Bat-Mite on Brave and the Bold

Well I just watched the latest episode of Batman: the Brave and the Bold. I may be bias in this review, as I have never been a fan of Bat-Mite, but I have to say I think this is the worst episode so far. The reason I say this is because it wasn't really what I consider a team-up episode. It was interesting to hearl Paul Reubens voice Bat-Mite.

The opening teaser showed how Batman and Bat-Hound, his first animated appearance I believe, stop Cat Man from selling a rare tiger that he stole. Later Batman stops a bank robbery and even though the crooks try to give up they can't. Bat-Mite is using them to continue the fight by his magic. Soon Batman stops that but Bat-Mite wants to see him fight still. He wants him to fight the baddest supervillain ever to show that Batman is the best superhero in the world. He conjurs up Grodd and Shaggy Man but then Batman tricks him in to bringing in the Calender Man. He takes a dive at Batman's request. Still Bat-Mite changes Calendar Man into Calendar King and gives him the poser to create henchmen who look like holiday icons. His most powerful are the mutant Easter Bunnies. Bat-Mite isn't sure if he likes them so he creates his own panel show at a comic con to get their opinons. He decides that they are pretty cool and keeps them in the fight. In the end Batman convinces Bat-Mite that to keep his favorite crime fighter in endless battles is pointless. It is really keeping him from fighting real crimes. Bat-Mite agrees and goes away.

Later in the Batcave Batman confides in Bat-Hound what a pest Bat-Mite was. Only he discovers that there are two Bat-Hounds. The one he was talking to was really Bat-Mite. Bat-Mite is now angry with Batman and takes him to the 5th dimension. There he uses Batman as a toy to fight his other toys till Batman breaks. Batman stops fighting as he would rather die then be used as a play thing. He convinces Bat-Mite to live the dream and become Batman for awhile. Bat-Mite does and can't handle it. He needs Batman's help. He does but then Batman gets in a small jam and Bat-Mite uses his magic to get him out. Batman tells Bat-Mite that with his powers he shouldn't be a hero in the shadow of Batman. He can go on his own.

It seems that Bat-Mite agrees. He disappears and Batman is relieved. Later it turns out that Bat-Mite turned his hero worship else where as he has decided to become Green Arrow's biggest fan. Despite telling Batman earlier that Green Arrow wasn't as good as Batman.

Below are some videos from the episode.

Werewolf the Complete Series on DVD

Thanks to TV Shows on DVD I have found out that fans, like I am, of the old Fox TV show Werewolf won't have to wait much longer. The complete series will be available on DVD on Sept. 1st. You can see the cover art for the box set above. I know this is a comic book site but I just had to let you know if you are a fan.

Movie Trailer for Green Lantern First Flight

How to get into the comic book business

These two pages telling comic book fans of how to break into the business appeared in DC comic books in 1966 dated for March of that year. The story told is autobiographical by Sam Viviano. However, if you notice, by the end of the story he reveals the name of his central character to be Marvin Wolfman. Yes for some reason Mr. Viviano made Marv Wolfman the center of his own autobiography. This was 1966 and Mr. Wolfman was still only being published in fanzines. He made his professional break through in 1968. What was going on in New York on July 16th of 1967? I can only imagine it was a comic book convention.

A Video Salute to Our Armed Forces

Unusual Duos

Lets face it some team ups are unusual. The surprising ones are those that work for a long time. Here are some that I always thought was a little odd.

CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY

One that I thought was odd from the minute I first heard about it was Captain America and Bucky. I mean Army mascot Bucky walks in on Steve Rogers while he changes into Cap. He doesn't trust Bucky will keep quiet about his secret so he makes him his partner to keep an eye on him. First how did a teenager become an Army mascot? A mascot is usually an animal. Second is how can any hero have faith that their partner will support them in a fight if they only make them a partner just to keep an eye on them so they won't tell their secret? Considering how well the partnership turned out I have to say Cap got lucky.

POWER MAN AND IRON FIST

I understand why Marvel teamed these two up. Both had their own solo books in the 70's. Sales were down on both so they put them together so two low sellers became a modest success in one book. Still it seemed odd that these two would be a successful team. Power Man was an ex-con from the streets. Iron Fist was from a wealthy family and he discovered the mysticaly city of K'un-L'un. He is adopted by the leader of the city and taught the power of the Iron Fist.

Who in the world would have said "Hey lets get these two together and we'll have a book that sells well."? It was actually a combining of two parts of 70's culture. Power Man represented the soul movement ushered in by movies like Shaft and Superfly. Iron Fist represented the kung fu culture that Bruce Lee started with Enter the Dragon. That was the real key to their success. Still it seemed like an unusual duo to me.

The above picture is from Outcast Studios.

DR. 13 AND THE PHANTOM STRANGER





Another sign that opposites attract. True both are interested in the occult but they approach it from different points of view. Dr. 13 believes that there is a logical answer for everything. During his investigations the Phantom Stranger shows up. The Phantom Stranger is an enity that takes the form of a human to help others. The Dr. doesn't believe him and always tries to prove he is human and that the occult has nothing to do with the crime he is looking into. Usually Dr. 13 is wrong and in the end the Phantom Stranger magically disappears.
The team of the skeptic and the believer is a popular theme in pop culture. Fans of the X-Files will see this. Espically in the first season. Scully was the non-believer in aliens that was assigned to find the real reasons for the cases that Mulder investigated. Mulder as we all know was the believer. At least Scully by the end of the show was beginning to believe. Dr. 13 never gave in on his beliefs.

BLUE BEETLE AND BOOSTER GOLD

Blue Beetle was created by Steve Ditko aat Charlton Comics in 1966. He was kind of like their version of Iron Man or Batman. Ted Kord was a wealthy man who used his superior intellect and athletic ability to become the Blue Beetle. While the character was popular Charlton was a small publisher and folded in the mid 80's. DC bought the rights to the characters. Yet no one seemd to know what do to with the new characters in the DC Universe. In a way I understand it with the Beetle. What do you do with a Batman like character when you already have Batman?

Booster Gold was Michael Carter from the 25th Century. He had a bright future as a football player but blew it when he threw games for some gamblers. He then worked as a night watchman at a museum. To start a better future for himself he stole property from the museum and traveled back to the 20th century to become rich and famous as Booster Gold.
Both men became members of the JLA and best friends. What makes these two an unusual duo? Beetle is a hard working wealthy industrialist and uses his good fortune to fight crime and make the world a better place for others. Booster is building his lfe and career on crimes he comitted. Yet he fights the crimes other commit in hopes to make a better life for himself. Again opposites attract. Actually at times Beetle almost ends the friendship as Booster gets on his last nerve.
In the JLA the became a comedy team of sorts with Beetle as the straight man. Well most of the time. This worked for awhile and they were popular enough that there were rumors of them getting their own team-up book called the Blue and the Gold. But that never happened.
Thanks to his appearances in the book Birds of Prey, Blue Beetle seemed back on his way to becoming a serious crime fighter again. However, while investigating a cover up in the book Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Beetle finds that the JLA's former backer Max Lord is behind the cover-up. Max murders the Blue Beetle but it gets the other DC heroes to take Beetles last investigation more serious and that begins the Infinite Crisis. Later DC brings a new younger Blue Beetle in to take over Ted Kord's place. Still we all know that death in comics is never forever.
There are more unusual duos but that is all I have time to cover right now. Maybe I will post more in the future.

Robin on Brave and the Bold

Don't forget to watch Batman:the Brave and the Bold tonight. Here is a preview, that we showed here before, of Robin's first time on the show.

Pre-Order Batman: the Brave and the Bold

If you want you can pre-order Batman:the Brave and the bold Volume 1 at Amazon.com by clicking on the link below. Don't for get to watch it this friday on Cartoon Network when I belive his guest star is Robin. As always if anyone reading this is with Warner Brothers I will help promote it by giving away a free copy in a contest.

Batman:The Brave and the Bold and the Plastic Man Comedy/Action Show Soon On DVD

According to TV Shows on DVD Batman:the Brave and the Bold Volume 1 will be released on August 25th. Since the Plastic Man Comedy/Action Show is to be release on DVD, according to the same site, this will be a banner year for Plastic Man since he is in both sets.
If Warner Brothers is giving out free copies of these sets to promote it I will give them as prizes in a contest on my sites.

Diversions of the Groovy Kind

Here is a shout out to Diversionsof the Groovy Kind. Today he give an over view of one of my favorite eras of Captain America history. He examines why Cap briefly became the Nomad.

Info at Plastic Man Platitudes

FYI info for Plastic Man fans over atPlastic Man Platitudes. Also if you like any info that you read on my sites and want to you can contribute by clicking the Paypal link below.

Al Bigley

Al Bigley wrote me a very nice e-mail some time ago and I wanted to post a link to his site as a kind return. Since then things have been very busy here and they may even get busier in the near future. As a result I haven't been able to make daily post on all my sites as I want to. So since there is a small break in the action here is my link to Big Glee! The Albert Bryan Bigley Archives! I hope it isn't too late Al!
As you can tell by the above image Al has recently posted about one of my favorite mags of the 1970's...Pizzazz!

Promotional Clips for Batman:the Brave and the Bold

Yesterday I showed you some highlights of the best of Batman: the Brave and the Bold for this season. New episodes return starting on this Friday. I have already shared with you a clip from this weeks so here are video clips to promore the rest of the season. Guest voice in these episodes include Paul Rubens and Jeffery Tambor.

Brave and the Bold Highlights

New episodes of Brave adn the Bold start this Friday. Looking forward to this I am showing you highlights of past episodes. Tomorrow I will share clips of future episodes.

Batman:The Brave and the Bold Pushed Back

I just heard from James that the return of Batman: The Brave and the Bold was pushed back at the last minute. So instead of returning tonight it will return on May 8th. You may have seen the clip below before. If not here is the first look at the Huntress from the May 8th episode "Night of the Huntress." Feature episodes will feature Booster Gold, Bat Mite, Red Tornado and Robin.

Pre-order Green Lantern: First Flight

Over at Amazon.com you can now pre-order Green Lantern: First Filght on DVD. I like how DC is doing these animated movies with characters other then Superman and Batman. Maybe one day they will do this with their even more lesser known heroes like the Creeper, the Hawk and the Dove, etc.
You can click on the link below to order it.

Below is a preview of the movie.