On the next Major Spoilers Podcast, Matthew and Stephen will discuss why they like, or hate, the Miller and Morrison runs on Batman. Matthew thinks Morrison’s Batman R.I.P. story line is the bee’s knees, while Stephen “gets” Miller’s All-Star Batman and Robin.
We want to include your arguments on the topic. In the comments section give reasons why Stephen should like Morrison’s run, and Matthew should embrace Miller’s Batman. If your comments are intelligent and well written, they may appear on the show.
Let’s keep it civil. Comments like “Miller sucks” or “Morrison blows” that are not backed up with evidence or argument don’t help move the discussion along.
8 Comments
Knowing Grant, it won’t be surprising that the next Dark Knight would be Kathy Kane.
Remember Doom Patrol’s Coagula and The Invisibles’ Lord Fanny?
After a mastectomy, hysterectomy, phaloplasty, she would be a great Batman.
Yes, I know, that is too crazy, but it is Grant Morrison.
haven’t read Morrison’s run, but i plan to as soon as there’s a trade.
Miller’s Batman, it suck. it’s childish, violent for no reason and all around boring. in this, batman looks more like he abducted the kid and brainwashed him instead of taking him under his wing. and since when does he enjoy breaking arms and legs of tugs, even ribs? picking on green lantern, letting the boy wonder nearly beat him up to death? come on.
i bought the hardcover (issues 1 to 9) and i promise you i won’t buy the following book.
My main complaints with Morrisons run is that it’s so inaccessible. YOur DC history really needs to go really far back, which is fine for the people who were into Jack Kirby era stuff, but for people who want to get into this story line after seeing the dark knight movie or expecting to know all they need to know about batman after reading the most discussed volumes.
Not that this is exactly a bad thing per se. People who were into the oldies are definitely going to appretiate the throw backs and references. As for the rest of us, we’ll be left scratching our heads wondering what the heck is going on.
Miller brings us the god damn Batman that is new and different. You don’t know what he’s going to do next and that’s what makes it an exciting read. When Robin came into his life he’s slowly becoming a softer and sort of kinder person. I can’t wait for the next issues.
Miller’s approach to Batman and Robin has been interesting because of the slight shift in perspective he uses–what’s impressive is that the slight shift creates a immense difference in story telling. Rather than have Bruce Wayne adopt Dick Grayson, Batman recruits Dick into the war on crime. While a lot of people might argue this is semantically the same thing, it’s really not. Miller’s approach to Batman is more psychological and rather than sweep his unbalanced nature under the rug, Miller showcases is and allows Batman to revel in it. I think what bothers so many people is that Batman is being painted as an unhinged individual. But let’s take stock of what he’s been through: witnessed his parents being murdered, adopted by his valet (who follows his orders more than gives them), forgoes therapy in favour of a world traveling escapade where the primary tourist attractions are various ways to inflict harm on other people. These aren’t the actions of a sane and rational man and that is what Miller is exploring. For a long time, everyone in the DCU has been scared of Batman and while we understand why, few readers really acknowledge that what the Batman (and pretty much all super heroes do) is illegal and borderline criminal. Few authors have been so eager to delve into that aspect as Miller is. What makes this book so impressive to me is that Batman’s troubled nature is laid bare and the only thing that unsettles him is Dick Grayson. Miller showed the readers WHY Batman needs Robin and prepares the way to show how Robin will ground him, give him someone to foster and bring a measure of sanity back to a man who runs around in the dark, dressed like a giant bat, beating the snot out of people.
I have to agree with the above post. A lot of pople hate Millers psychotic batman and say that he’s ruining their hero but the batman in ASBR is, to me at least, only natural if you measure him up against the later batman in the Dark knight universe. What Miller did to batman in DKR is the same thing that Alan Moore did to superheroes in general in Watchmen, they explore the psychological deficencies that would make a person put on tights and beat up criminals and, while it may be different and foreign to some people, it’s really interesting and in a lot of ways more realistic than other depictions of the bat. The main problem as I see it with ASBR is that it has taken so long for us to see which direction the seires is going in, if the books had come out more frequently the story would have unfolded a lot quicker and the direction would have been a lot clearer. I have to admit I had my doubts about the series until I read 9 and 10 but as it is I like the whole thing and I honestly don’t mind the whole noir style dialog.
Miller Time’s post in defense of Miller’s (hmmm…) depiction of Batman may have just swayed me to go pick up ASB&R.
How come I can’t choose Paul Dini’s Batman in Detective Comics? That’s been the most consistently nteresting and easy to read Batman over the past couple of years. Any takers?