Yes! BAT BENCH!







And as a bonus, here's Batman smacking the shit out of Nate.



And now they are friends again.



Nearby, a special machine where you can buy live bats.



More about the benches here.

No, it's not attached to a comic shop. This mural rests on the outside north wall of a restaurant called Sarki's. I haven't eaten there, but I will soon because it sounds promising and I'm a devotee of greasy spoons. What I can't figure out is the connection between food and Alex Ross illustrated superheroes.



Or why the phone/electricity/whatever doohickey is serving as Batman's package.



Suggestions?

Christian Bale is an unprofessional ass.

I usually don't give a damn about celebrities, but I love the Bat, and this is just disappointing. I knew Bale was wonky, but Jesus, what a thug.

Sorry, it's one of those man crush things.

Smarten Up, Gothamites!

1. If you're walking down the street in Gotham City and you see a box with a clown's face on it, DO NOT PICK IT UP.

2. Avoid gigantic Jack in the Boxes. If you come across one, run from the area before it finishes playing "Pop Goes the Weasel."

3. Comically large hammers are unsafe.

4. If someone points a gun at you that shoots out a flag that says "BANG!", duck, because you will then be either (1) shot with a real bullet from a hidden chamber, (2) impaled by the flag, because it's actually a spear gun, or (3) executed through some similar and morbidly humorous method.

5. Conversely, boxes with question marks on them are relatively safe and contain fairly simple riddles.

You: "Batman, I found this riddle box on the street over there."

Batman: "Hmmm, good work citizen. Let's see. 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' I've got it! 'To get to the other side'!"

You; (Sarcastically) "Wow, you ARE the greatest detective alive."

Batman: "Don't be a smart-ass, citizen."

6. Avoid penguins. They explode.

Rabid Bat Prompts City Warning

From the wife. The best part is the comments section.

Found at Rocketjumper.

"You've changed things...



Forever.



There's no going back.

See, to them you're just a freak...



like me!"

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Sticker I see every day on the way to work. It never fails to crack me up.

Actually, this was my single problem with The Dark Knight. They overdid it a wee bit with the pitch shifter. Bale sounded like George Fisher in Cannibal Corpse.

Honor Heath ledger's memory by purchasing the Joker's knife!



Which will make a dandy accompaniment to Junior's Joker costume. Yes, this Halloween, dress your child as a deceased young actor playing comics' greatest sexually perverse, mass-murdering psychopath.



Do they make a baby-sized one?

I have yet to see The Dark Knight, but I'm looking forward to it, despite the occasional contrarian reviews, because, man, I love the Bat.

In that vein, I have a friend who regularly sees films which I know he'll hate, and which I suspect he knows he'll hate too. Yet, he pays his nine bucks and wastes two hours of his life vocalizing his annoyance with the film. He pretty much turns into Ignatius J. Reilly during the screening, decrying the film's lack of theology and geometry (or, more precisely, the idiocy of the dialog, the excesses of the special effects, the ludicrousness of the plots, and so on). Seeing the first X-Men movie with him was fun. I didn't especially want to see it, but I thought, whathell? Pretty people in skintight outfits making things go kaboom. Sometimes its nice to put down the Kierkegaard, turn off your brain, and drool in the dark while Anna Paquin looks tasty.

As for my pal, that's not good enough. When I asked why he thinks brain candy films should be as ponderous as a Bergman flick, however, he's at a loss.

I usually tell people that when a film is about:

1. A giant green monster that smashes tanks.

2. A guy in super-powered armor who fights another guy in super-powered armor.

3. A moody ninja billionaire with emotional issues who beats up crooks.

And so on...

I'm not paying for my ticket expecting to see The Sorrow and the Pity. Yes, it should be enjoyable, but come on. Lower your expectations for achieving self-actualization during the course of a superhero flick just a wee little bit.

Usual disclaimer: This isn't aimed at anyone in particular.

Featurette on filming The Dark Knight in Chicago. Nice views of the Loop. And holy shit, that truck TOTALLY goes end over end down LaSalle!

I can't imagine DC approving a game where Batman gets his spine ripped out. As one commenter said, I want DC vs. Marvel. Better yet, I want Batman to fight Superman the way he did in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Falls.

Batdance
by Prince

Oh, I got a live one here!
Get the funk up!
Batman
Get the funk up!
Batman
Get the funk up!
Go, go, go with a smile!
Batdance
Do it
Keep bustin’

[do it repeated in the background]
I’ve seen the future and it will be
I’ve seen the future and it will be
Batman, batman
I’ve seen the future and it will be
Batman (house, do it, house)
And where, and where ... is the batman?

Do it, do it
Let’s do it, let’s do it
Do it, do it, do it, do it

Stop the press...
Stop the press, who is that?
Vicky vale, vicky vale
I like...
Batman, batman, batman
Oh - that’s nice
Hi, bruce wayne
I’ve tried to avoid all this, but I can’t
I just gotta know... are we gonna try 2 love each other?
Stop the press - who is that?
Vicky vale
She’s great, isn’t she?

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
I wanna bust that body right
I’d like 2
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
But he’s out there right now
I wanna bust that body
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah 2 night

Well, miss vale
Ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?
I always ask that of all my pray.
I just like the sound of it.
(screams)

I’ve got 2 go 2 work
Batman
I’ve got 2 go 2 work
Batman
If a man is considered guilty
Work!
4 what goes on in his mind
Work!
Then gimme the electric chair
Work!
4 all my future crimes-oh
Work!
Electric chair

Hey ducky, let me stick the 7-inch
In the computer
Ha, ha, ha
Hey, we got the power
Oh, we got the soul
Hey, we got to sho’nuff get off
2 make the devil go, go

This town needs an enema!

I’m gonna kill u
Power
I’m not gonna kill u
Soul
I’m gonna kill u
Power
I’m not gonna kill u
Soul
Let’s do it
I’m batman
Batman
Don’t stop dancin’
I’m batman
Batman
Don’t stop dancin’
Do it, do it, do it, do it
Batman, batman, batman
Don’t stop, don’t stop
Let’s do it
Don’t stop dancin’
Let’s do it, batman
Let’s do it, batman
Don’t stop dancin’
Don’t stop dancin’
No, damn it! turn the music back up!
You son of a bitch!

Have you ever heard of the healing power of laughter?

Who’s gonna stop 200 balloons?
Nobody!
Batman
Stop!