Halo 4 vs. Black Ops 2

Comparing Story, Campaign Experience, Multiplayer, and Other Game modes

This November 6^th you have an important decision to make.  Weigh the options and choose carefully.  Of course, I’m talking about whether you should buy Halo 4 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, though you could and should buy both if you are not strapped for cash.  For some, the choice is made with extreme fanboy prejudice and state how the other is trash.  Others figure their budget and free times are too short and are looking for the most efficient purchase.  Perhaps you might be deciding which one to give as a Christmas gift or which one you want to ask for this Christmas.  If you’re weighing your options, look no further for an objective view.

To judge these games before they come out, we must observe their predecessors and the expected divergences in these sequels.  Halo 4 is the 7^th Halo franchise video game and the 6^th first person shooter in the series (not counting Halo: Anniversary).  It follows the story where Halo 3 left off with main protagonist Master Chief John Spartan-117.  The latest Halo game before it is Halo: Reach.

Call of Duty (CoD): Black Ops 2 (BO2) is the 9^th Call of Duty game and is the 6^th what is referred to as “modern” Call of Duty in which the multiplayer engine, killstreaks, and player perks are present.  BO2 is a direct sequel to CoD: Black Ops made by Treyarch Studios.  The latest CoD game is Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) made by Infinity Ward.

SETTING & HISTORY:

The world of Halo spans the galaxy where humanity has colonized foreign planets to such a degree that few humans have been to or know someone from Earth.  Previous to the first game, prequel Halo: Reach began during the insurrection where colonies war for independence while the United Nations Space Corps (UNSC) maintained that cumulative resources are needed to support those colonies not self-sustaining.  To combat the insurrectionists, the central government created a super soldier “Spartan” program taking children and augmenting them for their cause.  However, the theocratic alien alliance known as the Covenant launched a surprise genocidal campaign against the humans declaring them an affront to their gods and obliterated humanity on planet Reach.

The first in the original trilogy of Halo games began after the fall of Reach when the Covenant discovered one of seven super weapons called “Halos” left over from a long extinct alien race known as the Forerunners.  The Covenant believed that activating the Halo would initiate “The Great Journey” to transcendence, when in reality its purpose is to wipe out all sentient life in order to extinguish an overwhelming alien parasite known as the Flood.  The last Spartan, Master Chief John-117, ended the war with the Covenant, destroyed a Halo installation, and exterminated the collective mind, or “Gravemind,” of the Flood at the end of Halo 3.  Severed from contact with all civilization, Master Chief froze himself in cryogenic suspended animation while his A.I. companion Cortana stands beside him with nothing to do but think as they float aimlessly through space.  When he wakes up 4 years later, Halo 4 begins.

For further analysis of the Original Halo Trilogy, see my article on Video Game Story Quality

The original Black Ops game took place during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States.  The main protagonist, covert black operative Alex Mason, fought through conflicts such as the Bay of Pigs and the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.  At the beginning of the game, he is strapped in a chair and interrogated to eventually discover that he has been brainwashed by the Soviets.   Numbers flash through his head and is repeatedly asked what the numbers mean.  Mason finally remembered what became planted in his head and uses it to stop a deadly chemical weapon known as Nova-6 being used against the USA.

Black Ops 2 takes place in the year 2025 aside from some flashbacks to the 1970s.  Frank Woods, a supporting protagonist in the original Black Ops, leads through the story of the 1970s while Alex Mason’s son faces the brave new world of near-future tech.  Drones led military presence, and as old Frank Woods suggests, the enemy steals the keys.

STORY (versus):

So what happens when the enemy does steal the keys?  David Goyer, best known as the cowriter of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, gives us the answer in BO2.  While Goyer’s involvement is the #1 reason to anticipate a story to compete with Halo, his work on the first Black Ops is only okay.  However, the premise is stronger with more room for creativity and profound value.  A future setting implies a warning and contemporary elements such as YouTube and the 99% movement make this world more plausible.  Call of Duty games may not have a history of great storytelling, but they have been good enough in the past.  Expect BO2 to be the CoD’s strongest story yet at the hands of David Goyer.

To say that the company who began the Halo franchise back in 2001, Bungie, created the Star Wars of video games is an understatement.   With the next trilogy of Halo 4-7 (the Reclaimer Trilogy) in the hands of 343 industries, the question remains whether 343 will continue the tradition of masterful storytelling in their first original game after Bungie finished their involvement in the franchise with Halo: Reach.  The expectation is absolutely positive.  Microsoft created 343 solely for the purpose of caretaking the Halo franchise and the company has already proven itself in storytelling with the superb “Halo Legends” anime short collection and the New York Times Bestselling “Forerunner Trilogy” of books.  On top of it all, they won’t be starting something that was not meant to be made.  In Halo 3’s ending, Master Chief floats aimlessly in the ship Forward Unto Dawn when it ominously approaches what appears to be an artificial Forerunner planet.  The direction of the new trilogy will be focusing on Master Chief more as a character than an allegory and delves deep into his past becoming a Spartan super soldier and how it relates to the Forerunners’ legacy.  In previous Halo games, a machine left behind by the Forerunners known as 343 Guilty Spark constantly refers to Master Chief as the reclaimer of what the Forerunners left behind and even refers to him as a Forerunner.  As the made-for-internet series “Forward Unto Dawn” leads into the story of Halo 4, watch it and catch up on Halo fiction in order to receive a rich experience out of the game’s campaign.

SPECULATION: 67% Halo 4, 33% Black Ops 2

CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCE (versus):

Halo has had a consistent standard of campaign gameplay that differs little from game to game.  While adding features and new enemies, the practice has always been a linearly directed gunfight and clever outmaneuvering of your opponent while picking up weapons left by your fallen adversaries.  The campaign mode is fun and is open enough to let the players kill off their opponents their own way while having the option of playing with up to 3 other players.  The graphics have been some of the best this generation of consoles has seen, and the cinematography is breathtaking art.  The increased difficulty and options to modify gameplay after the player finds skulls in game account for most of its replay value.  For its music, art, and story, campaign mode is worth experiencing several times like a movie.

BO2 takes a hard turn away from the traditional Call of Duty experience while keeping the core of gameplay the same.  In recent CoDs, each game has been going for a larger shock factor than the other and has been underdeveloped –thought of as an attached obligation to have in the game rather than a key component.  With quick deaths in the game, play style is extremely rigid with trial-&-error being the main key to success.  Black Ops 2, however, differs in one significant way in being able to choose paths in a non-linear fashion with more choices allowing the player to game in the way they find the most fun.  This change will also radically increase replay value.  Distracting however, are the lackluster graphics which lag severely behind rival first person shooters (fps).  CoD’s campaign is often completely ignored by those who buy it for multiplayer alone.  Overall, expect BO2’s campaign experience to rival the fun of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare back when single player gameplay was still paid attention to.

SPECULATION: 57% Halo 4, 43% Black Ops 2

MULTIPLAYER (versus):

Like single player campaign, Treyarch changes 5 years of stasis with Black Ops 2’s changes to multiplayer.  “Modern” CoDs have given the player 3 special abilities called “perks” giving the choice between a certain set within each slot with a primary and secondary weapon, a grenade, and a tactical grenade such as a flashbang.  BO2 changes that with its “pick 10” system allowing more customization than ever before while letting the player make cost/benefit analysis.  BO2 changes the endgame from previous CoD games from (sort of) impressing other players with earned rank and camouflage to having complete free range in customizability.  BO2 also changes killstreaks (rewards to players for kills in a row) to “score-streaks” rewarding objective play.  Most importantly, BO2 has removed all elements in the game that reward players for being bad at the game such as deathstreaks and perks that only activate after the player should have died.  Until now, Call of Duty has been comparable to college football without a playoff: loved but hated for being so imperfect.  Treyarch is out to make BO2 the most competitive CoD yet with skill and good decision deciding the winner in matches.  To reflect this attitude, BO2 is introducing the new “call-cast” feature and makes watching professional and otherwise competitive matches more fun than ever.  There will, however, likely be overpowered weapons and setups which dominate game lobbies with homologous, cheap characters.  The technical prowess of the series has not improved and has in fact declined.  The original Black Ops and MW3 boast some of the worst online connections in video games; however BO2’s connection cannot be accurately predicted at this time.  This game will undoubtedly be better than MW3 and has a chance to be the best CoD multiplayer yet, though without a beta there is still a significant chance BO2 will disappoint.

Halo 4 is evolving its multiplayer system rather than revolutionizing it.  Halo’s online gaming atmosphere is more casual than CoD’s and is more fun to some with better connections and less cheap, game-breaking elements.  343 is attempting to adapt some elements of Call of Duty into its game which gamers often find lacking in Halo.  It will increase the pace of the game with sprinting being an inherit ability in each player and will reward players for score-streaks with airdropped ordinance.  The types of vehicles will be expanded upon, and like before is apt to only enhance the online experience.  With Halo’s online gaming community being more focused on fun rather than frustration, Halo’s multiplayer is the clear choice for causal gamers while appealing to hardcore gamers alike.

SPECULATION: 58% Black Ops 2, 42% Halo 4

Other Game Modes (versus):

Spartan Ops is a new game mode that is essentially online multiplayer with a story.  Following the end of the campaign, a new breed of Spartans spars aboard the UNSC Infinity Spaceship and arrive at the Forerunner planet where the main story takes place.  The story of Spartan Ops will progress in free weekly episode downloads like a television show.  This is a grand evolution not just in Halo, but gaming in general for its production value, story in multiplayer, and price.

Zombie mode is an incredibly popular game-type Treyarch introduced in CoD: World at War with “Nazi Zombies.”  Its appeal is mainly conceptual and aesthetic gaining a following in a similar way to cult films.  To some, it has been second only to multiplayer mode, while others find the experience completely boring and appealing only as a gimmick.  Zombies mode has been expanded in BO2 with somewhat of an open world story mode, the traditional survival mode, and a new versus type where players on opposing teams try to screw over and outlast each other.  While Zombies mode would capably be competing with the survival-type mode of “Firefight” in Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach, it instead is up against a grand new multiplayer story mode.

SPECULATION: 60% Halo 4, 40% Black Ops 2

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is the most ambitious Call of Duty game to date as company Treyarch attempts to revitalize a creatively dying franchise.  Halo 4 is 343 Industries’ move to evolve the Halo franchise more than any of its predecessors.  Halo 4 will be a fantastic game with solid game mechanics, a deep and complex story while adding to what is already great.  Black Ops 2, while ambitious, is still a bit of a question mark whether the problems of past CoD games will plague it or if it will be the game that players have wanted the franchise to become since the first modern Call of Duty.  What is known for sure is Halo 4’s higher production value and artistic advantage as well as CoD’s addicting online juggernaut of a presence whether the game is good or bad.

The choice between the two should be determined by the type of gamer you are.  If you have no online connection with Xbox Live service, then the lack of Spartan Ops may tip you in the direction of BO2 if you enjoy the Zombie mode.  If you are new to first person shooters and lack skill in gaming, the online gaming community of Halo may be the friendlier option.  If you are an art and story appreciator, Halo 4 is your choice.  If you are into highly competitive gaming with your friends, BO2 is more your style.  All things being equal, Halo 4 is likely to be a better game, but both are worthy choices.

Continue following Leather Wing Media at leatherwingmedia.wordpress.com &/or follow the twitter handle @JBryanJones for post-launch coverage of Halo 4 and Black Ops 2.  Expect a review of Halo 4’s story and a first impressions article on Black Ops 2’s multiplayer.

The Dark Knight Rises Inspiration

The Graphic Novels that Inspired the Dark Knight Rises & How

“The Dark Knight Rises” teaches one big lesson when making good movies of comic book characters: Know the source material. From plot elements to character determinism to themes, inspirations from Batman’s graphic novels are profusely evident in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have constructed back to back masterpieces in their Batman trilogy. It ends the legend with tact and finesse while calling back to the first two movies seamlessly. While “Batman Begins” & “The Dark Knight” borrowed immensely from DC’s comics, the finale is the best example of this practice. Thanks in part to respecting the comics, DC’s characters were properly represented and skillfully portrayed by Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, and more. “The Dark Knight Rises” leaves a lasting impact and a shining example of how to adapt superheroes from graphic novels to a financially successful and cinematically brilliant movie franchise.

This is not a review, as there are many others that do this movie justice.

Followers of my blog already know I hold “The Dark Knight” in high esteem and what Batman graphic novels I regard as the best from my Ten Best Batman Stories article. Here I bring you what books inspired “The Dark Knight Rises” and in what way. I cannot say for sure that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer read them all, but the impact of these novels is surely felt.

Ten Best Batman Stories

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD

LAST CHANCE!  SPOILERS AHEAD!

Year One)

While “Year One” was the major influence to “Batman Begins,” its effect reverberates through the latter two Batman movies. It characterizes James Gordon extremely well with how he goes about fighting a futile struggle against corruption and his relationship with the Caped Crusader. Selina Kyle also makes an appearance and the novel grounds her in reality. While the movie used a more familiar Batman: The Animated Series/ Arkham Asylum (video game) characterization of Catwoman, this novel was the best revamp of the character up to the point at which “Year One” was published.

The Dark Knight Returns)

Bruce Wayne’s retiring as Batman and returning after years of depression is ripped straight from the pages of “The Dark Knight Returns.” While the specifics differ, he retires due to tragedy and lives out his days in shame growing out his beard and being recluse. His return is due to necessity, despite his broken body and aging spirit, though he was always waiting and wanting to return.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?)

This graphic novel was the definitive story for the end of Batman. The unique set of circumstances of Christopher Nolan’s Batman, however, makes him a different character having never fought the endless battles that the Dark Knight has in Detective Comics. He has never met Superman, joined the Justice League, recruited Robin, or battled dozens of enemies from his rouge’s gallery. So while “The Dark Knight Rises” may not be the definitive story of Batman’s end that Neil Gaiman’s novel is, it is the conclusive story of Christopher Nolan’s Batman. In “What Happened to the Caped Crusader,” one of the ways that Batman died was with him saving the city from a bomb in similar fashion to how he supposedly met his end in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Kingdom Come)

“Kingdom Come” is not on my “Ten Best Batman Stories” article because it does not star Batman any more than it stars Superman. One of the most critically acclaimed works in the entire medium, this apocalyptic graphic novel takes place in the heroes’ twilight years with Batman in a neck brace. It characterizes Batman’s obsession and includes the one-liner “So that’s what that feels like” when Superman disappears in the middle of conversation (Catwoman in the movie).

Vengeance of Bane)

“Vengeance of Bane” tells Bane’s origin story of how he was born and raised in a prison. The movie led audiences to believe this was Bane’s origin when it was changed into Talia’s, daughter of Ra’s al Ghul.

Son of the Demon)

Talia al Ghul was the character with which the most liberties were taken in “Rises.” She is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul but also in love with Bruce Wayne. In the movie, they become lovers briefly, but Talia ends up having no attachment to him. “Son of the Demon” is the most acclaimed graphic novel in which Talia al Ghul has a large role.

Knightfall)

Bane is often referred to as the man who “broke the bat.” In “Knightfall,” Bane systematically assaults Batman physically and mentally and breaks his back. In addition, the events of “Knightfall” lead to Alfred Pennyworth’s resignation as Bruce Wayne’s butler.

R.I.P.)

In “R.I.P.” the organization known as the “Black Glove” makes an assault against Batman and Bruce Wayne’s mind. The theme of Wayne’s metal instability, break, and eventual rise resonates with many sequences within the movie as well as its title.

The Long Halloween)

“I believe in Harvey Dent,” is the final line of this major influence for “The Dark Knight.” It details Harvey Dent’s descent into madness and his becoming of the crime lord “Two-Face.” One of the novel’s major themes is that once Batman clears the streets of most of its sane organized crime lords such as Falcone and Maroni, insane ones take their place. It raises the question as to how much of the rise of Gotham’s criminally insane is Batman’s fault, and how Gotham is a symbolic representation of Batman. In “Rises,” the streets are cleaned, the insane go berserk, and Gotham is Batman.

Legacy)

Bane and Ra’s al Ghul have teamed up in the comics during the “Legacy” story arc. Together, they seek to destroy Gotham City.

The Cult)

“Batman: The Cult” has the Dark Knight facing off against a large group of enemies who take control of the city in much of the same way as Bane and the freed criminals of Blackgate Prison do in “Rises.”  This extremely controversial and graphic book leaves the Batman temporarily broken, and he must come back to wage war on the Cult and their leader with his tank-like batmobile and other resources.

The Ten Best Batman Stories

Batman is one of the most celebrated characters in fiction, having starred in 10 live action films, 9 animated features, 28 video games, and countless comics and novels. With the upcoming release of the anticipated Dark Knight Rises movie, I decided to pile together my top ten Batman stories across all media. I can’t say that I’ve scoured the endless volumes of Batman tales that are continuously churned out, but I have ordered my personal favorites in having been an avid Batman fan since I was 3 years old.

All of the movies since Adam West’s campy rendition of the character in 1966 have been considered as well as the most widely acclaimed graphic novels. All works with Batman in less than a starring role or where he shares it with another hero were excluded as well all television series such as Batman: the Animated Series and Batman Beyond. All stories were measured by their standalone merit.

Disclaimer: This is not an evolving list and only includes stories released before July 2012 when this article was first posted.

Honorable Mention) Year One –by Frank Miller (Graphic Novel)

In 1986, writer Frank Miller was charged to bring back Batman as the dark figure of the night he was before the censorship of the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s. In addition to his “The Dark Knight Returns,” he wrote the hugely successful “Year One,” recounting the first year of Bruce Wayne’s dawning of his alternate persona. Batman lore owes a debt of gratitude to Miller, having rebuilt him as a brutal vigilante against street crime and corruption with all of the dark mentality that came with being one. It was the major inspiration for the movie “Batman Begins,” though it was not a direct adaptation. However, it does not make the top ten because it’s unable to stand on its own despite its lasting impression on future comics. Needing to recreate Gotham City’s image holds this story back, not being able to take the gritty environment readers know today for granted. This is the giant whose shoulders other stories stand on and come become even greater.

10) Arkham Asylum –by Paul Dini (Video Game)

In the dwellings of the psychotic criminals he put away, Batman faces trials from many high profile villains after they take control of Arkham Asylum in this sandbox style video game. Few other stories go as deep into how Batman always finds a way to win. While it adds little to the Batman legend, this is the perfect introduction to any incoming fan to learn about the tales of his supporting cast and his past triumphs. The classic voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are brilliant as Batman and the Joker respectively and add another level of legitimacy to the game. Its sequel, Arkham City, is similar in function and quality of story, so I’m putting them into the nine spot together. In this game, you feel like you are Batman.

9) Gotham Knight –by David Goyer, Josh Olson, and Alan Burnett (Animated)

The producers and writers of “Batman Begins” collaborated with six revered anime directors to create six chapters chronicling the time between the events of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” The result is a deep, dark, introspective look at the detective, urban legend, and man that is Batman. It is certainly one of the most creative pieces for the Caped Crusader. It is best enjoyed by fans of anime art styles rather than mainstream audiences who expect a seamless full length story.

8) Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth –by Grant Morrison (Graphic Novel)

 

In “A Serious House on Serious Earth,” the inmates of Arkham Asylum, led by the Joker, take over the crazy-house similar to the way it was done in the “Arkham Asylum” video game, albeit predating the game. Batman submits himself willingly to test his own sanity within the asylum’s walls, curious himself to see if his mind can withstand the scrutiny. The nature of madness is explored as is the feasibility of rehabilitating the criminally insane during the scenes telling the infamous hospital’s backstory through founder Amadeus Arkham, which run parallel to Batman’s introspection. The painting of Dave McKean is a strong, essential part of the narrative, contributing more to the story-telling than any other graphic novel’s artwork in memory. The bizarre and symbolic imagery warrants multiple reads and makes a case for surpassing a major inspiration, “Alice in Wonderland,” in story quality. However, the story is hindered by a lack of a strong plot and stakes. While the theme is strong, it seems to end too soon – just when it was reaching an apex of its thesis. It leaves the reader wanting, which is a mark of a good story that is not quite complete. If Grant Morrison’s novel was somehow combined with Paul Dini’s “Arkham Asylum,” it would be unsurpassable.

7)The Killing Joke –by Alan Moore (Comic book)

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “There were these two guys in a lunatic asylum…” Arguably the best Joker comic, it has gained notoriety as having expounded the limits of the Joker’s mad nature and for having paralyzed Barbara Gordon (previously known as Batgirl) with a bullet in her spine and taking naked photographs of her in pain. In following comics, Barbara was reimagined as Oracle, Batman’s wheel chair ridden go-to computer genius. In this story, Joker tells one of his many accounts of his origins and an inspirational one for the 1989 movie “Batman.” Joker’s goal: to drive Commissioner James Gordon insane from one bad day like both he and Batman have had.

6) The Dark Knight Returns –by Frank Miller (Graphic Novel)

It has been ten years since the death of Robin Jason Todd and the subsequent retirement of the Dark Knight. Society crumbled without the presence of Batman –even with the Joker in a catatonic state with no Batman to complete him. Bruce Wayne now seemingly seeks a good death in reprising his role as the caped crusader and ends up taking in a girl as the new Robin. While there are many highlights including the Joker, Two Face, and gang members, the moment with the longest impression is the end of the novel when Batman goes head-to-head with Superman, the “boy scout” who has become more or less a puppet of Ronald Reagan. Miller attempts to dive into the morality of Batman’s existence as a vigilante, however not as well as other stories in the countdown. “The Dark Knight Returns” is action packed enjoyment.

5) Mask of the Phantasm –by Alan Burnett (Animated)

This derivative of the Batman Animated Series revisits the past of the Dark Knight when recent events collide with old memories of Bruce Wayne’s love interest. It brings forth the best of the tone, music, voice acting, and animation style that made the Emmy winning Animated Series so revered and outstanding. This is the single best story concerning Batman’s vow to his murdered parents to extinguish the evil that took them and his sacrifices to fulfill that promise.

 

 

4) Death Mask –by Yoshinori Natsume (Graphic Novel)

Too little delved into is Bruce Wayne’s training before he returned to Gotham to assume the role as the Dark Knight. In this manga style graphic novel, Batman’s old ghosts from his training in Japan come back to haunt him when the detective finds that a murderer is stealing faces. This often overlooked novel tackles the symbolism of Batman dressed as a somewhat demonic looking being to incur fear. It is a fresh and riveting mystery where Batman battles an embodiment of an inner demon.

 

 

3) Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? –by Neil Gaiman (Graphic Novel)

Deriving its title from Alan Moore’s tale of Superman’s end, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” writer Neil Gaiman correctly observes that Batman’s legend could never end like Superman’s with a wink and a smile. Batman would never stop his crusade or his obsession to rid Gotham of crime, an impossible feat, not until he was dead. One of the biggest difficulties in writing such a story is that fans would not be satisfied with Batman’s death, thinking that it should have happened in a different way. However, the brilliant structure of the novel has both enemies and friends of Batman recounting their own versions of his death at his surrealistic funeral from Selina Kyle to the Joker, from Alfred Pennyworth to Superman. All versions strongly describe a different characteristic of Batman from obsession to fear mongering to selflessness. Many seek a definitive volume detailing how the legends of the various superheroes end. For Batman, “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is that volume.

2) Under the Red Hood –by Judd Winick (Animated)

The unpopular character reprising the role of Batman’s Robin sidekick, Jason Todd, was voted by readers to be killed by the Joker by calling a 900 number. The result was the graphic novel “A Death in the Family,” on which the animated “Under the Red Hood” is based off of in addition to the graphic novel “Under the Hood.” This unexpected masterpiece comes out during a time of mediocre Batman animated features without the classic voice actors of the Dark Knight and the Joker but still excels with John DiMaggio and Bruce Greenwood in their roles. It ambitiously tackles Batman’s struggle to not kill and cross the line between vigilante and criminal with the Red Hood, a mysterious figure who does just that. In showcasing many characteristics that make Batman uniquely him, “Under the Red Hood” does it best with the most superb dialogue existing in Batman lore.

1) The Dark Knight –by David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan (Live Action)

There is little I can say to add to the evaluation of Christopher Nolan’s indisputable cinematic masterpiece. The “Dark Knight” movie’s high entertainment value and the Oscar winning performance of Heath Ledger is the take-away for most viewers, but to those who understand Batman, it is so much more. It, in fact, changed the Academy Awards indefinitely by not being nominated for best picture and sparking outrage among audiences and critics, prompting an expansion in the number of films that could be nominated in the following years. This sequel to “Batman Begins” philosophically challenges the essence of Batman with his counter point, the anarchistic madman known as the Joker. In this story, the Dark Knight himself is a parable of guardians and protectors in all forms from government to police to vigilantes. His imperfect yet incorruptible design transcends heroism. In the end, this story makes a case for the justification of Batman’s very existence.

So here’s to hoping that “The Dark Knight Rises” will join this list…

Other Honorable Mentions:
The Long Halloween (Graphic Novel), Subzero (Animated), Batman Begins (Live Action)

All projects are collaborative and take the dedicated work of many to complete. For simplicity’s sake, I only named the writers of the works in my top ten Batman story countdown.

For more information on the top graphic novels, I recommend visiting IGN at http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html