13 Best Batman vs. Joker Battles
Joker isn't just the greatest Batman villain, he's one of the greatest villains in all of pop culture. Lately, DC's ongoing Batman comic has been exploring the latest epic confrontation between these two enemies. With the long-awaited release of Batman #40 this Wednesday, we'll finally see how Batman stops his most deadly foe.
In celebration of this issue, we've picked out 13 of our favorite Batman/Joker battles from the comics, movies, TV series and video games. This wasn't simply about choosing the most iconic Joker stories, but rather those that feature a physical confrontation between the two characters. Check out our picks and let us know your favorite showdowns in the comments below.
Game of Thrones is Even Cooler in Japan
Just when you didn't think Game of Thrones couldn't get any better, Japan has to go and prove us all wrong. If you're in Tokyo and want to pick up any book in George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, you might just find a super rad, manga-style cover by artist Noriko Meguro. Take a look at the gallery below.
You can expand the slideshow above to view images in higher resolution. You can also view much larger images in our Japanese Game of Thrones Cover Gallery. Also, if you think these covers are different than ours, check out the crazy amount of differences in the HBO series compared to the books.
Zen Studios Teases Valve Pinball
Zen Studios' next pinball table will be themed around the works of Valve Software.
Via Twitter, the developer released an image displaying Valve's logo alongside theirs at the foot of a pinball table.
Which of Valve's franchises will be featured on the table remains unclear, and no release date has yet been announced.
Zen Studios' pinball games are currently available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii U, PC, mobile, and PlayStation Vita. They have announced several new tables recently, including Star Wars Rebels and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Halo 5 Cover Art Shows Off New Spartans
Microsoft has released the final cover art for the upcoming Halo 5: Guardians that shows off new, mysterious Spartan fire teams.
To accompany the reveal, Microsoft also released an animated version of the cover that focuses on the new Spartans in the continuation of its "#HUNTtheTRUTH" campaign.
Here's the final cover art, in all its glory. Be sure to pick it apart for every possible detail.
Killer Instinct Purchases Will Fund Tournament Prizes
Beginning soon, any money spent on Killer Instinct for two weeks will go toward a community-funded tournament pool for this year's fighting game season.
Following this morning's announcement that fan-favorite fighter Cinder will release for Killer Instinct, the dev team said this year's tournament prizes will be bolstered by the community.
This means that any purchases –– whether they be Cinder downloads, costume downloads, or even full-game downloads –– will go toward a pool of up to $100,000 for the next EVO and other fighting-game events. Cinder is available on April 30 for Killer Instinct Ultra Edition owners, and May 6 for everyone else.
Sesame Street Parodies Avengers with ‘Aveggies’
Sesame Street has gotten in on the Avengers excitement, with a parody short called "Aveggies: Age of Bon-Bon."
The quick video follows the Aveggies, superheroes themed after healthy snacks, as they fight against an evil villain bent on turning vegetables unhealthy. It focuses mostly on Cookie Monster in the role of Dr. Brownie, whose job it is to grow to enormous size and eat a cookie ship.
Naturally, Cookie Monster saves the day, but not without some complications. Check it out for some good-natured chuckles littered with Avengers movie references.
Steve Watts is a freelance writer who wouldn't like asparagus, whether calm or angry, ever. You can read more of his keen insights by following him on Twitter and IGN.
Check Out Arkham Knight’s Newest Playable Characters
The latest trailer for the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight is out, and this time Batman is not alone. If you haven't seen it, fire up the Batcomputer and take a look:
It's a pretty meaty trailer full cameos by some familiar faces in the Arkham universe. Below are major talking points and things you may have missed.
00:14 - Ignited Ideas
Arkham games are full of fun nods to the DC Universe, and Arkham Knight is no exception. The sign for a company called "Satorico" is seen on the right, along with a flame icon. This is a possible reference to DC villain Dr. Alex Satorius, aka Dr. Phosphorus - a man covered in so much radiation that he appears to be constantly on fire. While that doesn't mean a flaming super-villain is confirmed to be running around the streets of Gotham, it's a nice reference that ties the world of Arkham together.
Jackie Chan Laments the Death of Real Stunts
Jackie Chan has some pretty strong words for the makers of modern action movies.
Speaking with IndieWire, the actor shared his feeling about the state of action movies, and how what is seen on screen isn't necessarily "real."
"I think, slowly, slowly, the real action's gone. Really," he said. "Because, now we still have a few people who do the real stunts, the real action like Hong Bang, like me, like Sammo Hung and others. But, when these people are gone, when we retire, I think it's going to be difficult because the real action is really, really difficult!
Check Out More New Photos From Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is mere days away from releasing in the United States (though it's already out in the UK and Australia), and to help pass the time until the premiere, there are new photos from the superhero film to check out.
All of the new photos from Avengers: Age of Ultron are in the slideshow below, including older behind-the-scene images and character posters. Some of the cooler stills include Tony Stark meeting Sam "Falcon" Wilson and a group shot of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America.
For more on the Avengers sequel, be sure to check out IGN's review of the blockbuster film.
Where Valve’s Paid Mods Program Went Wrong
The introduction of paid mods into Valve’s Steam Workshop a few days ago created significant controversy in the modding world and the PC gaming community at large.
So much so that following one unfortunate situation involving borrowed assets, a heated Reddit AMA with Valve's Gabe Newell, and what Valve refers to on the Steam blog as a "dump truck of feedback" from critics, the paid mods program has actually come to a close.