Sep
11
“Holy $#!*, Batman!”
Filed Under Comics
I collect “All-Star Batman and Robin.” I don’t know why. It’s a mountain of dreck. That Frank Miller, the very same Frank Miller whose “The Dark Knight Returns” is right up there with “Watchmen” in terms of greatness, writes the book is mystifying to me. He’s gone insane — bat-guano insane, not to put too fine a point on it.
And now, I shall provide some backstory. “All-Star Batman and Robin” is an out-of-continuity DC Comics title that’s set at the beginning of Batman’s career. It’s essentially DC’s answer to Marvel Comics’ “Ultimate” books. Rebooting popular characters is just as commonplace in comics as it is in film. I’m frankly bored with the trend.
At any rate, DC doesn’t publish nearly as many “All-Star” books as Marvel publishes “Ultimate” books. They don’t put them out as often, either. Deadlines are not something the A-list creators like Frank Miller and “All-Star Batman and Robin” penciller Jim Lee have ever bothered adhering to. I had a girlfriend when “All-Star Batman and Robin” #1 came out, and I haven’t had a girlfriend in over two years now. Ten issues of the comic have been pubished to date. I don’t know what’s more pathetic, my inert social life or Miller and Lee’s inability to put out a book that’s at the very least bi-monthly.
I actually misspoke when I said they’re up to issue #10. The tenth issue of “All-Star Batman and Robin” — originally scheduled to hit stands yesterday — has been pulled from shelves, according to Comic Book Resources, due to all the naughty language in Miller’s script. The pages are more redacted that Valerie Plame’s autobiography, but CBR has transcribed all the profanity in their article. Miller’s certainly no Mamet.
Now I have nothing against bad words. I even wrote a profanity-laden superhero script a year or so ago. But, Miller’s just turning in hackwork here. His dialogue, such as it is, doesn’t sound like anything [super-]human beings would actually say. It’s just juvenile. I find that offensive. He’s not even trying. Readers are waiting months on end for something half-assed.
I think I might drop this book. It’s so stunningly out-of-character (forget continuity), it’s hardly a Batman title anyway. Miller used to be one of my heroes in the comics medium. Of late, it seems like he’s just telling his fans what to go do with themselves in no uncertain terms. Well, I’ve got a few choice words for him, too.
-Brad Lohan
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