Batman: Under the Red Hood; A Hardcore Review *Spoilers!*

Friday July 22, 2010 at San Diego Comic Con Ballroom 20 saw the World Premier of the newest DC Comics Animated movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood. To a thunderous applause the room darkened and the film began.
The premise of the film is from the "Death in the Family" storyline where Joker kills Robin. And then picks up when a brand new Red Hood shows up in Gotham and starts killing of criminals. The ante is upped when Batman figures out the Red Hood is Jason Todd. I have to say, when I found out Mark Hamil wasn't the voice of the Joker, I was skeptical, as the Joker is a huge part of this movie. When I found out Kevin Conroy wasn't voicing the Dark Knight, I was downright crushed. BUT, to my surprise and delight John DiMaggio and Bruce Greenwood's voices were goddamned perfect for the roles. Joker was more sadistic than he's ever been, and Batman was top notch. The addition of Neil Patrick Harris as Nightwing was nothing short of phenomenal.
The animation was stellar. Some of the best integration of traditional 2D style mixed with a dash of CGI here and there. It flowed as seemless as I have ever seen. And the score was first rate.
Playing into the storyline involving Arkham Asylum and the flashback sequences was a nice touch and much appreciated.
Look past the potential sin of not casting two of the all time best voice actors in super hero history, and sit back. Cause you are going to have your socks knocked off. A lot of time and effort went into this production, as well as a lot of love. You could feel the energy in the ballroom as the action unfolded. When Batman leaped through one door of a car being heaved at him and through the opposite passenger window to escape, the crowd erupted. As Nightwing quipped and attempted to banter with his larger, angrier mentor, the entire room of well over five hundred roared with laughter. And as the end credits began to roll, the whole audience gave the film a standing ovation, in spirit at least, as most of us had been on our feet for two days already and were fucking exhausted. There wasn't a thing I would have improved upon with this flick. And I honestly mean that. I am an enormous Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil fan. I would cut my own mother to have them do another movie together. But this film was as perfect as you can get. And the fact that I was there to witness the emergence of Amazo from a metal container, only to heave boxcar shipping containers at Bats and Nightwing for the WORLD FUCKING PREMIER was a really special thing.
As you know, if you've been reading my Hardcore Reviews for the two years I have been writing them, you know I base my feelings or grade for the project I am reviewing upon hardcore moments in professional wrestling history. And Batman: Under the Red Hood rates pretty fucking high on the scale. TO couple with this grade, I met Christopher Daniels today as well as saw Paul Heyman walking right down Fifth Avenue not two blocks from the convention center.... In my mind some of the most famous words ever spoken in a wrestling ring were said inside an ECW ring. And as Sandman lay broken and damn near destroyed after a three way dance ladder match in the main event of ECW's last pay per view, 2001's Guilty as Charged, out came the reining Television Champ Rhino who gored Sandman damn near in half. Rhino grabs the mic and proclaims, "If that's the belt everyone's willing to die for. That's the belt I'm willing to kill for!" He then challenges the newly anointed four time World Heavyweight Champion, Sandman to an impromptu championship match. In addition, Rhino threatens to kill Fullington's wife and kids if he doesn't accept. To which Sandman simply replies, "Ring the fucking bell...." Rhino picks up Sandman, gores him through a table propped up in the corner and pins the champ. Sandman kicks out at two. Frustrated, Rhino sitout pile drivers Sandman from the apron through a table at ringside. Drags the all but dead Hardcore Icon back into the ring and pins him.... Rhino then gets back on the house mic and challenges anyone in the back to come out and take his belt. Suddenly, Pantera's "WALK" screams through the P.A.......

Work for Hire......

So progress continues on The Book of Grrry and Youth in Asia. I have also commenced coloring my Tucson Comic Con poster. The poster features a Tusken Raider wielding a Singapore cane like a gaderffii, Bomb Queen throwing up the Triple Threat three fingers and sporting wrestling tights, Edward from Cowboy Bebop pointing to the heavens like Sabu and Agnew and Nash from Youth in Asia. Nash has his arms out posed like Tommy Dreamer became famous for after starting his feud with Raven and sporting a t-shirt with "520" on it. Agnew has his claws popped and is flying through the air screaming like a banshee while wearing a Spider-Man Luchador outfit. Behind all the characters is Nash's eyes in homage to the first cover I ever did for Youth in Asia #1 and the tattoo I have on my back commemorating my battle with cancer.
I have begun doing character studies and costume designs for the new characters being introduced in the next series of Youth in Asia stories.
The Book of Grrry continues to roll along with page work for "Door to Door Shenanigans," and script progress is being made with "The Jenny Spaghetti Incident."
Just some updates on work I'm doing.

I am also taking commissions to raise money for San Diego Comic Con.
My rates are as follows:

Single character penciled... $10 inked +5 and digitally colored w/ file +10
SO you can have a fully colored single character of your choice with both the original inked line art and a digital file of the final colored piece for just $25.
Contact me at my email to place your commission.... anti.hero.brand@gmail.com

Fuzzyface production rolls on...

So, I've transferred the PDF's into tiffs and just completed 4 straight hours of digital cleanup. Things are moving along pretty nicely. Tomorrow I will commence with the lettering. I figure I should have the book lettered by the end of the weekend. I can letter a regular sized comic in one night if I push myself. And of course each time I letter I get a little bit better and little bit faster. Agnew supervised the entire process, and will continue to do so. I figure he deserves an executive producer credit in the graphic novel. At least something. Two of my friends just sneak peeked the inked pages. They were both stunned and laughing the whole way through. And they can't wait for the finished product. Venus is also very excited to see the book completed. It was a lot of hard work for her. The biggest project that both of us have undertaken to this point. And now that she is a mom, this type of work may not be coming along very often. So I suggest that you snatch up a copy when you see one. Cause it is easily both of our best works in my completely non humble opinion.
While at wings today, I began reading book 1 of 4 of the Eastman & Laird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. It's good stuff. And it holds up pretty well. Especially considering that I didn't read it as a kid. The story flows pretty well if a little bit too fast for my liking. But then again it didn't grind to a halt like Alan Moore's stuff. He has a tendency to ramble and use way too many words. Thus is the British scribe way.
Last night I also booked my hotel at the Hyatt for Phoenix Comic Con. I am also going to register as a professional for San Diego Comic Con in the off chance I can get time and money allotted for that trek. It would be awesome. I have a friend who is going to share the hotel with me for Phoenix Con so maybe I could share the room with her for SDCC. Registration for pro's is all the way until May. So I still have a shot. Last year it was only open till January. It would be the very first time I would attend SDCC as a professional. I have heard if you go as a pro, you can get into all kinds of behinds the scenes workshops and tutorials and interviews and stuff. Plus, if I do go it'll be a lot less I have to spend, cause I won't have to pay the membership fee.
I cannot think of anything else to write at this moment. So until next time this will have to do.