Batman Day with Comic Odyssey and The Dark Knight Philippines

The PREMIER Batman group in the Philippines will celebrate Batman Day twice this year! This year we tied up with Comic Odyssey and Fullybooked for the biggest celebration of the 77th anniversary of the Caped Crusader. 

Here are the list of programs, raffles, and promos during Batman Day 2.0!

1. Children's Coloring Contest

Last week, together with the launch of our official website, we released the very first The Dark Knight Ph Batman Day Activity Kit. The Kit was meant to attract young readers to the realm of comicbooks. But that doesn't mean that kids at heart can't download the link. Sure you can! Enjoy the features we inserted there!

Children from ages 7-14 are eligible to join the coloring contest. All they have to do is to download the Activity Kit, print the original artwork done by Dexter Soy, then submit it to the TDKPH booth during the event.

If you're not within the age limit, you can still submit to us the colored artwork, and we'll give you a consolation prize :)

2. Batcave Diorama by Gabby Bernardo

One of the country's talented diorama builders will exhibit the Batcave he made for Toycon 2015. Come join us and take pictures of this amazing diorama.

3. Cosplay Contest

In connection with our recent expansion to highlight the cosplay community, we're having our very first cosplay contest. Come in your favorite Batman or Batman-related character costume and take a selfie in front of the TDKPH booth. Post it on your social media sites and hashtag #CosplayAtBatmanDayTDKPH. Most likes by October 2, 9:00 PM will win a special prize!

There will also be consolation prizes for 2nd and 3rd place winners. Ow and don't forget to make your post public!

4. Trivia Contest

Instead of the conventional q&a trivia contest, questions will be in the form of a riddle.

Form a team with 3 members and out riddle the other groups to win a prize! Questions/riddles will be based on Batman-universe. From the animated series/movies to comics and movies. The trivia contest will happen at 1:00PM at the Fullybooked Forum, right beside Comic Odyssey.

5. Pay as You Want Promo

Comic Odyssey has taken the initiative to donate all proceeds of this promo to Mang Nestor Malgapo. Mechanics are simple. For every new comicbook (meaning new arrival as long as the book is found in the comicbook rack) that you buy, you can get any comicbook from the bins for whatever amount. It is important to note that this is a one-is-to-one ratio.

6. Random Raffle Prizes

In connection with the "Pay as You Want Promo," Joker cards are hidden in some comicbooks found in the bins. To be specific, there are 43 cards. The Joker card entails the holder a special prize from TDKPH and our favorite artists. To spread the love, you can only win once. So if you find 2 Joker cards, make sure to give the other card to your buddy!

7. Free Batman Post-card Prints by Famous Cartoonist, Bennac!

These prints are for free. All you have to do is to visit Comic Odyssey, BGC and ask for one. Comic Odyssey will give one random art print to you. Sorry, but yeah, one print per person only.

8. JC Fabul The Dark Knight Returns Print

We've commissioned JC Fabul to come up with the sickest Batman artwork that he can do. Lo and behold! These prints costs P350 each. But if you're a The Dark Knight Ph member, you can buy it for P300.

These prints are limited to 25 prints. Each are numbered and will come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Hey, its not like we can use the Batman Day logo legally for our merchandises hehe. Might as well maximize it and give you guys that extra exclusivity feel to it.

We will also start accepting PRE-ORDERS for the Acrylic print version. The Acrylic print will be colored. Moreover, your name will be included on the border. You can also choose your favorite TDKR line and we'll gladly add it to the artwork.

9. Artist Alley

We love our local artists! It wouldn't be a TDKPH event without the artists. So for Batman Day, we've invited these rockstars! Ready your blank covers and sketchbooks for this Saturday. You can ask them for quick sketches and commissions.

10. Artwork Raffle

Aaron Felizmenio's Batman Day artwork will be raffled off to one lucky winner. Interested people can join the raffle by donating money for the medical bills of one of our beneficiary. Slots 1-20 costs P100 each while slots 21 onwards will cost P200 each. Winner will be picked at 5:00 PM.

11. The Official Launch of The Road to BatCon!

To raise enough funds for BatCon, we will start selling BatCon shirts and stickers. Shirts are limited to two per size. First to pay gets the shirt :)

Countdown to Batman Day -- A Promise Kept

We're one day away from Batman Day and we think it is timely to talk about the one promise Bruce Wayne kept all this time. The promise he made on the grave of his parent. The promise that he would rid the city of the evil that took his parents' lives. And true enough, he kept the promise...

Batman is the type of person who constantly revisit the past. He never moved on from witnessing the death of his parents. Despite confronting the killer of his parents, Joe Chill, he never found that closure he desperately needs. Every night, Batman answers the call so that no one else would go through the same experience he went through. He is fighting the good fight. And through it all, he never forgot about his mission. He never forgot about the promise he made.

Batman is one of the biggest irony in comicbook history. He answers the call to be Batman so that no one else would have to carry his burden. He goes out every night to save lives hoping that one day he will be able to save Bruce Wayne and his parents. 

There were at least two instances in DCU where Batman could've prevented Joe Chill from killing his parents. Twice he has failed. And twice he has won. By stopping Chill, some kid might lose his parents. By allowing Chill to kill his parents, he could prevent a lot more.

Case in point, just check out Wrath. 

His parents were killed during a robbery they organized. He grew up wanting to take revenge for the death of his parents. Applying the Batman theory, assuming that he was able to save Wrath's parents, then that would mean one less criminal in the streets of Gotham.

In this year's celebration of Batman Day, let us remember what it means to be Batman. Remember the promise we made to ourselves or to our loved ones. Let us remember that keeping promises still matter.

Countdown to Batman Day -- 2 Possible Heirs to the Cowl

Reality says that Batman, or at least Bruce Wayne, will not last forever. Well, one can argue that Scott Snyder already introduced Bruce's cloning machine in the continuity, but thats besides the point. For discussion purposes, we're here to talk about two of the viable, but not necessarily obvious, heirs to Batman's war against crime.

To state the obvious, Damian Wayne, who is the biological son of Bruce Wayne, is a successor to all of Bruce's possession--including the Batsuit and all of Bruce's gadgets. You also have Dick Grayson who was molded by Bruce from the beginning to carry his mantle the moment he bids farewell. Tim Drake is also an obvious heir for being an adopted child. Jason... let us leave Jason alone. Just kidding! Jason is also a legitimate heir to the cowl.

Through the years, Batman has prepared his apprentices for the inevitable--his death. And in today's Countdown to Batman Day, let us look into two of the viable characters that can, one day, wear the cowl.

2. Carrie Kelley

Carrie Kelley is best known for her appearance in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Although her brief appearance in the continuity isn't relevant, her role in the Miller-verse is quite big. Despite her slender looks, Batman saw something in her that he's never seen in the past Robins (or at least the Robins of the Miller-verse).

In the Dark Knight Strikes Again, Carrie Kelley played a bigger role. To say the very lease, she tried to locate each and every member of the Justice League and tried to rebuild the old team. Although her role in Dark Knight III: The Master Race has yet to be determined, it seems like she is being groomed for something even bigger!

Frank Miller seems to have a fascination for this character. From The Dark Knight Returns to Dark Knight III, he has given Carrie roles like they were trophies. In the DC Universe, Carrie is the only character that has worn the Robin mantle, the Catgirl suit (which is a homage to Catwoman), Batman's cowl, and finally, the Batgirl costume.

1. Cassandra Cain

Two years ago, comicbook.com wrote an article about Batman's true successor. All the evidence proves that Cassandra Cain is the re-imagining of the Dark Knight. Cass was trained by two deadly, if not two of the deadliest, assassins in the DC Universe--David Cain and Shiva. Despite her being trained to kill, she exhibits great control over her anger. 

In one instance, Cass and Batman fought all over Gotham City. When Batman couldn't keep up with her, he asked Cass where her loyalty lies. She pointed towards the batsignal and not towards Batman. That gesture goes to show that her dedication is not towards Bruce Wayne, but towards what Batman stands for--and thats to protect the oppressed.

Cass is a better martial artist compared to Batman. Batman has never defeated Shiva but Cass has already taken her down at least thrice in the DCU. More impressive than that, Cass was the one responsible for the Network that organized Gotham's heroes to fight the rising crime rate.

Countdown to Batman Day -- Three Indispensable Allies.

Batman has plenty of enemies, but help is never far away. Through the years Batman operated in Gotham City, he has built a network that helps him night in and night out. From the list of allies, there are three friends whom Batman can trust completely. These three characters make things easier for the Caped Crusader as he navigates through the crime-ridden place he calls home.

3. Leslie Thompkins

Dr. Leslie Thompins was a caring and compassionate doctor working in the Park Row section of Gotham City. Inspired by the long-ago murder of the Waynes and the orphaned boy she comforted on that day, she runs a free clinic that provides treatment for the homeless. Leslie eventually learned of Bruce's double life and counsels him against giving in to the darker side of his nature.

As Park Row fell into decline, earning the name Crime Alley, Thompkins remained in place, to continue her charity works. People learned not to prey on Thompkins, for she had the favored protection of the urban legend known as the Batman.

Quick trivia: She began a short-lived romance with Bruce.

2. Jim Gordon

You can always count on James Gordon to do the right thing and not the popular thing. This has earned him Batman's respect, but also attracted the scorn of Gotham politicians who prefer the old ways of quiet bribery. Gordon's enemies always know where to find him, making his courage perhaps even more remarkable than Batman's.

During his initial months in Gotham, the lieutenant battled corruption and gave into an affair with his fellow detective, Sarah Essen. When Batman arrived in Gotham, he was hunted by the police, including Gordon. Slowly, the two recognized that the other could be trusted. Batman and Gordon developed a strong bond, and on occasion the Caped Crusader would confer with Gordon at his home.

Quick trivia: In No Man's Land, Batman was about to unmask in front of Gordon but he decided to look away to preserve Batman's secret identity.

1. Alfred Pennyworth

Alfred has been there since the beginning. After Bruce lost his parents in a tragic mugging, the loyal butler became his surrogate father. As a young boy and now as Batman, the Dark Knight has always regarded Alfred as the only person other than Commissioner Gordon whose opinion he trusts without reservation.

Alfred was fully prepared to resign and finally pursue an acting career upon Bruce's return when he traveled the world after his parents' death. However, when Bruce returned, it was accompanied by a trail of blood. The butler felt he could not leave Bruce as he was beginning a new life. He used his own experience to help refine Bruce's knowledge of makeup and disguise, giving him tips on how to make certain the general public differentiated Bruce Wayne from Batman. Since then, Alfred has remained loyal to Bruce Wayne and watched over him during the ordeals he experienced as Batman.

Quick trivia: Alfred, together with Lucious Fox, served in World War II with the French freedom fighter Mademoiselle Marie.

Countdown to Batman Day -- 4 of a Kind

"If there's one thing I've always been sure of, it's that Batman will need a Robin, and Robin will need a Batman"

- Alfred Pennyworth (Batman and Robin: Born to Kill)

Robin has been an integral part of the Batman mythos ever since Dick Grayson appeared in Detective Comics vol.1 #38. The Boy Wonder started out as a buffer to Batman. After 10 issues, creator Bob Kane and co-creator Bill Finger realized that Batman is dull since he has no one to talk with.

The introduction of Robin made the dialogues more organic. He can talk to Robin and tell him his plans to catch the criminal. Robin is an essential addition to the development of Batman stories. Just imagine, do you think The Dark Knight Returns or Batman Year One will be great if Batman, only conversed with himself?

Last year we celebrated Robin's 75th year anniversary. The year-long celebration culminated when DC Comics published Batman and Robin Eternal which ran every week for 26 weeks. And for today's Countdown to Batman Day, let's revisit how four of the most influential Robins changed the life of the Dark Knight.

4. Tim Drake / Red Robin

Of all the Robins, Tim Drake was the only one who deduced Batman and Robin's (Jason Todd) secret identities. When Jason died, Tim was so concerned that the unhinged Dark Knight needed a new Robin that he volunteered himself to become the third Robin. The exchanges between Tim and Batman made a lot of fans realize that Batman always needs a Robin.

In Identity Crisis, Captain Boomerang murdered Jack Drake leaving Tim an orphan. Tim found a new home in Wayne Manor as Bruce's adopted son. As Robin, Tim led the Teen Titans and proved himself in combat and as a detective.

3. Jason Todd / Red Hood

Jason Todd first encountered Batman when he was caught trying to steal the Batmobile's tires--and their relationship has been a tempestuous one ever since. For a time, Jason adventured as the second Robin, but his rebelious nature made him a problematic partner for Batman. He met his brutal end when the Joker took his life in a time-bomb after a vicious beatdown with a crowbar.

Batman never forgave himself for the death of Jason. He has carried this burden until he saw Jason come back to life.

2. Dick Grayson / Nightwing

Dick Grayson proved that Batman's fight against crime didn't need to be a lonely one. Already a star acrobat as a child, Dick became an orphan the day a gangster sabotaged his parents' high-wire act--all becuse their employer, Haly's Circus, refused to pay insurance for the show.

Bruce Wayne took the boy into his home, and soon after, the two were a crime-fighting double act, with Gotham headlines heralding the sensational exploits of the Caped Crusaders. When he grew from a boy to a man, Dick found a new identity as Nightwing, but he left Batman with a firm belief in the power of a partner.

1. Damian Wayne / Robin

Damian Wayne is the legitimate heir to Bruce's legacy. Despite such fact, he didn't even know he had a son until he met Damian Wayne face-to-face. The child of Bruce and Talia al Ghūl grew up in the care of the League of Assassins and received genetic augmentation to make him the perfect fighting machine.

He was killed by his mother to gain a leverage her beloved Dark Knight. The death of Damian has torn Batman apart in a way we've never seen before. Of all the things Batman has gone through, the death of his son is the most painful thing he dealt with.

Countdown to Batman Day -- 5 Love Interests

"Being deaply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage"

- Lao Tzu

Despite the playboy persona, Bruce Wayne loved a couple of times in the comicbook multiverse. Love has made the Caped Crusader both invincible and vulnerable at the same time.

We have been accustomed to a Batman that is considered to be a god. But introducing romance in Bruce's life made Batman more in touch with his humanity. It is undeniable that romantic relationships of the Dark Knight is one of the most interesting developments to his story.

In celebration of Batman Day, we've come up with a list of the top 5 relationships that Batman has entered into.

5. Julie Madison

Julie Madison recently surfaced in Scott Snyder's Batman: Superheavy. In the story arc, Bruce was given two option; one, live a quiet life with Julie, or two, return as the rejuvenated Dark Knight to save Gotham City. He chose the latter as Julie encouraged him to do so.

Julie Madison first appeared in Detective Comics vol.1 #39. She was the very first love interest--actually she was the fiance--of the Caped Crusader. She found herself the target of Basil Karlo (a.k.a. Clayface) since she stared in a remake of his old film. She left Bruce Wayne without learning his Batman secret, and adopted the stage name of Portia Strome to pursue an acting career.

4. Wonder Woman

During Joe Kelley's JLA run in the early 2000's,Wonder Woman and Batman shared a kiss right before saving Aquaman. After all the time-travel and the weird adventures, Batman tried to put off discussing about their kiss. Irregardless, Wonder Woman used Martian Manhunter's Martian Transconsciousness Articulator to determine whether they were made for each other. Unfortunately, Wonder Woman decided to friendzone the Bat.

In Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series, the relationship between the two is a bit more organic compared to the comicbook version. Its one of the interesting aspects of the animated series.

3. Jezebel Jet

Jezebel first appeared in Detective Comics #656, Jezebel was portrayed as a celebrity with the status equivalent to Bruce Wayne. She is a supermodel and a leader of a small African country.

Bruce realizing that he needed to share his life with the people he loves, opened up to her about everythinge, even giving her a tour of the Batcave. However, Jezebel planted doubts in Bruce's mind about his sanity, and was finally revealed to be an undercover agent of Doctor Hurt's evil Black Glove organization. A vengeful Talia al Ghūl later targeted Jezebel for elimination. Speaking of Talia...

2. Talia al Ghūl

Talia is the mother of Batman's only biological child--Damian Wayne. However, this is only true in New Earth. In a different universe, Batman has a daughter with Catwoman.

As the head of killing organization The League of Assassins, Talia is without a doubt Batman's deadliest paramour. To achieve her goal, she used Damian to gain leverage over her beloved Batman. Her ambition is to rule the world but her unresponsive lover stands in her way.

1. Catwoman 

Bruce Wayne's Batman identity is much closer to his "true" personality than the manufactured playboy exterior he wears in public. Therefore, Catwoman is the only woman who knows him best of all.

The two have shared a flirtatious attraction ever since they debuted in Detective Comics #27. Catwoman is a thief, but since her crimes seldom harm the truly needy, Batman is willing to overlook her outlaw statues from time to time.

TDKPH Villain of the Month -- Deathstroke

Just this past week, Geoff Johns confirmed that Joe Manganiello will portray DC's deadliest assassin, Deathstroke, in the Cinematic Universe. While this news got a lot of fanboys shiting in their pants, this could mean trouble for the Caped Crusader.

New Teen Titans #2

Slade Wilson a.k.a. Deathstroke was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. He first appeared in New Teen Titans #2 which was released on December 1980. A mainstay adversary to the Teen Titans, Deathstroke also made a lot of enemies in the DC Universe like Batman, Harley Quinn, and Lobo.

He was a soldier who agreed to undergo experiments for the purpose of creating a super-soldier. The result activated Wilson's meta-gene which allowed him to use 90% of his mental capacity. Consequently his speed, agility, endurance, and healing capabilities were also enhanced.

Tales of the Teen Titans #42-45 - Judas Contract

Judas Contract expanded Deathstroke's origin. Slade kept the experiment hidden from his wife, Adeline Kane. They lived as husband and wife and had two offsprings--Grant and Joseph. Jakal, another mercenary, tried to learn who had put the hit out on his client by kidnapping Joseph for the purpose of making Slade talk. Before Slade could've saved his kid, Jakal slit Joseph's throat, rendering him mute. Adeline was enraged and tried to kill Slade for his failure to save their child. As a result, she was able to injure his tight eye. This is also the very reason why Deathstroke's mask is covered in black on the entire right side.

Tales of the Teen Titans #44

At one point, to save the world, Deathstroke made a hard choice by killing his son, Joseph, code-named Jericho. At the moment of his death, Jericho entered Deathstroke's mind, where he would reside for years. In that time, Deathstroke became a feared killer. Despite those circumstances, he occasionally fought on the side of heroes when it is demanded of him. In one instance, he fought alongside the Titans against the H.I.V.E., which was then led by his ex-wife, Adeline.

Deathstroke the Terminator #6-9 - City of Assassins

In City of Assassins, Deathstroke proves to the DC Universe that he is the best when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Slade was able to incapacitate Batman in a gruesome battle across Gotham City twice in the same issue!

Deathstroke the Terminator #7

Identity Crisis 

In one of the most controversial story arcs in the DC Universe, Deathstroke was hired by Dr. Light to act as his bodyguard when he was sought by the Justice League of America. When the League confronted Dr. Light, Deathstroke was able to defeat the likes of Green Arrow, Elongated Man, Flash, Zatanna, and many more. He systematically incapacitated them one at a time to protect his client. Slade almost killed Oliver Queen but was tackled by the league to the ground. In that moment, Dr. Light managed to teleport himself together with Deathstroke away from the League.

Identity Crisis #3

Armed with a power staff, pistols, and knives, Slade was an expert in most forms of hand-to-hand combat as well as comfortable with any form of weaponry. Using his marksmanship and fighting skills along with his enhanced  physique, he became a feared threat known as Deathstroke the Terminator.

If you want to read more Deathstroke stories, here's a link to the chronological list we've found laying around the web. However, it seems to be outdated.

Also, please make sure to follow Deathstroke Rebirth! Two of our very own, Carlo Pagulayan and Jason Paz are handling interior and cover duties for the said book.