lantern. But that’s another blog post.