I declare this day Batman Candy Wednesday! Well, OK, every day ought to be Batman day…

I am perpetually in a DC Comics frame of mind it seems. When I first saw the prompt word, this just somehow meandered into my mind. I can never get enough of Bruce in a half-dressed state in the comics or indeed any medium, and this is how I see him preparing to slip into his Batman persona—as some kind of fiendish and terrifying demon.

It’s been a while since I drew the male figure (makes me want to take up life drawing class again, heh), so I had to refer to those nifty diagrams of the human form in my drawing manuals. I also have little idea on how to draw scar tissue… Heh. Think I was more interested in using different brushes than making accurate textures.

Last month I marked the tenth anniversary of my first ever blog post. Nostalgia compels me to celebrate, so I thought I’d have a giveaway – completely unrelated to blogging, mind you, but hey, you get free shit! And better yet, FREE BATMAN SHIT from BATMANIA! And just as Batman decided to look outside of Gotham to expand on his horde of Batclones, this giveaway is INTERNATIONAL too! Yes, I will ship anywhere short of Krypton.

I saw The Spirit at the Jam Factory this morning with Sylv. Since we went to the very first session of the day we had the whole theatre to ourselves! That was great. The movie—not so great, but still entertaining albeit on a superficial level. The excitement died down the instant we left the cinema.

Essentially the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) is former rookie cop Denny Colt, brought back into the world to rid Central City of the bad guys, namely the Octopus (Samuel L Jackson). He has the begrudging blessings of the Chief Commisioner Dolan (Clearly Commissioner Gordon and Batman have a far healthier work relationship than Dolan and Spirit ever had…) who doesn’t exactly approve of the Spirit’s methods. Well, shock horror there.

I’ve always thought that Frank Miller is a mad genius but lately his work has been nothing short of confusing, bizarre and way beyond the post-post-post-post-modern. And yes, his misogyny and sexism is duly noted (Selina Kyle the whore much?). But in spite of all this, I still enjoy most of his new stuff since he dares to push his audiences to the limit. The only work of his I simply could not handle was The Dark Knight …

Seems like every blog’s got to have one, but this year was certainly one to remember. So many good things and bad things, possibly more bad than good, if the media has anything to do with it. We’ve had the best Olympic Games in history (in my opinion, not that I’m biased or anything), some of the worst natural disasters in decades, with alarming frequency and devastation; a phenomenal, an emotional and historic apology to the Indigenous Australians for the wrongs of the past (but no compensation in sight hrmmm), an aggressive but inspiring race between Obama and McCain to the White House and the worst economic meltdown in decades. I feel as though that 2008 still has plenty to offer me, and yet it seemed to pass by so slowly… I wonder at that, but I’m optimistic at what lies ahead in 2009.

We haven’t exactly had a great plate of good films this year, but I think the handful of excellent ones make up for all the constant churning of sluggish nonsense (I look at you, Beverley Hills Chihuahua).

Best Film
The Dark Knight (hands down)
Director, Christopher Nolan completely blows our minds away with an intelligent and action-packed sequel to the …

Jingle Bells
Batman Smells
Robin Laid an Egg
The Batmobile Lost a Wheel
And Joker got away, hey!

*sighs* The old school Batman comics were so good, at least Batman could have a good chortle every now and then. Double entendres and dated fashion and all. ‘Twas good times. Pooh. I’d be singing along with Joker in the B:TAS episode, “Christmas with the Joker” if only my Volume 1 DVD order had arrived, NO THANKS to you EZYDVD. I saw it in JB the other day but didn’t get it just in case my order processed. Meh.

What I would do to be in Catwoman’s or Black Canary’s shoes right about now:

How does Batman spend his Christmas, anyhow? Rounding up drunken thugs? Wish he’d come to Melbourne and “fix ‘em all up”.

Happy Holidays, everyone!