Batman and the Club of Heroes

Beginning with Batman 667, J.H. Williams III returns to the monthly Batman comic to join Grant Morrison for a tale of mystery and mayhem as the strange villain called The Black Glove decides to find out once and for all what is stronger; good or evil by slaughtering the Club of Heroes while wearing the founder’s face as a cowl.

A 3 part story using ideas from the whimsical Silver Age Batman comics, the Club of Heroes (heroic fans of Batman’s from around the globe). The Club members themselves are depicted as sad relics of mislaid intentions and wasted ambitions, wearing the weight of their age while their idol Batman remains roughly mod-30’s and fit in mind and body.

Batman arrives on the Club’s secluded island resort headquarters to find out what the rich financier founder is up to, claiming he wonders what the rich do when they are bored. Batman seems to not be in on the joke that he himself is a rich playboy dressed in tights with an arsenal wrapped around his waist and a boy gymnast as an assistant.

I’m unsure of how long his great run on the title will last, but I’m glad to see that Grant Morrison is continuing to delve into the realm of the absurd, a journey he began with the Ghosts of Batman storyline back when he first took over the title. J.H. Williams III is in full form with the artistic duties, creating a strange mixture of retro and modern images for the story.

All in all, I think Batman readers are in for a disturbing trip down Morrison’s memory lane as he destroys the once upon a time silly and harmless Batmen of All Nations last seen in 1955.

Peter Davison Returns to Doctor Who

The rumor of Peter Davison returning to the play the role of the debonair yet vulnerable Doctor #5 next year in Season Four of Doctor Who has taking an odd turn… the story is that he will appear in a brief Children In Need Special episode written by Peter Moffat (ironically Peter Davison’s birth name).

Like many BBC programs, Doctor Who has a history of being involved with Children In Need. A unique charity that assists young people who have survived hardships, Children In Need has been operating since the first appeal to help children in the United Kingdom in 1927 before becoming a registered charity in 1989.

In 1985, the entire cast reunited for a fundraising appearance.

Doctor Who Children in Need Special 1985

In 1993, the cast reunited again for a special Doctor Who/Eastenders crossover. John Nathan Turner’s last contribution to the Doctor Who mythos before his death, it also featured a bizarre mish-mash of Doctor/companion meetings including Colin Baker’s Doctor finally teaming up with the Brigadier.

It also features the most bizarre performance by Tom Baker surrounded by 3-D jelly babies and a theme tune that will make the dark embrace of death seem a kindness.

Dimensions In Time 1

Dimensions in Time 2

In 1999, Peter Moffatt wrote the ingenious Comic Relief spoof featuring nearly every eligible actor ever dreamed up to play the Doctor in The Curse of Fatal Death.

In 2005, viewers got to see their first glimpse of David Tennant as he struggled to gain control of his sanity as his 10th persona solidified.

Doctor Who Children in Need 2005 Special

A fun opportunity to reach both fans and families across England, Children in Need is also a very worthy charity. While not the multiple Doctor story many had hoped for, bringing Peter Davison back into the fold in a charity special is at least very positive way to have his Doctor return.

… so it’ll be okay if it’s not so great.