NEW “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” Trailer

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Comic-Con Trailer

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice Trailer

Flashback Product of the Week: 1989 Topps Batman

By this point you can clearly see that this isn’t sports related at all.  But this movie and its sequel was the real deal for me growing up.  Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film was my introduction to the world of superheros, which I cannot get enough of to this very day.

Prior to 1986, Batman was stuck in that BANG!, POW!, and BAM! campy Adam West style.  Frank Miller’s 1986 graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns gave Batman a much more serious and darker tone, resulting in what we’re all use to seeing today.  Burton drew upon that world as an inspiration for Batman and Batman Returns.  Unfortunately live-action Batman films fell off the correct track with Batman Forever and Batman & Robin and didn’t return until Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.  Many critics believed it wasn’t possible to create a successful comic book movie, but this film really showed them.  It was a box office hit bringing in more than $400 million.  This movie is one of the main reasons why we have so many comic books films today.

Topps was able to cash in on some of that success by issuing a Batman card set.  The set was released in two different series each containing 132 cards and 22 stickers.  Series 1 has white-bordered fronts while Series 2 has yellow borders.  Many of the cards feature movie stills with captions, but others focus on storyboards and design art.  Topps issued these in both box and factory set form.

Due to the overproduction of cards at this time, this set carries little value now.  Both Series 1 and Series 2 sets can be found for under $20.00.  The only way any of these cards will increase in price is if Topps were to issue buyback autographs of Michael Keaton and/or Jack Nicholson.  Just like they did with Sylvester Stallone and his Rocky and Rambo cards in Topps 75th Anniversary.

For those fans that haven’t seen it yet, here is our first look at Ben Affleck as Batman in the Man Of Steel sequel.  Looks badass and very Frank Miller-like.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: LLWS Batman Baby PA-12 Pin

How can you go wrong with a baby Batman pin made for the Little League World Series?  Correct answer.  You can’t!  This pin is part of a 6-pin set made for PA District 12.  The other five pins feature Superman, Robin, Joker, Catwoman, and Lex Luther.  All of them are designed to look as if they are little kids.  Individual pins can sell for $5.00 t0 $10.00 a piece.  We’re only about 3 weeks away from the 2013 Little League World Series.  Many new pins are on the way.  Maybe this year I’ll get an ESPN pin, but they aren’t the easiest to find unless you’re willing to spend some big bucks.  Visitors will surely enjoy the newly renovated World of Little League Museum.

Over the last week superhero fans received a ton of news on upcoming films during the San-Diego Comic-Con.  Probably one of the biggest announcements was that the Man of Steel sequel will feature Batman.  Very little is known about the film right now other than the logo they unveiled.  Speculation about the film’s title is already floating around.  Most fans believe it will be called Batman vs. Superman.  Both Batman and Superman are good guys, but Batman doesn’t always get along with everyone.  They both have different ways of getting the job done.  Unlike the Batman we saw in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, I believe this new Batman will be one that can handle the sci-fi world we saw in Man of Steel.  In addition to that, I think this Batman will already be established and fully operational.  We don’t need to see another origin story.  Either way I’m looking forward to it.  Batman and Superman have had their disagreements before, and now its time to see it on the big screen.  With a Flash film in the works, we all know that this is leading up to a Justice League movie.

Card of the Day: Batman Begins 2005 Batmobile Tire Relic

Flashback Product of the Week: 1997 SkyBox Premium Batman & Robin

While growing up, my first introduction to the world of superheroes came in the form of Batman.  I never really read the comics, instead I watched the cartoons, movies, and played with the action figures.  I grew up on four Batman films – Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997).  These movies would be playing religiously in my house.

I prefer Christopher Nolan’s Batman films now to anything that came before.  Of the four I grew up on, Batman and Batman Returns are still fun to watch.  Both are down right gritty and somewhat lifelike.  Watching the Penguin rise out of the water while gushing blood at the end of Batman Returns may be to violent for some six year old kids, but not me.  I thought it looked awesome!   Batman Forever and Batman & Robin just look like a joke to me now.  But when they first came out, I loved them.   Batman Forever and Batman & Robin got too comical for me, especially now if I see them on.

As you would expect, each of those Batman films had a corresponding collectible card set.  Out of them all, the 1997 SkyBox Premium Batman & Robin cards hold the most value, specifically the autographs.  The base set consists of 70 wide-vision cards.  You can look for autographs of Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone and Joel Schumacher.  The autographs fall 1:360 packs.  Considering there are 18 packs per box, the odds of finding one is pretty difficult.  They all command high prices even to this day.  An Arnold Schwarzenegger autograph recently sold for over $300.00.

Boxes can still be found for under $50.00.

This is the Batman I prefer to watch for now.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Batman 2012 San-Diego Comic-Con Pin

In less than a week, The Dark Knight Rises will hit theaters.  This is the conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s epic Batman trilogy.  I’m really looking forward to it.  After Batman/Bruce Wayne has been gone for almost 8 years, he has to come back and save the city.  I have no idea how it will end.  Some people have speculated that Batman may die, but Bruce Wayne will live on.  Others have said that Bruce Wayne could die, but Batman will live on.  Who knows?  Either way its coming to an end.  Christopher Nolan should just get the green light for all DC Comics based movies.  Nolan has his hand in Man of Steel which releases next summer.

This pin has been floating around the 2012 San-Diego Comic-Con which is currently being held.

Card of the Day: 1966 Topps Batman – Frozen By Frost #32B

Sad Day For Batman Fans – RIP Michael Gough

Being the superhero freak I am, it saddens me to say that Michael Gough has passed away at the age of 94.  Gough was in the entertainment industry for 64 years, but to Batman fans will always be remembered as Alfred Pennyworth.  Gough played Alfred in four Batman films – Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin.  Gough actually has a few cards which were made by Topps and DC Comics.