BATMAN NOTES

Paramount Set To Aquire Warner Bros.

Netflix bows out in the bidding war for Warner Bros. after latest Paramount offer.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - 1/6th scale Batman

(Battle Damaged Version) Collectible Figure

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Frank Miller’s comic series Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. In this classic story, an aging 55-year-old Bruce Wayne emerges from a decade of retirement to reclaim the mantle of the Dark Knight in a decaying, crime-ravaged Gotham. No longer the sleek vigilante of his youth, this brutish Batman fights with raw ferocity against street gangs, Joker, and even a government-controlled Superman, embodying an uncompromising vision of justice in a world gone mad.

The gray battle-worn Batsuit is finely tailored in elastic fabric material, complete with realistic tears and blood paint applications. A wired and weathered blue cape flows behind him, while the utility belt, forearm gauntlets, and boots all feature blood paint applications. The figure also comes with a cowl in a mask-off state that can be attached to the body with the Bruce Wayne head sculpt, allowing for the replication of the look with the cowl removed for an alternative display style. Armed for war, Batman comes equipped with four Batarangs, a rope-attached Batarang, and a rifle. The figure is completed with a specially designed display stand.

Scarred but unstoppable, this Battle-Damaged Batman figure stands as a powerful tribute to one of the most influential depictions of the Dark Knight.

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THE BATMAN PART II Begins Filming Late May

According to recent reports, including from Variety, Matt Reeves’ sequel to The Batman, titled The Batman Part II, is preparing to start principal photography this spring, with a more specific target of late May for cameras to roll.

Robert Pattinson is set to return as Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter ego, Batman.

Casting rumors suggest Sebastian Stan will take on the role of Harvey Dent (the district attorney who becomes the villain Two-Face in many Batman stories), while Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks or attached to play Dent’s wife, Gilda (though this remains unconfirmed officially by the studio).

The film is currently scheduled for theatrical release on October 1, 2027, following multiple previous delays that have shifted it from earlier dates like 2025 and 2026. This Elseworlds DC project continues to build anticipation after the success of the 2022 original and the The Penguin spinoff series.

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The New Fred and Barney Show: The Complete Series

Nearly two decades after its original TV premiere, Hanna-Barbera revived The Flintstones in 1979 with The New Fred and Barney Show. This collection includes all 17 episodes of the series, which looked to recapture the charm, humor, and timeless appeal that made the classic original a beloved favorite for generations.

Being a huge fan of the original show The Flintstones (1960–1966), I was always intrigued with the newer animated shows that came out such as The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971–1976) and this series, The New Fred and Barney Show (1979). This is the first time I’ve watched any of these 17 episodes since it originally aired over 45 years ago. Although this series did bring back the fun-loving stone aged family and their equally lovable neighbors, the episodes aren’t quite as funny and maybe most importantly (for me at least) Henry Corden’s voice just isn’t the same as Alan Reed’s original Fred Flintstone.

The video quality here is interesting; although most of the animated cells look crisp, while managing to keep some of the natural film grain, there are noticeable blurry shots that almost make it look like you’re looking through an out of focus camera.

One of the blurry shots (left) next to what most of the animation looks like (right).

VIDEO QUALITY 📽️ : C+

Even with a bit of blurriness popping up here and there, this 1080p presentation is hands-down the best these episodes have ever looked—sharper, more vibrant, and more detailed than anything I’ve seen before.

Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1

AUDIO QUALITY 🔈 : B+

Dolby Digital works really well here for a straightforward 2.0 mono mix. The music, sound effects, and dialogue all come through clearly and feel nicely balanced with the visuals.

Audio

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)

EXTRAS 📀 : F

There are zero extras here. No digital copy, and no featurettes.

OVERALL GRADE: C

These episodes aren’t nearly as enjoyable as the original series, but the animation smartly plays to the strengths of the endearing characters, iconic sound effects, catchy music, and laugh track to hold your attention. As a big Flintstones collector, I’d say this blu-ray set is a must-have for completists, though anyone expecting the peak charm and comedy of the classic run could end up underwhelmed.

You can purchase this release at Amazon.

Subtitles: English SDH
Discs: Two-disc set (2 BD-50) Blu-ray Disc
Playback: 2K Blu-ray: Region free

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Clayface Pushed Back A Month

Warner Bros. has pushed the release date of ‘CLAYFACE’ to October 23, 2026. The solo film of the Batman villain was originally slated for a September 11th release.

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