Batman

Christian Bale's Batsuit fear

Celebrity Gossip

2 Jun 2008

Christian Bale almost turned down the chance to play Batman - because the skin-tight suit made him claustrophobic. The 34-year-old - who suffers from the crippling fear of confined spaces - admits he found the famous costume hard to cope with when he…

Batman Black & White Volume 3

(DC/Titan)

9 Aug 2007

Usually at home as a simple back-up slot in the monthly Batman: Gotham Knights, Batman Black & White has taken on a life of its own and has quickly become a jewel in the crown of DC’s myriad caped crusader titles. A creative playground for various…

Catwoman Angelina Jolie

Celebrity Gossip

29 Jul 2008

Angelina Jolie is reportedly being lined up to star as Catwoman in a new movie. The 33-year-old actress - who gave birth to twins, the fifth and sixth children she raises with partner Brad Pitt, earlier this month - is said to be in final…

Bat's Life - Dark Knight

17 Jul 2008

Leigh Rafferty traces the highs and lows of the caped crusader’s cultural career

Batman: Gotham Knight

DVD Review

17 Jul 2008

Intended to fill the gaps between Batman Begins and Dark Knight, Gotham Knights offers us six animated shorts, much in the same way as The Animatrix did for The Matrix. Each story is self-contained and created by a different writer (including Greg…

Beyond a Joke - Dark Knight

17 Jul 2008

As the latest Batman adaptation arrives on the silver screen, Alan Bissett explores the colourful history and enduring appeal of the caped crusader’s arch nemesis, the Joker

Steve Niles & Kelly Jones - Batman: Gotham After Midnight No 1

19 Jun 2008

SUPERHERO (DC) In the arena of American superhero comics, Batman and the X-Men’s Wolverine are probably the most over-saturated characters. It can be a minefield trying to guess which titles featuring either character on the cover are actually…

Maggie Gyllenhaal interview

10 Sep 2007

From her award-winning turn as a shy self-harmer turned provocateur in Secretary to her recent role as a recovering junkie in SherryBaby, Maggie Gyllenhaal has long been the poster girl for disenchanted heroines, wowing the critics and attracting a…

Frank Miller & Jim Lee - All Star Batman and Robin

14 Aug 2008

COMIC (DC/Titan) Frank Miller and Jim Lee tackle the world’s greatest detective and the boy wonder in this sister title to Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly’s All Star Superman. The first nine issues of the ongoing series are collected here, and like…

Christian Bale's X-rated wish

Celebrity Gossip

3 Aug 2008

Christian Bale wants to make an X-rated 'Batman' movie. The British actor - who stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 'The Dark Knight' - thinks the movie franchise could benefit from including a few steamy sex scenes. He said: "I do think there is room…

Batman: Gotham County Line

(DC/Titan)

19 Dec 2006

Location. Location. Location. Or how to bring a neat twist to Batman by sending him to the ‘burbs. Asked to investigate a spate of mysterious killings in Gotham City’s suburbs by a retired Commissioner Gordon, the story shifts from Manhunter-esque…

The Dark Knight

31 Jul 2008

SUPERHERO/THRILLER (12A) 152min British filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s revamp of the superhero franchise reaches its apotheosis with this sequel to Batman Begins, a well-imagined, perfectly executed film that combines blockbuster spectacle with indie…

Dark Knight hits London

Celebrity Gossip

22 Jul 2008

The stars of 'The Dark Knight' stepped out in London for the movie's European premiere last night (21.07.08). Fans had gathered from 6am to see the cast and were thrilled when the Batmobile, which weighs 2.5 tonnes, roared down the red carpet…

Hitlist - The best books, comics & events

16 Jul 2007

• Harry Potter Week Regardless of whether you love or loathe JK Rowling’s teenage wizard and his fearsome chums, the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the culmination of the most successful children’s book franchise ever, is cause…

Bryan Talbot

Graphic detail in the finest strips

21 Aug 2008

Bryan Talbot is a bit of a legend in the UK comics industry. He’s provided art for the likes of 2000AD, Sandman and Batman but you can still see the influence of underground comix artists such as Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton even in his most…

Christian Bale's Batman dismissal

Celebrity Gossip

28 Jul 2008

Christian Bale didn't take Batman seriously until he read 'Batman Year One'. The 'Dark Knight' star says Frank Miller's graphic novel – which was used as a starting point for director Chris Nolan when he revived the Batman film franchise in 2005…

Alan Moore & Brian Bolland - Batman: The Killing Joke

17 Jul 2008

SUPER VILLAIN (DC) New blockbuster Dark Knight is all about the Joker. At first glance he’s almost a comedy character, but in the right hands he can be genuinely terrifying. As a character, The Joker represents insanity at it’s worst; a gibbering…

Summer Film Special - Best of the rest

22 May 2008

The Incredible Hulk The big angry green killing machine gets another bite at the superhero film franchise cherry (after the box office disaster of Ang Lee’s Hulk). This version is adapted by the folk behind the X-Men films, directed by Louis Leterrier…

Top films to look out for over the next few months

10 Sep 2007

Michael Clayton Having charmed the ladies with his third Danny Ocean caper, George Clooney makes another of his ‘mature movies’, and it’s nothing less than an existential thriller. The Cloonster plays the fix-it guy for a law firm’s dodgy rich clients…

Secrets

Comics

16 Jul 2007

BATMAN SAM KEITH Secrets (DC/Titan) Sam Keith is a another singular and distinctive talent in comics. The unlikely co-creator of The Sandman with Neil Gaiman, he’s more famous for his own series The Maxx. His rough, exaggerated painted…

Batman villain Johnny Depp

Celebrity Gossip

10 Sep 2008

Johnny Depp will play a villain in the next Batman film. The actor was linked to the role of The Riddler earlier this year and now one of the superhero franchise's stars Sir Michael Caine has confirmed both Johnny and Philip Seymour Hoffman will…

Johnny Depp's Riddler role?

Celebrity Gossip

31 Jul 2008

Johnny Depp has reportedly been approached to play a villain in the next Batman movie. The actor is wanted to portray The Riddler in the sequel to 'The Dark Knight', according to studio bosses. A source said: "Johnny would be amazing as The…

No more heroes - graphic novels

Edinburgh International Book Festival

22 Jul 2008

The Book Festival is once again acknowledging the rapid expansion in graphic novels. Henry Northmore chats to a number of comic book guys (and girl) to ask what the future may hold for the superhero While graphic novels may be still be a minority…

Michael Green & Denys Cowan - Batman: Lovers and Madmen

17 Jul 2008

SUPER VILLAIN ( DC ) The main problem with Lovers and Madmen is that in many ways it is contradictory to the events in The Killing Joke (which have become accepted as the origin story to the Joker over the years). It depicts the Joker as far…

Brian K Vaughan & Various - Batman: False Faces

10 Apr 2008

SUPERHERO (DC/Titan) Now better known for his Y: The Last Man, Pride of Baghdad and Ex-Machina titles as well as being one of the keys writers on TV’s Lost, Brian K Vaughan started off as a jobbing writer. With his star now well and truly established…

Batman technician killed during stunt test

26 Sep 2007

A technician working on the new Batman movie was killed after the vehicle he was in hit a tree during a stunt test run. The victim was on a camera truck following the stunt vehicle when the accident happened at Longcross, Surrey. Warner Bros…

Snow

Comics

16 Jul 2007

BATMAN DAN CURTIS JOHNSON, JH WILLIAMS & SETH FISHER Snow (DC/Titan) The first thing that strikes you on opening Snow is the cartoon styled pop art, which is unlike any other Bat-book. Seth Fisher is one of the most distinctive artists…

Batman and the Mad Monk

Comics

16 Jul 2007

BATMAN MATT WAGNER Batman and the Mad Monk (DC/Titan) Matt Wagner, who remains best known for his own Dark Knight creation Grendel, continues to re-envision the early career of the caped crusader, a self-consciously old-school pulp fiction…