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Top 10 Most Evil Comic Book Villains

CONTENT WARNING: SPOILERS AND DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT As a society, we’re fascinated by villainy; we’re intrigued by villains and their machinations so much because it reveals a dark side of humanity that the majority of people will never endure.  So, they experience it second hand through those that wear the black hat.  The fact …

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Contemplating Jokers and Weeds in ‘Batman’ #48

Batman #48 Written by Scott Snyder Drawn by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki Colored by FCO Plascencia Lettered by Steve Wands Published by DC Comics The latest issue of the “Superheavy” story arc doesn’t even feature a Batman in it. Gotham’s current Batman Jim Gordon doesn’t even have a cowl to wear in this issue. …

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‘Batman Europa’ #3 is Nightmarish, Charming, and Visually Stunning

Batman Europa #3 is stunning and fun. When I reviewed the last issue, I stated that the art was the reason to pick up the book. This issue really turned around my view of what writers Matteo Casali and Brian Azzarello were trying to accomplish with the arc. They’ve really found their footing, and I am anxiously waiting for next issue’s conclusion if it finishes anywhere near as strongly as this issue.

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‘Batman Europa’ #2 is a feast for the eyes

The art of Batman Europa is visually stunning. The artwork of Giuseppe Camuncoli takes center stage for the majority of the book. Camuncoli has a bold, artistic style that really carries the story. The story leaves a little something to be desired. Matteo Casali and Brian Azzarello take a simple premise and take it global with major cities in Europe. While the first 2 issues make the arc a slow burn, the art alone makes the book worthy of picking up.

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Will the Real Batman Please Stand up in ‘Batman #47’

Batman #47 Written by Scott Snyder Art by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki Colors by FCO Plascencia Letters by Steve Wands Published by DC Comics In the latest issue of Batman, Scott Snyder cannot let the writing or the art stand alone to actually tell his and Greg Capullo’s story  Snyder just doesn’t appear to …

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The 13 Most Iconic Joker Moments

What makes the Joker such an exciting villain isn’t just his diabolical deeds, but the way he acts as the perfect foil to Batman. The Caped Crusader is a dark and brooding shadow, bound by morals, rules, and logic. The Clown Prince of Crime is a manic, posturing madman, ruled by chaos, entropy, and a disregard for anything…including himself. Everything the Joker does is to make a point, or deliver a punchline even if it comes at his own expense. He knows no limits and pushes Batman to his own limitations like no our villain. The Joker is to Batman as Kurt Cobain was to Axl Rose, or as Aaron Burr was to Alexander Hamilton, a perfect antithesis in every imaginable way. Here’s a look back at 13 of the most iconic Joker moments. These are the moments that made the Joker the one of the most memorable and recognizable villains in all of fiction, across any medium.

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‘Batman’ #40 is a brutal, personal conclusion to Endgame

Batman #40 features the battle to end all battles between Batman and the Joker drawn in gory detail by Greg Capullo and Danny Miki, but the scraps of dialogue between the blows and explosion are occasionally weighed down by exposition. Snyder does punch things up in the third act and leave Gotham and the Batman title as wide open as it’s been since the dawn of the New 52. He and Capullo make “Endgame” the dark mirror of Batman Eternal, and it’s interesting to see this storyline fit in the larger context of their run on Batman and the weekly series, which preceded it. Questionable plot devices aside, Batman #40 concludes the “Endgame” in a brutal, personal manner that really shakes up the status quo on this book.

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‘Batman’ #39: The Best Trick of All

Batman #39 is headed towards another meeting of greatest foes. The Joker has been ahead of Batman at every punch in this arc. To save Gotham Batman must prove again the Joker underestimated him. When it unfolds, Batman will have to become the aggressor and improviser that the Joker has been. If he fails, he’ll become the bat hanging upside down. The Joker has promised his best trick of all, Snyder will deliver.

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10 Best Comics of 2014

2014 was an incredibly rewarding year to be a comics reader. Veteran creators, like Grant Morrison, Kurt Busiek, and Matt Wagner continued to churn out some of the best work of their career while new creators, like Noelle Stevenson, Babs Tarr, and Tula Lotay had very strong starts. Marvel and DC published their fair share of events, including Original Sin, …

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‘Batman’ #37 is a whirling dervish of psychological horror

Batman #37 Written by Scott Snyder (Backup written by James Tynion IV) Pencilled by Greg Capullo (Backup art by John McCrea) Inked by Danny Miki Colors by FCO Plascencia (Backup colors by Michelle Madsen) Published by DC Comics Some of the best Batman stories are where a villain (usually someone like Scarecrow or Dr. Destiny) gets in his head, warps …

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Top 10 “Batman Year One” Moments

Batman Year One was the first Batman (and DC) comic I read back in 2010. The things that stood out to me were the poetic nature of Frank Miller’s writing (mainly the caption boxes), the parts that Batman Begins homaged, and how Jim Gordon seemed to have more page time than Batman. After rereading this story a few times over the year, I realized that Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli could have named this story “Jim Gordon Year One” and his ups and downs as he goes from a do-gooder cop from Chicago to an overworked Gotham policeman who has an affair with one of his co-workers to an ally of Batman. His character arc is just as compelling and more down to earth than Batman’s. Letterer Todd Klein shows this more grounded story by using more traditional letters in contrast with the fancy cursive script he uses for Batman’s caption boxes. However, both characters have their share of great moments in “Batman Year One”, which is also a little bit of an origin story for Selina Kyle’s Catwoman too. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this highlight reel of the best parts of “Batman Year One” in chronological order.

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“Death of the Family” Shows the Importance of Batman’s Supporting Cast

Batman #13-17 Written by Scott Snyder Pencilled by Greg Capullo Inked by Jonathan Glapion Colored by FCO Plascencia Even if it is drawn like (a dark opening scene from the Joker’s POV as he cracks Gotham police officer’s necks) and plotted like a slasher film, “Death of the Family” is a love story. A long, lost …

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‘Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?’ is a good ending for Batman

After Bruce Wayne’s death in Final Crisis, DC Comics gave legendary comics creator and novelist Neil Gaiman the chance to pen one “last” Batman story in the vein of Alan Moore’s What Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, which was the last Superman story before Crisis on Infinite Earths. Equal parts love letter and thesis statement, Gaiman and artist Andy Kubert open the comic showing the usual Gotham City skyline, but with the names of important Batman creators, like Bill Finger and Jim Aparo in the background.

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Arkham Asylum is a Harrowing Look at Madness in the Batman Mythos

Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth Writer: Grant Morrison Artist: Dave McKean Publisher: DC Comics 25 years ago and well before his celebrated seven year run writing various Batman titles, Grant Morrison and Sandman cover illustrator Dave McKean collaborated on the best-selling and mind bending Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. The …

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Joker #1 Casts Its Protagonist in Some Very New Roles

Joker #1 (Batman 23.1) Written by Andy Kubert Art by Andy Clarke Colored by Blond. Cover by Jason Fabok and Nathan Fairbairn Published by DC Comics Joker #1 is part of DC’s New 52. This comic is another great idea from DC focusing stories on some of the most intriguing villains in comics history. And when …

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Batman: Death of the Family is an Honour to Read

Issues: Batman #13-17 Writer: Scott Snyder Pencils: Greg Capullo Ink: Jonathon Glapion Colour: FCO Plascencia Publisher: DC Comics When current Batman scribe Scott Snyder had a child last year, his overwhelming joy was met with crippling fear. No longer responsible for just himself, he is now carrying the responsibilities of a father. Each step his child will …

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