Superman: The Animated Series Vol. 2

Superman is facing a crisis, and it’s unlike anything he’s ever faced before. Batman recently summed it up quite well in the pages of a recent comic when he said, “Let’s face it, Superman, the last time you really inspired anyone was when you died.� There is a fierce debate among comic fans as to whether Superman is relevant anymore. Some point to the lack of any decent stories about Superman in the past decade as a sign of stagnation and a descent into obseletism. However, I think it really depends on how you tell the story that will determine whether or not a Superman story is any good, and more than any other character, Superman works best as an animated hero. He’s just more believable as an animated character as opposed to some character in static panels or an actor in a suit surrounded by special effects, and I don’t think that’s going to change with the upcoming revival of Superman on the big screen. Superman: The Animated Series Volume Two is an excellent example of just how well this character works as a cartoon, and although it’s several years old, it demonstrates that when properly understood, the character of Superman can still provide some compelling and entertaining stories.

Like with Batman: The Animated Series, the makers of the Superman Animated Series really understood the character. While it may be difficult to write stories for a hero that has so many amazing powers that’s pretty much more than a match for just about anyone, the animated series was able to bring out the “human� side of Superman by exploring some more emotional conflicts. They also pared down his powers some so that he wasn’t completely overwhelming, which again made him more interesting. The show's creators especially showed his “human� side with their portrayal of Clark Kent. Instead of being the bumbling, somewhat slow-witted individual portrayed by Christopher Reeve, this Clark Kent is your average guy; which when you think about it, is the best disguise of all. Granted, he may be more polite, kind, selfless and caring than most people, plus he’s the size of a house, but all in all, Clark Kent blends in as just an average, unremarkable individual, and it’s this desire for normalcy that makes him such a great character. In episodes such as “The Late Mr. Kent,� we get see just how important the persona of Clark is to Superman, and how Superman isn’t a complete character without Clark Kent. Perhaps the stand-out episode of this set is the three-parter, “World’s Finest.� In this story, not only do we get to see two of the most recognizable heroes of all-time at odds with each other before they team up against two of the most notorious villains of all time, but we also get to see how Clark Kent and Superman are both necessary parts of any good Superman story.

Superman works best as an animated character because with animation, there’s a freedom to do just about anything with the character without having to worry about special effects. As I watched Volume Two of this series, I found myself wondering how Metropolis was able to pay for all the damage caused by Superman’s various battles. In just about every episode cars explode, buildings crumble, walls are smashed, property is destroyed—this is one action-packed show, and it would be hard to portray it all in any sort of live setting. In an animated format however, whether Superman is fighting monsters or Metallo, all the massive destruction and amazing feats look really cool and, strange as it may sound, quite natural. It’s a tribute to the animators that they’ve been able to create an animated world that admittedly is a cartoon, and yet is still one we can identify with—albeit on a somewhat fanciful level. Best of all, none of the action looks fake, because it’s all fake. What I mean is when Superman is in animated format, picking up huge objects, tossing around bad guys, smashing through walls, blowing up missiles and the like looks totally plausible because you aren’t distracted by trying to figure out the special effects guys were able to pull a scene off (or why it looks so fake). Suffice it to say: in a cartoon, anything is possible, which makes it a perfect fit for the adventures of Superman.

Although Superman: The Animated Series Volume Two has some great stories to tell that are lot of fun to watch, it does have one major downside: the extras. This is a problem that plagued all of the Batman Animated releases, and it continues here. These cartoons were such an accomplishment in how they successfuly portrayed a super-hero in a half-hour animated format that was serious, fun, and obviously very careful in getting the character right. It would have been nice to learn more about how that was pulled off. As it is, there only a few commentary tracks, and like previous sets, they’re hit or miss. Sometimes the commentaries are full of useless banter, and sometimes they provide some interesting insights into the creative genesis behind the show (like one little tidbit that revealed a great Superman theme needs to have the word “Superman� in it; think about it, it’s true.) There’s also a look at the villains of Superman: The Animated Series, which offers some detail on how they transferred some of the villains from the comics to show or on the villains created specifically for the show, but it could have dug a bit deeper and been a bit more interesting. One last “bonus,� if you can call it that, is trailers for other sets such as Batman, Thundercats and Teen Titans.

All eighteen episodes are on two discs, one of them double-sided, and come in a cool sleeve with slide-out holders for the discs along with a listing of what episodes are contained on each disc. The show is present in a full-screen format, just like it was shown on TV, and being somewhat more recent than the Batman episodes, the picture is pretty clean overall. I only spotted a few spots and dust flecks during my viewing, but then again, I was usually paying more attention to the action onscreen. The episodes are also presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, and it sounds pretty good. All the explosions and crumbling walls and lasers and punches sound solid with none of the voices or music sounding muted or muffled in any way. Not bad for a TV transfer to DVD. The set also comes with a “collectable� animated cell.

With the approach of the new Superman movie and with all the events that taking place in the comics with Infinite Crisis, Superman is definitely at an interesting point in his career. Is he still an inspiring character that induces awe, wonder, and a desire to follow his example of good and selflessness? Or is he a character that’s too much of a Boy Scout and one that no longer relates to today’s society? The boxoffice returns from this summer’s flick will certainly be telling, but I think that we’ll always need a hero like Superman: one that truly embodies the attributes of the greatest living hero this world has ever known. As the world darkens, heroes like Superman will help point people to the only true source of light humanity will ever know.

Batman: The Killing Joke TPB

Batman: The Killing Joke
Alan Moore/Brian Bollard

Where do you turn when life falls apart? That question haunts the pages of Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, one of the best Batman stores ever told; or perhaps I should say it’s one of the best Joker stories ever told. Regardless, it’s a great story and one that shows how comics are capable of exploring some of the deeper themes of life. If you’ve never read The Killing Joke and yet call yourself a Batman fan; shame on you. If you’ve never read The Killing Joke and aren’t a Batman fan, let me just say that you’re missing out on some excellent story telling paired with some beautiful, powerful art.

Three things really stand out to me in this story. The first and most obvious is how this story forever changed the Batman’s world, and it happens so casually that it’s easy to miss its impact. The Joker has once again escaped from Arkham, and this time he is determined to prove a point. To do so, he shows up on the doorstep of Commissioner James Gordon. Barbara Gordon, the Commissioner’s daughter who also happens to be Batgirl, answers the door and finds herself face to face with the Joker. Then, as casually as buying a pack of gum, the Joker shoots Barbara. She tumbles back and shatters a glass coffee table and lies there bleeding; spine shattered and unable to move. The Commissioner is abducted after witnessing his daughter being shot by a madman; meanwhile, Barbara eventually ends up in a hospital, but she will never walk again. It’s an event that has forever affected the Dark Knight’s universe. Only the killing of Jason Todd, aka Robin (who coincidentally also happened to die at the hands of the Joker, although it appears as though he may be back thanks to Infinite Crisis), has so shaken the Batman’s world. This tragic event alone makes The Killing Joke a worthwhile read.

The second thing that stands out to me in The Killing Joke is a very poignant moment between the Batman and the Joker. The tale begins with Batman trying to reconcile with the Joker, fearing that their relationship will only end up with one or both of them dead if they don’t try and make some effort to change that destiny. However, the Joker has already escaped, and he pushes the limit just to try and prove a point, only to be caught once again by Batman. At the end of the story, Batman once again tries to reconcile with his bitter enemy, offering to help the Joker come to terms with his tragic past, and for a moment—just a brief, hesitant moment—it almost looks like the Joker will accept. But then he realizes that it’s much too late for him, and says just that. Most of the villains in the Batman’s world are somewhat pitiable characters that on some level can be sympathized with, and The Killing Joke gives a rare glimpse at just how tragic of a character the Joker really is. One can’t help but to feel a bit sorry for him, strange as that may sound.

Which leads me to the third thing that stands out to me in this story. The Killing Joke reveals one version of how the Joker came to be (I say one version because even the Joker himself says he doesn’t really remember which version of his past is accurate). His story is horrifically tragic, one of an average guy whose life quickly falls apart and is utterly destroyed. What would you do in such a situation? The Joker’s answer was to go insane, which he believes anyone would do under such stress and tries to prove that theory in the course of this story. He tries to prove his point by shooting Barbara Gordon in order to drive Commissioner Gordon insane. By taking away everything Jim Gordon holds dear, by putting him in extreme, vulnerable situations, by shattering the reality that Jim Gordon has always known, the Joker wants to prove that everyone is just one bad day away from being like him. However, Gordon doesn’t lose his mind, and he insists that Batman bring in the Joker “by the book� in order to show him that ways of civilized society really do work.

It’s troublesome to think that the Joker really believed all it would take is one bad day to make someone like him, but it is a question we all need to answer at some point: where will you turn when life crumbles and you’re left sitting in a heap of ashes? Few things are as devastating as hopelessness and despair, and they’re two factors that played a major role in the creation of the Joker. When all was lost, the Joker turned to insanity for escape so he wouldn’t have to deal with the pain. You know, if the Joker’s theory were true, then the Bible would have its very own Joker.

Job suffered as much, if not more, than the Joker, and yet he did not give in to despair, hopelessness and insanity. Why? Because he had someplace, Someone, to turn to even when life didn’t make sense. In fact, Job was so certain of God’s goodness despite the devastation of his life that he made one of the boldest statements in the Bible; “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Himâ€� (Job 13:15). Job’s faith in God was rock solid, and although he didn’t understand why everything had happened to him, he knew that God did and therefore it wasn’t meaningless. That’s the type of solid foundation that the Joker—and for the matter, the Batman—lacked when life was turned upside down, and it’s the type of foundation we all need when our own lives are reduced to ashes. Without a solid foundation for our life, there’s no telling where we might end up after a devastating storm. Jesus Christ is the only rock we can rely on, for as the old hymn says, “all other ground is sinking sand.â€�

The Killing Joke is an amazing piece of story telling. Alan Moore’s dialogue moves the story along at an excellent pace, and Brian Bollard’s artwork gives weight and a powerful, emotional element to the story being told. Best of all, it’s a story with depth. There are layers here that can be peeled back that expose important questions about the nature of humanity. Some may find it strange to find such depth in a “simple comic book,� but then such people probably haven’t really read any. If you’re a Batman fan, this is a must read. It’s been re-printed more than just about any other comic book, so pick up a copy and check it out.

Who knows? Perhaps you’ll discover that in order to escape the Joker’s fate you need to build your life on a firm foundation, one that won’t disappear when life is reduced to rubble and ruin.

The Pink Panther

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

When I first heard that there was going to be a remake of The Pink Panther, the first word to come to mind was “heresy.. I thought, “Please God, don’t let Hollywood sully another one of my favorite memories. Make it stop.� Then, when I heard that the release date for The Pink Panther was being pushed back from the blockbuster season of summer 2005 when theatres roll out their best and brightest to the early winter doldrums of 2006 when studios usually dump whatever celluloid garbage they have left on the shelves in theatres, I thought my worst fears had been confirmed.

However, I’m happy to say that the new Pink Panther isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It is, in fact, funny and entertaining. It may not ever be a comedic gem like its predecessor, but it isn’t the travesty many recent remakes have turned out to be either. In fact, it made me want to go back and watch the original Pink Panther all over again, and when it comes to an homage movie of this sort, that’s one of the best compliments it can receive.

One thing is for sure, for all the other elements that made the original Pink Panther such a classic film, most of it rested squarely on the shoulders of Peter Sellers. Sure he’s had some better roles and may have shown more talent in other films, but let’s face it, the character of Inspector Clouseau was uniquely his own, and it’s what made the original films so funny. To take on such a classic character is a bold move, and while Steve Martin doesn’t outshine the original, he at least holds his own and seems to know that no one can ever top Peter Sellers; at best they can only imitate him, and to that end Steve Martin does a competent job. He brings just enough charm, idiocy, cluelessness, savior faire, and physicality to the role for it to not to be mistaken for anyone but Clouseau.

Despite the fact that many of the gags can be seen coming miles away, especially if you’ve seen the other Pink Panther films, they’re still funny and have a kind of classic charm to them. However, some of the gags fall flat or run on far too long; but on the whole, this film is more hit than miss. Admirably, this film avoided much of the raunchy bathroom humor that most modern comedies bank on, and because of that, it has a light-hearted fun feel to it that reflects the innocent charm of the source material it’s based on.

Martin does a pretty good job with the trademark Clouseau accent, making it the central gag in a couple scenes that are actually pretty funny. Martin puts in one of his best comedic performances in recent memory, and rather than merely trying to fill Seller’s shoes, Martin brings his own talents to the Clouseau character and creates something that is uniquely Steve Martin—and yet it’s still the Clouseau we all remember and love. Like the original, it isn’t necessarily the direction or the writing that makes the movie, although those are important and for the most part done well, it’s the character of Clouseau and how he’s portrayed that makes the movie fun.

Despite his bumbling cluelessness, Inspector Clouseau somehow always seems to come out on top. He always inadvertently solves the case, saves the day, and gets the girl. It’s this ability to succeed despite his shortcomings that I think makes this character such a popular and endearing one. We’d all like to believe that things will work out despite how we may mess them up. That’s one of the most amazing things about God; He uses flawed people to fulfill His perfect plans. More than that, I Corinthians tells us that God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (I Corinthians 1:27), which sounds like a verse tailor made for Inspector Clouseau, or for me and my imperfect ways, or for you. Isn’t it amazing that God loves you that much? You may not be perfect, but that doesn’t matter to God. He still wants you to be a part of His family, He still has a purpose and a plan for you, and He wants to help you grow and mature into perfection. You may be a bumbling Clouseau, but that’s just fine with God. He knows how to perfect those of us who may be diamonds in the rough, even when no one else sees our potential.

While such a message may not be the central theme of this new Pink Panther film, it does shine through as Clouseau is able to wrap everything up in a tidy little package by the end of the film, showing the world that he may not be the idiot that everyone thought. I found this ending to be a bit distracting because, although it’s been a while since I’ve seen the original, I don’t really recall Clouseau ever really knowing what was going on. If the case happened to be solved, it was merely by accident.

However, in this new version, Clouseau does indeed seem to possess an effective deductive mind as he reveals the solution to the crime; but after all his bumbling antics throughout the rest of the film, I found this sudden turn of events jarring. It did provide a convenient end to the film and gave it a feel-good ending as the “hero� wins the day, but it didn’t quite ring true with the character we had been watching or with the rest of the film.

Regardless of your opinion of the original Pink Panther films, I think this new version may surprise you. In a remake-happy Hollywood that churns out eye-rollingly bad versions of classic characters and franchises, it’s refreshing to see one that won’t make you hate yourself for being duped into seeing it out of a sense of nostalgia. Although The Pink Panther may not end up being a comedy classic in its own right, it is a funny film that has a light-heartedness about it that makes it enjoyable to watch. Even when I wasn’t laughing I had a goofy grin on my face because I knew that what I was watching was just being silly for silliness’ sake.

Although it may not be worth a full-ticket price, it’s definitely worth seeing it in the bargain theatre or waiting for it to come out on DVD. If nothing else, it will have you imitating that impossible French accent in order to try and get a giggle out of your friends (You: “There’s iz a larje boomp on your head.� Your Friend, “That’s because you hit me with that mannequin leg!� You: “Yes, yes. You have ze fut in mouth disease, no?�), and that’s got to be worth something… right?

— Overview