Mark Hamill To Voice Joker In Batman: Arkham Asylum

When Batman: Arkham Asylum, a video game based off the popular graphic novel, was first announced, fans quickly demanded Mark Hamill serve as the Joker's voice. Nearly everyone remembers Hamill as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy. However, he is better known in some circles as the voice of the Joker in the classic Batman animated series. Warner Bros. has finally confirmed his involvement in the project, Hamill will be bringing back the maniacal laugh that so many grew up with. Now if they could only get Kevin Conroy, voice of Batman on the animated series, involved.

Raimi And McGuire Confirmed For Two More Spidey Films

Spider-Man 3 was a monumental letdown for comic and movie fans alike. The infamous dance scene will haunt moviegoers for years to come. Yet despite an overwhelming number of flaws, the film managed make $890,871,626 worldwide. Sony, unsurprisingly, has decided to continue the franchise with two more installments, with Raimi directing and McGuire reprising his role as Spider-man. There are also rumors circulating the films may be shot back to back, in an effort to cut back on expenses.

The confirmation of future Spider-Man films brings many questions. What villain will the movie focus on? With Kirsten Dunst in rehab will the role of Mary Jane need to be recast? Raimi disappointed many fans with the last Spidey flick, but his past successes are enough to renew the faith of other enthusiasts. Hopefully the next two films will be a return to form for both Raimi and McGuire.

Why read comics?

When people think comics, their thoughts likely turn to men and women wearing brightly colored spandex. While super heroes comics started the industry, and still a major part of it, graphic novels have evolved into something entirely different. Comics have become a new medium for people to explore. They aren't limited by a single genre. Super heroes probably don't draw in the average reader and that's fine; there is something for everyone.

As comics have changed, so have the characters that were first introduced by them. The world of modern super heroes doesn't try and target a younger audience with their more featured titles. The content in these books tend to be much more adult oriented. In the last thirty years Gwen Stacy was murdered by the Green Goblin, Robin was killed by the Joker, and even Dr. Light, a relatively B-list villain, has been written as a rapist in recent years. There have been drastic changes regarding the subject matter of these comics. Super hero books are now mature enough to offer stories that can engage an older audience.

If you can't past the large groups of people running around in tights, there are many other alternative comics to enjoy. Sin City was one of the first books to steer away from the super hero genre, giving its readers gritty, sometimes over the top, noir tales. More recent books, such as Y: The Last Man or The Walking Dead, have grounded themselves in a more realistic world that deals with an otherworldly concept, evoking a somewhat cinematic tone. Others, like Queen and Country and Whiteout, have set themselves completely in the real world, telling stories that blur the lines between fiction and reality. These are only a few examples of the more mainstream comics available.

Comics are not simply a hobby reserved for those who are willing to follow years of continuity and read every issue that comes out. They are an underrated and accessible form of entertainment. There are many different types of graphic novels available at bookstores, comic shops, and internet sites. The only dilemma is finding the genre that suits you.

Don LaFontaine Dies at 68

Tragedy has gripped the film industry. Don LaFontaine, better known as the voice heard in numerous trailers, died Monday of complications due to a collapsed lung. LaFontaine has been doing voice work since 1965 and has served as the voice of over 5000 movie trailers. While few have seen his face, everyone will recognize his voice. The movie world has lost a true icon. Rest in peace Don, you'll be sorely missed.

Original Terminator 2 Trailer

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Animated

"What in God's name am I looking at?"-Fan's reaction

I wasn't really a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when it was first airing. During the first season most of the characters seemed lack personality and the overall arc of the story seemed a tad cliche. I lost interest after that, despite the praise it earned in its later seasons. Having recently discovered Angel, the far superior spin-off series, I feel I may have passed judgement too early. That is why this article caught my eye earlier.

The premise behind this new series perplexed me at first. Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer both contained fairly mature subject matter, so I'm unsure who the target audience is. The animation looks heavily stylized, so it seems to be geared toward a younger audience. It seems to take place during the early days of Joss Whedon's fictional universe, the way the characters talk and react definitely feels like season one of Buffy. The unaired pilot isn't much to go on, but the show looks like it could be fun. The animation is charming without being too kiddy and the voice actors sound close enough to the characters for fans to be pleased. There is currently no word on which network the series may eventually air on. Early looks are promising, let's hope the show doesn't die here.

Joker's Fatality

Ok, no one really cares about Mortal Kombat anymore. The series, tragically, stopped producing great games many years ago. The series was supposed to end with Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, but the franchise appears to continue with Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. All the previews seem to show the game following the same formula the others have for years. Why should you be interested? Because the game features the Joker as a playable character.

While fans may not be hot for Mortal Kombat, everyone is hot for the Joker. Given the character's recent rise in popularity, to The Dark Knight, this could potentially improve the sales of the game. Quality aside, Joker fighting against Mortal Kombat characters is just plain cool. It will also put an end to the age-old debate: who wins in a fight between Joker and Scorpion?

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Avengers Assemble?

Six days ago hollywoodnorthreport.com included a very interesting rumor in their preview coverage of the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. Scuttlebutt says that we may be seeing something on the 2011 Avengers movie. Fans have been salivating for more ever since the film was first teased at the end of Iron Man. While it is still insanely early to be expecting a look at the film; a teaser trailer would be much appreciated by comic and movie fans alike.