Our friends at CBR have a very nice video interview with MARK FROST, the actor who portrays Joker in the playBATMAN LIVE! that is now touring the US. Starting in California this Septerber, the show is supposed to tour the whole US by next year. Here what Frost himself has to say about his character:
“I think the Joker…brings a bit of fun and a bit of creativity to the proceedings. I certainly get as many wonderful toys to play with, I get as many interesting and surprising entrances and exits. You never quite know what he’s gonna do next.”
And here is the video. Just click to watch:
Have to admit, when I first heard of this play I thought it was the most ludricuous idea ever…I mean. With all the special effects needed, how were they going to translate the Caped Crusader into the stage…RIGHT? Well, as I saw more footage of the stage show, the more intriged I became on what this theatrical company have been able to achieve for this show. I would even go to one of their shows…just for the heck of it…and to see me some Joker OF COURSE!!
For more information on schedules of their presentations here in the US, please refer to their website BATMAN LIVES
(Originally reported by Stephen Garding editor of CBR,HERE)
The guys at IGN have uploaded a match from the new game INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US to show the versatility of this new Mortal Kombat style fight game. The two contenders: HARLEY QUINN vs. SALOMON GRUNDY. The quality of the video is good, and the moves are quite impressive. I personally don’t like Harley’s new look, but she can really pack a punch ( They should make alternate skins for her with her old costume. That sure will bring many more Harley lovers to play this game I think.
Today I bring to you 2 pieces of Joker art….(in part because I am not posting often enough). Hope you like them.
First comes this piece from Daniel HDR who is presenting some of his pre-NYCC commissions online in his TUMBLR. I like the pose, and definitely working on watercolors is not easy task… Lucky person who gets this beauty!!!
Then the next piece comes from cover artist Francesco Francavilla. He posted this on his TWITTER account. It’s simple, monochromatic, but the drastic contrast of the darks and lights sends an obvious message: “Look at my throne of dead babies…I am one dangerous clown” I love the layback pose, obviously inspired by the KILLING JOKE. Always loved that Hawaiian shirt he wore on the graphic novel…
DC Blog revealed the alternate cover of issue BATMAN #13 that begins the Joker-centric story arc DEATH OF THE FAMILY. Here is a preview of the cover by Aaron Kuder and as always, artists are holding on revealing the Joker’s final look for the series…I hope they don’t disappoint.
Still, nice cover (even the a la Ledger shoe style instead of the classic spats)…I hope they have sketch version of this cover too…
G-man at Comicvine posted a question I have pondered on more than once. What if Joker decided to abandon Gotham and the DC Universe and joins the hordes of the Marvel Universe Villains. (And to tell you the truth, if Joker could do it if he should, after the way that some writers have handled his character.)
Anyways, I remember DC joining forces with Marvel and let STAN LEE redesign the DC universe with the Marvel POV (For a little taste of this, catch a few issues of the 2004 miniseries JUST IMAGINE STAN LEE DESIGNING THE DC UNIVERSE). The concept was innovative and fresh for its time, but when I read it I don’t remember Stan Lee even considering redesigning Joker in the series so the question remained unanswered.
Does Joker have what it takes to make a good Marvel villain? And if he does…who would you pair him against?
Let me know what you think guys, I am really curious now….so curious that I would like for you to tell me whatyou think he would look like in that Marvel world. (I personally think he would have a change in attire)
Have to confess something… I am green with envy at the talent of this guy. I have never been able to finish a Rubik’s cube (gave up one day and threw the blasted thing out the window), and seeing this guy just setting the cube’s ‘faces’ with such ease, just adds to my shame.
Anyways, just because I’m not a Rubik’s fan, does not mean I cannot recognize real talent. This IS NOT EASY TO DO, and to make a Joker mosaic with Rubik’s cubes… well, who would have thought of that? Obviously David Alvarez.
Though not the first Rubik’s artist out there David is the first one I see that shows his talent in a Heath Ledger portrait. Just take a look and enjoy…and maybe I should go back and try playing with that cube again…
According from reports by TV GUIDE and CBR, actor Michael Emerson (Lost, Person of Interest) will take on the role of voicing the Joker in the upcoming direct to video part 2 release of Frank Miller’s classic tale. (TDKR part 2 will be realesed in early 2013).
According to the reports:
Michael Emerson‘s latest gig is no joke. The man best known as Lost’s über-manipulator Ben Linus and Person of Interest’s calculating Harold Finch is taking on one of pop culture’s most iconic villains, the Joker, in the upcoming animated DVD-movie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2. In the film, a harrowing adaptation of Frank Miller’s seminal 1986 DC Comics series, the depraved Clown Prince of Crime renews his rivalry with an aging Batman, who has just reemerged in Gotham City after a decade
I have to admit, I was nerver a fan of the LOST series and don’t recall seing any of Emerson’s work before, so I had to do a little net research to grasp an idea of what this actor can bring forward to the character.
Emerson, who started as a performer in Broadway (in lighter comedic roles), made his turn in the dark side portraying a sinister serial killer for the series THE PRACTICE (2001), role for which he earned an Emmy.
Since then he has been seen in shows like THE X-FILES, LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNITand movies like THE LEGEND OF ZORROand SAW.
In 2006 he took part of the LOSTseries, portraying the enigmatic Henry Gale, a character who lied to the survivors. His role in the series was praised and earned him anonther nomination for an Emmy which he unfortunately lost.
I was amazed by his acting background and his turn to the darker, creepier character has definitely not diminished the quality of his work, knowing how hard it is to portray a believable, compelling heavy on TV or stage. Villains are never easy. But what most surprised me was his vision on the Joker, that he seems to understand very well as a character:
“He’s one of those great villains that an actor like me likes to play because he has layers — he has a face for the world and a face for himself,” the Emmy-winning star of CBS’s “Person of Interest” told TV Guide. “He is, in a way, a villain who is a natural actor. All of that is that is delightful and confounding at the same time.”
Playing the unbridled fervor of the Joker was a switch from some of the more emotionally controlled roles on Emerson’s resumé. “It’s freeing because of the largeness of it,” he says. “When he laughs, there’s nothing subdued about it. When he screams in rage, there’s nothing controlled about it. The amp is turned to 11 at all times.”
I think Mr. Emerson has definitely gotten a grasp of what moves the Clown to be Joker. Maybe for once we have found someone that can portray this character with the dignity he deserve and become as legendary as other actor voices befor him. I still have to hear him and see if he can transport me to that space were I can “flesh” out the Joker just by listening to him, but I have a hunch that the character might be in good hands.
Now I understand why my friend Jason Marnocha, a young talented voice actor who has had his deals with the Joker’s voice himself (very successfully I may add) was so pleased with this choice. I trust your judgement, Jason…I also aprove of this selection for the Joker’s voice…for now.
If you want to know more about Michael Emerson; you can watch this interview from PBS I am including here.
Our good friends at GOTHAM SPOILERS were able to get some pencils for the upcoming Batman #13 that mark the Joker’s return in the story arc “DEATH OF THE FAMILY”. Here are some of the nice scans…
(Pictures courtesy of GOTHAMSPOILERS.COM. For more scans visit the site.)
I was browsing the net for new figures to acquire, when I stumbled into these…
From a report from this year’s GENCON (the longest, best attended gaming convention in the world according to its site HERE) come these new Joker and Harley Heroclix figures. They will come in a new Batman set and are said to include a “Duo Action” and an “Indomitable” abilities. (I’m not a player, but you guys maybe grasp these concepts better) I can’t wait to add these guys to my collection though… Here are the pics:
