Wotan- Earth 2- (Earth 2 2012): The New 52

First Appearance: Earth 2 (2012) 9

In issue 9, While Khalid Ben-Hassin is telling Jay and his mother about who he is after they are transported to Nabu's realm, Wotan interrupts him, saying that he resents the remark that Nabu was the greatest Egyptian mage. Jay asks who he was, but he says he'll come to that and asks whether or not Khalid really did know where they were. He verifies that they are indeed in Nabu's realm and tells them that his name was Wotan, a mage who was part of an organisation that wanted to augment it's control of the world's magic by using Nabu's power, which Khalid had sealed away in the Tower of Fate and he alone could enter.

In issue 10, Wotan proceeds to state that magic is real and that it is nothing more than energy that is meant to counter natural patterns and that “logic becomes illogic. Order becomes disharmony. Calm becomes chaos.” He changes his form to a female and continues his speech, claiming that all you need to do is master the energy. He then resorts back to his original form and explains the history of Nabu and although he died his powers were lost, until they were found and banished by Khalid. He reveals that his true name is Karel Wotan and that he was going to obtain the power of Nabu despite him saying that it was impossible. Mrs. Garrick tries to address Wotan, but Jay quickly quiets her down, saying she will make things worse. However Mrs. Garrick continues stating that she wanted to know why they had been abducted and the where she was. However Wotan calmly answers that he was going to reveal this before she had not interrupted her calling Mrs. Garrick a “good lady.” He goes onto say they are in a place that has been removed from Earth, but was not Heaven, Hell or Limbo “yet all of them at once.” He goes on, saying that it is a place of magic and contemplates the fact that is all the information she needs to know. Jay asks “Mr. Wotan” to send his mum home, but Wotan dismisses the “mister” and says that Mrs. Garrick will have be staying. Jay continues to beg that she has nothing to do with it. Wotan acknowledges this and that Flash was not either, but the fact he was a wonder made it seem reasonable as it is the road that he was meant to walk. The Flash attacks him, shouting that he is going down, but Wotan uses magic to turn him upside down, before shocking him with red electricity. He asks if the hex he used on him him hurt using it's title “The Angry Spell of the Dark Heart” and muses that it must be excruciating. Mrs. Garrick begs her to stop. Wotan snarls that behind what he had hoped to be a pleasant demeanour and that he is not a nice person, stating that “in words of one syllable that an idiot might understand... Do. Not. Mess. With. Me!” before throwing him to the ground. He contemplates that the Flash may be use beyond that of a hostage. Mrs. Garrick demands to know what he means by hostage and calling him a freak. Wotan tells her that there is no need to be rude as this is his nice and “bright” side, before transforming himself dragon and yelling that she defiantly did have a dark side. However this was only used as an act for intimidation and tells them that this only concerns is “my demure knew friend Khalid.” Khalid understands what he is after, asking if he is after the Helmet of Fate. Wotan addresses Mrs. Garrick, explaining that fate had caused Khalid to find Nabu's power, but corrects himself stating that Khalid was a suitable vessel for Nabu's power, but due to Khalid being nervous something happened. Wotan suggests that Khalid should tell them in his own words.

After Khalid finishes telling them about his experience with the helmet, Wotan comments on the fact that he doses have some magic imbued with him. After explaining the fact that the tower was used to keep Nabu's power contained and safe. Wotan explains that the organisation he worked for wanted the power of Nabu and that she has something vested in Nabu, but says that is was long in the past and they didn't need to know this. Wotan used his powers to read who is able to pass the tower's defence and sates that as the Flash's power derived from magic he is able to go with Khalid to retrieve the helmet. Khalid asks why he would go into the tower and Wotan replies that he will kill Mrs. Garrick without hesitation if the former refused. Flash demands to go in by himself, but Wotan calls him a “silly, stupid boy...” blasting both Khalid and Jay with more red lightning and is amused by the fact that the Flash thinks it is a negotiation and forcibly sending them into the tower.

Detective Comic (2011) #23.4 Review

A very descriptive piece on the problem of substance abuse and obsession.

This issue focuses on Kirk Langstrom, first fighting against his wife, who has stolen his formula and become She-Bat and then goes on to have him work obsessively to make himself into a better, faster and stronger Man-Bat in order to fight crime and corruption with the Batman gone.

I do love the descent Langstrom has into madness and the way he becomes addicted at the end, turning into the very thing he wanted to protect the world from... a "monster." The characterisation is strong as well, giving us a new and darker look at Francine Langstrom, who when she first appeared seemed to be neutral, having connections to people stealing Langstrom's formula. 

I do think the formula is a meant to be a reference to the powerful nature of drugs and the long term affects on the user and if it it, I think this comic is both entertaining as well as being a positive educator without being blatant and in your face. 

Overall I would rate this comic highly. It has one of my favourite characters and the story is simple, strong and effective in it's portrayal.

Aquaman (2011) #23.2 Review

Hey everybody, before I do this review, I  wish you all a very happy Halloween.

Okay, so I absolutly love this comic and love what The New 52 has done with the Ocean Master.

The premise of the story is Ocean Master's journey back to Atlantis after all the criminals are broken out of Belle Reve Prison by Deathstorm and Power Ring (chronologically before Forever Evil #1.)

This comic is rather slow pace as he makes his way to the sea, but it also gives a more genlte and "human" look on Orm.It also has some great dialogue and a surprising twist at the end that will surprise the reader and possibly make the charcter more likable, without making him repent and turn to a superhero. I like slow pace when it is worthy of the speed, choosing to go down a diffrent route to the more action packed Forever Evil central series and I feel the speed and tone of this issue is just perfect for the story it's trying to tell. This is Orm learning about both humanity and the act of humanity.

I would recommend this title for fans of the original Ocean Master in the early Aquaman comics, but would suggest for a tiny bit of back story to read Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, just to learn about the Atlantean attack on America.

Dc Comics: The New 52 Villain's Month (Review)

I am going to review each one individually, but as I haven't read them all I will just to a collected on my thoughts so far of this event.

For those of you who don't know, the Villain's month is a group of comics that were dedicated to the villains of the Dc Universe last Halloween and lead into Forever Evil and I must say I wish they continued with other villains, because from what I have read currently, it is nice to see what goes on in some of the greatest evil minds in Dc Comics. They also are single issues that you don't need to know read any other issues and recaps what has happened in Forever Evil and the Crime Syndicate's pledge to the villains and chilling message to the world.

The idea is also great as comic books focus too much on the heroes, so giving the villian/ anti-hero a chance to take the spotlight is both exciting and fascinating.  Out of the ones I have read, I must say my personal favourite was either Ocean Master or Man-Bat, with stories that is both consice and fast paced with some very good charaterisation and a specific character doing something both heroic and sweet that it touched at my heart.

Overall I must say I am thourilly enjoying the set and I love this concept of bad guy being the front and center of a title.

Individual review titles will be posted as soon as I have done with them all (most likely as my Halloween posts)

Earth 2 (2012) #15.2 Transcript

WHERE THE RIVER RAN RED

SCENE #1: Earth 2: Now

AN R.V IS DRIVING THROUGH THE DESSERT IN THE DARK. A CHILD HAS HIS HANDS PRESSED AGAINST THE GLASS, LOOKING INTO THE NIGHT SKY.

BOY:

Holy cow! Look at that, mom!

HIS EYES AND MOUTH WIDEN IN EXCITED ASTONISHMENT. HE CAN SEE A BALL OF FIRE HURTLE THROUGH THE AIR.

BOY: (CON'T)

That's the brightest shooting star I've ever seen!

SCENE # 2:

A YOUNG COUPLE ARE LYING ON THE BONNET OF A CAR. THE MALE HAS HIS ARM SUPPORTING THE FEMALE'S HEAD BEHIND HER AND SHE IS RESTING ON HIS SHOULDER.

THERE FACES CHANGE TO EVEN MORE PLEASURE AT THE SIGHT OF THE FIREBALL, MOVING TOWARDS THEM.

YOUNG FEMALE:

Oh, my god! Look! A shooting star! Quick make a...

THERE FACE'S TURN TO FEAR AND ALARM AS THE FIREBALL CONTINUES TO HURTLE TOWARDS THEM AND THEY GRAB EACH OTHER IN TERROR.

YOUNG FEMALE: (CON'T)

...wish.

THERE IS A BIG EXPLOSION AS THE FIREBALL HITS THE CAR, KILLING THE COUPLE. A TYRE IS SENT ROCKETING FROM THE WRECKAGE, BOUNCING AND ROLLING AWAY. A CRATER HAS FORMED AND SUDDENLY A HAND ERUPTS FROM THE SMOKE AND FLAMES, HAULING THE OWNER OUT. THE SMOKE CLEARS TO REVEAL... GRUNDY.

HE MAKES SLOW MOVEMENTS TOWARDS A LONE CACTUS, THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIFE AROUND IN THE DESSERT.

GRUNDY:

Life.

IT PUTS HIS HAND AROUND THE CACTUS, TURNING IT TO GREY DUST ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, CRUMBLING AND TURNING INTO DUST IN HIS HAND.

GRUNDY: (CON'T)

Rot.

Gotham: (2014) Season 1 Episode 4 Review: Arkham

A game changer in the crime underworld and we see the job interview of a lifetime that would put "the Apprentice" to shame.

The premise of this episode is the fight between Maroni and Falcone for control of the "Arkham" project, that had also been in the interests of the Waynes. Penguin is trying to rise up in the ranks and has to deal with a very irate Gordon, who isn't too pleased to see him. Meanwhile Fish Mooney is looking for a "secret weapon" in her own personal mission to take down Falcone.

I do like this episode, but I'm not to fond of the villain. This sharp spike weapon freaked me out, but I can look past this and say it is great to see the dynamics between the crime bosses and their mobs. The auditions for the singers "Mooney's weapons" are really quite interesting to observe how well she has planned to take Falcone out. As for the dock scene near the end of the episode, it made me laugh and remember the scene in The Dark Knight, where Joker has two people fight for the position in his gang with a halved pool cue. Nygma is getting more lines and I'm loving the condescending and patronising tone he uses when he talks to Bullock. 

What I am also enjoying is the progression Cobblepot is taking to become the crime boss we know he is in the comic books. Last episode it was blackmail, this week it's manipulation. He is moving people in a game that will cost the city dearly and it is just so flawless. He is one of the best characters in the show.

Overall, despite my complaints about the assassin and his method of killing (due to me being a wuss), this episode is strong and is getting to be quite the remarkable series.

Gotham: (2014) Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Viper

A story that introduces an already twisted dark plot-line into a new war.

This episode is really interesting as it not only focuses on "the villain of the week", but also the bigger picture and tension between the Crime Famalies and the possible upcoming war between Falcone and Maroni. They are going tit for tat on each other, trying to one up themselves in who can do as much damage to the other without killing them and it is really brilliant to see the depths they go to .

Edward Nygma is starting to creep from the shadows and we can start to see a very Riddler-esk style to him and finding it fascinating when things turn quite grizzly. I am also really enjoying the Penguin's rise through the ranks of Maroni's inner circle and think this will be an exciting lead to battle.

I do like the "Viper" drug and love how the episode is foreshadowing the arrival of "venom" and Bane. As for other aspects of the episode, it was a pretty firm job as is starting to pick up a fast pace rhythm that is doing a great job at characterisation. I personally love the scene with the Crime Family meeting together and can't wait to see how long it takes before they turn on each other.

Overall I think this episode is great and is part of the reason I am hooked to this series. The ending scene is also pretty cool, as it shows a nice side to Falcone (proves there is humanity to everyone deep down.)

Gotham: (2014) Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Spirit of the Goat

I will try to be considerate and not share any of the major plot spoilers, but I have to say this is a great episode to play in with Halloween this Friday.

This episode is  Harvey Bullock based, venturing into his past as he has to face "The Spirit of the Goat", who he had met in a previous case 10 years before the current episode.

Overall it has to be one of my favourite episodes of the series. I love what they are doing with Edward Nygma and the fact that he is getting more and more visible is brilliant... I have always been a massive Riddler fan, so it's good to see an origin story and a portrayal that I think could work in real life. The relationship with Oswald and his mother is both creepy and interesting and the ending is one of the biggest W.T.F moments of the series. As for the Selina Kyle scene, it is just so fascinating to watch her interactions and movements, almost as though she was feline herself.

If I did have a complaint, it would be that they didn't have Maroni, Falcone or Mooney appear. Judging by the ending and the promo for next week, I think we are preparing for a large mob boss feast, but I do just love a good Fish scene and her plots to remove Don Falcone from power.

Overall a brilliant treat and I am looking forward to see how everything will continue it's downwards spiral and how it is all connected to Arkham and the Waynes.

Klarion (Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3)

First Appearance: Injustice Gods Among Us (2014) #3

He first appears in #3, where he is stroking Teekl (his pet familiar) on the floor in Jason Blood's house, while waiting for Constatine and Batman's speech to the Insurgency members.

He is confused when Teekl mews,  sensing that something is coming for them, just seconds before the deaths of Jason Blood and Harvey Bullock at the hand of the Spectre.

Etrigan- Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014)

First appearance: Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014) #4

He first appears in #4, where he in incredible pain after tie to the human world, Jason Blood, is killed by the Spectre, stopping him from ever returning back to Earth and trapping him in hell. 

In anger he grabs a demon by the throat and chucks it into the wall.

The Spectre (Injustice Gods Among Us Year 3)

First Appearance: Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014) #3

The Spectre makes his first appearance at the end of issue #3, where he attacks Jason Blood's house, where Batman was meeting wih memebers of the Insurgency when Harvey Bullock breaks "the seal" by opening the door, allowing the Spectre to find them. 

He blasts down the doors, killing Blood as he was about to transform in Etrigan, turning him to a skeleton. The blast also knocks the doors off it's hinges, knocking out Detective Chimp and killing Harvey Bullock in the same manor as Blood.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014) #3 Transcript

GATHERING FORCES

SCENE #1: HALL OF JUSTICE

SINESTRO FLIES TOWARDS THE RUINED HALL OF JUSTICE, GRIPPING A MAN BY HIS BACK. WHEN THEY GET INSIDE, HE DROPS THE MAN TO THE FLOOR, LANDING FLAT ON HIS FACE IN FRONT OF SUPERMAN. SUPERMAN, STILL A MEMBER OF THE SINESTRO CORPS, IS SITTING IN A THRONE.

SUPERMAN:
Officer Sprague. You were part of the attack team on this Hall and on it’s heroes.

SPRAGUE LOOKS DEFIANT, HIS FACE BADLY BEATEN AND BRUISED. SINESTRO IS WATCHING WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED. WITH A MOVEMENT OF HIS WRIST A YELLOW HAND FORCES HIS HEAD UP, SQUEEZING HIS THROAT.

SINESTRO:
Answer him!

SPRAGUE MAKES A NOISE OF INCREDIBLE PAIN. SUPERMAN RAISES HIS HAND TO STOP SINESTRO.

SUPERMAN:
It’s okay, Sinestro. Let him go.

SPRAGUE SITS UP ON HIS KNESS, LOOKING AT SUPERMAN.

SUPERMAN: (CONT’D)
I appreciate your loyalty. I understand Batman... inspires this in those around him. But I want answers.

SPRAGUE:
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

SUPERMAN GETS TO HIS FEET, ADVANCING ON HIM. HIS EYES TURN BLUE AS HE USES HIS X-RAY AND MICRO-VISION ON HIM.

SUPERMAN:
There’s nothing you can hide from me. I can hear your heart beat. I can see your shoeprints on the street outside. I can see your fingerprints around this room. The rest are hiding. You’re the only one from Batman’s group who went to work today. I was watching. I was listening.

HE LOOKS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY AND SPRAGUE FOLLOWS HIS GAZE.

SUPERMAN: (CONT’D)
I can see your wife. She’s at work. The children at her school seem to like her.

SPRAGUE:
What do you want?

SUPERMAN:
You know what I want. You took our people. I want to know where.

SPRAGUE:
I don’t know what we did with them. I promise. I’m telling the truth.

SINESTRO:
We will see.

HE GIVES A MALICIOUS SMILE.
 
SCENE #2: THE TOWER OF FATE

HARLEY QUINN IS SLUMPED AGAINST A WALL, HER FACE DOWN AND ARMS BINDING TIGHTLY AROUND HER KNEES.

HARLEY QUINN:
I know this is your therapy and it’s supposed to be all about you, but I kind of need to talk. I hope that’s okay. My puddin’, Green Arrow, Dinah. Superman took them all away. I realise it’s probably hard for you to sympathise... seeming as I’ve strapped you to a table and electrocuted you a little bit.

THE FLASH IS LYING BOUND TO A STABLE, A STONE BRACKET KEEPING HI HEAD IN PLACE AND A ROLL OF TAPE COVERING HIS MOUTH. HARLEY GETS TO ONE KNEE.

HARLEY QUINN: (CONT’D)
But I’ve made so many mistakes and there’s no one left who believes me.

ZATANNA STANDS IN THE DOORWAY.

ZATANNA:
Harley?

HARLEY SMILES, MOVING TO THE DOOR AND TALKING OVER HER SHOULDER TO HIM.

HARLEY QUINN:
Sorry. We have to go. But thanks for listening. I know you don’t really have a choice but it means a lot. I may have to keep you strapped down in here forever.

THE FLASH’S EYES WIDEN IN HORROR AT THE THOUGHT.
 
SCENE #3: THE HOME OF JASON BLOOD

ZATANNA AND HARLEY MAGICALLY APPEAR IN THE CENTER OF A LIVING ROOM.

ZATANNA:
Raeppa! (Appear)

JOHN CONSTANTINE IS SMOKING A CIGARETTE WHILE TALKING TO JASON BLOOD. THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INSURGENCY ARE MILLING AROUND. HUNTRESS IS SITTING IN A ROYAL THRONE WITH MONTOYA PERCHED ON THE ARM. AT HER FEET IS KLARION THE WITCH BOY, STROKING HIS FAMILIAR, TEEKL WITH A SMILE.
CONSTANTINE LOOKS OVER AT THEM.

HARLEY QUINN:
Who’s that guy?

ZATANNA:
That’s John Constantine.

HARLEY QUINN:
He’s pretty.

ZATANNA:
He’s dangerous.

HARLEY QUINN:
Now he’s prettier.

JOHN POINTS TO JASON, GREETING THEM ALL.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
Thanks for coming. And thanks to our host, Jason Blood, for his home and his protection. We’ve come together for one reason and one reason only. We all recognise that Superman is an absolutely insane bastard who has to be stopped. We’ve already hit him hard. Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg, Robin. We’ve incapacitated or taken a lot of his friends away from him. He’s taken some of our friends from us too.

BATMAN:
But thanks to the efforts of some of those missing friends, the World has seen the truth.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
Yeah. They’ve seen through the good jawline, perfect smile and tight pants to the bloody evil motherlover beneath. We’ve hit him hard. We need to keep hitting. Now, we know that, short of kicking him in the bollocks with some sturdy kryptonite boots, his weakness is magic. But there’s a reason we haven’t used magic against him directly. There’s something out there. Something magical. Something powerful. Something angry. we’ve felt it. We don’t know what it is yet but we believe it could be working with Superman. Now Detective Chimp believes...

HARVEY BULLOCK LOOKS AT DETECTIVE CHIMP AS THOUGH HE IS A JOKE.

HARVEY BULLOCK:
Yeah... I’m out.

BULLOCK WALKS FOR THE DOOR.

RENEE MONTOYA:
Bullock?

HARVEY BULLOCK:
This isn’t my world. Magic and costumes and... talking monkeys.

DETECTIVE CHIMP:
I’m a chimpanzee.

HARVEY BULLOCK:
I’m sorry. I want to help but I have no freaking idea what I’m doing here.

HARVEY CONTINUES TO WALK AWAY.

RENEE MONTOYA:
Harvey!

BATMAN:
It’s okay, Montoya. Let him go.

BULLOCK OPENS THE DOOR AND IS ABOUT TO LEAVE.

DETECTIVE CHIMP:
Hey. You’re a detective and from what I hear, you’re a good one. I knew your Commissioner. He and I solved a few murders together. Jim Gordon was a good guy. He didn’t care what I was. He only cared about solving the case, and he cared about the victims. You think you’re outside your comfort zone? You think I’m happy being here? I’m a talking, intelligent chimpanzee. I don’t have a comfort zone. But I’m here for the same reason Jim Gordon always was. Stay.

LOOKS DIRECTLY INTO HARVEY’S EYES.

DETECTIVE CHIMP: (CONT’D)
Stay for the victims.

TEEKL GIVES A MEOW, BREAKING THE LONG SILENCE.

KLARION:
Teekl? What’s...

THEY ALL LOOKED SHOCKED.

KLARION: (CONT’D)
Something’s coming.

JASON BLOOD POINTS AT THE DOOR IN TERROR.

JASON BLOOD:
The seal is broken!

HARVEY BULLOCK:
What?

JASON BLOOD:
Close it!!

DETECTIVE CHIMP:
Close the damn door!!

HARVEY TRIES TO PUSH THE DOOR CLOSED AS JASON RUSHES OVER TO THE DOOR AS WELL.

HARVEY BULLOCK:
I... I can’t.

JASON RUSHES FORWARD AND THEY ALL FALL BACK BEHIND HIM.

JASON BLOOD:
Get behind me!

JASON’S EYES GLOW A FIERY RED COLOUR.

JASON BLOOD: (CONT’D)
Gone. Gone form of man. Rise the demon, Etr...

A BURST OF BLUE ENERGY BREAKS DOWN THE DOORS, TURNING BLOOD INTO A SKELETON AND BLOOD. BULLOCK IS CAUGHT IN THE BLAST, ALSO TURNING INTO A SKELETON.

RENEE MONTOYA:
HARVEY!!

DETECTIVE CHIMP IS HIT BY ONE OF THE DOORS.

SCENE #4: OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
 
THE SPECTRE IS TOWERING OVER THE HOUSE, SURROUNDING IT WITH ELECTRIC BLUE ENERGY, MATCHING HIS EYES, NARROWED IN ANGER.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014) #4 Transcript

SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE:

SCENE #1: HELL

ETRIGAN ROARS AND HOWLS IN PAIN. A DEMON APPROACHES HIM, LOOKING CONCERNED.

DEMON:
Lord Etrigan? What is it?

ETRIGAN:
A gruesome death. Agonizing pain.

HE GRABS THE DEMON BY HIS THROAT.

ETRIGAN: (CONT’D)
And what was one is now in twain.

HE GRABS HIS HEAD IN BOTH PAIN AND SORROW, THROWING THE DEMON WITHOUT LOOKING INTO A WALL.

ETRIGAN: (CONT’D)
Jason Blood, my host, has died. Our two bound souls have been untied. Abandoned here is Etrigan... Gone forever my form of man.

SCENE #2: THE HOUSE OF JASON BLOOD

JOHN CONSTANTINE IS LOOKING AT A BLOOD COVERED, SKELETOL HAND.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
Jesus!!

HUNTRESS, BATWOMAN AND BATMAN ARE LOOKING AROUND WILDLY. KLARION TURNS HIS HEAD AROUND TO FACE ANOTHER DIRECTION. ZATANNA IS TRYING TO ACTIVATE A PROTECTIVE SPELL. CATWOMAN IS WATCHING THE DOOR.

ZATANNA:
Tcetorp lla edisni siht esuoh! (Protect all inside the house)

MAGIC ORBS FORM OUT THE PALMS OF HER WHITE GLOVED HANDS.

BATMAN:
What is it? What are we up against?

CONSTANTINE GETS UP FROM THE GROUND.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
I don’t know!

KLARION PUTS HIS FINGER TIPS TO HIS HEAD. TEEKL LOOKS ALERT.

KLARION:
I’ll take a look. Teekl. Go.

TEEKL SCAMPERS OFF, IN THE DIRECTION OFF. THE DOOR.

HARLEY QUINN NOTICES DETECTIVE CHIMP HAS BEEN KNOCKED DOWN, HIS HAT IS LYING NEXT TO HIM.

HARLEY QUINN:
The monkey is down!

SHE RUNS OVER TO HIS LISTEN TO HIS CHEST, WHILE ALFRED IS TENDING TO HIM. A POOL OF BLOOD IS POURING FROM HIS HEAD. CONSTANTINE COMES OVER TO SEE IF HE IS OKAY.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
Is he alive?

ALFRED PENNYWORTH:
He’s alive.

HARLEY QUINN:
But his breathing’s shallow.

HARLEY PICKS UP THE HAT AND LOOKS AT IT SADDLY.

HARLEY QUINN: (CONT’D)
And his little hat fell off.

KLARION’S EYES WIDEN WITH FEAR.

KLARION:
Constantine.

JOHN CONSTANTINE:
What is it, Klarion? What do you see?

SCENE #3: OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

TEEKL LOOKS UP INTO THE SKY.

KLARION: (V.O.)
Oh, this isn’t good... It’s the Spectre.

PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AWAY AS THE SPECTRE TOWERS OVER THE HOUSE, STRIKING IT WITH MYSTICAL GREEN LIGHTNING.

Cold, Cold Heart (Batman Arkahm Origins) Transcript

SCENE #1: GOTHCORP

NORA FRIES IS FLOATING IN CRYOGENIC COOLANT, HER EYES CLOSED. ICE CRYSTALS FORM OVER THE GLASS AS THE CRYOGENIC PROCESS STARTS TO HAPPEN. MR. FREEZE GIVES A LONGING LOOK AT HER, BEFORE TUNING HIS BACK AND WALKING AWAY.

SCENE #2: WAYNE MANOR

A PAIR OF FINGERS CARESS A GOLD STATUE WHICH IS HOLDING A DIAMOND SHAPED HEART OVER IT’S HEAD. THE PLAQUE AT THE BOTTOM READS “WAYNE FOUNDATION: HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR.” THE AWARDS WINNER IS FERRIS BOYLE, C.E.O OF GOTHCORP.

FERRIS BOYLE: (O.S)
People caring for people. Compassion. That’s the foundation Gotham was built on.

FERRIS BOYLE IS STANDING ON A STAGE, SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEHIND HIM. A CROWD IS WATCHING HIM, CLAPPING ENTHUSIASTICALLY. ABOVE THE STAGE IS A PICTURE OF BRUCE WAYNE AND BOYLE HOLDING A CHECK.

FERRIS BOYLE: (CONT’D)
And I have proudly built GothCorp on that same foundation.

BRUCE WAYNE AND ALFRED ARE AMONGST THE CROWD, SMILING AND CLAPPING ALONG WITH THE OTHERS.

FERRIS BOYLE: (CONT’D)
That’s why we’re called, the People Company.

THERE IS A CHEER FROM THE CROWD.

FERRIS BOYLE: (CONT’D)
Thank you so much. Please. No, thank you.

ALFRED PENNYWORTH:
Mister Boyle seems to be after your title as Gotham’s biggest philanthropic industrialist.

BRUCE WAYNE:
Gotham needs more people like him.

BOYLE SIDLES OVER TO HIM WARMLY. HE OPENS HIS ARMS WIDE AND THEY GIVE EACH OTHER A FIRM HANDSHAKE.

FERRIS BOYLE:
Bruce! I am blown away by your support.

BRUCE WAYNE:
It’s well deserved. You’re going to change the world, Ferris.

FERRIS BOYLE:
Hey. We’ll change it together, right?

ALFRED PENNYWORTH:
Pardon me, Mister Boyle, the press is waiting. This way, please?

ALFRED GESTURES IN THE DIRECTION AND BOLE FOLLOWS HIM OUT. A PIANO STARTS TO PLAY.

FEMALE PRESENTER (O.S)
Well, I’d say the future is looking very, very bright for Gotham. Now it’s almost midnight and you all know what that means.

THE PIANIST CRACKS HIS KNUCKLES AND CHANGES THE TUNE. THE PRESENTER THROWS HER ARMS UP WITH JOY.

FEMALE PRESENTER (CONT’D)
Now let’s get this New Year Eve party going with a...

SHE CHANGES ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, SHUDDERING AND WRAPPING HER ARMS TIGHTLY AROUND HER SHOULDERS. ICE FORMS AROUND HER, FREEZING THE SCREEN.

FEMALE PRESENTER (CONT’D)
Forget to pay your heating bill, Bruce?

THERE IS A FLASH BEHIND THEM AND THEY ARE ALL THROWN FROM THE STAGE. ICE SHARDS FORM AS EVERYONE SCUTTLES AWAY, SCREAMING AND RUNNING IN PANIC.

THUG:
Happy New Year everybody.

PENGUIN’S THUGS BARGE INTO THE ROOM, THROUGH THE GIANT HOLE MADE BY THE ICE EXPLOSION, FIRING OFF MACHINE GUN AND BEGINNING TO ROUND UP ALL THE GUESTS. SHOUTING INAUDIBLE THREATS AND ORDERS.
MR. FREEZE STOMPS THROUGH LAST, IGNORING TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SHUFFLE AWAY WITHOUT GETTING TO THEIR FEET. ONE PERSON HAS HIS LEGS STUCK AND IS STRUGGLING TO BREAK THE ICE. FREEZE SHOVES HIM, SENDING HIM HURTLING IN THE AIR, BEFORE CATCHING HIM WITH HIS GUN, FREEZING HIM MID-AIR.

MR. FREEZE:
Bring me Ferris Boyle.

BRUCE WALKS AWAY, WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS BUSY, ACTIVATING THE COMM LINK IN HIS EAR.

BRUCE WAYNE:
Alfred, where’s Boyle?

THERE IS NO REPLY.

BRUCE WAYNE: (CONT’D)
Alfred?

HE MAKES HIS WAY INTO THE GRAN HALLWAY.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 2 (2014)

Absolutely spellbinding for the full 24 issues of the series and you will find it invokes many different emotions with each page.

A prequel to Injustice Gods Among Us and a sequel to the first year title with the same name, we follow on one year after Superman leaves Batman with a broken back and the murder of Green Arrow. A new team of heroes are leading the Resistance, with new forces for them.

Unfortunately for the Insurgency, Superman also gets an ally in the form of the Sinestro Corps and things go from moderately bad to catastrophic by the end of the series.

The character development is just incredible with some stand out characters, including Jim Gordon and Dinah Laurel Lance, who are almost as if they are in film.

Overall if you like the Injustice Gods Among Us universe, then I suggest you read this. Everything from the battle scenes to the script is just beyond words to describe with much comedy and a whole lot of tragedy to make this a strong example of what a good comic book is.

Injustice Gods Among Us: Year 3 (2014)- Overall Series Review

Four issues in and I'm hooked. To be totally honest I have been obsessed with the last two series that are the pre-curser of this title and the Injustice Gods Among Us Video Game.

Year 3 follows the events after the Green Lantern Corps war with Superman and the Sinestro Corps. A new hero has risen up from Liverpool to bring the powerful magicians together in an effort to hamper and stop the One Earth Regime that Superman is using to oppress the world and hunt down the "fugitive" Batman.

I seem to see a pattern with each year that passes, where first year of the comic uses meta-humans and criminals, the second year used some of the most well known extra- terrestrials of the Dc Universe and know in the third year we have the the magic useres. I don't know if this is just coincidence or if there is an actual reason for this, but I happen to love the occult world of Dc.

It is well worth reading, with some very familiar faces and several of my favourite characters including Harley Quinn, Teekl and Klarion.

(This will be updated at the end of the series with verdict of the series as a whole.)

Killer Croc (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

After Killer Croc was transferred to Arkham City, he made his home for a little while in a makeshift room, where he slept on a dirty mattress. He had managed to remove his shcok coller, before leaving the room permanetly and living in the subway maintance access of the sewer. 

Batman finds him in the access after triggering a switch with his remote control batarang. Croc smahes through the wall, roaring that he is not welcome. Batman tells him that he is not here to fight and demands him to let him pass. Croc notices that Batman smells diffrent and of death, sating that he doesn't need to fight him. He promises that he will feed on Batman's corpse when he was dead, before stomping away and diving into a broken pipe.

The Scarecrow's Message (Batman Arkham City)

Throughout Arkham City, Batman picks up three incoming signals on a radio transmission Chanel (700,500), (500,900) and (200,500) which give out a string of letters. 

Batman hacks into the final broadcast, using the password "Scarecrow" to successfully gain access to the third message for decoding.

The letters form the message from Jonathan Crane, stating that he is alive and that he will destroy Gotham and make Batman suffer for his defeat at Arkham Asylum a year before.

The exact message reads: "I will return Batman. You will pay for what you did to me. Fear will tear Gotham City to shreds."

Giovanni Luchese (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Origins

Giovanno Luchese was a high ranking member in the Black Mask's gang and served as Sionis' body double if their was ever any need for him to do so. He is 31 years old with a long history of warrants from the G.C.P.D for assaults both physical and with a weapon.

On Christmas Eve, Black Mask had Luchese present at Lacey Towers when he began feeling paranoid about someone tailing him. In the corridor outside, Sionis gives him a replace mask and tells him to go check out the safe house, while he goes around and gets in via the balacny (whether they were aware of Joker's presence was never specified) to get a drop on anyone if they are there.

The Joker knew that this was not the true Sionis and killed him instantly when he enters the safe house and catches sight of Tiffany Ambrose hanging from the chandelier. His death in enough of a distraction for Sionis to atack Joker. However Joker wins and before dragging Sionis off, covers up the murder with a molotov cocktail so that no DNA could be identified and make it look like the real Black Mask was dead.

A little while later Penguin visits Lacey Towers to gloat about a rival being eliminated, however is furious to discover that their was no pacemaker and realizing Sionis was still alive.

His body is discovered on Christmas Eve, with enough charing to destroy any evidence of identifying the body. However Batman identifies him after hacking into the National Criminal Database.

Tiffany Ambrose (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Origins

Tiffany Ambrose is Roman Sionis' girlfriend, with a prior of drug trafficking. She was murdered by the Joker, several days before Christmas Eve, when he took Black Mask hostage.

Black Mask was paranoid about people tailing him, so he ordered her to wait for him at his safe house in Lacey Towers. She had sent him a frightened text, asking who was the "Joker." He replies that it was no one that mattered and that he would be there as quick as he could.

She had been shopping for groceries on the night of her death and had just put them on the counter and checked her phone again when she is grabbed from behind and has her head slammed hard against it. Joker strings her up from the chandelier like an angel, still alive just unconscious and waits for the real target.

She is awoken by the smell of burning from a Molotov cocktail Joker uses to burn the evidence with  and seeing that Roman was in danger tries to struggle violently to get down. Joker decides he is going to force Roman to kill her, making Sionis shoot the woman he loved.

Her body was discovered on Christmas Eve still hanging from the chandelier.

Mad Hatter (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

Jervis Tetch was a former neurologist with the theory that the concept of free will was a lie and that it is nothing more than chemicals, that could be taken over and controlled.

From a young age he was obsessed with the works of Lewis Carol and perceived himself to be the living incarnation of the Mad Hatter.

At some point in time he had obtained a hat shop in the Bowery district, where he continued with his work on hypnotic control. His obsession with Alice in Wonderland led him to believe that "his Alice" was out there somewhere and needed to be found. 

His first victim was a young woman called Stephanie Williams, who he had lured her back to his lab, dressed, drugged and eventually killed when he realised she was not "Alice." Over a period of time he had killed several girls, but was still at large on Christmas Eve.

He had perfected his mind controlling technology, forming a gang with technology built into masks. He also kidnapped another girl, who he intended to bring back to Wonderland. He learnt about the Batman and seeing himself at a disadvantage, decided to trap him so he could use his technology to manipulate him to join his side.

On Christmas Eve, Hatter sent a transmission to Batman after a personal invitation to come to a tea party from three of his henchmen, introducing himself as a part time haberdasher. He tells Batman that he has a business proposal for him, but is interrupted by the terrified girl. He silences her, laughing and excusing her actions as she has been through quite a lot, but she will be much better soon.

In the Hat Shop, the Mad Hatter is just putting the final tweaks onto his technology, pleased that it is working with the exception of the henchman being controlled not addressing him as "sir." After Batman arrives, he shoves him against the clock demanding to know where "Alice" is. However a brief exchange, Hatter expresses his disappointment at them not seeing "eye to eye", tricking Batman to stare directly into the clock face and warping his mind into Wonderland.

Batman overcomes this manipulation, finding the Hatter has "Alice" and has a knife ready to slit her throat if he doesn't leave. Batman knocks him down with a reverse Batarang, before smashing him unconscious and leaving him for the G.C.P.D with evidence against him 

Pride (2014) Movie Review

This movie is just breathtaking and a brillaint example of cinema and film experience.

Set during the days of the 1984 Miner's Strike, the story follows the relationship between a Welsh minning community in and the L.G.S.M (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), who are campaigning to help raise money for striking miners. 

I had not heard about this before watching the trailer and reading about the film in Attitude, so it was great to go into the film to learn about a new topic in British history. It has a very classic feel, similar to movies such as Billy Elliot, the Full Monty and Brassed Off, withthe gritty realism of the same time period and the warmth and laughter to mark some scenes more jarring.

The cast is just fanominal with a group of characters that you can relate to and can have an emotinal attachment with. Scenes between Bill Nighy and Imelda Stauton are just so tenderly done and Staunton also steals multiple scenes she is in. Andrew Scott gives a powerful and spellbinding perfomance and Jessica Gunning plays a young Siân James (the first woman to represent Swansea East in polotics) with a fiesty and amazing prowess. But I think it is Ben Schnetzer and George MacKay, who are stand out in a cast that is so flawless. Schnetzer plays the main protaganist, Mark Ashton (socialist and gay rights actavist) with real beauty, while MacKay plays an original character so perfectly you could hardly tell he was fictional. The addition to a made up character gives us an  additionl gateway and makes you feel you are there in the film.

The soundtrack was a blast back to the classics and give way to very impressive dance scene with Dominic West.

Overall I love this movie and think it is a must see movie for all, as it is a genearl feel good film with a great script and real emotion.

Titan Antidote (Batman Arkham Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

The antidote is a plant spore that grows deep beneath Arkham Island, within Killer Croc's lair, which Poison Ivy says that is the only way to reverse the affect of the Titan Strain.

Batman retrieves the spores from Croc's Lair and takes them to the Arkham Batcave to try and reverse manufacture the cure. However he is only able to make one dose of the anti- compound partly due to the speed it takes, as the process takes a long time and partly as the spores he collected wasn't enough. Poison Ivy's plants also smash through the Batcave, destroying the Batcomputer and every other way of manufacturing the cure.

Later Batman uses the antidote on himself, after jumping in front of a Titan dart that was meant for Gordon, forcing him to find a different way to stop the Joker, who injected himself with Titan.

Venom (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance:Batman Arkham Origins
First Mentioned: Batman Arkham Asylum

Venom is an addictive, steroidal compound which gives the user of the drug increased strength.

Bane came to Gotham to kill Batman in the one night only competition between the eight assassins, while he was also selling and experimenting on the "street drug." The experimentation was to develop a stronger venom that did not have the side affect of being addictive as Bane depends on venom, producing the prototype TN-1, which is a modified version.

Smilex (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Smilex or "Joker Toxin\ Happy Gas" is a chemical developed by the Joker, which he used as a weapon in his first attack on Gotham, using it to poison the manager of the Gotham Merchant's Bank.

The toxin is airbourne and it caused her great pain, foricng her to laugh. The laughter was actually the sound of her dying and the more hysterically she laughed, the closer she was to death.

The toxin left her with a permanent Joker grin on it's victim's face. She was either the first or the first recorded fatality of the gas.

The Bank Manager (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Origins

The Bank Manager was head of the Gotham Merchants Bank.

Black Mask (Joker) takes her hostage inside the vault with Sionis, while his thugs collect the money. At some point prior to Batman's arrival she is infected by Joker Toxin (smilex) and she is succumbing to the poison

Batman arrives and tries to warn Black Mask about the Joker, which the bank manager snickers at and says "the who..." when "Sionis" asks her if she had ever heard of the name. She laughs hysterically when Joker reveal himself, calling him insane while he beats Sionis for not being able to play along.Joker tells Batman to have a laugh on him after failing to shoot him, throwing the manager towards him. She is tottering and howling with glee, until he triggers the vault to explode. When Batman comes round, he finds her dead body with a jokeresk smile on her face. After scanning her, he discovers that she had been infected and that the laughter was the sound of her dying.

Later Batman hallucinates her in the elevator of the Sionis Steel Mill after being infected by an acute neurotoxin by Copperhead. She yells that he is the reason Gotham is being destroyed, stating that he should go as they would be better off with out him... "I would be alive without you."

Holly Robison (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: ?
First Refrenced: Batman Arkham City

During a patient interview with Catwoman, Hugo Strange claims that he has Tyger operatives training weapons on her and that she is their prisoner, threatening to kill her if Catwoman did not answer his questions.

This causes Selina great rage at Strange, calling him a "bastard." 

After Catwoman denies loving Batman, Strange tells her that Holly is safe in Gotham as he has better things to do than worry about "teenage deliquents"

Mad Hatter (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

The Mad Hatter witnesses Batman saving Vicki Vale from the Joker's sniper riffles after her helicopter was shot down by Joker. He takes the opportunity to plant a remote hypnotic suggestion into his head, where he was ordered to come to his hideout.

After Batman regains consciousness after injecting himself with the "cure", which is really a knockout sedative and hypnotic chemical that made him more susceptible to suggestion, he sees Mad Hatter in his lair in a Park Row apartment under a strip club. He asks Batman if he wants more tea, laughing at Batman when he asks where he is is. Hatter tells him that he made him want to see what he wanted most and inquires if he was going to drink the tea, calling it his "my special tea... my speciality" and comparing her to "Alice" , who never did anything he wanted without a large amount of psychoactive control. He walks across the table, telling Batman that he has developed a special hat just for him, placing a specialised black rabbit mask over his head. He claims Batman is his new soldier until Batman fights the control, defeating him and smashing his hat under his foot and leaving him knocked out.

The Hatter had put rabbit masks on Arkham inmates to make them his loyal henchmen using 
built in hypnotic  controls.

Stephanie Williams (Batman Arkham City)

First Mentioned: Batman Arkham City

Stephanie Williams was a young woman, who Jervis Tetch saw to be Alice in the earlier days of his criminal activities. He lured her back to his lab, where he drugs her with tea and dresses her up, before learning that she is not Alice and kills her.

Before the Arkham Asylum riots, Strange showed her photo during one of the Mad Hatter's patient interview tapes, where he is horrified by the picture with her hair filled with blood. He doesn't recognise her at first, until Strange tells him to look closer and bursts into tears.

She is the first girl that Jervis Tetch kills and it wouldn't be the last.

Calendar Man (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

Julian Gregory Day was declared by Commissioner Gillian Loeb to be one of the most deadly criminals and after he is apprehended (by Batman- with G.C.P.D taking credit) he was imprisoned in Blackgate, where it was declared that he would face the death penalty for his crimes (despite the possibility he was legally insane.)

He was a patient of Harleen Quinzel, who originally deemed him insane, before being forced to change it so he would die. 

His execution date was set for Christmas Eve and was actually locked inside the execution chamber, bound to an electric chair, when Black Mask (Joker) and his goons invade the facility and free him, (although considering executing him) and says that he owes him and that would be important. He later gets away, where it is quite possible he kills Judge Harkness in revenge, killing a street Santa Claus and visiting his party, strangling him with Christmas tree lights, hanging him from his own Christmas light display.

A week later Calendar Man was still free and attacked a New Year's Eve party, where after getting a restraining order from a girl, he decided to use a flamethrower to burn all the guests.

Alberto Falcone (Batman Arkham Origins)

Quinton Flynn

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Origins

Alberto Falcone is the son of Carmine Falcone, the famous Gotham mob boss leader. 

At some point he was diagnosed with having a split personality tendancies and to stop it from manifesting he has multiple sessions with Dr. Hugo Strange. However he eventually decideds himself that he is okay, skipping two appointments and stating that he would no longer be a test subject for Strange.

He is called by Harleen Quinzel, who was Strange's intern at the time, where she gives the subtle threat that they would tell Carmine about a possible untreated medical condition and asking if they will see him at his usual time.

Alberto goes to the restraunt, Cucinotta, where he is overheard by Black Mask speaking with a tone that almost sounded like he was making decisions for the family. Sionis calls him later and tells him that if he wanted to continue talking about his future, he should do it more privatley and stating that he had the place to do it.

Eventually his psyche breaks and the persona of the Holiday emerges, making a threatening call to Sionis.

On Christmas Eve, Alberto Falcone was abducted by the Penguin, a new mob boss rivalling Falcone and taken to the Final Offer as a way to try and remove Carmine from weapons deals. He is torutured, where he continuously refuses (getting cigar smoke blown into his face) and calls Penguin a "Psychotic little bastard," and is hit in the stomach with the handle of his umbrella. Penguin starts with a cattle prod, until Alberto says he will make his father stand down from the business. However Penguin says that he doesn't hear the sound he wants to hear, poking him continuesly with the prod, until Batman arrives and begins to interrogate Penguin.

During the confusion with Deathstroke, it is most likely that Falcone escaped and fled from the ship.

Holiday (Batman Arkham Origins)

Quinton Flynn

First Appearance: ?
First Reference: Batman Arkham Origins

Holiday is the split persona of Alberto Falcone, the son of Carmine and the Black-sheep of the Falcone Crime Family.

Alberto went to sessions with Dr. Hugo Strange to try and help him, but eventually decided he was okay and skipped two appointments.

However the Holiday persona manifested itself and prior to the Christmas Eve incident and he made a threatening call to Roman Sioins late at night, telling him that he needed to get his affairs in order and that things are changing in Gotham as the "wolves descend." Sionis begins to make a threat but Holiday declares himself to answer to and be a much more powerful person than Black Mask, hanging up when Black Mask makes another threat.

Wyatt (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: ?
First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

Wyatt was an inmate in Arkham City, who went missing after he went investiagting in the sewers, which led to everyone believing him to have been eaten by Killer Croc, who had made his home there after being transfered to the prison.

Riddler Trophy (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

The trophy is a box, which stores gears and a small generator that powers a green neon light that lights up the question mark shaped top.

At some point prior to the Christmas Eve incident, Edward Nigma designed and created a prototype of the Riddler trophy, which he kept locked away in his secured room in his Burnley hideout. 

On Christmas Eve after Batman destroyed the data relay networks, hacked all the G.C.R Towers and collected all the data files that he had spread around Gotham, Batman investigates the room and finds the trophy at the very back of a secondary secret room, next to a prototype for the traps he developed at the same time to use in his future crimes against Gotham and Batman.

Talia's Elite Guard (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City (2011)

Talia's elite guard are a group of highly trained female assassins, who once picked from generations in advance by Ra's al Ghul go on to be trained to the highest level from birth.

The guard shadow her at all times to keep her safe, despite Talia being a fearce advisary already.

Batman Arkham City (2011) Overall Series Review

A five part series that shows a segment of what happened during the year long gap between Arkham Asylum and City. This is a good series, however I feel it lacks the same punch as Batman Arkham Unhinged, which focuses on more current sections of the universe.

To give a synopsis, the Joker is broken out of prison after an assassination attempt was made on his life by security guards, who survived the Arkham riots. 

Arkham City has been improved and prisoners are being rounded up and and incarcerated and Hugo Strange is revealed to be the big shadow that is pulling the strings to Arkham City.

I do like the character interactions, most notably the dialogue between Catwoman and Batman and the idea that Batman disguises himself to find out what is happening amongst the Penguin and Joker's gangs are fascinating, but it doesn't stop me wishing it expanded further on some of the elements that are left unclear or are mentioned in the in-game stories of Arkham City briefly.

But that is my personal opinion, I do like the series but it is not my favourite of the Arkham tie-in comics available. I would recommend it if you are interested in learning the "Arkham lore" or want to read a new comic but would say that Batman Arkham Unhinged (2011) is better in both storyline and information.

Clayface (Period of time between Batman Arkham Origins and Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Karlo took up the mantle (de-powered) while killing members of the remakes cast and crew, however was stopped from killing Batman's fiancee, Julie Madison by Batman and Robin.

He attempted to kill her again, but that failed again. 

A couple of years later he teamed up with villains to form a group called "The Mudpack", who he betrayed after a defeat and stole DNA samples from each member, synthesising into a formula, which he injected into himself and gained the abilities of the team, including shape-shifting and size alteration.

He was eventually captured in Arkham Asylum, where they locked him away in the Penitentiary section of the facility, behind a cell of glass. He was deemed insane and hence was given a doctor to psychoanalyse him for possible rehabilitation.

Dr. Young's Personal Notes on Patient: (Most likely to be his doctor or was asked by either Warden Sharp or another doctor to make them)

"Clayface

Real Name: Basil Karlo

Dr. Penelope Young

While his bizarre ability to shape-change opens him up to the obvious-if controversial-diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, Karlo seems instead to be suffering from borderline personality disorder, with a special emphasis on identity disturbance. He is difficult to pin down on any subject, and defends his wild changes in affect as evidence of his dramatic abilities, which he considers to be wildly underrated. Rarely does he take his own shape, but frequently mimics me when I attempt to interview him.

Additional notes
His identity is at risk of splintering, due to the growing frequency of his adopting the identities of others to the exclusion of taking on his own.
I find his imitation of me to be especially unflattering; I am most certainly not the bitter, calculating academic he attempts to portray me as.

STRONG ESCAPE RISK!"

Basil Karlo (Period of time between Batman Arkhan Origins and Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Before his transfromation into Clayface, Basil Karlo discovered a plan for a remake of "The Terror" and out of anger for the fact that they did not ask him to partispate, went on a killing spree of related cast and crew members using the guise of Clayface (a character from the original film) wearing his old costume. 

However he was captured by Batman and Robin, before he could kill Batman's fiancee, Julie Madison. His police van drove off a cliff, allowing him to esscape and put another atempt on Madison's life, but again Batman defeated him.

He formed an alliance with a group of shape-changing villains, who called themselves the Mudpack and went up against Batman.  After their defeat, Karlo stole samples of his allies and synthesizsed the DNA into a formula, which he injected into himself, giving him the powers to manipulate his flesh into any form and changing size.

Thomas Blake (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: ?
First Referenced: Batman Arkham Origins

At Gotham Zoo, Thomas Blake was advertised to present a show in which he entertain people with a rare selection of jungle cats at some point during the Christmas Eve period.

Multiple posters have been put up all across Gotham to pull in punters and investors.

Basil Karlo (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Basil Karlo was an actor, who was putting on an impressionist show called "Funny Faces" at the Jezebel Theatre during the Cristmas Eve and had many posters put up around the Bowery.

He was a famous horror film actor, who starred in "The Terror."

Bud and Lou (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham City

Bud and Lou were the pet hyenas of Harley Quinn and the Joker, which Joker had bought at some point after the Christmas Eve event. 

At some point in time after the Arkham Asylum Riots, they were shot and stuffed either by the Penguin or someone on his orders, after which being put  on display in the Cyrus Pinkney Natural History Museum (Penguin's base) as a trophy in a victory against the Joker.

Riddler discovered their bodies, connecting a riddle to them and tasking Batman to solve it in order to capture him and locate the hostages he had imprisoned. 

"Have Joker's pets laughed themselves to death, or just eaten too much?"

Razor (Batman Arkham City)

First Appearance:?    
First Mentioned: Batman Arkham City

A second person took up the name Razor, who used to work for Joker but went to join the Penguin while they were imprisoned in Arkham City. 

Penguin interrogated him in order to learn any secrets about Joker, before dropping him in a pool of razor blades to die for his own personal amusement.

Razor (Batman Arkham Asylum)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum (2009)

Razor was a henchman, who was transferred to Arkham Asylum after the Blackgate fire. He was a member of the Joker's gang and took part in his escape plan.

Razor was among the Joker's gang who attacked the Medical Centre and took Dr. Stephen Kellerman and Aaron Cash hostage in the Patient Observation Room and release Joker Toxin into the room. However he is too slow and is trapped as well, getting to the higher levels to avoid inhaling it.

When Batman arrives to help, he finds Razor hanging over a small room, clinging onto a rope. Batman cuts him down and he smashes through the roof, surviving the fall and being knocked out, saved from the gas by Batman activating the extractor fan.

He later regains consciousness and goes to the Intensive Treatment Building, where they are just finishing attaching bombs to the gargoyles when Batman arrived. They contact the Joker, telling them they have done and Joker decides to test one out. Razor was still up by the gargyole when it explodes, killing him instantly.

Jonathan Crane (Batman Arkham Origins)

First Appearance: Batman Arkham Asylum

Jonathan Crane was a psychologist, who specialised in fear and over coming it. 

He often frequented Blackgate Prison, signing in to the visitors book using the official channels. During his sixth visit to the the pentitentiary, Black Mask (The Joker) had broken into the prison on Christmas Eve in order to release Calendar Man and kill Gillian Loeb. 

It is unclear whether he was taken hostage or escaped in the panic as he had not signed out when Batman searches through the book.

During this period of time he was looking for candidates for a clinical research trial, sending out flyers to diffrent places including the Final Offer. 

It can be asumed this was the first test of his Fear Toxin and he was scoping Blackgate for prisoners to take part in the trials.

Batman Arkham Origins (2013) Video Game Review

Well this game is certainly another amazing game, this time set five years before the Arkham Asylum Riots. 

The map has increased further with the entire of Gotham becoming your scope. It has more puzzles for Batman to solve from a young Edward Nigma (Eddie Nashton), taking the name Enigma in his battle to bring down the city with leaking information.

The main story on the other hand involves Batman having to hunt down and stop Black Mask from trying to destroy Gotham, whilst having to deal with eight of the world's finest assassins. The twist... the Black Mask is Joker and he is the craziest villain that Batman has ever met. 

The story also has several side mission including an appearance from Mad Hatter and my favourite vigilante, Anarky.  With a large number of crime scenes, case files and collectible pieces to find this game takes a long time to complete, but is well worth it.

If the main game is not enough the DLC gives you the character of Deathstroke to play as, one challenge bundle called Initiation, where young Bruce Wayne is training with the League of Assassins and an additional story called Cold, Cold Heart, introducing Mr. Freeze to the world with a chilly flourish. It also introduces a multiplayer, where you can play as either Joker, Bane, Batman or Robin to fight real players online, almost like a Halo, C.O.D style of game.

I'm  impressed with this game as much as the others, but the controls are a bit hard to master after playing the Asylum and City. That being said a great game and I await the next game with just as much enthusiasm.