Aqualad’s real name is Garth Curry?
Does that mean he’s related to Arthur Curry, which is Aquaman’s real name?
(And what kinds of superpowers does Aqualad have, anyway? He can breathe underwater and ride a giant sea-horse. Big whooptie. He can’t even communicate telepathically with fish, like Aquaman can!)
Booster Gold? Now there was an interesting character. In fact he was one of my favourites.
Now this may seem odd in light of my previous idealistic bent, but Booster Gold was a breath of fresh air. Here was a well-developed and quite realistic character whose pursuits weren’t entirely altruistic. Yeah he wanted to be a hero but he pursued an image (and accompanying lifestyle) with relish as well. And wasn’t averse to making money either (not all that hard when you’re from the future). This realistic ‘human’ approach was fascinating as it not only poked fun at how the media can make a superstar out of someone despite their intentions, but also showed Michael (Booster) develop as a person and eventually a hero.
He was a nice counter to the idealistic heroes such as Clark.
I’ve never been a comic book fan, although I’m not one to pass up a good graphic novel if it comes my way. I own, and periodically re-read “The Dark Knight Returns.” There is something so satisfying about watching a mere mortal Batman, armored to the teeth, opening up a can of whupass on (an admittedly Kryptonite-weakened, compliments of the Green Arrow) the Reaganoid, government co-opted and controlled Superman.
“The Watchmen.”
Hmm. Read it once when I was nineteen or so, more than a decade ago. Don’t remember a lot about it, except for the poignant tale of Dr. Manhattan removing himself from human society after discovering that he has become a carcinogen.
Damn. Hope I can find a copy of it. Is it still in print?
Seven out, line away, pay the don’ts and last come.
Foolsgunea.
The Joker isn’t insane? You have GOT to be kidding.
Ever read the aforementioned Alan Moore’s “The Killing Joke”? Its Joker’s redone origin story, in which we discover that he was once a mousy, failed stand-up comedian with a pregnant wife. Broke, he enlists with some mob bruisers to rob a chemical factory. He finds out just beforehand that his wife died because she was standing in a puddle of milk and got shocked by the coffeemaker. The bruisers force him to go through with the robbery anyway, put him in a stupid red helmet, Batman shows up and pushes/accidently knocks the would-be comedian in a vat of… something, which makes his hair green, his skin white, and his lips bright red.
Not insane? He looks in his reflection, see what’s become of him, and then LAUGHS. And keeps laughing. There’s a panel – and I’m remembering this, I don’t have it in my lap, but such was the skill of the thing that I remember it very well – where he’s looking right at you, his hands in his hair, and he’s laughing, and his eyes… well, there’s just no doubt the man’s lost it.
He embarks on a killing spree. He wears purple suits. He tries to drive people as crazy as he is, including commissioner Gordon.
In Arkham Asylum, which you mentioned, he seems pretty damn crazy to me.
I think you’re mistaking his intelligence/cunning for sanity. Insanity doesn’t require that you be stupid. Some of the smartest people in the world were/are nuttier than a fruitcake.
Or we can argue about the definition of insanity, legal or otherwise. I’d almost agree that the Joker should not be categorizied as legally insane because he knows what he’s doing is wrong. He just thinks it’s funny.
He’s not motivated by the desire for money, or even revenge, particularly. He just wants to make everyone as miserable as he is, and prove that they’d snap, too.
That’s a pretty crazy motive for crime/murder, wouldn’t you say?
dpr, to add to the “interesting” Booster Gold, wasn’t his origin that he is from the future and stole some gadgets from a (Legion of Superheroes?) museum, then went back in time to be a superhero?
Cactus Jack wrote:
He knows what he’s doing is illegal. That’s not the same thing as believing it’s “wrong”.
AARGH.
I don’t know what Garth’s last name is. I did a fast net search for it because I was listing the other Titans’ full names and I didn’t know his. I saw “Garth Curry” so I put it in–even though it sounded wrong to me. I didn’t catch that it was Curry, like Arthur Curry; it just sounded really odd.
AS FOR THE JOKER NOT BEING INSANE:
If you want, we can start a “Killing Joke” thread, in which I insult DC’s current (last dozen years) treatment of Batman in every post. But I’d just as soon drop it.
[list]
[li]The Ventriloquist? Wonderfully, terrifyingly creepy.[/li][li]Two-Face? By turns sympathetic and sheerly hateful.[/li][li]Ra’s al Ghul? I seriously hope the current movie franchise doesn’t try to use this character, as they would only mess it up.[/li][li]The Joker? Done to death, then kept around like a bad habit five times as long as that. The only Joker story I want to see is one where he’s killed off–always and forever,in every corner of Hypertime, and all Elseworlds. In fact, DC should sell the rights to the character to the first poser rock band that asks, so they can never use that idiotic character again. The rock band couldn’t help but do better with the trademark.[/li]
am i making myself clear???
Yep - right on the money. He started as a thief which just gave him extra levels. AFter all he resorted to crime for a fresh start and tried to be a hero after that. A hero getting rich at the same time of course…
I think y’all have the wrong idea about Batman and Bruce Wayne. Batman’s the real part, while Bruce is merely the alter-ego. At least, that’s how it is in Batman’s eyes.
I’ve always found this debate interesting, because these are my two favorite DC characters.
I think the oddest thing about Superman is how he stands there when people are shooting at him, letting the bullets bounce off his chest, yet when the crooks run out of bullets and throw the gun, he dodges it.
Personally, I like Batman, since he relies on his smarts so much, despite his excellent physical condition and nifty little gadgets. Remember, above all else, he’s a detective. Superman, whom I also like quite a lot, has a lot of reliance on his powers, but isn’t exactly dumb. And he’s humble, too, which can’t be said for everyone who can play volleyball with the planet.
-SPOOFE
Boy, Foolsgunea. If I’d known you felt THAT strongly about the whole Joker being sane thing and Alan Moore, I’d have kept my mouth shut.
Geez.
dpr wrote:
Ah, but how many hit points will he gain from these extra levels? And how much will they increase his to-hit and saving-throw chances?
Oh god, we start on Superman v Batman, change to espousing the virtues of a thief turned mercenary hero and now bring rpg details in?
Heck why not? Well his Legionaires flight ring (aka magic ring of flight) would add to his mobility and defensive bonuses, his forcefield would really add to his DB and parry, his mini-blasters (pretty lame) would just be a missile attack…
oh god I’m having flashbacks…
Actually, bringing it back half on-topic, has anyone played any superhero rpgs? I’ve alwasy wanted to but never done so. But despite Supes being a favourite of mine I think he’d be quite a boring character to play.
“What’s that? Bad guys with guns? ho hum A giant robot attacking the Daily Planet? yawn” GM’s nightmare…
Imagine you are a butler to a wealthy single man whom you’ve been a surrogate father to since his parents were murdered. He’s moody, driven, even obsessive.
One night he comes to you and says, “I’m going to dress up like a bat and beat up criminals. And I need your help.”
And you say, “Very well, sir. Will that be all?”
And people think Alfred is the normal one. 
I wish they’d make a Batman-Superman live-action movie. They could call it World’s Finest. 
Sig Alert!
Jab1.
Amazing. I never, not once, stopped to consider that Alfred might be nuttier than Bats or the Joker.
The notion really pleases me, somehow.
There is actually a hilarious issue of Spidey that has him going after someone in the burbs of New York.
Watch Spidey deal with irate houseowners!
Thrill as he swings from…em…nothing to nothing!
The tone of it is beautiful as he has to completely re-think his modus operandi.
Aunt May lives out in the 'burbs, too, remember? He routinely turns up there in costume, and I doubt if there are enough tall trees for him to get a good swinging action going.
Someone had it pegged earlier when they said he uses public transport. He grew up there so he’d know the bus system quite well, all he has to do is land quietly on the top of one.
The Watchmen is overrated. It has two way-overpowered characters that wreck any real tension in the storyline. But I did enjoy the “I’m not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with ME!” stuff with R, that was fantastic.
Both Superman and Batman are tragic. Superman is forever divided from the human race that he is the savior of - sometimes I wonder why he even bothers, but he’s learned that goodness is its own reward, I suppose. Batman has some issues - he’s running around dressed like a bat, for one, chrissakes. He is dangerously close to becoming a maddened villain himself.
The Dark Knight Returns was an excellent treatment of both, especially their differing approaches to crimefighting. Batman’s constant snide remarks to himself during their tussle are priceless. Also, Bats finally gets over that ridiculous code against killing wrote into him, at least sorta. Though perhaps that was all that seperated him from being evil…?
Mustapha wrote:
No no! Didn’t you watch the old Ralph Bakshe Spider-Man cartoon series? They regularly showed Spidey swinging from webbing that’s anchored off the top of the screen, far above the Manhattan skyline.
Spiderman can swing directly from the sky!!
Tracer, you’re a fool. EVERYONE knows that a pair of Spidey-Copters follows him around wherever he goes, repositioning themselves constantly so’s to make perfect web-swinging targets!
SHEESH! Get a clue, man!