The Desert Mermaid

Here's an entertaining take on how the Heath Ledger Joker might actually be the hero of The Dark Knight.

I admit it, I'm a sucker for off-the-wall fan theories, even if I don't buy them. I like this one.

Though, when you get down to it, this theory only goes further to change the Heath Ledger Joker into something of an "average" terrorist who thinks he's the hero fighting an evil system.* Which is a totally legit direction to take him, I guess,** but also serves to remove him further from my default view of the Joker as a goddamn psycho maniac trolling the world, and especially trolling Batman. In my head he's larger than life, an evil trickster god, so the Nolan attempt to bring him closer to the Real World (TM) doesn't catch my interest as much. (Same goes for Batman, too. Somehow trying to pull them closer to reality only serves to push them farther away for me.)

Still, though, it's fun to have a character you can reinterpret so much. And like I said, I love me some fan theories. So thanks to anagramofbrat for the link!


*Which does bring up interesting questions. Sometimes you do have to fight an evil system, and the question of whether your tactics are acceptable are subjective

**I'm working on a post that talks about new interpretations and directions for characters, because my coworkers and I got into an interesting discussion about who likes which Joker after that Leto image came out. Also there was something about Star Wars in there, because of course there was.

Okay, so, there are a whole lot of aspects of his character, and of his overall story, that appeal to a vast number of people in this day and age. Something about him strikes a chord within us, resonates with our ideals and fears and wishes.

But I can't help wondering if any of Batman's long-lasting popularity is due to his name being so incredibly fun to say.

Just try saying "I'm Superman." Doesn't have nearly the same ring, does it?

So a couple months ago in the library I came across A Princess of Mars and was delighted. “Awesome!” thought I. “Old-timey sci-fi I have not yet read!” So I checked it out and, because this is how I roll, put it on the to-read pile at the end of my bed and promised myself I’d get to it eventually.

Except I forgot the John Carter movie came out, and now the dratted thing is on hold for, like, seven people. I don’t have to pay fines since I work at the Liberry, but my Code of Honor requires me to turn stuff in when it’s on hold. I’ve got a week before it’s officially due. I … guess I’d better read it soon, then!

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I finally got around to watching Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and it is pretty much my new favorite movie. I never even knew this could happen, but it’s certainly the most adorable Splattery Dead Teenager Movie I have ever seen. It’s really hard to do a successful horror/comedy, but damn, these guys nailed it.

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Good news, everyone! The Legend of Korra, the follow-up to Avatar: The Last Airbender, is premiering in April!

Here’s hoping it will be as awesome as its predecessor.

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Heard a couple of kids in the library yesterday arguing about how to spell “LOL.” I’m not sure what this says about the way it’s entered the lexicon, but I am amused.

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Raked the garden and dug out a bit more of that spot I want to turn into moar garden. Dang, I ain’t used to gripping a shovel anymore. I have the feeling my hands will be raptor claws tonight.

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Anyway, I know that’s all pretty boring shit, so here, enjoy these illustrations from a junior reader I found in the library.




Aww, lookitim, all feedin' his dinosaur lettuce and almost smiling!

As far as I’m concerned, this makes Batman Riding A Dinosaur canon.

Oh, and in case you were wondering: it was, naturally, Batman who saved the day when he steered his noble mount into a meat truck and distracted the T-rex and the pteranodon with food. BECAUSE HE'S THE GODDAMN BATMAN.

Okay, everyone! Meme time wrapup. Y’all asked me questions, and now I provide the answers in the Mystery Characters Doing Stuff Meme! The players were:

1. Bilbo Baggins
2. Toph Bei Fong
3. Pilot
4.Pyanfar Chanur
5. Hank McCoy/Beast
6. Granny Weatherwax
7. Donald Duck
8. Digger-Of-Unnecessarily-Convoluted-Tunnels
9. Data
10. Old Spice Guy
11. Daja Kisubo
12. Keladry of Mindelan
13. Lando Calrissian
14. Uncle General Iroh
15. The Joker

Put them all together, and ( hijinks ensue! )

Y’know, I don’t care what TV Tropes calls it;* from now on I am calling implicit but not obvious onscreen cartoon deaths “Bruce Timms.”

In somewhat related news, John DiMaggio does a pretty good Joker. He’s no Mark Hamill,** but his Mark Hamill impression is passable. And he puts that deep grainy laugh to very good use.

Dammit, now I want to watch the Batman Animated episode where the Joker menaces that fat guy again. Or maybe the Justice League one where he crashes Lex Luthor's party. Or, well, any Batman episode, really.


*Hell, I don’t even know what they call it, but I’m afraid to look it up.

**Fuck you, Mark Hamill is the default Joker, just as Kevin Conroy is the default Batman and Lou Albano is the default Super Mario.

I think I have another method for interrogation that does not involve torture or pancakes.

All we need to do is to get my mom to strike up a conversation with the terrorist in question.

I am not sure how Mom does it, but she seems to have this ability to get information far beyond any mortal powers. She is always telling me how she struck up a conversation with the lady at the quilt shop, or her hairdresser, and has gotten their life stories. “I went to the hairdresser today!” she will say. “He told me all about how difficult it was to live with multiple sclerosis and depression until he discovered new age crystal healing, and that his partner owns a flower shop and they do weddings together, and all about his philosophy of the universe!” I will go to the same hairdresser and say, “So! Mom says you’re into crystals!” and he will say, “Yup” and that will be that.

It’s not just random people, either. My mom will get more information out of my friends in one sitting than I ever manage to hear through a lifetime friendship. If I had a buddy named Bruce, all our conversations would go like this:

AMELIA: So, Bruce! Anything going on in your life right now?
BRUCE: Nah.
AMELIA: How’s your girlfriend? I hear she’s been enjoying some new hobbies.
BRUCE: She’s okay.
AMELIA: What about this secret project you vaguely alluded to a week ago with your job? How’s that going?
BRUCE: Fine.

Then Bruce would come home with me for dinner one night, and we’d help Mom in the kitchen while the following conversation took place:

AMELIA: Mom, this is Bruce. Bruce, this is my mom.
MOM: Hi, Bruce! How are you?
BRUCE: Well, my business is doing okay, since we’ve just signed on a contract with the military to make secret spying technology. Mostly I’m concerned because last week my girlfriend proposed to me but I’m not really ready to commit yet, for I fear to be tied down. Plus, I am haunted by the ghosts of my past and am still tormented by nightmares and wake up screaming, afraid I’ve wet the bed like I did for years after the death of my parents when I was a child. Also, I’m Batman.

I have no idea how she does this. I have actually asked her before. She usually says it’s because she knows how to ask the right question, but when I try that, it doesn’t seem to work. I think it’s not just a skill; I think it’s a finely-honed mutant power. And one that the CIA needs to look into tapping into. All you’d have to do is put Mom in a room with a terrorist, and we’d know every evil plan of attack and where to find all the Al-Qaida strongholds worth mentioning.

Or perhaps she is content to lead a quiet life as the nexus of the universe. Either way, it always sort of awes me.

So I hear Heath won.

If there were any justice, then, they would give Mark Hamill a crown and scepter or something, because while Heath’s Joker was an interesting take, as far as I’m concerned he was never playing the Joker, just some Joker. Everyone knows who the Joker is.

On the other hand, it’s always nice when geek-oriented content wins, so who am I to complain?

As you know, Bob, my latest recurring dream theme is The Joker. I’ve had various themes throughout my life (Ursula from The Little Mermaid was the longest running), but still, I thought he might go away when I quit the Fukitol. Not so much.

Last night I dreamed I had just bought a comic book with him in it.

It was a Calvin & Hobbes book.

Now, I’m not sure how the two met,* since my dream self opened to the middle of the book. Perhaps the Joker was on vacation in the mountains and came upon Calvin’s family camping, or perhaps they ran into each other at Arkham.** All I know is, I wish I could draw, because that image I opened to of a maniacally laughing Calvin sitting on his wacky Uncle Joker’s shoulders was spectacular.

My subconscious: once again taking up the mantle of insane crossover crackfic when my waking mind just refuses to. I knew I shouldn't have made this icon before bed.

ETA: fenmere is so awesome he actually drew it! It's the first comment, and it is now on the list of my Favorite Images Ever.


*Or how anybody would get Bill Watterson, notorious comic-book-hater and cartoonist principled on licensing to the point that I almost feel guilty using C&H icons, to agree to this crossover in the first place.

**Warning: this link may make you cry.

“Oh Dalt Wisney, no!”

Today’s quote brought to you by my sister and I watching a weird episode of Batman: TAS, in which the villain reminded us of a supervillainous version of Walt Disney* so much that we renamed him. We aren’t even sure what his name is. We don’t care.

BONUS QUOTE: "You see, a supervillain is a series of tubes ..."


*Well, more supervillainous.