I’m baaack!

After a long hiatus getting my tumblr Chic Gone Geek up and running,

I’ve decided that I miiight have the time to continue updating both blogs :) They really compliment each other; my “prose” and reviews will be here, and all of the great art and other stuff I find on Tumblr will be reblogged on CGG, as well as any stuff that’s non-Batgirl and -DC related.

There is so much going on with Batgirl and DC especially with the new 52, so I’m super excited to continue contributing to the conversation especially after so long a break. Stay tuned for more!

A Wonder Woman animated series–could it happen?

I hope you all caught Wonder Woman’s three minutes of fame in Batman: The Brave and the Bold! If not, I found it on the almighty YouTube:

From the classic song to Wonder Woman kicking butt with her silver bracelets and holding Steve in her arms atop the invisible jet…it was awesome. Vicki Lewis did a great job voicing Diana too–she voiced Persephone in WW’s animated film. It was campy to be sure, B&TB excels in that, but still, it was classic Wonder Woman and the first time we’ve seen her on any screen in quite a while.

Speaking of which, it’s more than a little ironic that this comes less than two weeks after NBC dropped Wondy’s live-action series and apparently hasn’t thought much about it since.

I wonder–could Wonder Woman have her own animated series in the near future? Her animated film was received well, and she was a central character in the Justice League show, with some fantastic WW-centered episodes. A potential animated series could begin with a younger Diana in Themyscira (perhaps catering to a younger demographic), or pick up where the film left off. Goodness (or is that Goddess?) knows Wonder Woman has the depth of character and the fanbase to carry her own show, animated or otherwise, for multiple seasons.

Wonder Woman was a major character in the Justice League show; episodes that centered around her include "Paradise Lost," "To Another Shore," and "The Balance."

Even so, while many animated shows are brilliant, they admittedly don’t create the same amount of acclaim, attention and exposure as live-action shows and films (Justice League is probably a rare exception). Cartoons still carry the stigma of being “just for kids,” and they often aren’t created for and marketed to a wider demographic.

And I have to mention that Wonder Woman is one of the “Big Three” in DC, along with Superman and Batman, yet she’s constantly getting the short end of the stick. Currently, Supes and Bats have multiple live-action films, animated films, and television shows (though Smallville just wrapped up); and Wondy? One animated film and failed attempts at her own show and movie. Even in comics, Bats and Supes have multiple titles but Wonder Woman only has one.

Wonder Woman's animated film ranked second of IGN's Best DC Animated Films.

Wonder Woman has the potential to have a fabulous animated show, but as long as DC doesn’t settle for it–hopefully it could be a stepping stone for something more–and at the moment, it would certainly be better than nothing. DC will have their own programming block, “DC Nation,” on Cartoon Network soon, so now is likely the best time to get it rolling.

Would you rather see Wonder Woman as a cartoon, or is live-action the only way to go?

Phoenix Comicon is here!!

Geeking out doesn’t even begin to cover it: I’m making the trip to Phoenix Comicon!!

Batgirl: The Flood Released Today!

Batgirl: The Flood, written by Bryan Q. Miller and illustrated by Lee Garbett and Pere Perez, has been released today! Pick it up at your local comic shop, your favourite bookstore, or online.

It has Batgirl! Techno-zombies! Oracle! Supergirl! Dracula! And more zombies!

What could be better?

And what a perfect day to release the trade: today is also Carmine Infantino’s birthday, the creator of Barbara Gordon.

Will Barbara Gordon be in The Dark Knight Rises?

Multiple sources report that three new actors have been added to The Dark Knight Rises cast, though their roles are remaining a secret: Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, and Joey King. You may recognize Joey from her role as Ramona from Ramona and Beezus:

DCWKA and MTV have both speculated that Joey might portray Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon’s daughter and the future Batgirl. She’s the perfect age not to mention adorable, and I would love to see Barbara finally make an appearance. If we are right, however, chances are slim to none that she’ll be donning a mask. Joey is the right age for Babs, but too young for Batgirl; and while I wouldn’t put anything past Nolan, it would also feel too rushed to introduce Batgirl and/or Robin in the final movie of the trilogy. (Any films afterwards, however, is fair game!)

There is another possibility: Josh Pence has been cast as a young Ra’s al Ghul, and the DKR crew is reportedly building a structure very similar to a Lazarus Pit. So there’s a chance that King could instead portray a young Talia al Ghul, perhaps making an appearance in this supposed flashback.

But of course mum’s the word when it comes to Nolan’s third Batman film, and rumors and speculation are half the fun! What are your thoughts on this new casting?

Pink Batgirl Cosplay!

Who says you can’t fight crime in pink?

Thanks to Fashionably Geek and The Mary Sue!

To Walk or Not to Walk: Barbara Gordon in Batman Beyond

Even though Batman Beyond takes place fifty years in the future, it’s enjoying quite a bit of attention in the present. Almost a decade after the original show was cancelled, the world of Batman Beyond has resurfaced in comics with its own miniseries and ongoing title. And with the  announcement of a Superman Beyond miniseries to debut this fall, we might be looking at the birth of a full-fledged alternate universe.

I grew up with the show as well as the DCAU (DC Animated Universe) at large, so I’m no less than thrilled about its revival in the comic book world; but I’m also curious about Barbara Gordon’s character in the series. Her appearances have been occasional thus far, but as the current Commissioner in Gotham, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing more of her soon. Question is, which Barbara Gordon will we see– her DCAU character, or a future version of the present Oracle? Or, perhaps, a blending of both? The answer will have lasting repercussions on her character in the series, not to mention the standing of Batman Beyond as an alternate universe or the mainstream continuity’s actual future.

For those of you unfamiliar with the DCAU or Timmverse, the term refers to several DC animated shows including Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited, which share their own continuity. For more about it, see here.

Barbara Gordon in the Batman Beyond show is almost unrecognizable from her present counterpart, and for good reason–it takes place fifty years in the future! Babs’ red locks have turned gray, and she has taken her father’s place as GCPD’s Commissioner; unsurprisingly, it takes her a while to warm up to the new Batman in town. But most importantly, this Barbara Gordon can walk. That’s right: no wheelchair. Along with several other inconsistencies, the events of The Killing Joke don’t exist in the DCAU continuity. (Yes, that’s one big reason why I love the DCAU so much!)

From the show, we learn that Barbara, as Batgirl, worked side-by-side with Batman and Robin, then just with Batman after Dick left for Bludhaven as Nightwing. Eventually, she hung up the cape. Her life between then and the Commissioner’s chair is still a mystery, though she is married to Sam Young, Gotham’s District Attorney.

This might seem minor to some, but whether or not Barbara can walk is a key element that greatly influences her character and presence. In the show, Babs gets proactively involved in the police force, accompanies them on missions and keeps a close eye on Terry. We see this when her husband is targeted by the assassin Curaré, when Batman supposedly goes rogue, and several other instances. While this isn’t impossible for one who is handicapable–and who knows where technology is at in the future?–staying true to the DCAU version certainly gives her different possibilities as a character.

So, is Barbara in the new Batman Beyond series in a wheelchair, or not?

Here are some brief scenes with Barbara, in both the miniseries and current ongoing series:

As you can see, Barbara hasn’t once risen out of her chair, nor been shown outside of her office. Is she sporting some futuristic wheelchair behind that desk? Or is it merely a coincidence that Barbara happens to be sitting in her office in every scene? There’s no reference to Oracle, the Birds of Prey, or another hint that would point towards the main continuity. Whether or not she can walk remains ambiguous.

So far, I’ve been discussing the DCAU and the mainstream universe as a binary, but there’s another possibility. Perhaps the Batman Beyond comics will blend the mainstream continuity and the DCAU continuity, especially when it comes to Barbara. Here’s what I’m thinking: maybe Barbara was shot by the Joker, became Oracle and so on (mainstream), but as technology progressed, she was healed and can now walk (how she appears in the DCAU). It’s certainly a possibility, but bring on the headache when you try to discern which continuity the series belongs to.

When it comes to Barbara, I’m more than a little biased. Of course I want to see Babs not only walking around, but also kicking butt on Gotham’s streets as the Comish–but in this universe, it’s actually possible.

DCAU images thanks to The World’s Finest.