Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital Download beginning December 4th is the superhero blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, which is the final chapter in director Christopher Nolan's Trilogy that began with '2005s Batman Begins and continued with '2008s The Dark Knight. The film once again stars Oscar-winner Christian Bale (The Fighter) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Oscar-winner Michael Caine (Cars 2) as Alfred Pennyworth, Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman (The Magic of Belle Isle) as Lucius Fox, Oscar-nominee Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Commissioner Gordon, Oscar-nominee Liam Neeson (The Grey) as Ra's al Ghul, and Cillian Murphy (Red Lights) as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarcrow, as well as new cast members Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone) as Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul, Oscar-nominee Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Tom Hardy (Warrior) as Bane, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper) as "Robin" John Blake. 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to visit The Dark Knight Legend Exhibit at LA LIVE in Los Angeles and speak with George Barris (Creator of the Original 1966 Batmobile), Andy Smith (Builder of The Tumbler from Christopher Nolan's Trilogy), Jeff Dunham (Comedian and Owner of a Restored Michael Keaton Batmobile), and Mark Greenhalgh (Warner Bros. Corporate Archive) about the once in a lifetime event and their contributions to The Dark Knight legacy. In addition to featuring all five big screen Batmobiles, the exhibit also includes costumes and props from Christopher Nolan's Trilogy, and Batman art. 

We've previously seen one image of Tom Hardy's back as the villainous juicer Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, along with a quick glimpse at his face in the film's first teaser trailer, but now that Christopher Nolan's final Bat-film is in production on the very public streets of Pittsburgh, set photos have emerged showing Hardy in full costume.  These set pictures – pretty much guaranteed to be the first in a deluge of such images, given the intensity of interest in the Bat-finale – show Bane standing atop a Tumbler, the Wayne Enterprises military vehicle known more popularly as the Batmobile.

When the very first images of Batman's new ride were unveiled well in advance of 2005's Batman Begins, audiences familiar with the swooping fins of past Batmobiles were largely befuddled.  By the time the film hit theaters, however, the Tumbler – a growling combination of a stealth jet, a sports car, and a tank – proved its mettle and became a defining component of Christopher Nolan's take on the Caped Crusader. 

The huge IMAX set piece in the middle of sequel The Dark Knight saw the Tumbler self-destructing, leaving Batman (Christian Bale) to cruise around on the Batpod.  The Dark Knight Rises is, of course, in the midst of production, and there have been ample rumors that Batman will pilot planes or helicopters.  While either of those could very well be true, a new photo from the Pittsburgh set shows that both the Tumbler and the Batpod are both returning.

If we accept the idea that a flashy car is really an unconscious substitute for a small penis, then Batman is desperately overcompensating for what must truly be a debilitating shortcoming.  Regardless of his possible Freudian couch-button, Bruce Wayne has always had a distinctive ride.  This graphic, which originated at batmobilehistory.com, gives a thorough overview of Batmobiles, starting in 1941 and including representations from comics, Teevee, films, and even a videogame.