UPDATED! The superhero movie died at 2:45 a.m.

Cause of death: a movie that lived up to the hype ... twice.

Vol. 12 | WHY SO SERIOUS? or, this is the end of our pre-dic-a-ment.

It's here. It's here. Batman is here. And, sadly, this is the end of our journey. I've reached my refractory period. The end of the 12 Days of Batman and, quite possibly, the end of superhero movies. In fact, if I hear the word superhero one more time, I might have to kick a puppy. But, I hope you've learned a lot and been entertained during our journey. I know that I've learned how to love again. Which is pretty titan.

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UPDATE: Because I know that just reading my blog isn't enough ... you can actually listen to it now. This is the trial-run of INKcasting: A round-table Bat-chat with Ink's web producer Trevan McGee, comic guru and cartoonist Travis Fox and me. Listen to it here.

I apologize now for having a voice suited for the written word.

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Not to ask a purposely misleading question: But where the hell do comic-book movies go from here? For that matter, where do movies go?

For the second time this week, I walked out of a theater with a wide smile on my face. Almost as if I'd taken a razor to the corners of my mouth.

Thanks Batman.

Thanks Christopher Nolan.

Thanks Greatest. Magic. Trick. Ever.

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There have been several times in the history of cinema when watching a movie at a theater has been pronounced dead. Was called lame. The DVD would kill it. The home theater. Gas prices. Fatigue. Hollywood's general suckiness.

For the second time this week, I'm calling shenanigans!

I took in my second viewing of the "Dark Knight" at Screenland Armour last night with a packed (and drinking) crowd.

The clanking bottles at key plot points were slightly distressing to me, but I'm a high-tension kinda guy that doesn't like being bothered by clumsy morons who can't handle a bottle.

Two quick thoughts.

One. This movie is a comedy. Seriously. This had more laughs than every Martin Lawrence movie ever made. Surprising as hell.

Two. There are an awful lot of dark people in this world.

Or, at the very least, a lot of people who are willing to laugh as the world goes to hell.

I like that.

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Remember, the most amusing comments/reviews could net the writer of said comments/reviews some bat stuff. (send mail to drgooch41@gmail.com)

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And now a diversion from an otherwise seemingly Bat-centric blog: There's a Spaced marathon on TV this weekend. Seriously. At 3 p.m. Sunday on BBC America, they will show one of the most interesting and funny shows ever. It's the guys that brought you "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead."

Read more here. Watch more here.

Or, just go buy the DVD. It comes out Tuesday.

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Back to the Bat-channel.

What will I do without the Batman? Without some form of gimmick to guide me. To guide this blog.

Where can I focus my nerd-love?

To give me strength through these dark times. To give me hope that we aren't destined to a world of "Epic Movies" and "Disaster Movies" and Tyler Perry movies.

Please God, tell me that there are other s-words out there?

Ah, here it is.

Starting Monday, I'll depart on a new journey: The 227 Days of "The Watchmen."*

* Quick Rant. I don't know about you, but I was promised — and had already seen with my own two eyes — the Watchmen trailer bumping into "TDK." But, last night, where was it? I got the Bond trailer. Awesome. I got the Tropic Thunder trailer — that I'd seen 8,000 times. Lame. And, to be honest, spent most of the first 15 minutes furious that it wasn't there. Was it there for you guys?