You can't really talk about the DC Universe without acknowledging "The Big Three". "The Big Three" are Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. They have been DC constants from the beginning! They are probably the three most recognizable super heroes in the world. They have had countless stories written about them and each has had success in television, radio and film. They are true American icons so I figured why not start with them. I am going to give you very brief histories and then let you know what I think of their latest incarnations!
We can start with the original...
Superman: The Man of Steel
Superman was first seen in Action Comics #1 in 1938. The basic history is that he is an alien living among us. He was born on the planet Krypton. His dad figured out the planet was going to explode so he built a rocket that would send his son to earth (a planet he could live on). He launches the rocket and the boy crashes on a Kansas farm. He is raised by a simple American family who teaches him to keep his powers a secret and a bunch of healthy morals!
He eventually moves to the big city (Metropolis) and works as a reporter for The Daily Planet (news paper). He meets a bunch of people there...most notably Lois Lane...who he eventually marries. Lois does know that mild mannered reporter "Clark Kent" is Superman.
Superman has been very successful in the radio, television and film industries. He is probably most remembered in the Christopher Reeve movies. Now he has a television show and a film out. The show is Smallville. It basically tells you the story of Superman's teen years. The film is Superman Returns. Brandon Routh was cast as Superman. I thought he was good in the film. A lot of people can't give up the Christopher Reeve ghost. I liked the film...except for the revelation at the end. I won't spoil it for you! For a more indepth review of the film check out the archives in my other blog HERE.
Recently the DC Universe was rocked by a "Crisis". That is a story in itself...the point is this "Crisis" really had major effects on "the big three". They all took a solid year off of being the three biggest heroes in the world. The case of Superman's dissappearance is a little more interesting. See, he lost all his powers after flying through a Red Sun during the crisis. He had no choice but to live life as a very vulnerable Clark Kent.
Superman one year later is definitely a success story. He gradually got his powers back (our yellow sun is the source) and is now currently being Superman again. I think the new book is a blast to read! The only thing I think is lame is Lois Lane's hair. There was a 8 issue arc called "Up, up and Away!" that started the post Infinite Crisis Superman that pretty much rocked. Up until the crisis Superman had somehow forgotten what it was to be...well...super! He was sort of whiney and annoying. After the crisis he was totally back on track. I give props to DC for making the boy scout cool again.
All Star Superman (a separate story that well established writers and artists work on) has gotten amazing reviews. I have been reading it and am not much of a fan. I think it is just because the artist makes everyone look like they have Down Syndrome.
Batman: The Dark Knight
Batman was first seen in Detective Comics #1 in 1939. Detective Comics was such an overwhelming success that the company changed it's name to DC Comics. DC=Detective Comics. Batman is the darker of the big three. By day he is billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne by night Batman. Bruce Wayne grew up wealthy. His parents were killed by a mugger in front of him when he was a child. Now Bruce Wayne dresses like a bat and crime fights. He is located in Gotham City. He usually has a boy side kick called Robin. There have been a few Robins...but for a while there wasn't one.
Arguably the most traumatic experience in Batman's life was the murder of his second Robin (aka Jason Todd). Jason Todd was impulsive and a loose cannon. He was killed by Batman's nemesis the Joker. It was pretty sad.
Batman (in my opinion) was at his worst right before Infinite Crisis. He was paranoid and delusional. Nobody wanted to be around him (including Superman and Wonder Woman). He had created this weird satellite that knew all about everyone's secret identities and then some jerk stole it. He was the cause of much hurt and death last year. At the end of Infinite Crisis he took a year long vacation with Dick Grayson (original Robin) and Tim Drake (current Robin).
When they all came back one year later Batman was much more laid back.
Batman has probably been the most successful of the big three in the land of film and television. He had a fun (and very campy) television show in the 1960's. He has had a string of very popular films and animated series. The current Batman is being played by Christian Bale. The film Batman Begins was a monster success and they are currently making a sequel with Heath Ledger taking on the role of the Joker.
In comic book land Batman is back to his cool self. The recent discovery of a son has really thrown Batman for a loop. He finally opened himself up enough to adopt one of his wards (Tim Drake) and was instrumental in getting Wonder Woman a life (one year later). I really like the new Batman.
All Star Batman and Robin SUX!!! I don't get it at all. They are always way late and I swear it has been like 4 or 5 issues and Batman hasn't left the damned Batmobile. Whatever DC.
Wonder Woman: The Amazing Amazon
Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8 in 1941. She is credited as being the first super heroine that was an actual success. She was created by William Moultan Marsden and his wife Elizabeth. Marsden also created the polygraph (lie detector) machine! No wonder she carries around her lasso of truth!
Princess Diana of the Amazons saves pilot Steve Trevor and chooses to leave her Paradise Island so she can take him home. She ends up becoming a crime fighting heroine in America. Wonder Woman tends to be the most controversial character of the big three. She has definitely been the most tampered with! Through the years she has been: a nurse, a secretary, an ambassador, fast-food worker, a goddess and most recently a wanted felon.
In what was probably the shock of the year DC chose to have Wonder Woman commit the murder that set the "crisis" ball a rolling! She was faced with the question "Do I kill the guy that is mind controlling Superman or do I let him go and hope for the best?" She chose the kill and boy did that spark major controversy! In the end of Infinite Crisis she chose to take a year off like SM and BM did. She wanted to find herself. Oh! Not to mention not go back to jail.
Wonder Woman was a hit show in the 1970's. Ms World winner Lynda Carter was cast in the role and is probably the most influential person on the character in the past 30 yrs. You think Wonder Woman...you automatically picture Ms. Carter!
This has been a weird year for Diana. She murdered a guy THEN the Amazons left her alone when they left our dimension! Her Gods left her and she lost most of her friends. Then her book was cancelled. Wh-What???
Luckily DC started her over at #1 and we got introduced to a brand new (better than ever) Wonder Woman. Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been signed on to write and direct a new Wonder Woman film. The search for the new Wonder Woman is heating up and I can't wait to see what happens. The new book is good, really good, but it is bi-monthly which SUX. Then again I would have a really good book less often than a sucktastic book every month. If you haven't read the new Wonder Woman go out and give it a try. Also look for an All Star Wonder Woman book that should come down early next year!
whew...that's enough for now...more later...
We can start with the original...
Superman: The Man of SteelSuperman was first seen in Action Comics #1 in 1938. The basic history is that he is an alien living among us. He was born on the planet Krypton. His dad figured out the planet was going to explode so he built a rocket that would send his son to earth (a planet he could live on). He launches the rocket and the boy crashes on a Kansas farm. He is raised by a simple American family who teaches him to keep his powers a secret and a bunch of healthy morals!
He eventually moves to the big city (Metropolis) and works as a reporter for The Daily Planet (news paper). He meets a bunch of people there...most notably Lois Lane...who he eventually marries. Lois does know that mild mannered reporter "Clark Kent" is Superman.
Superman has been very successful in the radio, television and film industries. He is probably most remembered in the Christopher Reeve movies. Now he has a television show and a film out. The show is Smallville. It basically tells you the story of Superman's teen years. The film is Superman Returns. Brandon Routh was cast as Superman. I thought he was good in the film. A lot of people can't give up the Christopher Reeve ghost. I liked the film...except for the revelation at the end. I won't spoil it for you! For a more indepth review of the film check out the archives in my other blog HERE.
Recently the DC Universe was rocked by a "Crisis". That is a story in itself...the point is this "Crisis" really had major effects on "the big three". They all took a solid year off of being the three biggest heroes in the world. The case of Superman's dissappearance is a little more interesting. See, he lost all his powers after flying through a Red Sun during the crisis. He had no choice but to live life as a very vulnerable Clark Kent.
Superman one year later is definitely a success story. He gradually got his powers back (our yellow sun is the source) and is now currently being Superman again. I think the new book is a blast to read! The only thing I think is lame is Lois Lane's hair. There was a 8 issue arc called "Up, up and Away!" that started the post Infinite Crisis Superman that pretty much rocked. Up until the crisis Superman had somehow forgotten what it was to be...well...super! He was sort of whiney and annoying. After the crisis he was totally back on track. I give props to DC for making the boy scout cool again.
All Star Superman (a separate story that well established writers and artists work on) has gotten amazing reviews. I have been reading it and am not much of a fan. I think it is just because the artist makes everyone look like they have Down Syndrome.
Batman: The Dark KnightBatman was first seen in Detective Comics #1 in 1939. Detective Comics was such an overwhelming success that the company changed it's name to DC Comics. DC=Detective Comics. Batman is the darker of the big three. By day he is billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne by night Batman. Bruce Wayne grew up wealthy. His parents were killed by a mugger in front of him when he was a child. Now Bruce Wayne dresses like a bat and crime fights. He is located in Gotham City. He usually has a boy side kick called Robin. There have been a few Robins...but for a while there wasn't one.
Arguably the most traumatic experience in Batman's life was the murder of his second Robin (aka Jason Todd). Jason Todd was impulsive and a loose cannon. He was killed by Batman's nemesis the Joker. It was pretty sad.
Batman (in my opinion) was at his worst right before Infinite Crisis. He was paranoid and delusional. Nobody wanted to be around him (including Superman and Wonder Woman). He had created this weird satellite that knew all about everyone's secret identities and then some jerk stole it. He was the cause of much hurt and death last year. At the end of Infinite Crisis he took a year long vacation with Dick Grayson (original Robin) and Tim Drake (current Robin).
When they all came back one year later Batman was much more laid back.
Batman has probably been the most successful of the big three in the land of film and television. He had a fun (and very campy) television show in the 1960's. He has had a string of very popular films and animated series. The current Batman is being played by Christian Bale. The film Batman Begins was a monster success and they are currently making a sequel with Heath Ledger taking on the role of the Joker.
In comic book land Batman is back to his cool self. The recent discovery of a son has really thrown Batman for a loop. He finally opened himself up enough to adopt one of his wards (Tim Drake) and was instrumental in getting Wonder Woman a life (one year later). I really like the new Batman.
All Star Batman and Robin SUX!!! I don't get it at all. They are always way late and I swear it has been like 4 or 5 issues and Batman hasn't left the damned Batmobile. Whatever DC.
Wonder Woman: The Amazing Amazon
Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8 in 1941. She is credited as being the first super heroine that was an actual success. She was created by William Moultan Marsden and his wife Elizabeth. Marsden also created the polygraph (lie detector) machine! No wonder she carries around her lasso of truth!
Princess Diana of the Amazons saves pilot Steve Trevor and chooses to leave her Paradise Island so she can take him home. She ends up becoming a crime fighting heroine in America. Wonder Woman tends to be the most controversial character of the big three. She has definitely been the most tampered with! Through the years she has been: a nurse, a secretary, an ambassador, fast-food worker, a goddess and most recently a wanted felon.
In what was probably the shock of the year DC chose to have Wonder Woman commit the murder that set the "crisis" ball a rolling! She was faced with the question "Do I kill the guy that is mind controlling Superman or do I let him go and hope for the best?" She chose the kill and boy did that spark major controversy! In the end of Infinite Crisis she chose to take a year off like SM and BM did. She wanted to find herself. Oh! Not to mention not go back to jail.
Wonder Woman was a hit show in the 1970's. Ms World winner Lynda Carter was cast in the role and is probably the most influential person on the character in the past 30 yrs. You think Wonder Woman...you automatically picture Ms. Carter!
This has been a weird year for Diana. She murdered a guy THEN the Amazons left her alone when they left our dimension! Her Gods left her and she lost most of her friends. Then her book was cancelled. Wh-What???
Luckily DC started her over at #1 and we got introduced to a brand new (better than ever) Wonder Woman. Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been signed on to write and direct a new Wonder Woman film. The search for the new Wonder Woman is heating up and I can't wait to see what happens. The new book is good, really good, but it is bi-monthly which SUX. Then again I would have a really good book less often than a sucktastic book every month. If you haven't read the new Wonder Woman go out and give it a try. Also look for an All Star Wonder Woman book that should come down early next year!
whew...that's enough for now...more later...
