Red and Black - His Colors...

Slow & Steady Wins The Race

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:44:22 GMT

No truer words have been spoken, at least not ones I can think of right now.

I'll get back to my Red Robin review later on this evening, hopefully before Young Justice and Ultimate Alien come on; I just had to mention something that happened to me nearly two hours ago. (It happened at exactly 12:00 noon PST.) I had just gotten off work and, considering how today is payday, I went to cash my check.

Once I got out of the building, to my disbelief the bus I needed to catch had arrived. I couldn't make it across in time before it pulled out, so after a moment of briefly losing my cool - hey, I'm allowed to get angry and frustrated at times! - I didn't even bother staying at the bus stop; I just started walking west.

To my total and complete surprise, when I'd gotten to the aforementioned bus stop which had only taken me about 3-5 minutes to walk to, I had actually arrived on time to catch that exact same bus! (It had been stuck in traffic for a time and might've gone by a second time if the light hadn't turned red and made it stop.)

Despite the comments made by the bus driver and one other passenger that I found humorous - how I needed a red cape, and that I could've beaten the bus at the bus stop after that one, even though I knew I'd still be walking if that had been the case! - I'm pleased that I was able to catch the bus I'd tried getting earlier and didn't have to wait for the next one.

On The Shoulders Of Titans

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:38:13 GMT

Despite being nearly 30 minutes late to the comic store yesterday morning, I was still able to pick up this month's Red Robin and Batgirl issues. I'll wait approximately 4 more days before putting up the latter's review while as for the former...

There's a reason this month's quote is based on the protagonist's inside voice.

It barely even took opening the comic before we're thrown into the action, with Tim and Tam celebrating their success back in Moscow via a date - which still doesn't confirm the 'will they, won't they' issue. (Pun not intended.) About 3 panels later, Catman makes his move and Red Robin's on the hunt.

Via his inside voice, Tim explains Catman's history - his real name is Thomas Blake, a member of the Secret Six which is a mercenary group of villains; Bane, the man who had broken Bruce!Batman's back, is a member of said group. Tim had figured out that Catman had hacked the program codes to the firewall so Mikalek would be able to regain access to the Unternet.

While he did try to stop him, Red Robin unfortunately had to let Catman go to try and save Tam after the latter used her cell phone to breach the Unternet's program before destroying it. After trying to call her roommate and not getting a response, Tim calls one of my favorite heroines - and his on again, off again girlfriend - Batgirl makes a cameo appearance! She would've agreeably helped Tim out if she wasn't busy dealing with an 'odd little Goth mime named Romeo Void. Steph suggested that Tim shout out if he needed a hand, and his response? "Ditto. Later. End call."

Tim wasn't able to prevent Tam's dorm from being destroyed, but thankfully neither her nor her roommate were in. Finding evidence left behind in the wreckage, he went to his makeshift lab to analyze it while mentioning that it was a dry-run to fine-tune the setup for his new base...which should be ready in about 2 months. XD

Figuring out that the person who'd fired the missile launcher only looked like the Calculator, but was only a robot Tim also discovered that 147 other robots had also gone online around the world. That's when he realized that he couldn't do this alone, but it wasn't a job for Bruce or Dick. It meant people who would work with him rather than him working for them, and people with an axe to grind against Calculator. Tim made the call, as seen in last month's Teen Titans #91, and he was reunited with his best friends...as well as...

Damian Wayne. My stepbrother. Joy.

"You haven't killed him yet, huh?"

"We were hoping to get your approval..."

Cue Tim's inside voice response which is this month's quote. The Titans, once again with a strategized plan by Red Robin, were en route to Istanbul as they discovered that's where the signal was coming from. As they could all be easily recognized out of costume, the team sent in the one member who wouldn't be found out - Damian.

Tim apologized at least two times to Cassie, knowing that he'd left the leadership role to her when he left but she insisted that it was okay. The footage Damian managed to get the crew to a building, and below it was where the server nest was. However, said building was one of the city's most popular nightclubs. After a quick stakeout, Robin successfully finds and decapitates a Calculator robot - who ended up being a bomb; Kid Flash got him to safety while Superboy destroyed it. Red Robin discovered that a lot of C-4 was packed inside, which could be a problem come Teen Titans #92 in about 2 weeks - since now they've got to protect innocent civilians from the ones who haven't detonated...!

Prelude to Red Robin/Teen Titans Crossover Part 2: Teen Titans

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:42:39 GMT

As promised, one of my biggest reviews done in quite a while on a hero's entrance into a team...that I really don't think he belongs on for at least another 3-4 years - if EVER!

Teen Titans #88 introduces us to the team that just keeps on going through member drives like 2-year terms - led by Wonder Girl ever since issue 66 when Tim Drake-then going by the moniker of Robin-stepped down to deal with the crisis happening in Gotham for an undetermined period of time. In real time it's been over a year, and I for one cannot wait until he returns to his friends; maybe not in full leadership capacity, but even as a technical advisor. (Tim is mentioned in this issue once by Cassie, who states that dealing with analysis and DNA samples is really his territory.)

The other members, who are still around since issue 87, are Superboy, Kid Flash, Beast Boy, Raven...and returning/former Titan Ravager, Rose Wilson. (Cassie's reasoning for inviting Rose to come back, even though the two have NEVER seen eye-to-eye on anything, is just-she's a warrior and while the Titans are meant to be a family who depend on each other through good times or bad, and the Tower is a place for inexperienced heroes the team is more than constantly out there on the front lines.)

While they have to deal with regular people who have been stripped of their identities and minds, dulling their sense of pain at the same time, we're given a brief return to Gotham City - enter Batman, former Nightwing and Robin-Dick Grayson who's using his inside voice to allow a brief peek into his head:

(He's got so much anger inside him. He's never known love or compassion. If this is all he experiences in life...thieves, murderers, and assassins...how else is Damian supposed to turn out?)

The real antagonist in this calls himself Mr. Carter during the day, but by nighttime he goes by a different alias-Dr. Caligan. And he's targeted one of his own students for a very dangerous experiment.

Back to the Titans, while the team are dealing with some much needed downtime for a while-Raven doing her best to keep her emotions in check, Beast Boy watching TV, Bart doing his best to multitask-basically write down everything he can remember from his and Conner's brief time in the future before it slips away from his memory; according to him, it's got to do with the current time stream as well as what I've heard of as wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...-Rose updating information on her mother, Conner and Cassie having a discussion of sorts which might not have ended on a good note if someone hadn't breached the Tower.

According to Kid Flash, the sensors indicated the intruder was in the East Wing...and then the Dark Knight himself corrects him in one of the most surprising-though not much-moves in Titans history. (When this issue of Teen Titans came out, it was the last week of a month of Batman related titles, most notably The Road home where Damian had been involved in at least three separate issues-Batman & Robin, Superman/Batman, talked about briefly in Batgirl and the aforementioned TT ish.)

Part two starts off with Caligan showing his latest protege how he can use his new abilities to use: at a Tech Expo convention center in Silicon Valley. After the 2nd page, we're shown what happens 'earlier,' with the Titans not at all impressed with the Boy Wonder: Damian's first order of 'business' as leader was to eject Beast Boy from the Titans, BB stated that he was just a child. Damian had a pretty damn decent argument, however-Dick led the Titans as Robin, and so did Tim. (The part where he deems himself as more accomplished than either one of them was gets on my nerves, though; Cassie seems to agree.)

"Hey, Bart - what do you call a baby robin? A hatchling?"

"Or a fledgling. Or even simply a chick."

"Yeah, I like that. A chick!"

Much as I enjoyed Rose's snide remarks, Damian was rather sensitive about said remarks and took the fight to her.

"If your PRECIOUS Drake were here, I'd show you who is the BEST Robin! But since he's not, I'll have to SETTLE for teaching you your place!"

Conner prevented Rose from causing any serious harm, and Bart relieved Damian of his own weapons while Wonder Girl and Batman had their own discussion. Dick wanted Damian to be welcomed to the team-not as leader obviously, but still a Titan. Cassie knows that Dick has been a Titan longer than any of them, but he couldn't show up unannounced and drop his dead weight on their door. She said that she wasn't a babysitter; Dick immediately retorts that he isn't dead weight. Cassie corrects herself by calling him a problem child.

"I wouldn't use that term around Damian. He's kind of sensitive about that - if you couldn't tell."

Dick went on to explain that Damian needed the Titans-he needed to learn how to trust people, that his life had been nothing but betrayal and manipulation, that he needed to know what it means to count on someone. Cassie retorted that Damian had to earn their trust, and she didn't care that he was Robin; he wasn't Tim. Not even close. (Go Cassie, go!)

"I know. But he can still be Robin. Give him a chance. For his own sake." (Dammit, Dick...! You and your calm sense of rational Vulcanese emotion!)

Jumping back into the 'now,' we're given a glimpse at an ancient civilization where Cassie's mother, Helena Sandsmark, is at with some friends and we're introduced to a girl who'll have the spotlight on her as of Teen Titans #93-Kiran, otherwise known as Solstice (found out officially as of Wonder Girl #1). Back at Titans Tower, Tim is briefly mentioned again as Red Robin by Superboy-he's told him all about Damian, how he's got the biggest chip on his shoulder. Raven notes that they all came to the team with their own baggage-a polite way of her saying burdens-and if he's so damaged, shouldn't they be trying all the harder to help him? Conner's response?

"Something tells me Damian doesn't want to be helped." Bart added that he doesn't like seeing Damian in a Robin's costume, even if Batman vouches for him.

Speaking of which, he was spending 'time' with Cassie in the Com center while she was speaking to Dr. Mid-nite. While he was eager to familiarize himself with the rest of the Tower, he wasn't hanging out with the other Titans. Cassie brought it up, and Damian noted that 'I got better things to do with my time than play games.'

"It's called unwinding."

"I like being wound up - it gives me an edge."

The Titans soon hear about what's going on in their backyard and go to investigate-they find Barney Venton, the student who had been 'changed' by his teacher. He puts up more of a fight than expected, even with Robin 'leading' the charge and stating that the rest of the team should tend to the weak. Raven almost had convinced him to stand down by taking him to a place of her own design - her safe place, though it was a place of loneliness. And then Robin gives him his official name-Headcase-by blindsiding him and beating up on him. The team is soon blown away as Headcase gets away, while Raven explains that she had him under control. When Cassie asked what happened, Kid Flash comes back with the standard 'let me guess.' quote.

"Way to go, nimrod!"

"What'd I do?" Sure, Rose - make the kid feel twice as guilty, though I can't say I blame her one bit.

Part three takes us back, only with two more pages, to Solstice-which reveals a bit of her powers but not much-and shows that her parents, while going on a nighttime expedition, had vanished. Back at the Tower, Raven and Wonder Girl are discussing their latest threat and how he literally isn't anywhere-no file with the authoritities, federal or local, no posted pictures or social networking profiles. Raven explained that when she connected with him, Barney had a lot of depression, rage, and sadness - all dwarfed by a tidal wave of loneliness. Cassie notes that she thought he'd have reached out in every way possible.

"Perhaps he felt that such tentative connections would only magnify his feelings. Sometimes no matter how many people you surround yourself with...you still feel alone..."

Total connection with Damian, though I'm sure he'd dislike the comparison as well. As the two train together while blowing off steam, Rose deems him via inner voice as a little ball of hate, yet she adds that the rest of the team probably says the same about her. She tries to reach out to him but a retort about lasting one week on the streets of Gotham has her thinking bite me - I tried. (Technically, Rose has lasted on the streets of Gotham, in Robin #166.)

While BB and Conner are talking on the roof about how the latter used to enjoy coming to the Tower and wanted to get away from Smallville but now going to the Tower felt like going to headquarters, and that Smallville was his family too (BB stated that with his speed, he could deal with the commute.), Bart had gone to the San Francisco Library and found a catalog of yearbooks from all the area schools.

"I would have gotten it sooner, but they didn't open until 10."

The Titans go to where the high school is at, Wonder Girl explaining that Barney was just as much a victim here as vulnerable and unstable...but to go easy.

"Kid gloves."

"Was that a slight at me?"

"No..." Cassie added that she didn't want a repeat of last time-if Damian put himself in jeopardy, he'd put them all in jeopardy. Long story short, it didn't take long for the Titans to get thrown into battle underneath a buried school - Bart knocked out by a girl who's skin was like steel, with Wonder Girl taking her on for a time while Raven got Bart to her safe place, Superboy and BB taking on a jock-like guy and Headcase himself, and Ravager and Robin finding the students - all changed into Feral boys like the ones the team had faced back in 88.

The conclusion, which was released last week, starts with a quick 1-page flashback to where Caligan had killed a student in his class by tricking him into drinking some beer he said he could score-which was undoubtedly poisoned-before jumping back into the action with the Titans. Headcase had apparently constructed a machine in the Gym of his school which was now creating a black hole. Raven tried to warn him that he wasn't thinking clearly-once the black hole devoured the school, it would keep going and devour the entire planet.

Ravager and Robin somewhat bonded during their fight, the two wondering who had the more psychotic parent between Deathstroke and Talia al Ghul.

"Perhaps your father is more psychotic than my mother."

"Do I get a prize?"

"If you do, it should be a new costume!"

"Aww - and here I thought we were becoming friends. Then you go and attack my wardrobe."

"You're right. Truce?"

"Sure."

Sudden kick from both to the last two conscious Feral boys behind each other, and then Rose states:

"You've got a strong kick for having such little feet."

"Hey!"

"Sorry. Okay - now truce."

Kid Flash woke up to a horrifying nightmare of how he died back when he was the Flash, with Raven returning to take him back to the others - and the black hole. Bart immediately went into action, running as fast as he could around the hole until he could slow it down. Raven tried one last time to stop Barney, but he tried to absorb her own essence - which was his downfall, as she unleashed her soul self on him and knocked him out while Bart was able to destroy the machine which stopped the black hole. Caligan unfortunately, was able to get away with another victim in his clutches.

Back at the Tower, Cassie realized that the Titans weren't just soldiers battling alongside one another, that they were more than a team. They were a family. If she didn't let them in, if she remained distant, then what was the point of being there? Conner showed up and explained that he knows what she's been going through lately and didn't want to be a burden for her given all the pressure she's been under. He promised that he wasn't going anywhere, he'd always be a Titan and always be there for her, but he sadly broke off their relationship they'd built up since the original Young Justice series. He added that she wanted to focus on leading the team, and he wanted to try having a life that isn't about being Superboy, isn't about being Wonder Girl. He wants a life as Conner too.

The saga ends with Damian and his inside voice commenting on his teammates and how he won't be able to make friends with the Titans-labeling BB as 'a green-skinned misfit with a Peter Pan complex,' Raven as 'a moody introvert,' Kid Flash as 'an inane speedster who could be great in battle if he wasn't a spaz,' Wonder Girl and Superboy not prepared to get the job done. Ravager was deemed as an arrogant, egotistical femme fatale who wasn't so bad, for a Wilson.

Cue an incoming message and the last piece of the puzzle that keys into next month's crossover:

"Drake!"

"Damian, what are you doing there?"

"I...it was Grayson's idea. What happened to you?"

"I need the Titans!"

Prelude to Red Robin/Teen Titans Crossover Part 1: Red Robin

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:10:05 GMT

Yes, I know I mentioned that I was going to get to these reviews last weekend but unexpected work and lots of other stuff kept me pretty busy. Hopefully I'll get to the second part before Monday, but thankfully I won't be working until Tuesday.

The start of Red Robin #17 finds our former Teen Wonder halfway across the world once again, visiting former Batgirl Cassandra Cain in Hong Kong where she's still doing the hero thing but isn't wearing the Bat emblem.

I still find that hilarious. Tim returns a certain Bat costume to Cassandra, explaining that the family's okay again and that Bruce has returned. She says that Stephanie needs to be Batgirl while she just needs to...be.

"...Call yourself Bat-chick, Knightbat or Black Robin...the point is - don't forget...you have family."

Though Cassandra did keep the suit, she made a statement that kinda-sorta stuck with Tim-that family isn't always a home. And speaking of homes...Tim actually purchased the theatre in Crime Alley where Batman was born so he can start a new life.

As Red Robin, Tim apparently keeps on following down the path Bruce has laid out since he now has his own 'lifelong' Catwoman to contend with; he's freed Lynx from her transport en route to the airport, presumably...

As Lynx heads off into the night, Tim knows that he'll have to keep pursuing her to maintain status quo. And only a few seconds later, Batman Prime makes his appearance post-Bruce Wayne: The Road Home as shown in my above icon. Tim ends the arc the same way he began it - heading out with a beloved member of his family to have some fun.

"So...Damian...?"
"Dick's done a great job with him."
"I know that. What about you and the boy?"
"Did I mention Dick has done a great job with him...?"

The next arc starts off with Red Robin in Moscow, as he's interested in cracking the mysterious supervillain conduit/communications grid known as the Unternet.

Before arriving, he made sure that the resident metahuman superhero was okay with him arriving - enter Red Star, former Teen Titan and guy who apparently has a large weight on his shoulders!

Tim and Tam Fox-a girl who's a friend but not exactly his girlfriend-soon go the following morning to meet with Viktor Mikalek, Russia's own Lex Luthor.

"Young Mr. Wayne, it is a pleasure. I met your adoptive father Bruce, two years ago - and your biological father, Jack Drake, at a mineral dig while I was in college."

(Surprised he didn't also date my mother in high school.) Gotta love inside voices.

While Tim worked to get a check for Mikalek to open a Neon Knights charter in Russia-Tim's own Batman: Incorporated gone global, discussed before Bruce's return, etc.-his hacker friend, Lonnie Machin-formerly Anarky who's comatose but still brain active-hacked into the 'enemy's systems back in Gotham. Unfortunately, Tim gets to meet yet ANOTHER potential interest as a girl busts in on the meeting and starts shooting at people-with rubber bullets!

She calls herself Promise, and while she really wasn't trying to kill anyone Red Star didn't believe so. She did get away, after having grabbed Tim-which was part of his plan, as he slipped a tracer on her-before releasing him. After following her to her hideout later on in the evening, I found myself VERY impressed with the girl as she knocked Tim off his hiding position...with a bar of SOAP!!

How badass do you have to be to actually hit someone with a bar of soap?!! And then seconds afterward, once seeing he's face-to-face with a naked girl who's grabbed a towel for obvious reasions, Tim realizes something he should've caught on YEARS ago: he's either the luckiest guy in the world or the most pathetic. I'm going with the former as he has had some good luck with girls.

Red Star intervenes once again, and Tim finds out that Mikalek is indeed involved with the Society as well as the Unternet.
"Of course he has."
(Crap!)
"To rebuild Gotham City, didn't Wayne Enterprises once do business with Lex Luthor...?"
(Crap squared!)

And while Tim ensured that Promise got away for a brief time-and made sure she kept in touch with him-he got to play a game of tag with a very pissed off Russian who can fire blasts of red-hot energy from his hands and eyes! Lonnie made his way into the Unternet while Tim got onboard Red Star's ship-and found out that he's got a lot of weapons inside.

(Add him to the list.)

Unfortunately, when Lonnie started his connection he unknowingly dragged Tim, Tam and Promise's brainwaves with him. The good news? Tim gets a brand new costume that shows that he views himself as a new Nightwing for a new generation.

The problem?

Even though he's only there for one page, and was labeled as the mayor, I still hear Mark Hamill. Tim finds his missing allies while on the search inside the Unternet, gets to face some familiar faces in Deathstroke, Cheshire and Superman's enemy Metallo and realizes that even though the bad guys do control the world around them...so do the good guys.

When Tim decided to go against killing Captain Boomerang, he brought back the one place the Unternet had been missing: heroes who wanted to fight back! Lonnie, back in his Anarky guise while in said 'Net, had tracked down all of Mikalek's access points and cut them off. It could only work as long as they were there. Thankfully, Lonnie has a fused 'bicameral' mind. He could be there and in the real world at the same time. Tim needed to go back.

When he did, he discovered that Red Star's missiles were his Justice League, Justice Society and Teen Titans. So, Tim decided to veto adding a fellow hero-again-to the list and gave Red Star the benefit of the doubt. He wasn't able to find Promise, but did find Tam alive and okay.

She just wanted to go back to Gotham, after spending most of her time in the Unternet as an angry talking baby-in a Batman suit!-and pretend she was never there! Very humorous.

This would normally be where all good things end well, but...Mikalek was quite unpleased that, due to Tim and Tam's appearance, or being in his building, his access to the Unternet was blocked and he had lost much. So, he hired the best hunter in the world...Catman to take care of things; I'm kinda thrown by the name myself but not by much-which is only one piece of the puzzle that leads into next month's RR/TT crossover.

The next one will be shown in Teen Titans #91.

Teaching Brat to be Real Boy...after Following Ex-boyfriend's Path

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:57:36 GMT

I find it nearly humorous to realize that I actually made time to try and work on at least one of my self-promised reviews only 19 days after I stated that I would do so. (Revolving around Young Justice, I'll get to that next week hopefully, and as for Red Robin, Teen Titans and yesterday's released Supergirl I'll pan out during the weekend after work on Saturday.

~~Saturday also happens to be my Mom's birthday, but as I still haven't got paid yet any presents I would've tried to get her I can't until the following week.~~

As Stephanie has grown into her role as Batgirl over the past semester, though in our time she's had the role for over a year, she'll come to realize in the following mini-saga that as Barbara Gordon puts it, "It isn't about approval...this can't be about proving your innocence; this is about someone else being guilty."

How does this aforementioned mini-saga start out? By a quick, three-page retelling of the history of the entire Bat family! Stephanie explained it as best she could in quite the hilarious fashion to Wendy 'Proxy' Harris, and as much as I wish every story could be done in this manner I'm glad DC Comics doesn't overdo something as rare as this.

Bryan Miller introduced who could very well be a part of Stephanie's own personal Rogues Gallery in Batgirl #15 by having a team of guys in robes attack one of her friends-Newton, as introduced in September's Batgirl #14-who are known as the Order of the Scythe. In semi-hilarious irony, Batgirl gets some 'help' from an adversary-turned-kinda-hero in a mad bomber who she put away back in Batgirl #9 but was released via reasons of mental instability; case in point by the bomber disguising himself in a role I doubt Bruce Wayne would find humorous at all - the Grey Ghost.

"Be honest, O - is THIS why everyone hated Spoiler?!"

"I think I'd rather lie to your face later."

"Thanks."

While Barbara & Stephanie's rapport is awesome to see, sadly it turns out that Newton's second appearance ends up being his last one as the Order kills him for attempting to defy them. The Order also manages to make it appear that Batgirl murdered Newton which has her, as of Batgirl #16, on the run from the Gotham PD-while labeled as a fugitive-as well as hated by most of Gotham U! (Cue Barbara's saying from above about approval, innocence and guilt.)

One member of Gotham's boys in blue doesn't believe her to be guilty, which brings about a moment I totally agree with Barbara on: "This isn't awkward at all." When we're shown a quick scene with the newest member of Team Batgirl, she's broken into Gotham U and reminds me why I find her very awesome:

"'Team Batgirl' my ass...this wasn't the kind of hero support I had in mind when I signed up...! More like the adventures of Batgirl, Oracle...and that other girl - !" She briefly mentions her late brother Marvin, and while it appears that she's talking to herself I believe she's only recalling in her mind what he would say directly to her if he was there. In this case, it was 'help is help.' (Regardless of where she was at or what she was doing, Barbara believed in Wendy's abilities.)

Wendy is concerned for a moment about Stephanie's whereabouts when Babs gets a hold of her but she's kept on the task at hand by a quick reassurance that Steph's plucky. Finding out that Batgirl's okay, Proxy briefly explains that she was given the near-herculean task of building a composite of a flash drive that the 'Reapers' took from Newton prior to his death. It was hard but not impossible, as Wendy had discovered that the terminal she was using was where Newton uploaded all his information onto his drive in the first place...and then campus security finds her.

"Are you seriously kicking out a girl in a wheelchair?!

"Please don't tell me you really just said that!"

Moments like Wendy's witty remarks-and the last one she gave to the security guard-are more than enough to show that the girl has earned her place on Team Batgirl: "Now-you can leave, or I can help push you over to campus jail."

"Oh, no - not CAMPUS jail!"

Stephanie did figure out that the Reapers were responsible and found out that she didn't have to prove to the Gotham police about her innocence or their guilt after Oracle helped send footage to the police that proved she hadn't killed anyone. Unfortunately they were able to get away from custody and while Batgirl vowed that she would find them and bring them to justice, the Order of the Scythe deemed that if Batgirl tried to cross the Reapers again, she wouldn't walk away.

(The hidden meaning in the subject is as such - back when Red Robin was Robin, in early 2006, he himself was framed for murder-the murder of the previous Batgirl-which was pretty much similar, but not much, in how Nightwing was framed for murder himself but he came up with a new alias so Batman wouldn't be compromised.)

After a semi-dramatic, near-filled with Bat-angst, story like that one a breather was needed even if it was only two parts. Enter last week's released issue which has already gotten quite the response, even from critics, concerning two people who don't particularly like each other but have to get along to work together on a Batman: Inc. case...

The current ~~stated while I bite back the sound of disgust and sarcasm in my tone~~ Robin, known as Damian Wayne is discovered by Alfred to have only slept about an hour or two at night. While it's admirable that he tries to pattern himself after Bruce, Alfred states that he needs adequate sleep and nutrition. The ~~brat~~ kid irks me by insulting Alfred's cooking but I grin when noticing that he records personal entries via a Red Casebook activated from his watch.

And we jump to the current heroine of the series...oversleeping once again as well as drooling. Disgusting on some terms yes, but also humorous in others. She wakes up, eats a quick breakfast while talking with Mom, and runs into Robin as Batgirl while he's interrogating a school crossing guard. On a school day.

"Any chance either of you could let me down?"

"No!"

Their back-and-forth retorts of snark to each other, while hilarious at best, we find out that Stephanie is on a mission from Batman himself..."Not to devalue other Batman-Batman." (Other Batman-Batman would be Dick Grayson, while 'Batman himself' is Bruce.) With what seems like reluctance on both parties' parts, they agree to work together to solve this case involving middle class Gothamite children; Damian himself is part of Gotham's elite. The kids end up on a field trip to the Gotham Children's Museum, and the Dysfunctional Duo keep tabs on them as they enter but note they'd have to go inside to continue watching out for them.

Guess who had to go undercover and literally keep the kids in plain sight? (Quick, short moment of laughter.) During this part with Damian having to do his best to blend in with the kids-specifically, a girl named Nell-I was surprised to discover that, much like Stephanie, my heart broke for him just a bit. Sympathy actually crept in for him a page over when Stephanie noted via her inner voice that due to his training via the League of Assassins, growing up with only his Mom until the age of 10, etc, Damian has no idea how to...play like regular kids. The moment's over when the Duo find the children's real bus driver and realize that the kidnappers didn't just want one kid-they wanted them all.

With the kids on a bus and being told what to do by their kidnappers, one of the latters' retort to Nell is suddenly brought to a halt by...a sword! (While in his role as Nightwing, starting back in the latter part of the 1990s, Dick used escrima fighting sticks; Tim Drake as Robin, carried over into his role as Red Robin, used a fighting collapsible staff which Stephanie now uses herself as her ex-boyfriend and Cassandra-former Batgirl-trained her with. Damian? Uses swords and knives.)

"I swear to crap if that thing comes back out with blood on it...!"

I'm almost 50% sure I didn't hit a child."

"And if you hit an adult?!"

"Do you really think they would think twice about - ?!"

Moment of hilarity was broken up by the usual gunshots and whatnot but it was brought into play again, as Batgirl did her best to take the fight to the kidnappers...while Robin tried TO DRIVE THE FREAKING BUS!

"This may not have been my best plan." You think, Damian?

The mission overall was a success, as not only were Nell and the students onboard the bus saved but the safehouse where the other children were at was found, plus Stephanie found some time a little after nightfall to actually show Damian what it was like to have fun.

"I wasn't raised to have fun."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are."

"No, I am not!"

"Sure looks like a smile."

"I'm thinking about stabbing you."

"Which would be fun?"

"Maybe."

So, long story short, this stand-alone issue of Batgirl #17 has me kinda-sorta liking comics!Damian to a point-still need to figure out his role with the Titans and I'm hoping #91 will shed light on that subject next week, as well as next month's Red Robin/Teen Titans crossover.

From 2010 To 2011

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:35:47 GMT

Happy New Year, everyone! 2010 was an up-and-down year for most people and hopefully 2011 will be just a little bit better in the long run. (For me, I had my fair share of good and bad last year so I'm pretty cool with how it turned out - mostly.)

Based on the same name of the comic book that had a pretty decent run from 1998-2003, the new series from Cartoon Network entitled Young Justice, makes it's debut this upcoming Friday at 7:00 and along with my regular critiques of Red Robin and Batgirl, I'll be observing how this series pans out. (I will get around to posting my takes on the last 2 months of both aforementioned issues; the obvious differences between comic!YJ's Robin & Impulse as well as TV!YJ's Robin & Kid Flash were shown from the start with some similarities.) I'll also start making my opinion known on comic!Teen Titans and the new beginning that started back in October 2010 which will lead to a Red Robin/Teen Titans crossover in February. It's one I've been anticipating and waiting for as it finally reunites Tim Drake with his best friends as well as another encounter ~~confrontation~~ with his successor/brother/rival.

Here's to a great and productive 2011!

This Post Is Brought To You By The Letter R

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 08:15:37 GMT

http://www.newsarama.com/tv/the-cw-developing-raven-series-101203.html

Aside from (Red) Robin and/or any character from the Batman franchise, Raven's always been an intriguing character since I was first introduced to her some odd years ago. Yes, she's part of the Teen Titans crew but...who's been their leader for a number of years? XD

I definitely can't wait for this series to air!

Writer's Block: Ready for my close-up

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:03:29 GMT

If you could make a cameo appearance on a TV show, which show would you choose, and what type of character would you play?

First question listed was submitted by speedingslug. (Follow-up questions, if any, may have been added by LiveJournal.)

View 868 Answers

I couldn't pick just one, to be honest. My usual comic book references aside, I'd have to pick at least 2 - NCIS: Los Angeles, where I'd probably play the standard guy who gets ~~interrogated~~ questioned by Chris O'Donnell &/or LL Cool J.

And then there's a series that's been around for well over 10 years - Stargate - both Sg-1 and Atlantis are in syndication and while I didn't get into Universe, I'd want to be in the straight-to-DVD Stargate movies that features Mitchell, Daniel, Teal'c, Carter and - occasionally - Jack as one of the members of SG-3. Maybe a Lieutenant for a rank, if I wasn't allotted the rank of Captain.

I do have some acting experience under my belt, so I'm fairly positive either role could work.

Indeed.

"Hey! ...It was a fake wedding."

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:39:03 GMT

One of many reasons why I enjoy NCIS: Los Angeles - Chris O'Donnell's witty comments as G Callen. Another reason? LL Cool J can deliver on cue as Sam Hanna, too.

"Apparently 'The People's Republic of None of your damn business' is a dangerous place to live."

Totally unrelated, but I still want How to Train your Dragon on DVD.

Bruce Wayne: The Road Home One-Shot Arc

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:42:39 GMT

For a month, comic book-wise at least, all Bat-related issues are shelved to reintroduce the return of The 'Bat'Man...Bruce Wayne in the DC Universe. The cliffsnotes are as follows - for about over a year or so now, Bruce Wayne was believed to be dead by everyone who knew him from the first Robin, then-Nightwing and now (one of 2) Batman Dick Grayson, to the Man of Steel Superman.

Only one person believed that he was still alive, and for almost a year - but only a few months DCUwise - he had alienated himself from his family and friends to find evidence to support his theory: Tim Drake, former Robin and now donning the identity of Red Robin. Tim discovered that Bruce wasn't only alive, but lost in time. Eventually the others came around to that same realization and Tim reconciled with his family before informing them of his findings.

The 6-issue miniseries titled The Return of Bruce Wayne hasn't been completed yet, issue 5 having only come out today, but it chronicles the Dark Knight's journey through time as he attempts to reclaim his memories of who he is.

As for the October-related month...

Bruce is back but has only revealed himself to a few people (as of press time), one of them being Tim Drake/Red Robin as it was discovered in Batman & Robin #1. What was also discovered? The fact that Hush-who's face is changed to look exactly like Bruce-is being kept secure and was required to masquerade as said billionaire to throw Vicki Vale off the trail of her revealing the Batfamily's secret identities to the world.

He may have gone a little bit too far by kissing her, though.

Red Robin™ #1

Tim has gone globe-hopping yet again, this time having crossed the 'Pond and made his way to Amsterdam strictly for business - trying to keep the Council of Spiders, at least 2 of them, from killing the mayor of Gotham City. He does so, but according to his mentor - who seems to have temporarily donned a souped up ninja suit complete with speed force energy and having connections to the Justice League teleporter - he has to get better at improvising.

"...I feel like a student again!"

An unexpected tease is tossed in when Tim notes, inner voicewise, that his new cooler suit is with Cyborg pending for some wiring upgrades. Still, the former Boy Wonder is put to the test when Bruce decides to gauge his son's current skill level as well as his own after becoming the 'inside man' for the Spiders. Ironically, Tim was planning on pushing Bruce as well. Their inner voices during the following page as 3 members are brought down and arrested is gold:

"We're so in synch it's like we never skipped a beat. But I know him - what he's thinking - proud of us, but worried we've left him behind, concerned I've bitten off more than I can chew, that I've agreed to live in too many shades of gray..."

"He's worried that I'll try to overcompensate for my time away...run roughshod over his well-earned independence."

"He's right to be worried."

Despite the unsettling knowledge that Ra's al Ghul knows that Bruce is back, and the disbelief of Alfred actually admitting to Vicki's face that Bruce and Batman are one and the same-though he mentions that he'll deny as such later-I enjoyed this issue as I knew I would. Bruce, in the pages of his White Casebook, mentions Tim's pros and cons -

"...This new persona as Red Robin, born of darkness has found the light. But it is a light filtered through images of gray that concern me. Not because I fear what Tim will become, but because I fear he will try to become too much like me. His strength lies in his ability to balance the dark with the light and understanding that ultimately order can't be won without a healthy embrace of chaos. His weakness lies in thinking that eventually, it will all have to be done by one man - himself.

"So, my task with Tim is one I have to work hard for myself as well: never to forget you have allies in this war, that you need those allies and friends...and to try, just a little bit, to enjoy those ties a little more, because they're so fragile...."

Batgirl™ #1

As the Spoiler, Stephanie Brown was, in Bruce's words 'a variable I could barely control.' These days as Batgirl, she's known to be in the wrong place at the right time. Said quote is proven right beyond the shadow of a doubt as Batgirl confronts Bruce still in disguise with his high-tech ninja suit. Unlike with Dick and Damian, he took it easy on her. She reminds him of Dick in his early Robin days due to her wisecrack/talking comments 'in that regard.' I found it very humorous when she believed she was fighting Amazo.

Obviously Steph's a variable Oracle, aka Barbara Gordon can barely control herself. When requested that she stand down while the Birds of Prey step in, she actually had her fingers crossed. Stephanie handled an ambush thrown her way rather well, as Bruce was invisible during said ambush (another one of his suit's abilities). Ultimately, Stephanie did find Bruce as it appeared that he was going to assassinate someone from either the Wayne family or Lucius Fox's. And once she revealed what she knew he revealed who he was.

"...All of this today...this was all some kind of trick? Some kind of GAME?!!"

"It was a test. And I have to admit you've done...admirab-"

SLAP!

Bruce found Stephanie sometime later, in her Batgirl guise and despite the silence from the former-other than noting "You slapped me in the face."-the latter spoke her mind: that even though she's glad to see him alive, and that he missed the zombies which was a Blackest Night plug, she was worried that he would take her new life away. And when she saw his face she wasn't afraid, but angry. She stated that she refused to give up being Batgirl, and was about to buy back the sell but Bruce asked if that was what she really wanted.

"Yes."

"Then say it."

"I want to be Batgirl."

Cue meeting from Alfred to Bruce later on in an alley off Crime Alley. The closest person he has to a father, and it was quite awesome to see this moment take place. Bruce did note that Stephanie, as well as Wendy are both the daughters of criminals and that they would both need watching possibly from Barbara despite the whole 'trust' factor. Alfred mentioned that "...You didn't need to test the young Ms. Brown's mettle."

"She's got Alfred sticking up for her...good for you, 'Ms. Brown.'"

Bruce replied that it wasn't about whether or not he needed to test Stephanie, but that she needed said test. The previous Batgirl, Cassandra Cain, was brought up during this meeting. Bruce hasn't gone looking for Cassandra since his return because he knows exactly where she is. Tim has been in regular contact with her, not to mention that apparently when Cassandra 'quit' being Batgirl...she was following Bruce's orders and did precisely what he asked her to do in the event of his death or disappearance: hand over the mantle of Batgirl to Stephanie Brown.

Bruce mentions in his White Casebook improvements about Stephanie - while she's formerly a 'liability,' a loose end and a variable, as Spoiler her skill was outweighed by her need to please and obsess - as well as how much his return will have on her goal as Batgirl: "...Brown's now a 'wild card' in the best of ways. As the only low-profile member of the family team organization, Stephanie has an invisibility the rest of us do not have the luxury of possessing. Like the others, Brown has shown growth in my absence. Unlike the others, my return may have the least impact on her operation - one not born of fear, but of hope for a brighter tomorrow. Who knows?

"Maybe there's room for hope in Gotham, after all."

Indeed, Bruce. Indeed.

Shaggy Rogers = Idiot

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:11:24 GMT

Most guys don't realize what they've got until they lose it...or they make a decision to give it up willingly. Case in point - Shaggy Rogers from the new series Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated. From episode 1-9, he was in an unofficial relationship with Velma Dinkley and hadn't revealed that they were official; Velma, wanting their relationship to progress further, was more forward on the subject.

Due to Scooby-Doo being kidnapped in the most recent episode while being framed by a Terminator dog - and thrown in ~~Arkham~~ Animal Asylum, Shaggy realized how much Scooby meant to him and broke things off with Velma while saying that they would always be friends.

My heart went out to Velma so much after hearing that, and Shaggy? No sympathy from me whatsoever. Despite this semi-expected, yet still upsetting end to what was a very different take on Shaggy and Velma's status, I was amused by the references to Batman and the Terminator in the episode.

Again - no sympathy for Shaggy if the entire school finds out that he 'chose a dumb dog over a real girl.'

A Trap For...Nightwing

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:33:03 GMT

When I was younger and first watched Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker, after finding out what happened to Tim Drake I always wondered what happened to Dick Grayson in the DCAU world. It's common knowledge what tragedy befell Tim - captured and tortured by The Joker for a few weeks until he eventually revealed all of Batman's secrets, changed into a twisted kid version of the Clown Prince himself - known to most as Joker Jr. - who ends up being loyal to Bruce in the end and is the one who kills the Joker; he spent a year with Leslie Thompkins until he was back to himself, fired from his Robin role by Bruce as he blamed himself for what happened causing Tim to strike out on his own...and ultimately being taken over by The Joker, the microchip embedded on his neck which led to a fantastic showdown with Terry McGinnis, etc.

Until now, no one exactly knew what tragedy befell Dick Grayson. And it wasn't until the recent 6-issue mini-series - which will become an ongoing in the next few months, not surprisingly - that we find out exactly what happened to Batman's first partner...

Thankfully I knew that Terry was talking to Dick but I was still blown away by this revelation and seeing the state of the Nightwing costume nonetheless. Dick's story is equally compelling to hear, and Alfred is mentioned in said story too:

It's pretty intriguing how Dick's tale of woe connects to the Batman Beyond series, as I was curious for years about how Bruce had a Nightwing costume in the Batcave but hasn't talked with Dick since that last mission. Still, I'm glad to see that the pieces are finally coming together after all this time of seeing an unsolved puzzle that is the awesome Batman Beyond.

I Can't/Won't Blame Akino ^^ Cue Quote: Do it if you want...

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:54:12 GMT

→ What song are you currently addicted to?
Ironically, I'm listening to the current song right now. As I've only heard the first verse, bridge and chorus of it, recently the full version can be found on www.digimonspirit.net, 'I Turn Around' is done rather well by Michael Reisz who was the voice actor for Yamato 'Matt' Ishida for Digimon Adventure and Zero Two; he was also the voice actor for Takuya Kanbara on Digimon Frontier and Nigel for W.I.T.C.H.

→ What's your favourite season?
Seasons 3 & 6 of Digimon, the former being Tamers and the latter-and currently running-being Xros Wars.

Seriously, I'm not entirely sure I have one as summer is one of the hottest times down here and has gone up to 100 degree weather-though I don't mind Spring, as my birthday falls during the very latter part of that season. I only used to enjoy winter for Christmas and even though I enjoy that time of the year, I don't quite enjoy the extreme cold as much anymore.

→ What’s the latest movie you watched?
Toy Story 3. I have the ticket stub in my wallet right now.

→ What is the one skill you wish you had?
That might take more than one entry to answer.

→ What’s your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
Anything DC Comics-based revolving around Batman, Digimon, Pokemon, Ben 10: Alien Force and Ultimate Alien, InuYasha, Bleach, Evangelion, Negima!, W.I.T.C.H., StarGate SG-1 and Atlantis, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Rosario+Vampire, Star Trek, Star Wars, Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated, etc...

→ Where would you like to visit?
That's quite a lot. I would love to go to Japan, as a friend of mine and I have joked that we would go there to complain to Toei-more on my part than his-about their decision to end Zero Two in that way, but besides that Japan is high on my list of countries I'd want to go to. China's definitely up there as well as London-who wouldn't want to see Big Ben?-and New York.

→ What Web sites do you always visit when you go online?
A lot. Livejournal is only one of many.

→ What was the last thing you bought?
Soda. Other than that, I went grocery shopping and purchased meals, dairy products and whatnot over the weekend.

→ Favourite time of day?
Nighttime. Not so much of a morning person, as I chat online around late afternoon, evening.

→ What's the last thing that made you happy?
Finding out that I might get to switch my hours from morning time - 8:00-12:00 - to afternoon - 1:00-5:00. (I'm hoping to take training classes for the next few months involving office work which would have me working with computers; my appointment is next Tuesday.)

→ Most awesome book ever?
Ix-nay on that Estion-quay. I've got a bookshelf filled with books and/or manga. I'll note what I'm currently reading instead: Rosario+Vampire Season II, Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, and Mahou Sensei Negima!.

→ Do you want to learn another language?
Oh, yes. Although I took Spanish in high school, and got a C in the class I've probably lost quite a lot. I'm eager to learn Japanese, and definitely Chinese.

→ Five things you can’t live without.
Primatene Mist - when it gets really serious. (I've had asthma since I was about 2 years old but it's manageable now.) My iPod nano. My Yu-Gi-Oh! deck. Soda. My DearS manga collection.

Not tagging anyone specifically on this. If you wanna do it, go right ahead.

A Never-ending Battle...Cindy Brady vs Cousin Oliver

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:07:47 GMT

Damian Wayne, created-and raised-in a vat of chemicals, is the 'son' of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. He's a character who's upbringing-around the League of Assassins-as well as downright annoying attitude toward everyone makes him a 10-year-old kid that you either love to hate or hate to love. I fall more toward the former in this case for quite a few reasons, even if in the recent Red Robin #14 issue he throws a surprising 180 for just a moment. (Surprisingly, if there's anything I actually like about the brat, it's that he refers to his 'allies' by their last names-Grayson, Drake, Pennyworth...)

Damian is introduced in the Batman & Son arc, who had been raised by not only Talia but the League to kill at a young age-he wasn't even released from the laboratory he was born in until the age of 10, at which Batman finally discovered he had a 'biological' son. Damian's attitude-spoiled, precocious and violent by nature-rubs off on a lot of people the wrong way, Tim Drake-the then-current Robin-on that list as during a fight between the two, Tim is sucker-punched by Damian off the top of the famous Tyrannosaurus head as the latter's goal is to replace the former as the Boy Wonder. (Damian believes that only Bruce's true son should be by his side, as despite his previously mentioned attitude he does have a geniune need to be accepted by Bruce and want to aid him in his war on crime.

He doesn't appear for some time until another arc - The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul, where Damian ran to the Batcave in an attempt to seek his father's help. He runs into Robin and due to what happened the last time, Tim doesn't believe Damian and he starts the fight between them this time. It's renewed for a brief time in front of Alfred in the mansion as Damian went to him for help in finding Bruce, but this time it ends without a winner as the two-along with Nightwing-had to work together-not just this time, but later on near the end-to prevent the League from acheiving their goal of using Damian's body-as well as Tim's-to resurrect Ra's. (He ends up being restored fully anyway, but neither Tim or Damian were sacrificed.)

With a brief appearance in the Batman R.I.P. arc, Damian returns once more in Batman: Battle for the Cowl living in Gotham under Dick and Alfred's care. He's taken the Batmobile for a joyride which gets him in trouble with Oracle as well as Nightwing-plus getting shot by former Robin Jason Todd, who usurped the mantle of Batman in this arc. Damian recovers and, along with London's version of Robin-named Squire-rescues Tim Drake from certain death. This return is permanent as shortly after these events, Damian is given the role of Robin by Dick himself, who believes that Tim is his equal and not a protege; Damian will need proper guidance so he doesn't kill anymore. Since then, the 'little upstart' has proven himself not only worthy of being Robin but also willing to follow Dick's orders-to a point-and has a begrudging sort of respect for Stephanie Brown, Alfred, and Dick. Tim, however...

Since he's recently returned to Gotham as Red Robin, things are still questionable between them especially since Damian discovered that Tim was doing the same thing Bruce has quite a few times-keeping tabs on the heroes as well as the villains-and guess who ends up being part of that list?

That scene takes place shortly before another fight breaks out between Tim and Damian which the latter initiates during their patrol for the first time as a 'team.' Tim's 'head voice' during this fight was awesome, though one phrase in of itself was epic: ...As stupid as it sounds, if this idiot is ever going to respect me...I'M GOING TO HAVE TO KICK HIS ASS!

Tim won this encounter between himself and Damian, stating that 'You lost the second I started TRYING!' The one problem? Their fight ended at Crime Alley...near the abandoned theatre where Bruce's parents were killed, and where Batman was born.

Damian's outburst in the Batcave later is somewhat surprising-but not much-as he makes this statement: "I have done ALL that has been asked of me! I control aspects of my upbringing that NEITHER of you could BEGIN to understand...and I am dismissed...by HIM...as a threat to be monitored for some HIDDEN AGENDA?! It isn't fair...!" Tim's response toward Dick later-kinda humorous, but he does show regret for his actions. "Didn't think the homunculus would care to try, much less be hurt by it..." Dick's brief explanation is great as usual and shows the camaraderie between the two brothers hasn't been broken. "Just realize that not everyone can detach themselves emotionally as easily as you can...though I did notice I'm not up there."

"You never would be."

Another one of Dick's statements shows that this might not be the last time the two brothers-by name only if not in blood-will have to co-exist. "Listen, I'll talk to Damian, but I think you and him..."

"Are going to keep being me and him. I can deal with that, Dick. So can he."

"Yeah...I guess so can I."

Another example that Tim and Damian's paths will eventually cross again while totally disregarding the fact-for now-that they live in Wayne Tower? The October release of Teen Titans #88.

"Your evening bore fruit?" - Damian Wayne

"Low hanging. You ever talk like a ten-year-old...?" - Tim Drake, Red Robin #14

A Year of (Stephanie Brown) Batgirl...and Over A Year of (Tim Drake-Wayne) Red Robin

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:47:49 GMT

To accurately explain Stephanie's transformation into one of the coolest female comic book heroes-next to Supergirl, who she's also friends with-a bit of her background has to be told. She first debuted as the daughter of a lesser known Batman villain called the Cluemaster in Detective Comics #647-649 in a 3-part mini-arc that showed she will become a hero who's sole purpose-at the time-is to 'spoil' her father's plans, hence the eventual debut of the Spoiler. When her father was put away, both Batman and Robin-Tim Drake as the then-holder of the identity in question-persuaded her to hang up her cape.

Barely a year later in real life time, she was introduced in the pages of Robin as his foil/love interest. She remained in his book as a supporting character for well over a decade, eventually becoming the first Girl Wonder-in comic canon, as Carrie Kelly is considered an AU Girl Wonder-to don the identity of Robin for a time until her editorially-dictated death in late 2004. Fan involvement and controversy surrounding her not getting a memorial in the Batcave a la Jason Todd eventually convinced DC Comics to bring her back in 2008. After a few appearances here and there, she was revealed in August 2009 to be the new Batgirl in Batgirl #1 as then-Batgirl Cassandra Cain had opted to give up wearing 'his' symbol in the wake of Bruce Wayne's 'death.' Since then, 12 issues have been released-said 12th issue coming out just last Wednesday-and she has proven that she does belong among the Batfamily.

One of the people she had to convince that she belonged-other than Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne and Barbara Gordon-was Tim Drake-Wayne, her ex-boyfriend. Tim's journey has literally taken him around the world and back again as he is the only one who had believed-at the time-that Bruce Wayne wasn't dead following the important Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis events of 2008-2009. With Dick as the new Batman, he purposefully took the 'job' of Robin from Tim and gave it to Damian; his reasoning was that Batman & Robin were a mentor and protege teamup, and he considers Tim to be an equal. Tim was less than pleased but reluctantly gave up his former identity and took on the name-that he believed to be tarnished due to recent events involving Jason Todd and one of his own foes-of Red Robin. (Jason had come across the costume in what was possibly a pre-Kingdom Come era, assumed the role for a time in various other worlds but immediately gave it up upon returning to his own; Tim's foe-known now as Anarky-came across it and used it for a time against him until Tim had taken it sometime later.)

When Tim did find evidence that Bruce was still alive, but lost in time, he returned to Gotham City and teamed up with ex-girlfriend Stephanie-in real time this happened in the month of March 2010-to prevent Ra's from destroying everything Bruce had built; Tim made sure that didn't happen and earned Ra's respect in the process. (Before then, Ra's has only called Bruce by the moniker of Detective, and in Red Robin #12, released in May 2010 he called Tim that...before kicking him out of a window.) Recent events have Tim and Stephanie protecting Gotham in their own way via separate adventures-Tim has set up a hit list for Gotham's Rogues Gallery, which will allow him to topple 'dominoes' and by arresting one villain will set up another one for him to bring down-the apprehension of one target will lead directly to the next, as Damian put it. Next month, Stephanie will get an opportunity to take on one of Batman's more...slippery villains in Clayface.

"Good call, Marcia." - Tim Drake

"I know, Cindy..." - Dick Grayson, Red Robin #14

"This is gonna be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!" - Stephanie Brown, Batgirl #12

"He was taking you...TO THE ATTIC!"

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:40:07 GMT

That one phrase from Toy Story 3 was hilarious for the simple fact that Tom Hanks, voice actor for Woody, did the exact same thing during the original Toy Story years ago to a somewhat naive Buzz Lightyear:

"YOU ARE A TOOOOOOOOY!"

Other than the subject header, spoilers for the movie-which I was able to see yesterday around noon-won't be mentioned since other people probably haven't gotten to see it just yet, besides the fact that I think the third movie was a gem in a gold mine. (Second sequels rarely work as well as the first one, examples of said sequels being Batman Forever, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.) What I will mention is what I thought of the performances of the three main protagonists.

Tom Hanks did a superb job once again as Woody, the de facto leader of his family. His voice acting was on the mark and he portrayed Andy's favorite 'family' toy very well. (The mentioning of 'favorite' and 'family' are references to the previous Toy Story movies-Woody was deemed Andy's favorite toy in the first, and he was mentioned by Andy's mom that he was an old family toy during a yard sale - and therefore, not for sale though things didn't turn out that way.)

Tim Allen, one of my favorite actors via his performances in the TV series Home Improvement and the movie Galaxy Quest, was great in reprising the role of Buzz Lightyear-who I deem as Woody's right hand 'space'man. The third movie proved what had already been shown in the first two-that he hasn't missed a beat since Toy Story 2 regarding Buzz's portrayal.

Joan Cusack, though I'm not completely familiar with her acting career as a whole, returns as Jessie and proves to me that she hasn't lost her knack when it comes to voicing the Yodeling Cowgirl since her introduction in Toy Story 2. (Jessie's yodeling is done by Mary Kay Bergman; Joan was the voice of Abby Mallard in the 2005 release of Chicken Little and did rather well despite the critics' responses of the movie itself.)

One thing's for sure: I will definitely do my best to purchase this movie when it's released on DVD.

Still Excited...I Wonder Why

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:23:48 GMT

10 days left. And I still get giddy when I think about it.

Normally people aren't excited, bouncing off the walls or looking forward to their birthdays when they're, to quote a phrase 'starting to get on in years.' I'm not one of those people, hence my eagerness.

Seriously; I get that way about Christmas, and I know it's not about the presents or a guy going around the world with 8 9 reindeer to deliver said presents!

Meme - Totally blames shaungarin XD

Thu, 13 May 2010 03:07:26 GMT

MEME THE FIRST:

The first TEN people to comment in this post get to request that I write a ~~drabble/~~fic of any pairing/character of their choosing. (Yaoi excluded from this.) In return, they have to post this in their journal, regardless of their ability level.

MEME THE SECOND:

♪ If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new question.
♫ Tag 8 people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you.

#01 What song are you currently addicted to?

A lot of them but my current ones are The 11th Doctor's Theme via Series 5 of Doctor Who, anything regarding W.I.T.C.H. and A Watchful Guardian from The Dark Knight.

#02 What manga/anime/TV series are you currently into?

NANA, Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Project, Rosario+Vampire: Seasons I & II, the entire Yu-Gi-Oh! series - manga and/or anime - same goes for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Digimon, Pokemon, Ben 10: Alien Force & Ultimate Alien, W.I.T.C.H.... TV wise, NCIS: Los Angeles.

#03 What was the last movie you saw?

Iron Man 2. Before that, How to Train Your Dragon.

#04 What is your OTP?

Lots, but the current ones: a toss-up between Tim Drake/Stephanie Brown, Cassie Sandsmark, Cissie King-Jones, Greta Hayes, and just about any girl he's ever met...as well as Takato Matsuda & Ruki Makino, adding in Aelita from Code Lyoko.

#05 Who is your best LJ friend?

akino_ame

#06 What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?

See #2.

#07 Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Kinda like them both; I had a dog for a few years and my cousins owned a cat in their younger days.

#08 What's your favorite food?

Pepperoni pizza.

#09 What was the last thing you bought?

Batgirl #10.

#10 Would you rather date a good singer, or a good cook?

A good cook, since the only thing I can cook is pre-made macaroni elbow mixed with spaghetti sauce, salt and other condiments.

#11 Something that made you laugh within 24 hours?

Akino's quip on Gwen having a thing for Asian girls. XD

#12 What do you do to change your mood?

Listening to music & reading books.

#13 What was the last meal you ate?

See #8.

#14 Countries that you want to visit?

Japan.

#15 Any plans for tomorrow?

I plan on winging it.

#16 Open your iPod of choice. What is your most played song?

We Are W.I.T.C.H. from W.I.T.C.H. and New Divide by Linkin Park.

#17 Favorite TV show that DOESN'T contain giant robots?

W.I.T.C.H. - features giant snakes, moving foliage and rock-like monsters but NEVER any giant robots...!Same goes for Totally Spies! Undercover - they feature gadgets that resemble appliances you find in your bathroom, a spy agency that goes by the name WHOOP & 3 uber awesome girls...yet even if they don't have giant robots, they get attacked by possessed TREES!

#18 What kind of music is contained in your hard drive?

J-Pop. anime soundtracks, lots of orchestrated stuff, Linkin Park, Creed...

#19 What was the last book you read?

Rosario+Vampire: Season II, Volume 1.

I tag advancing and...others who decide to do this, since I can't think of other people off the top of my head. XD;

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:07:59 GMT

I hate vending machines. If they don't work properly, they should be dismantled and/or made to work precisely the way they were meant to work.

B2B - Back 2 Basics...!

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:13:37 GMT

It's been quite some time since I went this route, but after the day I had yesterday, I felt it was time to, as the above subject states, get back to the basics on what I used the journal for.

This would've been up hours ago had the computer decided against cutting off the internet connection sometime last night.

Adventure Comics #1

I wasn't able to pick up Legion of 3 Worlds, but I did skim through the majority of the series to find out that in the 31st Century Kid Flash & Superboy were brought back to life, took on Superboy Prime and were able to send him back to his world-just like he originally wanted, but not in the way he'd intented. In this series, Conner's realizing that he took quite a lot of things for granted before his death in Infinite Crisis-how much Smallville meant to him, for example.

I liked how he tried to understand both Superman & Lex, having DNA from the greatest hero in Metropolis & the greatest villain. He asked himself what Superman does, and had a pretty long list when it comes to the Man of Steel-living with the Kents, went to Smallville High, joined a team of superheroes-the Teen Titans, which included a funny cameo appearance by Kid Flash-and helped out a teenage girl who needed it. (Krypto flying in to save the day was quite humorous.)

At finding out what Lex does, which is lying to Superman, that was just as humorous as it was truthful. Since that was the only thing on Luthor's list, it leaves you wondering what's next for the Boy of Steel. The second feature with the Legion of Superheroes was okay in my POV, but I'd tried to understand said team back when Supergirl had been on the team. It didn't quite work out.

"...Even Superman gets cats out of trees. And that is one cute cat." -Superboy, Conner Kent

Blackest Night: Batman #1

Despite the intrigue Blackest Night has, I'd rather keep things simple & less costly when it comes to something as big as this event so I picked up this issue much like I did when it came to Battle For The Cowl #1-3 a few months ago. Having a few of Dick's enemies, Tim's enemies and both of their parents 'resurrected' as Black Lanterns will be quite problematic for the new Batman, Robin, ally Deadman & Red Robin to handle. With the latter being recalled to Gotham from Paris to help, things appear to be quite interesting when the 2nd issue comes out.

"It's different when it's one of your own. When it's someone close..." -Batman, Dick Grayson

Red Robin #1-#3

For about 20 years, from 1989-2009, Tim Drake has been the 3rd Boy Wonder, replacing Jason Todd after his death at the hands of the Joker and being replaced for 3 months-our time, if you weren't going by 'comic book' time-by then-girlfriend Stephanie Brown. Upon becoming the new Batman, Dick took away the role of Robin from his brother without his approval or even mentioning it and gave it to Damian Wayne; I don't approve of him, or his attitude as it reminds me of Jason.

Since then, Tim has left Gotham and his old life behind, cutting himself off from those closest to him which included Stephanie, otherwise known as the Spoiler shown in the 2nd issue, and Wonder Girl-Cassandra Sandsmark; that was shown in the most recent issue, on a worldwise quest to find Bruce Wayne. (He's the only person who believes his adopted father is alive, or so he thought. Ra's al Ghul also is curious to learn of Batman's final fate and is seemingly determined to help Tim out.)

Tim took on the role of Red Robin from the previous people who once held the name-a Dick Grayson from another world, Jason Todd who used the name in numerous worlds, and the last guy before Tim: one of his old adversaries, Ulysses Armstrong, previously known as The General-as he's convinced that with Armstrong's acts against Tim when he was Robin, the name of Red Robin is tarnished and has no connections to Batman, Bruce or Dick. The 4th issue looks like it will tie up this first arc quite well, as writer Christopher Yost mentioned that Tim's worldwide journey will span an entire year; with 3 months down, that leaves 9 to go.

"I want to be here for you. I don't want to lose you, too...You said that Batman needed a Robin. So what happens when Robin needs a Robin?" -Wonder Girl, Cassie Sandsmark

Back On The Track...! (Thanks koyuki_azumaya)

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:43:26 GMT

Two years and nearly 2 months-just one week shy of that 'landmark' event. I'm still alive and kicking, to those who had wondered where I went to. For now, a challenging meme to get my feet wet-so to speak. XD

I was given Uzumaki Naruto from Naruto & Naruto: Shippuden by koyuki_azumaya~!

01 → Do you like this character?
Yes! He's one of the greatest title characters alongside InuYasha, Ichigo and more than a few others.

02 → What name(s) do you call this character?
The Sixth Hokage, Naruto, and that's about it.

03 → What image/color do you associate with character?
Orange. XD

04 → What image/song do you associate with character?
Quite a lot, but I'd say Naruto Ondo, which is sung by both Naruto & Sakura's voice actors.

05 → What blood-type do you think this character has?
I'd have to check any of the sites that actually have that information on his blood type. ^_^;

06 → Of all of the titles that this character appears in, what character do you like to put this character with?
I've put Naruto with Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, Temari and considered Ino at one point.

07 → What would you want to say to this character?
I don't need to tell him that Hinata likes him, based off of the more recent chapters of the manga. XD So I'd say to do a good job as Hokage-exactly like the Third and Tsunade.

08 → What do you want to do with this character?
Give him another color besides orange to wear! XD

09 → Please choose 5 friends with your choice of character.
Of course, but to any who want to do this, just ask and I'll pick at random! ^_^

An Uncertain Future...

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:55:56 GMT

My entire world-so to speak-may or may not have started crumbling down around me within the past number of hours.

It started only seconds after I was paid for this past week. I have to work for one more week, and starting during the furst full week of February-on the 5th, most likely-I won't be working. I'm more than positive that means I've been let go. The first emotional response I felt was denial, shock, anger and depression. Said emotions are still running through my mind right now as I type this.

I'm trying to see the good inside this-about being let go-but so far, I've seen absolutely nothing at all, dammit! I feel like screaming, but don't want to do so in front of my mother; I feel like crying, but don't feel up to revealing my emotions in that manner yet.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do now-I've been given a few suggestions, and do intend to take the advice to heart. I suppose that first I need to get through this emotional state of anger/depression. The quote for this evening is from a back issue of Robin.

"...It gets bad for everyone sometimes-everyone. I remember I'm not alone." -Robin, Robin #156

From 2006 To 2007...Happy New Year!

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:30:02 GMT

A lot of ups and downs for me in 2006: meeting of new friends, departing of old friends, buying of various DVDs and/or comic books, a relentless job hunt that will continue on into this new year, as well as other odds and ends that I probably won't recall until after the clock has struck 12:00 AM. (At least here in Pacific Standard Time.)

Nevertheless, I will have hope and not give up, since anything is possible. For all those who I've recently met, known for quite a long time, or for those who I haven't met, I wish you all a joyous, safe and happy New Year in 2007.

"You should never lie, cheat, steal or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must cheat, cheat. If you must steal, steal away from bad company and if you must drink......drink in the moments that take your breath away." -Will Smith, Hitch

Ups and Downs...

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 07:57:34 GMT

The year in general has had it's share of ups and downs for me, but I'm determined to not let the bad things depress me during this month-like, a friend of mine moving away a couple weeks ago for example. Time, and being out of the house for quite a while has kept me from updating this journal, but I've kept as up-to-date on my RPing journals as best I can.

On the matter of the holiday season, I will be spending it with my immediate family-mother, grandfather, aunt and cousins, etc.-something that we haven't done since the year before my grandmother passed away. I still miss her a lot, especially during this time of the year. I'm not entirely sure about being out on the road, especially since Christmas marks the 4th anniversary since my mother and I hit a dog while coming home from visiting my grandparents back in December 25, 2002.

On the plus side, I will no doubt be looking after my little cousin this upcoming week since she will be staying with us. And, I have finally gotten around to changing my wallpaper to one I enjoy just as much; also changed the monthly quote since I was able to pick up this month's Batman: Detective Comics that features Robin-Tim Drake-finally facing off against the Joker.

It wasn't that difficult to not imagine hearing Mark Hamill's voice while reading the Jokeresque parts in the issue. The quote for this evening/morning comes from the aforementioned issue.

"It does my heart good to know that today's mindless youth has not forgotten the classics." -The Joker

"Don't make jokes. Just go 'Batman' on his ass." -Robin, Batman: Detective Comics #826

My Beloved...

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 02:13:32 GMT

Other than having to deal with allergies, which nearly turned into a serious cold, this entire past week, my Thanksgiving went well for me. I spent it with friends and family, enjoyed turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, a piece of cake, mashed potatoes and was thankful that I was able to have a good time this year.

Earlier this afternoon, my mother and I went by the mall and I looked around inside Suncoast-a store that sells movies, mangas, etc.-and was tempted to purchase a CD but eventually decided to buy an InuYasha DVD from the 5th Season, which showed the death of Kikyo and Kagome's realization about her feelings toward InuYasha. The reason I chose to buy the DVD was mainly because it cost 50% off and cost a lot less than the CD would've.

So far, the beginning of this final week of November is looking good, which I'm pleased about. The song mentioned below is sung by Tackey & Tsubasa, which was heard in the first episode on the aforementioned InuYasha DVD. The translation for said song is Graduation - Good Byes are for Tomorrow One Version, which I think suits it very well.

"You should shut up and let me protect you!" -InuYasha

"InuYasha...!" -Kagome