Batman

Between the epic run of Game of Thrones and the impressive first season of Westworld, odds are good that you’re currently rocking an annual subscription to HBO or HBOGo. Few networks are still in the business of appointment television, but with social media sites like Twitter exploding into a flurry of spoilers after each new episode of both shows, fans are finding that their only real options are to watch on time or to not watch at all. In fact, we can sometimes get so caught up in the flurry of long-form television that we forget that HBO has some pretty darn good movies, too.

I did not particularly care for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. As a film I found it rather lacking, but there were elements that I would agree had some merit. Wonder Woman was cool, the fight choreography was solid, and some of the practical design work was very sharp. One element that I just never got on board with however was the new Bat-suit. I know it was more authentic to the version on the printed page, and wasn't quite as bulk or overly realistic like previous Bat-suits, but it just didn't work for me. It looked like it was cobbled together from duct tape and not befitting a superhero. With that in mind, it's still possible to appreciate the work that went into creating Batman's new look. That's just as true for the on-screen version as it is the miniaturized action figure versions that have been circulating since the film's release. This month, Hot Toys takes its pass at the Batfleck, and even though I'm still not sold on this particular design, it's arguably the most authentic version of Batman you'll get without stealing one of Ben Affleck's suits.

A new fan theory has emerged in recent months suggesting that Jared Leto’s version of The Joker in Suicide Squad is actually Jason Todd — a hypothesis that gained a little traction when it was revealed that the Robin suit featured in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice belonged to Todd. If you subscribe to this particular theory, then David Ayer has some disappointing news for you.

As you’ve seen in the trailers, Ben Affleck’s Batman makes an appearance in Suicide Squad, which makes sense given that A. It’s a DC Comics movie and B. It features The Joker — you can’t exactly have a movie starring Batman’s arch-nemesis without including Batman himself. But exactly how does the Dark Knight fit into David Ayer’s super-villain team-up?

Batman made his debut in Detective Comics #27, which collectors believe first appeared on newsstands on this day in 1939. Since his debut, Batman has undergone many drastic changes, but somehow our collective perception remains pure. The origins of Batman are complicated. After the massive success of Superman, comic book publishers were hungry for more costumed adventurers, and National Publications (which would become DC) commissioned a superhero from Bob Kane, who had previously been at Fleischer Studios. He made a proposal for a winged, red-suited avenger with blonde hair and a domino mask called Bird-Man. He enlisted the aid of Bill Finger, a writer he had befriended at a cocktail party, and Finger smartly urged Kane in a different, far better direction.

After Batman vs. Superman, Ben Affleck is only officially contracted to star as Batman in two more movies: the two-part Justice League film. (He also makes a cameo appearance in this summer’s Suicide Squad.) There have been rumors about Affleck directing himself in a Batman solo movie set for release in 2019 and now comes word that Affleck has already written the script...

FOX’s Gotham has delved even deeper into Batman’s beginnings in recent weeks by the additions of Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange and more, while li’l Bruce Wayne and Gordon’s journeys are only just beginning. FOX has officially renewed its Bat-prequel drama for a third season, airing this fall.

There’s long been speculation about Jena Malone’s role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it looks like we can stop guessing…for now. Warner Bros. has confirmed that Malone’s mystery character will not be featured in the theatrical release of Zack Snyder’s superhero epic, but she will appear on the R-rated Ultimate Edition, which hits DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

Thanks, Deadpool! As predicted by many (including Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn), it looks like studios are already taking the wrong lesson from the record-breaking, R-rated superhero film. While Fox has already given the green light to an R-rated Wolverine sequel, Warner Bros. is getting a jump start on their own edgier superhero offerings, as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will have an R-rated alternate version when the film hits DVD and Blu-ray.

Does Bruce Wayne know any other emotions besides brooding, or any other facial expressions besides “righteous scowl”? This is perhaps one of the greatest unanswered questions of the modern, grittier era of Batman. And judging by this new photo from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the answer appears to be: nope.

"Do you bleed?" It's easily one of the more ridiculous things Batman has ever said in print or on film. Especially when you throw on that weird robot voice filter that Batfleck is using to disguise his identity. Still, as convoluted as Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice looks, and weird as some of the decisions on the direction on the film have been, there are some things BvS appears to be getting right. Though the main batsuit looks like a duct tape and Ace bandage nightmare, the armored suit Batman dons to take on the Man of Steel looks rather impressive and pays proper tribute to The Dark Knight Returns. Its transition to toys has been better than the standard suit, too, as this new Hot Toys figure can attest. The regular Batman figure from Hot Toys BvS line looks like someone stuffed Ben Affleck into a few garbage bags, then filled out the extra space with sweatsocks. He looked lumpy and not at all like an actual human being. Here, that problem is alleviated by the form-fitting armor. You don't have to worry about the fabric suit, and the machined pieces bring a refined genius to the look. Batman's been around the block. He saw things when he still wore the traditional outfit of his youth, and this armored get up isn't just a deterrent against Superman, it's the only way the aging normie can stand toe-to-toe with an adversary that isn't in his 50s. All the while, the suit is wholly in line with Batman's aesthetic, and won't be mistaken for some other hero's style.

If you didn’t tune into Gotham tonight, you missed the premiere of the latest sneak peek at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice — no worries if you didn’t catch it on FOX, because Warner Bros. has released the special teaser online, featuring new footage of the epic battle between Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight and Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel.