Batman Beyond: The Complete Series Blu-ray Box Set Arrives 10/29

Batman Beyond, the landmark animated television series that illuminated the imagination of a new generation of Batman fans with its creation of an altogether new hero, is celebrating its 20th anniversary – and you get the gift! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has remastered the heralded series for its first-ever presentation on Blu-ray™ in the all-encompassing Batman Beyond: The Complete Animated Series Limited Edition, arriving on Digital ($49.99 SRP USA, $59.99 SRP Canada) starting October 15, 2019 and in a stunning box set ($99.99 SRP USA, $119.99 SRP Canada) on October 29, 2019. Distribution in Canada will be day-and-date with the USA, Pre-orders are now available.

The extraordinary Batman Beyond: The Complete Animated Series Limited Edition package features approximately 1,500 minutes of entertainment spread over four Blu-ray™ discs, plus the two bonus discs of enhanced content. In addition to a newly-remastered Blu-ray presentation of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, there are 15 featurettes on the bonus discs, highlighted by two new inside looks at the beloved television series, led by Nostalgic Tomorrow, a gathering of Batman Beyond production talent and cast led by executive producer Bruce Timm and actors Kevin Conroy and Will Friedle, the voices of Batman and Terry McGinnis, respectively. The bonus discs also spotlight four episodes with audio commentary from Timm and select members of the production team.

CEMETERY BEACH Variant Covers Honor Mignola, Miller, McFarlane & More

Image Comics is pleased to reveal the complete set of covers in the line of “Impact variants” for Warren Ellis and Jason Howard’s Cemetery Beach. Each cover features artwork by Howard, but drawn in the style of an artist who made an impact on his work and influenced his creative career. The collectible Cemetery Beach variants pay tribute to the iconic Todd McFarlane (Spider-Man), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series), Stephen Platt (Prophet), Frank Miller (Sin City), and Dave Johnson (Super Patriot).

Cemetery Beach reunites the creative team behind the critically acclaimed Trees comic series, which has a forthcoming television adaption signed up via NBCUniversal International Studios’ first-look deal to be produced by Hardy Son & Baker.

Batman and Harley Quinn Animated Movie Preview

It's that time again! With the arrival of the "Teen Titans: The Judas Contract" animated feature film from Warner Bros. Home Video comes a preview for the next DC Comics straight to video animated release! This time around, old-heads like me get a massive dose of nostalgia with a return to the Batman the Animated Series style of art, complete with the legendary Bruce Timm providing the brains behind the concepts. The film's creators have said this film is more like the "red headed nephew" of Batman the Animated Series and probably shouldn't be so readily shown to kids like we do with the classic cartoon series. I'll remind readers, traditionally, these straight to DVD animated films have a more of an adult tone with violence and allusions toward sexual activity on occasion.

SDCC 2015: Justice League: Gods and Monsters Reviewed

In comics, and more specifically, in the DC Universe, we are often allowed glimpses into alternate realities where our favorite heroes and villains' lives have taken a hard left turn, creating stories very different from the normal "battles in tights" fare. Batman fights Dracula and becomes a creature of the night. Superman is the hero of Mother Russia. When a legendary figure like Bruce Timm is behind the alternate reality, you know you are in for something AWESOME!

Gods and Monsters begins by warping the origin stories, and even the identities, of three core Justice League members; Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Superman is now the biological son of Zod, raised by Mexican immigrants with a far different upbringing than the core character we know well, changing his entire perspective on humanity. Wonder Woman calls herself daughter to those we know as the New Gods. Betrayed and heartbroken, she took her rage to Earth, set on never letting another being hurt her again. Batman is Kurt Langstrom (our Earth's Manbat!), a brilliant scientist living on borrowed time. A cure for his fatal illness leads to a vampire-like transformation giving him super human powers, and a taste for blood. Now all three stride the world like gods, exacting terminal justice with a heavy hand while taking the lead from a government enjoying the power these individuals grant them. With a public at once grateful for their heroes and in fear of the death these creatures bring, it is only a matter of time before humanity must decide if they are willing to pay the price of perceived safety. And if they no longer wish to live under the protection of their "heroes", is there really an alternative?

Watch "Batman: Strange Days" by Bruce Timm

You can't possibly celebrate the 75th Anniversary of The Batman without Bruce Timm contributing some astounding piece of art. True to form, Timm has created an animated short called "Strange Days" where "the Dark Knight tracks a strange giant to the mysterious lair of Dr. Hugo Strange". Of course, there is a damsel in distress, and so The Bat must save the day! The art style is unmistakably Timm, giving us instant flashbacks to our treasured youths and the veritable golden age of super hero cartoons, led by "Batman: The Animated Series". To up the ante, Timm takes us back to a Fleisher-esque era, delivering a Batman flying a prop plane, sporting taller ears and left without 100 different high tech devices to pull from his pouches. Point of fact...NO POUCHES!! When facing a creepy giant on a mountainside, jumping out of the fog with a big stick is your best defense. ANYWAY...prepare to fall in love all over again...

Heather Buckley VS New York Comic Con 2012: Day 1

Some press folks rush home from their daily toils at conventions to post their scoops, sneaks and rumors. We here at Idle Hands like to ruminate on our findings, letting them gel until the consistency of a fine paste we can use to affix the geektastic informations like a Motley Crue tour poster engaged to a brick wall..forever intertwined. We sent Heather Buckley out into the microcosm of New York Comic Con to experience the show as only a Heather Buckley could. This...is her story.

DAY ONE:

NERD HORDE
I got to Jacob Javits Center the earliest I could on October 13^th in the year of our Time Lord 2012. After being ushered into the industry entrance, I was given a Walking Dead badge (a female zombie, claw grasped around a gate for Press) and moved my way though a rainbow of nerds, geeks, and fan boys in various states of fancy dress.

I saw a slew of anime demon girls with candy corn horns—wondering all along whom they were supposed to be and why there were so many have them. I saw lots of Catwomen in all shapes and controversial sizes. 15,000 female Lokis (the new Catwoman for Cosplay?) and Ghostbusters. Some commented on my bihawk and asked who I was dressed as (“I am dressed as Heather Buckley, maybe you should try it sometime.”).  All this attempting to get to my candy apple goal: Bruce Timm.

Batman: Year One Coming this October ...or Next Week

Comics legend Frank Miller’s classic retelling of Batman’s gritty, formative days makes its full-length animated debut in Batman: Year One, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives October 18, 2011 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Order due date is September 13, 2011.

Batman: Year One is based on the landmark 1987 DC Comics titles from 12-time Eisner Award winner Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli. The film depicts young Bruce Wayne’s return to Gotham City in his first attempts to fight injustice as a costumed vigilante. The playboy billionaire chooses the guise of a giant bat to combat crime, creates an early bond with a young Lieutenant James Gordon (who is already battling corruption from inside the police department), inadvertently plays a role in the birth of Catwoman, and helps to bring down a crooked political system that infests Gotham.

Primetime television stars Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.), Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) provide the core voices for Batman: Year One. Three-time Emmy® Award winner Cranston gives voice to young Jim Gordon, while McKenzie makes his animated voiceover debut as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Fanboy favorites Dushku and Sackhoff fill the roles of Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Detective Sarah Essen, respectively. Alex Rocco (The Godfather) is the voice of crime lord Carmine Falcone.

Animation master Bruce Timm is executive producer of Batman: Year One. Directors are Lauren Montgomery (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) and Sam Liu (All-Star Superman) from a script penned by Academy Award® nominee Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse).

“Batman: Year One offers fans and newcomers alike an animated perspective on one of the true benchmark works in Batman comics history,” said Hersin Magante, Warner Home Video Marketing Manager, Family &, Animation.. “Bruce Timm and the Warner Bros. Animation team have gone to great lengths to realize Frank Miller’s ground-breaking, influential vision. Batman: Year One stands tall as the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie.”



Batman: Year One Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has almost 3 hours of exciting content, including:
• Feature film
• Sneak Peek at Justice League: Doom, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
• DC Showcase Animated Original Short – “Catwoman”: This all-new entry to the growing canon of DC Universe animated shorts features the first first solo tale centered around Catwoman. The felonious feline’s adventure takes her through the seedy streets of Gotham City. Catwoman is voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling).

• Featurette –“Heart of Vengeance: Returning Batman to His Roots”: “The Dark Knight Returns” provided the denouement of Batman's life. Frank Miller's next seminal work would provide his near-mythic origin in “Batman: Year One.” This documentary uncovers the contemporary genius of Miller and the audience that was poised to appreciate the depths of his work.

• Featurette –“Conversations with DC Comics”: The Batman creative team at DC Entertainment discusses the personal influence of “Batman: Year One” on their careers. Batman producer Michael Uslan leads the chat amongst well-known writers, editors and artists of the Batman lore, focusing their dialogue on the darker, realistic interpretation of Batman’s origins by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

• Audio Commentary with Alan Burnett, Sam Liu, Mike Carlin and Andrea Romano
• “Batman: Year One, Chapter 1” Digital Comic Book
• Two bonus episodes from “Batman: The Animated Series,” handpicked by Bruce Timm
• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• Digital copy on disc of the feature film compatible with iTunes and Windows

SDCC NOTE! - BATMAN: YEAR ONE will premiere at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Friday, July 22 at 8:00 p.m. in Ballroom 20. The premiere screening will be followed by a panel discussion amongst voice cast members Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ben McKenzie (Southland), Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica)
as well as executive producer Bruce Timm, casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano and directors Lauren Montgomery & Sam Liu.

A Brief History of Green Lantern Figures: Justice League Unlimited

Annnnnnnnnnd we're back! Sorry for the delay. There is far too much geek going on this Summer. We continue our stroll down the pegs of Green Lantern plastics with a focus on the Justice League Unlimited figure series, which is winding down this year before coming to a sad but inevitable close. We had a great run! This is a love/hate line for most die hard fans. We love them because they are awesome representations of the Bruce Timm designed DC Universe in its animated form. We hate them because a good 50% of them can't stand up or stay standing...at all. They made figures stands just for that reason, correct? That would be great, if all the figures had peg holes in their feet! I can also gripe about the ever increasing prices, but this isn't a pity party. This is a TOYPALOOZA!! WOOO! Let's celebrate the animated Green Lantern Corps, shall we? Here's the lineup...

John Stewart - The chosen Green Lantern of the slightly multi-cultural Justice League from the start, John brought a strict, somewhat militant vibe to the group. This allowed Flash to embrace the roll of "funny guy" as well as wild card, without any scene stealing a Hal Jordan may have inadvertently caused. As a core member, John has had many action figures over the course of the line, but few offered anything profoundly different from previous entries. Painted symbol, inlaid symbol, sculpted symbol...TECHNO GOD!! Occasionally we'd get a deluxe GL with awesome constructs, but all too often, he was left powerless in the package. (I realize now, that sentence is awesome.) Aside from the techno look, evil Green Lantern of the alternate Earth Justice Lords, and a bit of articulation in the arms and legs treated to the core members, the majority of his figures are either with hair or without. Choose your favorite ladies!

Kilowog - The massive and memorable alien star of the Corps, recently featured in the film and given an oh so puny body for his figure. Mattel bulked this one up a bit, but he is still nowhere as big as he should be. He gets the standard 5 points of articulation in the head, shoulders and hips. Kilowog comes in a 3 pack with Tomar Re and John Stewart as well as single packed with his lantern.

Tomar Re - Another alien in the mix; this figure features the standard Green Lantern chest with slimmer arms and legs and a new head. He appears only in the previously mentioned 3 pack.

Katma Tui - Ahhh..the ladies. When we talk about JLU figures that don't stand at all, we are looking at you. These figures all come packed with a stand for just that reason. Katma is your very standard, very re-used female body. She comes in a 3 pack with Kyle Rayner and Arkis Chummuck. There was a second version of the character with a far more accurate paint job and different costume packed into a second three pack featuring John Stewart and Despero. (sorry no pics of that version I have yet to own.)

Kyle Rayner - So far Kyle is the only other human to make it to the core line of figures. Kyle shares a body with many other figures across the line, with the addition of the obligatory new head. Kyle can be found in the previously mentioned 3 pack as well as a purple backed single pack with his lantern. He is also set to re-surface in a convention exclusive 3 pack with Evil Star and Goldface.

Arkis Chummuck - Hey, kids! It's Kyle again! No, it's just that same body with a new head. Why mess with success? Arkis can only be found in the previously mentioned Kyle/ Katma 3 pack.

Sinestro - Before the yellow light gave him an evil stiffy, Sinestro was part of team green. When the animated film Green Lantern: First Flight was released, Mattel created a 3 pack to celebrate. This is the only place to get Sinestro in his green duds. He has also been released in his silly jester-ish blue and black costume and finally, his killer Yellow Lantern costume, using the same body with reversed arms, which would been a nice touch had they put his ring on the opposite hand. Also included in the exclusive "Origins" 3 pack were Abin Sur and Hal Jordan in his flight uniform. To appease some fans, Mattel made the heads interchangeable so you could put Hal in his GL uniform as well. Why was this a big deal? Read on.

Hal Jordan - The single most important, most recognised Green Lantern of all time. Sure, he wasn't in the show, but you would think he'd at least warrant an action figure for old times sake! Hell, they made Aqua Man in his old school outfit!! Gotta complete the vintage Super Friends, right? Right?! Mattel finally gave Hal some respect in the form of a "employees and friends of Matty" exclusive, no doubt created to make us sob creepy large man tears. And by us I mean me. It wasn't until the release of the Animated film to DVD that we would see him again, this time in his orange flight suit. Three cheers for an original sculpt, but what about our love of Hal in uniform? Never fear!! Pop his head off and put it on Sinestro's body and Hal can finally join the team...sans his mask. ~sigh~ Missed it by that much...

Abin Sur - Recreate the moment where a dying alien hands over a great power to the reckless but heroic Hal Jordan! Yay dying toys. Abin rocks the standard GL body with his new, pink, pop off head. To reiterate, Abin can only be found in the Green Lantern Origins 3 pack with Sinestro and Hal Jordan; an exclusive to San Diego Comic Con 2009.

MANHUNTERS!! - I do love when Matty makes the bigger guys and keeps them affordable for us. Due to their size, they are among an elite group of JLU figures that don't fall over! The mechanical menace of the cosmos come 2 to a 3 pack with their pal John Stewart alongside. Since people like to army build, finding this pack was exceedingly hard at the time of release. The Manhunters each come with a control rod accessory; a rarity in 3 packs, making the pack even more desirable. How can you resist a Manhunter holding his rod? (you didn't think I'd let that opportunity slide, did you?)

Star Sapphire (not pictured) - There's that skinny female body again. I swear I have this lady somewhere in my collection, but she chose to not show up for the shoot, so I apologize. Women...m'I right? Hal's on again off again girlfriend/evil doer/cosmic hero turns up with Sand and Superman on a purple backed 3 pack. She also got the single pack treatment along with a purple translucent lightning bolt which she used often in no episodes of the show.







CLICK HERE for the full photo shoot and stay tuned for the 6 inch madness!!