Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Mr. Cinema]

I remember Universal used to use one kind of DVD case where the center hub was made up of about 6 "teeth". That's the best way to describe it. And they broke very easily. I hated those. I think they started using those around the time Man on the Moon debuted.

Back to the BTTF and The Office Season 6 packaging, why not just choose packaging with the regular center hubs? Was the case designer just trying to come up with something else and Universal said "okay, we'll take it". Center hubs are the standard. I just don't get why they want to go this route, where the discs are tougher to remove. Hopefully they get enough broken cases returned and wise up.

I'm wondering though, once the digital copies go away, if the BTTF set will be redesigned and they go back to the center hub style.

[Doctorossi]

Hey, folks-

I have a hankering for some Batman. I haven't read any since The Dark Knight Lives Again, about which the less said, the better. Can anyone recommend to me a more recent encapsulated story or chunk of continuity, very preferably one available in collected form (ie. TPB)?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Hey, folks-

I have a hankering for some Batman. I haven't read any since The Dark Knight Lives Again, about which the less said, the better. Can anyone recommend to me a more recent encapsulated story or chunk of continuity, very preferably one available in collected form (ie. TPB)?

Uh yeah, I have a LONG list. Its called Dark Knight Strikes Back btw.

Here are the batman story arcs from the last few years:

Batman and Son
The Resurrection of Ras Al Ghul
The Black Glove
Batman RIP
Battle for the Cowl
Batman and Robin Vol. 1 (Vol 2 will be released in Nov.)

More graphic novels coming up.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Its called Dark Knight Strikes Back btw.

Or just... 'Agony' will do fine. 'Shameful Waste' is good. How 'bout, 'No'? I like that one.

Originally Posted by merrick97

Here are the batman story arcs from the last few years:

Yes, but which are the good ones?



Thanks, Merrick!

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Or just... 'Agony' will do fine. 'Shameful Waste' is good. How 'bout, 'No'? I like that one.



Yes, but which are the good ones?



Thanks, Merrick!

You want the Morrison storyline. Here is what I suggest:

Batman & Son
Batman: The Black Glove
Batman RIP
Final Crisis
Batman & Robin vol 1: Batman Reborn

In that order. Technically Final Crisis is not necessary as the Batman-pertinent info is discussed in the other books, but it is a great story and has some important Batman moments.

Upcoming graphic novels that continue Morrison's run will be:
Batman & Robin vol 2: Batman vs. Robin
Batman: Time and the Batman
The Return of Bruce Wayne
Batman: The Road Home

For older, more standalone Batman stories, I recommend:

A Death In The Family
Knightfall vol 1-3
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory

and it sounds like you've already read The Dark Knight Returns (considering you mentioned its weird follow-up), but obviously that title is highly recommended as well.

[Q?]

Hey Jeff, I was wondering why studios in their announcements of upcoming Blu-rays never list wether they're locked or region free? It would certainly make it easier for us foreigners, instead of keeping track of different sites for info.

If you can list what subtitles or even what trailers are included, listing region coding info should be no hassle.

[Jeff Kleist]

Because the domestic studios doing the announcements aren't selling to foreigners,and aren't technically allowed to do so. While they are well aware of the fact that discs are being exported, and may take steps to make sure they're playable, they can't officially acknowlege it because they'll piss off their licensor or the other children in the family

[Q?]

I had an inkling, that's why I have a few BD listed as Region A, when it's not the case. No reason to complain now.

Thanks.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Or just... 'Agony' will do fine. 'Shameful Waste' is good. How 'bout, 'No'? I like that one.



Yes, but which are the good ones?



Thanks, Merrick!

IMO they are all good and worth reading. They all are kinda necessary reading, but if I had to pick the best of those I mentioned it would be without question Batman and Robin. Those issues feature Dick Grayson as Batman.

If we want to expand things to include ALL Batman:

My favorites are:

Year One
Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Hush
Killing Joke
The Man Who Laughs (this story had a FAR bigger influence on Dark Knight than people give it credit for)

I have mentioned most of the obvious graphic novels.

I also post on the Comic Book Resources (CBR) forums and I would recommend you take a look at this thread

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...9#post11930769

It should have everything you want to know. See posts 13 and 14 if you want an easier to read list. That list more or less represents most of the current continuity.

Most of my posting on CBR is about the great (and VERY expensive) Marvel omnibus collections. I have been collecting those and have read a lot of great Marvel stories. Although I am VERY picky about what I read that was written prior to the mid-late 70s.

[Doctorossi]

Thanks, guys- that gives me a lot to work with!

[MerrickG]

Jeff,

Enjoying Fable 3?

I am surprised with the reviews its getting. They are still good reviews, but not GREAT like I was expecting.

Fallout: New Vegas is very much worth owning. I have been playing it non stop and my only complaint is the occasional freezing. It is basically the same game as Fallout 3, but thats exactly what I wanted.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I like the Rangers chances, but baseball is the epitome of sports in which anything can happen.

SF has a slight pitching edge overall, but Texas has an extreme hitting advantage. If the Rangers bats go cold, they won't win the series.

Exactly!

Who would have thought beforehand the final score would be 11-7 in a game started by two of the very top pitchers in the game.

Should be another very interesting game tonight!

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Exactly!

Who would have thought beforehand the final score would be 11-7 in a game started by two of the very top pitchers in the game.

Should be another very interesting game tonight!

Neither Lincecum nor Lee pitched well in that game. I wasn't too surprised that Lee had a hard time because Lee has had the least amount of success against line-ups that are of the free swinging variety that SF is. Lee is at his best when he faces line ups that have patient hitters who try to draw walks (like Tampa Bay and the Yankees)

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Exactly!

Who would have thought beforehand the final score would be 11-7 in a game started by two of the very top pitchers in the game.

Should be another very interesting game tonight!

Cain has looked fantastic the past 2 months and was dominating in his last two playoff games. He's well rested and as long as he isn't too rusty the first couple of innings, I give the edge to the home team.

Also, Vlad looked horrendous in right field last night. I doubt we'll see him play again as a fielder in this series.

[Jeff Kleist]

My fable hasn't come yet, too bad cause my friend is waiting to be my *****

[Jeff Kleist]

Those who are/were Satoshi Kon fans, we've set up a memorial tribute for him that everyone can participate in. If you have the time or inclination, the more the merrier

http://www.otakon.com/satoshikonfarewell.asp

[DenonCI]

Originally Posted by DenonCI

Cain has looked fantastic the past 2 months and was dominating in his last two playoff games. He's well rested and as long as he isn't too rusty the first couple of innings, I give the edge to the home team.

Also, Vlad looked horrendous in right field last night. I doubt we'll see him play again as a fielder in this series.

Wow...what an 8th inning for the Giants! Took a nail biter and made it a blowout.

Get ready for Sanchez on Saturday. If he gets his first pitch in for a strike, he's damn near unhittable when he has control. He has the nastiest stuff on the Giants staff, believe it or not, but he can be wild as hell.

[neo_reloaded]

Ugh we're talking about sports in the Digital Bits thread now too? It's bad enough in the Penton thread!

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Ugh we're talking about sports in the Digital Bits thread now too? It's bad enough in the Penton thread!

Seconded. And I like baseball/football.

[Jeff Kleist]

I keep having to remind people this is a sports free zone