I went in worried. I’ve never seen a buzz build around a movie like that that’s formed around THE DARK KNIGHT. I mean, critics have compared it to GODFATHER II. GODFATHER II?! Is there any way a Batman movie could possibly live up to that kind of hype?

Well, while it isn’t perfect, the film is everything that’s been promised. This nail biting, rollercoaster ride will affect you long after you’ve left the theater. Epic in nature, THE DARK KNIGHT is more than just a genre-bending blockbuster; it’s more than just summer entertainment; this is a morality tale of the highest caliber, a film that dares to challenge its viewers, showing you that the war waged between good and evil isn’t a showdown that takes place on the streets of Gotham, but instead, is a battle fought every day inside of us all. This is the Batman movie comic readers have longed for. Finally, this is OUR Batman.

So…now what?

We finally have a movie that accurately portrays what comics are all about. It’s being seen by millions of people this weekend, and better still, they love it. What can we do to show these folks that this is what they’re missing when they drive past their local comic shop?

It’s already a tough sell. The first line of Roger Ebert’s review says it all. “Batman isn’t a comic book anymore.” You see, the public has this preconceived notion that THE DARK KNIGHT isn’t a strong representation of the comic BECAUSE of its depth and meaning. Joe Public’s been programmed. He doesn’t think this movie is anything like the comic book because, well, in his mind, it’s just too damn good to be a comic book.

So what should our industry do? This is a great opportunity. I’m sure DC will sell a lot more books this quarter – but will it last? What can we do to prove to DARK KNIGHT fans that there is plenty more where this came from? What can we do to turn these moviegoers into the Holy Grail our industry is after – new readers?