Mondo BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Vinyl Box Set + WWOHP Orlando!

I'm long overdue for a post. I've been keeping pretty busy and didn't want to half ass my blog just for the sake of getting something up so decided to wait until I had a chance to take some proper pictures and type out something relatively thoughtful. Blogging regularly (or doing anything of value regularly I guess) is hard work!

I've had a few ideas for blog posts in the queue so, to get a better idea of what to write about next, I took a (very sad) poll on my Twitter account (which you should click and follow because my account is sad and needs more friends). I got a WHOPPING 2 VOTES from people interested in seeing a post on my Batman: The Animated Series vinyl box set from Mondo.

So here you have it, 2 friends voters! More Mondo!

The box set was announced last September and released for pre-order on November 18. I set a calendar reminder to buy the limited print box set that morning... for a mere $225... despite not having a vinyl player (a problem that one of these days will be rectified)... because the box set was JUST. SO. BEAUTIFUL. *SNIFF*

I mean look at it!

Well, I'm glad I bought it when I did because, if I recall correctly, it sold out within a couple of hours like so many of Mondo's other products. I read that they had a limited number of these box sets for sale at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, WA a couple of weekends ago and hope some lucky Batman and/or Mondo fans had a chance to swoop them up, i.e. NOT RESELLERS WHO RUIN THINGS FOR EVERYONE! Boooooo yoooou, resellers!

Although I can't speak to the quality of the actual music (yet) though I already know I love all of the music from Batman: TAS, I wanted to at least show off the amazing art and other details of the box set.

Front of the box set. The Batman logo incorporated with the Gotham skyline is perfect.

The yellow bar is just a paper side cover that came with the packaging, completely removable

Back of the box set with paper side cover

Side panel (obviously without the paper side cover)

The other side panel, the portion of the box set that slides out, showcases the vinyl titles

Now the individual vinyls...

All the vinyls actually looked exactly the same, but the front and back cover art for each were custom to the music.

This first vinyl includes music from episodes "On Leather Wings" and "Terror in the Sky" of Batman: TAS. The artwork features Dr. Kirk Langstrom in his Man-Bat form on the front cover with Batman and Francine Langstrom and then Dr. Langstrom in his lab in his human form on the back cover.

Next vinyl includes music from episodes "Beware the Gray Ghost" and "Fire from Olympus." These vinyls make me want to watch the entire series again so I can get a refresher on some of these episodes (why haven't they released it on Blu-Ray though?). I definitely remember "Beware the Gray Ghost" and only somewhat recall "Fire from Olympus" based on the art. Front art cover is of the Gray Ghost, Commissioner Gordon, and Batman. The back cover features Max or "Zeus" as he referred to himself in the series.

Next vinyl features music from "Almost Got 'Im" and "The Man Who Killed Batman." Front cover shows the Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc playing a game of poker. I loved this episode, "Almost Got 'Im." Each of the villains talk about the time they ALMOST killed Batman and when it comes Killer Croc's turn, his story is literally just "I THREW A ROCK AT HIM!" and then after some awkward silence, he adds "It was a really big rock."

Spoiler, Killer Croc is actually Batman under cover. He eventually reveals himself and wrecks the place. Sigh. I love Batman.

Anyway, I had to Google "The Man Who Killed Batman" and realized the person on the back cover is Sid "The Squid." I definitely need to re-watch this entire series. There are so many good episodes.

This next vinyl includes music from episodes "Vendetta" and "Mudslide." Front cover features Killer Croc while back cover features Clayface.

Next vinyl has music from episodes "Nothing to Fear" and "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?" I don't recall these episodes specifically but Scarecrow and Riddler are on the front and back cover of this one. Out of the entire box set, I have to say the artwork on this one is my favorite.

Next up, the vinyl featuring music from "Joker's Favor" and "Harlequinade." Front cover is of Joker with a person hanging from the brim of his hat. I believe it's Charlie Collins, the one who owes Joker the favor in the aforementioned episode. Back art features Harley Quinn.

The below vinyl is dedicated to Mr. Freeze with music from "Heart of Ice" and "Deep Freeze." Cover art features Mr. Freeze. The ballerina is supposed to represent his fatally ill and cryogenically frozen wife, Nora Fries. Back cover art shows Victor Fries during the accident that led him to become Mr. Freeze in Batman: TAS, grasping at his wife in her cryogenic tube. Tell me Mr. Freeze's story isn't some super dark, messed up shit.

Another vinyl in the box set is dedicated to Harvey Dent/Two-Face with music from "Two Face," Parts 1 and 2. Front cover is Two-Face with the back cover featuring Harvey Dent in the hospital after the accident that led him to become Two-Face. That's not creepy at all.

Can't wait to give these all a listen (eventually... when I buy a vinyl player)! I wonder if they'll release a second set of vinyls with even more music from other episodes. This animated series had such an amazing soundtrack. I do own the Batman: TAS Soundtrack CDs so at least I have those, but let's be honest, they're not nearly as cool as the vinyls.

The box set also came with mugshots of Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, the Joker, Killer Croc, and the Penguin in a Gotham City Police Department envelope, just some fun additions.

Not going to lie, honestly too lazy to look it up, but the numbers look like they represent the dates and episodes each character first appeared. 

Backs of all cards were identical

And, not included in the box set, but wanted to post this BONUS MONDO VINYL!

A while ago, Mickey came home and surprised me with this Harley Quinn 7-inch Mondo vinyl. Some girls get chocolates and flowers, I get Batman goodies. It's a pretty good life.

Mondo created 5 Batman: The Animated Series 7-inch vinyls for Batman's 75th Anniversary. The vinyl sleeves featured Harley Quinn, the Joker, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, and Man-Bat. Click through the link to see the other 4 sleeves. The artwork and actual vinyls are really representative of each character and the Batman: TAS style. Man-Bat's cover includes wings. Coooool. I kind of wish I had all 5, but not sure if I'd actually pull the trigger if I saw them somewhere in-stores. Unlike the larger Batman: TAS vinyl box set, these smaller vinyls only feature the Batman: TAS beginning and end credits. Still, the Harley Quinn 7-inch vinyl is a nice-to-have. :)

While I have you, I also wanted to share that, this past weekend, Mickey and I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL! It was my first time since any of the WWOHP attractions opened and Mickey's first time since they expanded the WWOHP attractions.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Forbidden Journey ride, as seen from Hogsmeade at Universal's Islands of Adventure

Gringott's Bank, the Escape from Gringott's ride, as seen from down Diagon Alley at Universal Studios

Micks and I did some shopping at Hogsmeade, Knockturn Alley, and Diagon Alley so wanted to share some of the goods.

They started offering interactive wands that you can use around WWOHP in Orlando and Hollywood. They recently came out with wands that coincide with the Celtic calendar so Mickey and I each bought the wands that coincide with our birthdays. With other wands, you have a choice of either interactive or non-interactive, but all the Celtic calendar wands are interactive.

I also purchased some overpriced notebooks because they looked so cool. One was a Deatheater notebook with a leather strap wraparound enclosure and a Hufflepuff notebook with a sweet metal coat of arms on the cover. I ended up choosing Hufflepuff because that was the first house I was sorted into on Pottermore and I've since accepted my house. I accidentally created a new account where I was sorted into Ravenclaw, but I've been sorted into Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff on various occasions based on different quizzes. For consistency, I went back and reclaimed my old house so here I am again in all my Hufflepuff glory.

Celtic calendar wand for August 7, Hufflepuff notebook, Deatheater notebook on top of the map showing where you can use your interactive wand around the park. I wanted Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary, but it was twice as expensive as these notebooks.

You can see the interactive tip on the wand from this angle

I wanted to showcase all of our wands. From top to bottom are my Celtic calendar wand (for August 7), Mickey's Celtic calendar wand (for May 17), Mickey's Ginny Weasley non-interactive wand from his first WWOHP visit, and my Luna Lovegood non-interactive wand that Mickey purchased for me on his first WWOHP visit. They're so pretty sitting side my side. :)

If you haven't visited the recently expanded WWOHP or if you haven't ever visited WWOHP at all, I would highly recommend it. The addition of Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express, and the Escape from Gringott's ride are so perfect. I loved all the details from the books/movies. If you're closer to the west coast, the newly opened WWOHP Hollywood sounds like it should fulfill a lot of your Harry Potter needs, but definitely make it out to Orlando for the full experience if you can.

That's it for today, but promise I'll post something again soon... as opposed to 3 weeks from now. Hah.

Mondo + Alamo Drafthouse Batman v. Superman Collaboration (SPOILERS)

Warning: Potential spoilers for Batman v. Superman ahead in case you haven't seen it!

Mickey and I bought tickets to watch Batman v. Superman on March 24, Thursday, right when it came out, at an Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin. For the release of this movie, Alamo collaborated with Mondo Gallery and BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH magazines to release an exclusive pint glass and/or magazine with ticket sales. We each sprung for both. :)

Mondo pint glasses. They're the exact same ones, but showing different sides/angles

Back and front of the BIRTH.DEATH.MOVIES magazine dedicated to Batman and Superman

360 degree view of the pint glass

Sneak peaks of the content inside the magazines

I haven't read through the magazine yet, but it looks like some great content on the TV/movie history of Batman and Superman including a piece on Batman: The Animates Series. This is sitting in a pile of comics that I've also been meaning to read. I'll get around to it!

As for the movie itself, I actually really liked it. There seems to be a great divide when it comes to this movie and I've seen many comic fans say they enjoy it. I can also understand why critics and other comic fans disliked it or,  yes, even hated it. I've actually read some reviews where people walked out in the middle of it, which to me seems like a waste of money, but to each their own.

I'm not a huge movie buff so I can't provide a proper review, but I can at least tell you what I did and didn't like about the movie from a Batman fan's standpoint.

We'll start with things I didn't like since that list will be shorter.

1. There were plenty of plot holes. DC Comics fans might have been able to fill in SOME of the blanks, but there was a lot lacking in motive and background. I'd give you more specific examples, but there are just so many.
2. There was too much going on. It was excessive. As a very simple example, I loved Wonder Woman, but she didn't add anything to further the story.
3. The resolution between Batman and Superman happened so quickly that it wasn't exactly believable.
4. Lex Luthor. I haven't read up on why Zack Snyder went in this direction with Lex Luthor, but this Lex seemed completely unstable and really fidgety. My understanding of Lex Luthor is that he's a businessman first and foremost. He's just as psychotic as the BvS Lex, but he's much more calm and collected and that's why he gets away with so much. He's creepy, but in a much subtler way than the BvS Lex. I guess Jesse Eisenberg did well with what he was given, though.

Overall, I just have so many unanswered questions. With that said, there were many things I DID like.

1. Stunning visuals
2. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman standing side by side. I had such a nerdgasm.
3. Ben Affleck as Batman. If nothing else, I loved seeing a Batman of that size and stature. He was huge and scary much like I see him in comics.
4. Batman's brutality (and killing). This was actually something that a lot of people DIDN'T like, but I thought it was hilarious. I enjoyed that Batman just gave zero f*cks. He's been in the game for years and he's just tired of these criminal scumbags. A lot of people argued that Batman always goes out of his way NOT to kill people, which I can see in some iterations of Batman, but there are plenty versions of him where he's very violent and is much more nonchalant about his handling of bad guys. Since this version of Batman pulled a lot of inspiration from Frank Miller's Batman, it made plenty of sense to me. As a Batman fan who grew up with all the animated shows and a lot of the comics, I think Zack Snyder still did Batman justice.
5. Gal Gadot/Wonder Woman. I'm already a huge fan of Gal Gadot from the Fast & Furious series so this might be biased, but I thought she made a wonderfully beautiful and badass Wonder Woman. We didn't get to see her much, but seeing her smirk and enjoy the battle against Doomsday at the end was great. Wonder Woman is a born warrior and I think that really came through in the final battle scene.
6. Henry Cavill's just handsome so I have no complaints there particularly because I'm not as emotionally invested in his character. Full disclosure, I haven't seen Zack Snyder's Man of Steel and I'm not particularly interested in seeing it so not sure how that movie would influence my opinion of Snyder's Superman.
7. Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth. I loved that this Alfred was very modern, but still extremely loyal and also completely over-it with his on-point sarcasm and sass.
8. Superman saving the day in the end. I'm pretty used to Batman saving the day in most Justice League settings because of his intelligence, planning, detective work, etc. but it was nice to see Superman get the glory in the end by driving the Kryptonite spear into Doomsday. Superman really needed that given his reputation with... almost everybody in the Snyder universe. Give that man a break.
9. Batman and Superman connecting over "Martha." I heard a few complaints about this too, but I loved this. I knew their mothers' names separately, but it just never really clicked with me that they were the same name and it never occurred to me to use it as a plot device. I'm actually very surprised that no one else has used this connection between the 2 heroes before. I thought it was a great way to humanize Superman for Batman. Yes, this alien also has a family, has parents and Bruce knows all about the importance of having your parents around. Granted, I still think the turning point happened too fast, but given how long the movie already was, I guess I'm also glad it didn't take longer?

Everybody's entitled to their opinion, but I'm a big believer in NOT being a douchebag about your opinion and trying to make others feel lesser for having the opposite opinion. Those people are the worst. You can be a huge fan of DC Comics, comic books, the animated universe, etc. and love OR hate the movie. If you did or didn't like it, good for you. If you haven't seen it, I still think it's worth checking out so you can form your own opinions about it. Happy movie watching!