Bruce Timm Returns With "Batman: Strange Days"

Created to commemorate Batman's 75th anniversary, Bruce Timm produced a brand new, highly atmospheric short featuring the Dark Knight tracking a strange, Solomon Grundy-esque creature back to the lair of Dr. Hugo Strange. Touted as a 'lost tale,' the short seems to imply that this was one of Batman's early exploits, especially noticeable with the low tech feel and retro garb based off of the 1939 debut of the character. 

Featuring the same iconic style that made Batman - The Animated Series one of the most memorable cartoon adaptations of the dark crusader, it's an awesome romp into the past. On a side note, I did kind of laughed when Batman didn't even blink when firing teargas directly at the hostage. Bruce Timm also offered a really cool inside look at the development of this short, so check out the interview after the break.

The Art of JH Stone

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JH Stone is a freelance comic artist from South Korea with a knack for photo-realistic backgrounds juxtaposed with sci-fi absurdity and slice-of-life surrealism. A strong theatrical sense of humor persists across all his work, embedded in every dynamic action pose, giant mecha fight, and superhero homage. Paramilitary assassins, fauxhawk-wielding rock stars, revolutionary guitarists and paintings within paintings. See more of his talented work after the break!

The Art Of Bumhand - Batman Noir And Beyond

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Bumhand is the online alias for artist Henrik Sahlstrom, a Swedish illustrator, concept and comic artist currently working at DICE, the developers of the recently released Battlefield 4. Inspired by a mixture of comic book artists like Travis Charest and concept artists like Jaime Jones and Dermot Power, his art style typically ventures into a variety of territories from pieces to piece.

Some of his coolest designs came in the form of a recent set of illustrations for a made up series called Batman Noir, which were painterly renditions of iconic characters from the series like a gun toting Batman (Above). Check those out, as well as some of his other personal work after the break!

Batman: The Deal

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I'm at quite a loss for words for Batman: The Deal, the fan comic written by Gerardo Preciado and illustrated by Daniel Bayliss. It would seem that since the inception of Batman in 1937 it has all lead up to this non-canon moment, which is quite an incredible feat for a fan fiction

The fantastic art of Daniel Bayliss perfectly encapsulates the madness of the short, providing a gritty and and psychotic atmosphere that leads up to a final showdown between Batman and the Joker. While it begins as a story we've all seen countless times throughout the Batman universe, there's something spine-tingling cerebral with Preciado's writing that really breaks down Batman and the Joker's inner-psyche. 

Ending with a moving quote by the late and great comedian Bill Hicks, Batman: The Deal wraps itself up nicely as the perfect love letter to the Batman series. This is the type of work I'd expect to see in an official publication, here's hoping DC has there's eyes out for these guys now. Hit the break for the full comic and take a look over here for the comic in it's full glory.

Batman vs The Terminator

I remember growing up thinking the Batman/Alien crossover was one of the coolest comics of all time, unfortunately going back to revisit has provided quite a let down. While crossovers are extremely hit or miss, there's something mixed in our DNA that prevents humans from initiating reasonable thought when two amazing things are mixed together. Batman vs The Terminator is no different, although this time the quality looks to be on par with what one would hope from such an awesome crossover. 

With animation by Mitchell Hammond and an amazing accompanying soundtrack by Noir Deco, Batman vs The Terminator may be just the thing this world needs.

Batman vs The Terminator will be out later this year, with an entire soundtrack by the talented Noir Deco. The atmosphere of the trailer is spot on with what I would expect from such a crossover and it has got me ridiculously hyped. Expect more news for this awesome mashup in the coming months.

Studio Wolf Smoke's "Batman Of Shanghai"

Created as a collaboration between DC comics and the excellent Chinese indie animation studio known as Wolf Smoke, Batman Of Shanghai is an awesome 'what if' take on the franchise featuring redesigned versions of Batman, Catwoman and Bane if they were actually based out of China. On their quest to get their hands on an artifact known as the 'Scroll Of Destiny,' their paths intertwine and all hell breaks loose.

Studio Wolf Smoke's signature kinetic animation style is front and center here, with some absolutely amazing action sequences, hyper exaggerated poses and some really cool sumi-ink effects reminiscent of Street Fighter IV's 'ink attacks.' The short was created for the DC Nation series on Cartoon Network, which features different animation studios distinct takes on DC franchises. Check out part 2 and 3 of the Batman Of Shanghai short after the break.

Gotham Knight - "Have I Got A Story For You"

Warner Brothers recently made the Michael Arias (Tekkon Kinkreet)/ Studio 4°C short 'Have I Got A Story For You,' revolving around four kids sharing wildly exaggerated stories about their encounters with the Dark Knight, fueled by their wild imaginations. The short is from the 2008 Gotham Knight anthology, which premiered just prior to The Dark Knight the same year.

The Batman Chronicles - Web Series

Why hasn't a live action Batman series been produced? The formula is easy and I'm sure the show could clean up. We've had a series based on Superman and now Green Arrow, and with the advent of a major DC movie reboot it would make perfect sense if they intended to create an "Avengers" type universe, like Marvel & Disney have produced. Until the day we get that show, however, we can rely on fans to bring us some amazing videos for no other reason than to show their love for a franchise.

The Batman Chronicles is a fan-made (non-profit) web series chronicling the adventures of a young Bruce Wayne, exploring his struggle to clean up the streets of Gotham City. Produced by Director Joe Petruccio, a graduate of The School of Visual Arts (BFA Film &Video) and professional editor in the television industry, the show stars Anthony Misiano, an actor and revered Joker costumer who has been featured in a large number of famous outlets over the years. The trailer looks awesome and whilst we have a long wait before we get any official Batman on our screens, this series could fill that dark gap that only the Caped Crusader can fill. We will be keeping a close eye on this show, though if you want to contribute you can go over to their indiegogo page to donate.

New Play Arts Kai Nolan 'The Dark Knight' Figure Series

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I'm a huge Play Arts Kai fan. The figures they produce are well crafted, highly articulated and generally worth the money they ask for. When the company produced prototype displays for the Nolan Batman films at the Tokyo Games Show in September I was pretty excited, and today we get the first look at the pre-order versions of the 8" The Dark Knight Rises Catwoman and The Dark Knight Joker toys.

Both toys come with a number of suitable accessories, including weapons and swappable hands and remain scarily accurate to the likenesses of Ann Hathaway and the late Heath Ledger. You can currently pre-order these figures for $65 a pop, if you're looking to get yourself a late Christmas present. Check out more shots of Catwoman and the Joker after the break.

One Impressive Custom Lego Batcave

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We've featured Lego creations in the past, but I don't think we've featured one this intricate. The Batcave is a large part of the Batman ethos, and Wayne Hussey and Carlyle Livingston have built a stunning recreation of the legendary hideout. According to Hussey & Livingston, it took just over 400 hours over about three months, with modifications constantly being made.

Estimated at over 20,000 bricks, the installation weighs in at a hefty 100 pounds and features four LEGO Power Functions motors. Check out more photos of this breathtaking diorama after the break!

Dark Knight Call Me Maybe Parodies

The stars and planets have aligned, the partners at Youtube used their viral video idea generating manatees and as a result we got a total of three, I repeat THREE damn Call Me Maybe/Dark Knight parodies in the last few weeks. There's probably many more attempts at this concept lurking in the darkest recesses of Youtube, but I dare not venture into those depths.

Out of the three my favorite was definitely the one featuring Robin/Nightwing as the main protagonist, but that's not saying much. If you're looking for more Catwoman and undead Heath Ledger flavored versions, check out the other two versions after the break

Olly Moss & Mondo Offering A Dark Knight Rises Poster For Everyone

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I have one Mondo related poster. Tim Doyle, former artist for Mondo, did a very limited run of prints for a showing of Kevin Smith's Clerks and the amount I had to pay for the piece would shock you. It's the one complaint I have about Mondo art; the pieces are so limited that you have to be as fast as the Flash to get one of the amazing posters because they sell out within seconds of going on sale. Which is why I appreciate what they will be doing on Wednesday for the premiere of Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises.

Mondo is giving every person in the world (literally) a chance to get one. From 12:01 a.m. CST Wednesday July 18 until 11:59 p.m. CST, if you go on Mondo’s site and order the poster you will get one, no questions asked. Olly Moss’ Dark Knight Rises poster will be a 16 x 24 inch screen print of the image above. So if you've ever wanted to own a piece of Mondo art for the most anticipated film of this year? This is your chance!

Anatomy Of An IMAX Theater - The Dark Knight Rises

The buzz is at deafening levels, the anticipation palpable. With only a week or two left, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Rises is almost upon us. The film has become one of the most anticipated films of this summer, with theaters selling out of tickets weeks in advance. However, have you ever thought about the work that goes into simply screening a movie? Most people at this point are probably aware of the effort that goes into movie production, yet the screening process, especially when it comes to a cinema as complex as a full IMAX theater, is something that I've never had a chance to learn about.

This behind the scenes video goes itno the process of preparing a film at an IMAX theater, as the crew prepares the projector system in the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, which is set to become one of the biggest North America IMAX screens at 88 feet. The Dark Knight Rises will be the first major Hollywood release to premiere at the Center thanks to Christopher Nolan's insistence on filming in a non-digital format. Are you ready for the Dark Knight? Well, if you want the true Batman experience it definitely looks like New Jersey will be the place to be.

Rockabilly Batman Characters By Denis Medri

Robin : Indy 500 Edition (Via)

I've always been a fan of throwing familiar characters into different periods in comics, like when Superman was presented as a communist superhero in 'Red Son.' When done correctly, these types of mashups really offer a breath of fresh air to these superheroes, presenting them in an all new light and offering them an entirely new set of challenges.

Denis Medri, an Italian comic book artist did an amazing job with these sketchy redesigns, showcasing the quintessential DC heroes with a 50's Rockabilly flavor. Ever wanted to see Batman as a slick mechanic with a bat themed Ratrod? Well check his redesign out, along with 13 more redesigns after the break!

The Dark Knight Rises Posters Are....Cinematically Stunning

Holy Cinematic Batman! (Via)

The Batman promo items have been flowing like wine this week! Though the last couple of Dark Knight Rises posters have been pretty lackluster, with the last poster being one of the worst poster rehashes I've ever seen, this set of four promotional posters show the true cinematic style and scope of the film. I honestly thought that Warner may have hired some of the worst designers in the history of film advertising; what a difference 24 hours can make.

The story certainly seems to be taking elements from the Knightfall storyline (involving a mass Arkham breakout by Bane to wear Batman down before famously breaking his back) and the Contagion storyline (where two factions & Batman fight over a destroyed Gotham, hit by a lethal disease). It feels like such a long wait for the film but it's going to be worth it. Whatever doesn't kill us just makes us.....stranger. Check out the collection after the jump.

The Dark Knight Will Rise..Literally

Giovanni Francesco as Batman (Via)

It's been a while since I've reported on the current trend of "Adult Parodies" of famous blockbusters, but when one looks JUST as good as the million dollar Hollywood production? The fact that Axel Braun has created a parody adult film that looks better than the Schumacher Batman films (the awful Batman Forever/Batman & Robin films) is a testament to both his love of girls and comic-books. The Dark Knight Rises adult parody will get a trailer in the next few weeks, and I'll be sure to share it..If its tasteful.

In the meantime,  check out the amazing SFW costume shots after the break. They definitely put a ton of effort into the costuming, although you might be left wondering how this doesn't fall into some very obvious lawsuit territory.

Attack Of The Batmobiles : The Purpose

A few images featuring all the Batmobiles from every incarnation of the series in one place have been circulating recently. What I assumed was a meeting of some collectors with some seriously deep pockets turned out to be an event organized by WB on March 30th, 2012 to shoot some bonus footage for the Dark Knight Rises Bluray release, whenever that's going to happen.

Josh Turchetta, an avid movie vehicle fan (Judging from his other videos) shot this up close and personal footage, showcasing Batmobiles going all the way back to the Adam West version of Batman. Check out a bonus video of an incredible replica of the Ghostbusters Ecto1 from Josh after the break!

The Batman & Robin Musical!

How can you make one of the worst rated, cheesiest Batman films into a film worth watching? Much like anything in life, you turn it into a musical. The creators of the Conan musical have released this satiric look at the cinematic abortion by having Mr Freeze sing the entire movie storyline. This cracked me up, and left me baffled due to the lack of Mr. Freeze puns. The Dark Knight Rises can wait...we have a new contender for best Batman film!

Batman's Night Out

What happens when you set out to create a version of 'Sh** (Insert Person Or Group) Says' with Batman and it doesn't quite work out in the streets of Toronto? You get this masterpiece, featuring Batman wandering around terrorizing people in Toronto, yelling out nearly impossible to understand phrases in that scruffy voice that we've come to know and hate in the Nolan series. "MY PARENTS ARE DEAD!"

Free Comic Books Day! DC Releases New Info

Free; a word EVERYONE loves, especially us collectors! (Via)

Free Things? I hear you like them. As always Free Comic Book Day, a celebration and promotion of the comic book world, is happening in May and DC has revealed what they plan for that lovely wrapped present.

This 2012 DC comics will be offering preview material from the publisher's "Second Wave" of the 52. "The "Second Wave" of the New 52 was announced earlier this month, heralding both six new titles beginning in May and the cancellation of "Men of War," "Mister Terrific," "O.M.A.C.," "Hawk and Dove," "Blackhawks" and "Static Shock" at the end of April (with no real surprise from anyone).

This "Second Wave", and thusly the free comic book, will include "Batman Incorporated," "Dial H," "Earth 2," "G.I. Combat," "The Ravagers" and "Worlds' Finest". Personally I can't wait for Dial H, a comic that was once a back-up for others which involves a mysterious dial phone that enables an ordinary person to become a superhero for a short time by selecting the letters H-E-R-O in order. Batman Incorporated is a gamble, but after talking to RoboBrain....well, I'm sure he'll share his opinion of Grant Morrison sometime soon on a podcast.. DC have said they have a few more surprises on Batman's utility belt for the day so stay tuned for more information.

Look forward to Free Comic Book Day on the 5th of May. Check out the official site for locations and more information. Or, alternatively, just hound your local comic-book store. Looking forward to Free Comic-Book Day or the Second Wave of the DC "52" reboot? Let us know through the comments, twitter, or the forums!