From the Editor's Desk: Those New Joker Pics, Fan Letters

Posted Apr 2nd 2008 5:40PM by Erik Davis
Filed under: Fandom, From the Editor's Desk

Not long ago we posted three new Joker pics that were leaked online. After discussing the situation with a whole bunch of folks, we decided to remove them. They just spoiled too much of the film, and we at Cinematical did not want to be responsible for that. So, sorry. I know you all want your Dark Knight fix, as do we, but everyone needs to be responsible for how much Dark Knight they allow into their body. I don't need anyone to overdose on The Dark Knight today.* So you kids keep it in your pants and go about your business.

In other news, how much fun was April Fool's Day? I didn't realize how many sites would participate in the holiday, providing a slew of hysterical content to surf through all day long. Great job all around. Here's a wonderful email we got from a fan who (I think) thoroughly enjoyed our Justice League April Fools gag:

"I am calling for the immediate resignation or removal of Erik Davis from this now "so-called" cinema news site. That he would engage in such idiotic April Fools hijinks's is inconceivable. That management of this site would condone it is an even more ridiculous! If action is not taken, I will no longer be visiting this site, and will no longer patronize anyone who has advertised on this site. Shame on you, management. And shame is on you, Erik. I actually thought you were a "real" journalist. . . Thanks, "Mr. Glass."

I shall respond to this adorable reader email after the jump ...

*For the record, when I wrote this I totally was not thinking what you all thought I was thinking. I agree, in that context, it's a horrific joke in poor taste. But know that I wasn't going there; I was trying to go somewhere else with it. And believe me, if I was going there, I'd be the first to admit it.
Dear Sir,

I am sorry. For a few minutes there -- late in the evening of March 31st -- I felt this strange wave come over me. The devil? Perhaps. I just had this irresistible urge to write something funny. A practical joke, if you will, for that holiday we call April Fool's Day. Sadly, if I would have just looked in my "Real Journalist's Official 2007-2008 Notebook," I would've seen that no such tom-foolery is allowed. I broke the law, sir. I went against the code. I -- and this is very hard to admit -- did a very bad thing. I lied, sir. Christian Bale and Brandon Routh are not starring in the upcoming Justice League film.

I want to let you know, though, that action has been taken. I've created a Journalist's Jail in my apartment. It consists of a wooden desk, a computer and a very crappy internet connection. It is horrible. I am in hell, sir. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me; forgive my foolishness and forgive this disgusting desire to have a little fun once and a while. Cinematical used to be a cinema news site. Now it's just, well, a playground for the insane. A real shame. Our heads hang low today.

With love and honor,

"Mr. Glass" (however the hell that fits into this situation)

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. http://www.gvafoundation.org/

Interesting ad and phone thing...I'm just wondering if there's a site that lists all known active Batman sites.

Posted at 6:15PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Hagamaba

2. There is. Anita18 from the Superherohype boards has been chronicling it all on a wiki. The address is:

http://batman.wikibruce.com

Erik - I'd advise posting the pictures, as they are newsworthy material. However, post them behind a jump and say that they're a huge SPOILER!!!! I saw them, not here sadly, and was greatly amused by them. In addition, they don't give away any details, just stuff that will happen.

Posted at 7:05PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by The Addict

3. Some people just can't take a joke. On the other hand, I totally thought your article was real and got all excited and told my boyfriend, and now I am sad! ;)

Posted at 6:40PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Liz

4. "I don't need anyone to overdose on The Dark Knight."

Wow.

Posted at 7:54PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Jean B

5. Yeah, I second how awful your "I don't need anyone to overdose on The Dark Knight today" was. And look, right next to it a picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker - tasteful!

Posted at 8:09PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by TJH

6. Good retort Erik. Out of all the writers on this site, you seem to court controversy. Sometimes for the right reasons, other times people act silly, like "Mr. Glass". Like that was the only April Fools joke he fell for all day.

Erik, I'm just more offended if you do post pictures or text that spoil movies (Not just you, I'm speaking about Cinematical as a whole). That's never cool, and I am about tired of seeing "Indiana Jones Possible Leaked Crap" or "Dark Knight Stolen Photos". Maybe you guys could cool it on that junk - at least until the movies actually COME out.

Again, good response Erik, you been a berry bad boy :P

Posted at 8:18PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by MCW

7. i'm so glad that was an april fool's joke, because upon first reading, i lost all respect for christian bale, considering how much he's been blasting the justice league film over the past few months...i thought they finally bought him out....as for the "overdose on dark knight" next to a picture of the joker....come on, people. seriously? just because he used overdose doesn't mean he was referencing heath ledger...and heath ledger IS in the dark knight, and he's talking about dark knight pictures, specifically, joker pictures....and heath ledger PLAYS the joker....so...why not put a picture of the joker? it's not like he went "oh, here's a great way to make a really horrible heath overdose joke!"...not everybody is out to be a scumbag.

Posted at 8:38PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Jordan

8. Thanks Jordan. Yeah, I didn't mean it in that context. When I started seeing comments (while out of the house at the time), I was itching to get back to explain myself.

Sorry you all took it that way; trust me, I dig Ledger and I respect the man as an actor. I was more trying to make a joke about how the fascination with every little thing Dark Knight has gone out of control. That I didn't need fans to overdose on the film. Bad joke, I know. Thanks for pointing it out.

And isn't it kinda funny how a post originally meant to be a joke about something someone else wrote comes back to kick me in the ass because of something stupid that I wrote? Ah, karma.

Posted at 11:19PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Erik Davis

9. Erik, I understand that it wasn't meant to be an allusion to Heath's death. I was merely trying to point out the irony of you using such a line on a related post in a (sarcastic) way. Sorry if it appeared as if I assumed you were trying to directly make a reference, it was not my intention at all and I understand this post was made in good faith. We all know how the internet makes everyone take things personally, I completely respect your mature response to the April Fool's joke.

Posted at 3:46AM on Apr 3rd 2008 by Jean B

10. Wow, what a baby. At least you have enough integrity to send him an email that doesn't just completely rip that guy a new one. I would have kicked him in the balls and stolen his lunch money. Really, that guy must cry an awful lot if he gets that torn up over an April Fool's blog post.

Posted at 9:18AM on Apr 3rd 2008 by the_boo

11. That e-mail was probably a joke in itself.

Posted at 9:33PM on Apr 3rd 2008 by Ryan Kelly

12. hag and addict are right --
ironically some crazy april fools stuff did go down on the dark knight front. I found one of the bags if anyone is curious about the progression of the whole shbang.

Posted at 10:23PM on Apr 3rd 2008 by nicely