7/6/2007 - batman dead end

Today's video is probably the most popular fan film of a comic book character...in this case, Batman. There's good reason it's such a hit. Unlike the multi million dollar movies depicting the Dark Knight, this short film features Batman AS HE IS in the comics. In particular, the costume is how Batman's costume should look like. No spandex, no rubber molding, no fake muscles or body armor, and most importantly, NO BAT-NIPPLES!

They get the characters of Batman and Joker pretty right on... almost exactly like they are in the 90's animated cartoon, which in itself is probably THE definitive version of the characters. Batman is portrayed as the hard-boiled avenger of the night and he actually looks pretty scary. And the Joker's grin here is not the latex implant that Jack Nicholson put on. Rather, it's the manic smile coming directly from the actor himself. I really don't know what to think of Heath (Brokeback Mountain) Ledger as the Joker in the next Batman film, but he'd be wise to look at the Joker in this fan film.

As for the appearance of the Aliens and Predators... yeah, it's a bit random. It's not out the realm of the comics, however. In a few miniseries with the crossover companies of D.C. Comics and Dark Horse Comics, Batman has fought against the Aliens and the Predators on multiple occasions. It's not completely unrealistic, either... well, I'm speaking in the realm of the comics, again. After all, if the Aliens got beat by Sigourney Weaver, and the Predators got beat by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, then what chance do they have against Batman???