Overall, this is a great start to the crossover story line, it raises intriguing questions (continuing from the DC Rebirth special), and it showcases an effective blend of layout and writing with a memorable fight scene.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Review of Batman 21: The Button Begins
Jason Book and I discuss issue 21 of Batman (DC Comics), by Tom King and Jason Fabok.
Overall, this is a great start to the crossover story line, it raises intriguing questions (continuing from the DC Rebirth special), and it showcases an effective blend of layout and writing with a memorable fight scene.
Overall, this is a great start to the crossover story line, it raises intriguing questions (continuing from the DC Rebirth special), and it showcases an effective blend of layout and writing with a memorable fight scene.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Reacting to Justice League Trailer 1
Jason Book and I give our initial thoughts on the Justice League trailer that Warner Brothers released on March 25th, 2017. Justice League is written by Chris Terrio and directed by Zack Snyder.
See the official trailer from Warner Bros: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cxixDgHUYw
See a retrospective on Batman v Superman, the movie that set up the Justice League: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HviyAxHnlhA
See the official trailer from Warner Bros: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cxixDgHUYw
See a retrospective on Batman v Superman, the movie that set up the Justice League: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HviyAxHnlhA
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Anniversary Special: Restrospective on Batman v Superman
In this special episode of the Justice League Universe podcast, released on the one-year anniversary of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we look back over the film as a whole as well as the critical reception. This episode also features thoughts and perspectives from 20+ of our listeners, honoring a great movie.
Episode art by David Jamison.
Zack talking about his mother, Marsha: https://youtu.be/vxuEqQkYH3c?t=1h12m54s
Here is our complete set of scene-by-scene analyses for BvS.
Follow us @JLUPodcast on Twitter.
Episode art by David Jamison.
Zack talking about his mother, Marsha: https://youtu.be/vxuEqQkYH3c?t=1h12m54s
Here is our complete set of scene-by-scene analyses for BvS.
Follow us @JLUPodcast on Twitter.
Interview with DC Photographer Clay Enos
Clay Enos has been the set photographer on all 5 of the films thus
far in the WB Justice League Universe. He joins us for an interview,
covering the responsibilities of a set photographer, the marketing
process, themes in the DCEU, critical reactions to Batman v Superman, working with Larry Fong, the posters and style of the upcoming Wonder Woman film, and more.
http://www.clayenos.com/
Ben Affleck's Eastern Congo Initiative
Follow @JLUPodcast on Twitter
http://www.clayenos.com/
Ben Affleck's Eastern Congo Initiative
Follow @JLUPodcast on Twitter
Thursday, March 23, 2017
JLU Scene-by-Scene: Batman v Superman Scenes 75-76
This episode of the Justice League Universe podcast focuses on the final scenes of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Zack Snyder.
Man of Steel Answers, Suicide Squadcast
@JLU Podcast on Twitter
https://slerer3film.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-review-analysis/
http://hcourageous.tumblr.com/post/144657449733
http://dceuminute.toooldmedia.com
<Transcript>
- Corrections and Omissions for last episode
- Bruce and Diana honoring Superman
- "Men are still good"
- Forming the Justice League
- Bruce's indicators of redemption
- Diana's history and building anticipation for Wonder Woman
- Bruce's opening narration and closing narration
- Lex Luthor in Belle Reve
- Wizard of Oz-pokolips
- Two perspectives on Lex's mental state
- Bruce's clear path forward
-
Was it a good call to show Superman's soil rising?
Man of Steel Answers, Suicide Squadcast
@JLU Podcast on Twitter
https://slerer3film.wordpress.com/2016/09/17/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-review-analysis/
http://hcourageous.tumblr.com/post/144657449733
http://dceuminute.toooldmedia.com
<Transcript>
Sunday, March 19, 2017
JLU Scene-by-Scene: Batman v Superman Scenes 73-74
This episode of the Justice League Universe podcast focuses on scenes 73 (Lex Shaved, Lois Engagement ring) and 74 (funerals) of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Zack Snyder.
Follow us @JLUPodcast on twitter
http://andygrail.tumblr.com/
Daily Planet Article: http://luthorspeachtea.tumblr.com/post/148658568651/idkdudehefunny-rizahmad-so-i-wasted-too
Surprises for Lois: https://twitter.com/GloriousWayne/status/818956133599690752
Man of Steel Answers, A Beautiful Truth: http://www.manofsteelanswers.com/43-a-beautiful-truth-you-are-not-alone/
Trinity comic book: http://www.readcomics.tv/images/manga/batman-superman-wonder-woman-trinity/2/13.jpg
<Transcript>
- Revisiting "my world" from the last episode
- Lex Luthor's shaved head
- Perry and the Daily Planet headlines
- Martha's hands and Jonathan's photo
- Lois's engagement ring
- Clark Kent funeral at the Kent farm
- Superman funeral in Washington DC
- A quick look back at "Is she with you?"
Follow us @JLUPodcast on twitter
http://andygrail.tumblr.com/
Daily Planet Article: http://luthorspeachtea.tumblr.com/post/148658568651/idkdudehefunny-rizahmad-so-i-wasted-too
Surprises for Lois: https://twitter.com/GloriousWayne/status/818956133599690752
Man of Steel Answers, A Beautiful Truth: http://www.manofsteelanswers.com/43-a-beautiful-truth-you-are-not-alone/
Trinity comic book: http://www.readcomics.tv/images/manga/batman-superman-wonder-woman-trinity/2/13.jpg
<Transcript>
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Two Overarching Questions about Batman v Superman
I was recently asked two fairly fundamental questions about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in the comment board for one of our recent JLU Podcast episodes, and I thought I would share my answers here, as well. The questions were from Dragan Dnjidic.
1. What would you say to people who were expecting a primarily ideological rivalry between Batman and Superman and who were disappointed that they just fought because of Lex Luthor kidnapping Martha Kent?
I think the marketing for BvS set up a little bit of an expectation for ideological rivalry (e.g., they included Lex's lines about "day versus night..."), but I also think people had built that up themselves as something they were really expecting in the movie, and it's most fair to judge a movie based on its own story it was telling, not based on expectations or what you would've wanted in your personally preferred version of the movie. Now, I would say that it's not a very accurate characterization to say that the fight was just about Lex kidnapping Martha Kent. Lex, of course, did kidnap Martha as his final piece of leverage to exert control over Superman to make sure the fight happened, and to fulfill his fantasy of having god kneel before him.
But the pump was already primed before this because Superman was frustrated because the world was giving him a hard time after all of his own actions, even when he was just trying to help and do the right thing -- there were unintended consequences and unfair responses from people to what he was doing. Meanwhile, Batman was seemingly getting a free pass even though Batman is much more brutal and working outside the law. It was frustrating for Superman to see someone doing things that Superman himself would get crucified for doing. And Batman now going across the line in terms of taking the law into his own hands also conflicted with Superman's sense of justice. (So there is a little bit of ideological conflict in there, but I think it was much more a psychological basis for the fight.) On Batman's side, he had more reasons to fight than just Martha Kent being kidnapped, too. Speaking of which...
2. How do we know that Bruce's powerlessness is his primary motivation and not the 1% doctrine (which we call a rationalization that he used to convince himself that he was justified in persecuting Superman)?
Bruce is not wrong about his 1% doctrine, but we argue throughout our podcast that this is his rationalization and that his true driving force, primarily subconscious, is his feeling of powerlessness and his desperate effort to prove to himself that his life as Batman has been worthwhile. We cover this most directly in the following episodes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR-pLVszZG0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9jkfgvb1E) but to summarize some of the evidence, Alfred gives us a keen insight into Bruce's psychology early when he explicitly states that he has observed Bruce drifting off because of the feeling of powerlessness. This helps us even interpret the opening scene in a different way --- we can notice that Bruce first was powerless to save Jack and his employees and then was visually powerless as a man running into a huge cloud of debris. Importantly, this was BEFORE he stared up in anger at Superman and Zod (powerlessness first, anger at the threat of Superman second as a rationalization). Later on, we get more evidence besides Alfred's observation because we see that the taunt that really worked on Bruce was to say "You let your family die!" --- that is, Bruce has failed and has been powerless to save important people in his life (think Robin suit and his parents, especially). If it was truly an arc about the 1% doctrine, then it should've been "He could murder us all" or something like that as the threat that really got a reaction out of Bruce.
Another piece of evidence is the mausoleum nightmare (personal issues) that happens before the desert Knightmare/vision (Superman as threat) --- the mausoleum nightmare is straight from Bruce's psyche and it involves his parents' death still haunting him, which we take to be connected to his feeling of powerlessness, not being able to save them or redeem them. Oh, and that reminds me, that the Beautiful Lie poem at the beginning is another big piece of evidence, because he starts out by saying that his time as Batman has been a lie -- he hasn't made the difference, in the world or in his own life, that he thought he would as Batman. That opening narration is more important for interpreting his arc, I think, than the 1% doctrine that comes later.
Anyway, there is more evidence, but that's enough to get started. And in our analysis, we have not found any evidence that contradicts the notion that it goes (A) powerlessness then (B) 1% doctrine as a rationalization. And the most important reason to interpret Bruce's issue this way is because that it makes perfect sense of the big Martha moment. Without the powerlessness angle, it seems like a fast and too convenient turnaround (because Superman's 1% threat is still there). Also, it makes it so that Bruce's character arc and Lex's become a very interesting parallel of two men trying to deal with being emasculated by the arrival of Superman.
1. What would you say to people who were expecting a primarily ideological rivalry between Batman and Superman and who were disappointed that they just fought because of Lex Luthor kidnapping Martha Kent?
I think the marketing for BvS set up a little bit of an expectation for ideological rivalry (e.g., they included Lex's lines about "day versus night..."), but I also think people had built that up themselves as something they were really expecting in the movie, and it's most fair to judge a movie based on its own story it was telling, not based on expectations or what you would've wanted in your personally preferred version of the movie. Now, I would say that it's not a very accurate characterization to say that the fight was just about Lex kidnapping Martha Kent. Lex, of course, did kidnap Martha as his final piece of leverage to exert control over Superman to make sure the fight happened, and to fulfill his fantasy of having god kneel before him.
But the pump was already primed before this because Superman was frustrated because the world was giving him a hard time after all of his own actions, even when he was just trying to help and do the right thing -- there were unintended consequences and unfair responses from people to what he was doing. Meanwhile, Batman was seemingly getting a free pass even though Batman is much more brutal and working outside the law. It was frustrating for Superman to see someone doing things that Superman himself would get crucified for doing. And Batman now going across the line in terms of taking the law into his own hands also conflicted with Superman's sense of justice. (So there is a little bit of ideological conflict in there, but I think it was much more a psychological basis for the fight.) On Batman's side, he had more reasons to fight than just Martha Kent being kidnapped, too. Speaking of which...
2. How do we know that Bruce's powerlessness is his primary motivation and not the 1% doctrine (which we call a rationalization that he used to convince himself that he was justified in persecuting Superman)?
Bruce is not wrong about his 1% doctrine, but we argue throughout our podcast that this is his rationalization and that his true driving force, primarily subconscious, is his feeling of powerlessness and his desperate effort to prove to himself that his life as Batman has been worthwhile. We cover this most directly in the following episodes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR-pLVszZG0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg9jkfgvb1E) but to summarize some of the evidence, Alfred gives us a keen insight into Bruce's psychology early when he explicitly states that he has observed Bruce drifting off because of the feeling of powerlessness. This helps us even interpret the opening scene in a different way --- we can notice that Bruce first was powerless to save Jack and his employees and then was visually powerless as a man running into a huge cloud of debris. Importantly, this was BEFORE he stared up in anger at Superman and Zod (powerlessness first, anger at the threat of Superman second as a rationalization). Later on, we get more evidence besides Alfred's observation because we see that the taunt that really worked on Bruce was to say "You let your family die!" --- that is, Bruce has failed and has been powerless to save important people in his life (think Robin suit and his parents, especially). If it was truly an arc about the 1% doctrine, then it should've been "He could murder us all" or something like that as the threat that really got a reaction out of Bruce.
Another piece of evidence is the mausoleum nightmare (personal issues) that happens before the desert Knightmare/vision (Superman as threat) --- the mausoleum nightmare is straight from Bruce's psyche and it involves his parents' death still haunting him, which we take to be connected to his feeling of powerlessness, not being able to save them or redeem them. Oh, and that reminds me, that the Beautiful Lie poem at the beginning is another big piece of evidence, because he starts out by saying that his time as Batman has been a lie -- he hasn't made the difference, in the world or in his own life, that he thought he would as Batman. That opening narration is more important for interpreting his arc, I think, than the 1% doctrine that comes later.
Anyway, there is more evidence, but that's enough to get started. And in our analysis, we have not found any evidence that contradicts the notion that it goes (A) powerlessness then (B) 1% doctrine as a rationalization. And the most important reason to interpret Bruce's issue this way is because that it makes perfect sense of the big Martha moment. Without the powerlessness angle, it seems like a fast and too convenient turnaround (because Superman's 1% threat is still there). Also, it makes it so that Bruce's character arc and Lex's become a very interesting parallel of two men trying to deal with being emasculated by the arrival of Superman.
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