Long time readers of this blog know i’ve already talked about Dick Grayson at length in a 2 part post early on. But since it’s been awhile (and he’s my favorite DC Comics character) I thought I’d update everyone on what he’s up to now. I’m sure all you big Batfans know that Dick was the first Robin, then moved on to the Nightwing identity and leader of the Teen Titans.
Posts filed under Television
Man-Bat - On leathery wings… (I had to!)
Do you know who would be an interesting character for the Gotham TV show? Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the alter ego of the Man-Bat! No, not Batman, Man-Bat. Dr. Kirk Langstrom, the Man-Bat, first appeared in Detective Comics #400 (June 1970). Kirk was a scientist specializing in Chiropterology, the study of bats. He develops an extract hoping to give humans a sonar sense similar to bats. He hopes to cure deafness in this way since he himself was going deaf. The extract works but also turns Kirk into a mindless man sized bat until Batman subdues and cures him.
Batman Incorporated (Would you like a side of justice with it?)
It was towards the end of 2010, Bruce Wayne had just come back from certain death (a body had been discovered at the end of Final Crisis that Superman verified was Batman). Dick Grayson (NIghtwing) had taken on the role of Batman in his absence. So how do you decide who’s Batman? You don’t! If you're Bruce Wayne you not only have 2 Batmans (Batmen?), you hold a press conference to announce that you are the financial backer behind Batman. You also announce that “Batman” is starting an international crime fighting force under the banner of “Batman Incorporated”. All this, the brain child of writer Grant Morrison, took place in the final pages of Batman & Robin #16 (November 2010).
The Ventriloquist & Scarface (Knock on wood)
The inspiration for this week’s blog comes from my All New Marvel Roundup and Superconductivity podcast cohost Charlie Esser (@charlieesser). Charlie mentioned that now that Oswald is top dog of crime On Gotham now, he needs a new rival and the writers should introduce the Ventriloquist. Who is the Ventriloquist? 3 people have used the name. The first and best known was a timid man named Arnold Wesker who committed crimes by commanding his gang through his dummy Scarface, who was always dressed as a 1920’s gangster. Wesker and Scarface both first appeared in Detective Comics #583 (February 1988).
The Ogre (Who’s that?)
Who’s this Ogre guy that’s been on Gotham the last few weeks? I can’t remember where I was online that said the Ogre was an original creation for the show. Not so. The concept came from one issue of Batman. The name Ogre was used a few times in DC Comics. Before the 1985-1986 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, O.G.R.E. was an organize that stood for Organize for General Revenge and Enslavement. They first appeared and fought Aquaman in Aquaman #26.