To celebrate the launch of the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, we are going to post a review of the first thirty issues of Batman every day up to the release. So, be sure to check back on Thursday June 19th for the first installment when we review Detective Comics #27.

The latest incarnation of The Incredible Hulk took in a little over $54 million domestically this weekend. So, now that the gamma dust has settled, what did you think about it? Was it better than the Ang Lee film? What do the hardcore fans think about the references to the super soldier serum? For me it was kind of middle of the road, but the group I watched it with, whom had little or no background on the big green guy thought it was pretty good. Could it be that this Hulk has better mass appeal?

They can’t all be as good as Iron Man. Maybe I’m wrong, but the Punisher War Zone trailer does not look good. This is the third attempt at the Punisher franchise. When will they learn to just adapt a Garth Ennis story?

Ever since the release of the trailer for The Spirit, the internet (and our customers) have pointed out that it looks too much like Sin City. Especially the lonesome red highlights among an otherwise black and white trailer. Well, Frank Miller has listened to these concerns and takes some time to blog about it and says,

To drive the point home, THE SPIRIT, despite any accidental impression left by that kickass teaser-trailer, is a full-color movie. SIN CITY—and I hope to make of it a movie trilogy all its own, come Hell and high water—is, visually, a playhouse for black and white.

How else could we follow up the longest Showcase podcast ever? With the second longest Showcase podcast ever! Last week, Chase and Blake took apart ever Marvel Comics movie to date, and this week, they do the same for DC. Everything from Superman and the Mole Men and the Adam West Batman to looks ahead at The Dark Knight and Watchmen is part of this giant-size episode. In the picks this week, Chase cheers for Franklin Richards: Not-So-Secret Invasion #1, while Blake is stunned at how Supergirl has become a must-read comic. Next week, a normal-sized episode (we hope!) about our favorite Valiant Comics, followed by our long-awaited spotlight on The Incredible Hulk! E-mail us with your comments, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network
Direct download: Ep._70_DCMovies.mp3

Ever since the announcement to green light the Watchmen movie we have speculated as to how they could possibly fit every back story and supplemental item into the film. Warner Brothers will be releasing a straight to DVD animated feature tentatively titled Tales of the Black Freighter. If you’ve ever read Watchmen (and you should have) you can now rest assured that one of the back story problems has been solved. The big question is whether or not the studio will print out all of the book excerpts and newspaper articles to read while waiting in line at the theater.

Prepare yourself for the biggest 2 in 1 Showcase ever! With no less than five comic book movies coming out this summer and more planned for the fall, the Showcase boys decided to do a two-part episode talking about all the Marvel and DC movies to date. What neither of them expected was that both parts would be gargantuan. In this double-sized episode, the guys break down all of the Marvel films by franchise, debate the merits, and give their own rating of each and every one — and the discussion lasts longer than some of the movies! In this week’s picks, Blake loves the new Guardians of the Galaxy, while the conclusion of “Last Son of Krypton” makes Action Comics Annual Chase’s choice. Next week, the guys tackle the DC movies, in another giant podcast! E-mail us with your comments, “Ask Chase Anything” questions, or anything else at Showcase@comixtreme.com!

Music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network
Direct download: Ep._69_MarvelMovies.mp3

Confession time. I had no urge to see the movie adaptation of Mark Millar and JG Jones’ Wanted…until now. Empire has an exclusive featurette with extended footage and interviews with Mark Millar. According to Millar, the first 40 minutes of the film is taken directly from the graphic novel. Let’s hope that the rest of the film doesn’t sway off course. I have a feeling that the movie will end completely different than the book. However, the movie does look like an over the top violent romp. Be sure to watch the scene with the keyboard smack to the face. It’s an instant classic.

Two of my favorite pop culture icons growing up were Speed Racer and Star Wars. I didn’t get to see Speed Racer this weekend (I’d rather remember it like it was), but from what I’ve heard the best part of the movie was the trailer the animated Star Wars: Clone Wars animated feature. I’m not a fan of the prequels, but the trailer does look pretty good.

Thank you to everyone that not only made it out to the premier of Iron Man last Tuesday, but for also making this year’s Free Comic Book Day our best yet. This year we gave out over a thousand free comics, HeroClix, and other cool stuff. A special thanks to everyone in the 501st for coming by with some great costumes, Anthony Figaro, Vernon Smith and Karen Chen of The Adventures of Dexter Breakfast, Doug and Monty of welcometobordercity.com, Robby Musso of Transformers and Speed Racer fame, and to Chase and Blake of 2 In 1 Showcase for covering the entire event. Mark your calendars for next year, Free Comic Book Day will be on May 2, 2009 and we promise it will be huge. Also, the new website should debut within the next week and just to whet your appetite, the image above is part of our new web design.