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dahlia_moonHave read my first comic about Batman. And honestly? Going into this issue about Batman and Robin, I had no idea what I was getting into but from the second page, it was clear this was not the Batman I had come to know through osmosis in popular culture. But I really, really love the artwork and hear Jim Lee is a genius, which I wholeheartedly agree with.
A quick summary: All-star Batman and Robin, Boy Wonder volume one starts when Dick Grayson's parents are murdered and Bruce Wayne takes him on as his protege - well, actually, more like kidnaps him and takes him to his Batcave to train him as his sidekick. The Joker and Catwoman are up to something. And women get murdered.
Some thoughts:
= Vicki Vale, upon first meeting her, seemed to me to be nothing more than a "sex symbol" but then she totally become badass and as smart as Batman. Which makes me wonder why didn't she comment on Bruce's disappearance at the circus. You'd think for a reporter, she'd notice that kind of thing. (She does call Bruce out on being a creeper when he makes that comment on keeping an eye on Dick Grayson at the beginning - which was WTF like times infinity for me. Way to sound like a pedophile, Bruce. Especially with keeping in mind that Dick/Robin here is only twelve years old and an orphan now.)
= Alfred is kind of creepy here. Or maybe that's just me. Actually, there are a lot of creepy characters/moments here (the one major creepy character being Batman himself, as I mentioned previously - by my understanding however, this is Miller's new interpretation of Batman/Bruce Wayne, one who is more cynical and cruel - he essentially kidnaps - and admits it himself that he's kidnapping Dick - Dick and introduces himself at one point toward the beginning as the "goddamn Batman") and I'm only on volume one...which doesn't bode well, I don't think, if there are future volumes.
= Also find myself shipping Alfred/Vicki...maybe because they're practically naked in the second chapter and she faints in his arms at one point. I swear I feel like I'm reading something that should belong in a Harlequin novel/movie half the time Vicki's involved. And that's not necessarily a bad thing since I like Harlequin novels/movies but I'd just rather not equate it with Vicki's character, which I know is me asking a lot of the predominately male characters that write female characters in comics. Because Vicki does have the potential to be an awesome female character but it's all overshadowed by the fact that she wears skimpy dresses that almost appear to blend into her skin so one thinks she's almost naked and by the fact that she's treated like a child by an older male character.
= While Miller's Batman does seem more like a psychopath than a masked crusader at the beginning, I do like that he does seem remorseful/reedemable. At least in part. Toward the end of episode two, we get this narration from Batman: "What am I DOING to this kid? Who the hell do I think I AM? I'm TORTURING this boy. TORTURING him. Just LOOK at him. He's a BABY. And I'm TORTURING him. It's a TERRIBLE thing to do. But it's the only WAY. It's the only WAY. If I don't keep the PRESSURE up, he'll find time to GRIEVE.I can't let him GRIEVE. GRIEF is the ENEMY. There's no TIME for GRIEF. There's no ROOM for GRIEF. GRIEF turns into ACCEPTANCE. FORGIVENESS. GRIEF forgives what can NEVER be forgiven. NEVER. Oh, HELL. Just LOOK at him. STOP it. No DOUBTS. Remember the MISSION. NOTHING MATTERS--except the MISSION. HE doesn't matter. YOU don't matter. NOTHING MATTERS--except the MISSION. Pray he's up to it." It's kinda a long quote but it shows perfectly, I think, why Batman acts so coldly & harshly toward Dick and the whole situation. Being an orphan himself, he knows what Dick is going through. And he's probably the only one who can be there for Dick now.
= I guess the only character I'm really loving is Dick Grayson/Robin. Because they haven't screwed up his character too badly in this reprint (uh, not that I have prior knowledge of how any character should be beyond the cartoons and that one Batman & Robin movie that I saw that starred George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, and Alicia Silverstone so you know *shrugs* my knowledge of their canon personalities is lacking for sure). But he's adorable. (Except for that one scene in which he *almost* chops off the head of the guy who murdered his parents.)
= Another WTF thing for me, personally, is the animosity between Batman and Superman. I get the sense that it has to do something with how wildly different both Bruce & Clark's personalities/philosophy of "super-heroing" (for lack of a better word) are. Maybe. I definitely think Batman is at least a little bit jealous of Superman's abilities (he prides himself on being the better detective since he knows Superman's true identity but Superman doesn't have the same advantage) and Superman hates Batman because Batman seems to be nothing but a dirty scoundrel to Superman who's ruining their good superhero image (meaning Superman thinks Batman's sole purpose is to make the other superheroes - Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, the Green Lantern, and Superman aka the Fab Four aka what will become the Justice League later on I assume - appear to be monsters in the public's eye.)
= The Diana/Clark fierce arguing-that-leads-to-kissing annoys me. And not just because I ship Clark/Lois like burning fire...OK, maybe I'm lying, maybe it DOES annoy me because I ship Clark/Lois like burning fire. -_- But I should be OK with it because the Superman here is not the Clark Kent I know from the olden days of "Lois & Clark: New Adventures of Superman" or any of the movies either (everybody comments on how messed up Bruce is written, but I wanna know where the outrage is at Clark's wild new personality) so really my Clark/Lois ship is left safe if I pretend to not like this Superman. Because I don't like him. And let's not even touch on my first exposure to Diana. I don't wanna use the word "bitchy" but that's the only way I can describe her and it's really off-putting. She claims to hate every man on the planet and that they can't do anything right and then totally starts making out with Superman, which is like whut?? She still leaves in a huff even after she gets some major lip action from Superman. I don't even know.
= The Black Canary is cool too. As is Batgirl. I particularly love Batgirl's costume here; it's sooo cool and sleek-looking and looks like a real superhero costume. Just so much ♥ love for it. So there are two awesome girls. *shrugs*
My decidely awesome scanning skillz:
So, while Miller's new interpretation is mostly weird and WTF, I agree, you can't blame the man for wanting to try something new and reinventing the character. (I just really wish that the new interpretation made Bruce more likeable instead of a douchbag but I guess you can't have everything.)
I've read reviews where people have totally condemned this as being bad and others who have thought it was a masterpiece, and others who were in the middle who thought it was kinda OK but not the best comic they read. I personally liked it even if I did have some problems with Bruce's character and the seemingly uncomfortable deluge of whores who are only in the comic to get murdered. Ha. /sarcasm.
So yeah am kinda getting obsessed with comics.
Also stumbled upon this article: Former DC President Paul Levitz says superhero stories “more appealing to boys”
"But here’s the thing. It’s not that we [women] don’t like superheroes. It’s we don’t like most of the superhero comics that are offered to us. We don’t like superheroes comics where the women are appendages. Or dressed in outfits that are ridiculously unsuited to the job of superheroing. Or have their boobs hanging out. We also don’t like superhero comics where women are treated like cannon fodder. Or seen as less than their male counterparts. Let me put it this way, if you keep keeping putting food on a kid’s plate and they don’t eat, do you assume they don’t like to eat or they don’t like the food? Right."
I think this perfectly explains why I get creeped out by the gratuitous butt/breast shots of Vicki Vale in this comic (not that Vicki Vale is not an attractive woman and I can appreciate looking at a beautiful woman) and the man-bashing of Wonder Woman.
I also would like to get into the X-Factor & Young Avengers comics as I heard they have canon gay characters. And, uh, judging by my obsession with gay literature, this sounds right up my alley. Though, it is apparently as hard to find canon gay characters in comics as it is to find female characters who don't either give you an inferiority complex or who can be a good role model for you or or who you can relate to on some level.
~*~
Unrelated to comics but, I saw this review of the Nick & Nora films (The Thin Man saga) linked and having heard of Nick & Nora before, read the entire article and was totally blown away. This totally sounds like a movie I'd appreciate seeing! :D (Now if only I could find the movies somewhere...legally, I mean.)
A quick summary: All-star Batman and Robin, Boy Wonder volume one starts when Dick Grayson's parents are murdered and Bruce Wayne takes him on as his protege - well, actually, more like kidnaps him and takes him to his Batcave to train him as his sidekick. The Joker and Catwoman are up to something. And women get murdered.
Some thoughts:
= Vicki Vale, upon first meeting her, seemed to me to be nothing more than a "sex symbol" but then she totally become badass and as smart as Batman. Which makes me wonder why didn't she comment on Bruce's disappearance at the circus. You'd think for a reporter, she'd notice that kind of thing. (She does call Bruce out on being a creeper when he makes that comment on keeping an eye on Dick Grayson at the beginning - which was WTF like times infinity for me. Way to sound like a pedophile, Bruce. Especially with keeping in mind that Dick/Robin here is only twelve years old and an orphan now.)
= Alfred is kind of creepy here. Or maybe that's just me. Actually, there are a lot of creepy characters/moments here (the one major creepy character being Batman himself, as I mentioned previously - by my understanding however, this is Miller's new interpretation of Batman/Bruce Wayne, one who is more cynical and cruel - he essentially kidnaps - and admits it himself that he's kidnapping Dick - Dick and introduces himself at one point toward the beginning as the "goddamn Batman") and I'm only on volume one...which doesn't bode well, I don't think, if there are future volumes.
= Also find myself shipping Alfred/Vicki...maybe because they're practically naked in the second chapter and she faints in his arms at one point. I swear I feel like I'm reading something that should belong in a Harlequin novel/movie half the time Vicki's involved. And that's not necessarily a bad thing since I like Harlequin novels/movies but I'd just rather not equate it with Vicki's character, which I know is me asking a lot of the predominately male characters that write female characters in comics. Because Vicki does have the potential to be an awesome female character but it's all overshadowed by the fact that she wears skimpy dresses that almost appear to blend into her skin so one thinks she's almost naked and by the fact that she's treated like a child by an older male character.
= While Miller's Batman does seem more like a psychopath than a masked crusader at the beginning, I do like that he does seem remorseful/reedemable. At least in part. Toward the end of episode two, we get this narration from Batman: "What am I DOING to this kid? Who the hell do I think I AM? I'm TORTURING this boy. TORTURING him. Just LOOK at him. He's a BABY. And I'm TORTURING him. It's a TERRIBLE thing to do. But it's the only WAY. It's the only WAY. If I don't keep the PRESSURE up, he'll find time to GRIEVE.I can't let him GRIEVE. GRIEF is the ENEMY. There's no TIME for GRIEF. There's no ROOM for GRIEF. GRIEF turns into ACCEPTANCE. FORGIVENESS. GRIEF forgives what can NEVER be forgiven. NEVER. Oh, HELL. Just LOOK at him. STOP it. No DOUBTS. Remember the MISSION. NOTHING MATTERS--except the MISSION. HE doesn't matter. YOU don't matter. NOTHING MATTERS--except the MISSION. Pray he's up to it." It's kinda a long quote but it shows perfectly, I think, why Batman acts so coldly & harshly toward Dick and the whole situation. Being an orphan himself, he knows what Dick is going through. And he's probably the only one who can be there for Dick now.
= I guess the only character I'm really loving is Dick Grayson/Robin. Because they haven't screwed up his character too badly in this reprint (uh, not that I have prior knowledge of how any character should be beyond the cartoons and that one Batman & Robin movie that I saw that starred George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, and Alicia Silverstone so you know *shrugs* my knowledge of their canon personalities is lacking for sure). But he's adorable. (Except for that one scene in which he *almost* chops off the head of the guy who murdered his parents.)
= Another WTF thing for me, personally, is the animosity between Batman and Superman. I get the sense that it has to do something with how wildly different both Bruce & Clark's personalities/philosophy of "super-heroing" (for lack of a better word) are. Maybe. I definitely think Batman is at least a little bit jealous of Superman's abilities (he prides himself on being the better detective since he knows Superman's true identity but Superman doesn't have the same advantage) and Superman hates Batman because Batman seems to be nothing but a dirty scoundrel to Superman who's ruining their good superhero image (meaning Superman thinks Batman's sole purpose is to make the other superheroes - Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, the Green Lantern, and Superman aka the Fab Four aka what will become the Justice League later on I assume - appear to be monsters in the public's eye.)
= The Diana/Clark fierce arguing-that-leads-to-kissing annoys me. And not just because I ship Clark/Lois like burning fire...OK, maybe I'm lying, maybe it DOES annoy me because I ship Clark/Lois like burning fire. -_- But I should be OK with it because the Superman here is not the Clark Kent I know from the olden days of "Lois & Clark: New Adventures of Superman" or any of the movies either (everybody comments on how messed up Bruce is written, but I wanna know where the outrage is at Clark's wild new personality) so really my Clark/Lois ship is left safe if I pretend to not like this Superman. Because I don't like him. And let's not even touch on my first exposure to Diana. I don't wanna use the word "bitchy" but that's the only way I can describe her and it's really off-putting. She claims to hate every man on the planet and that they can't do anything right and then totally starts making out with Superman, which is like whut?? She still leaves in a huff even after she gets some major lip action from Superman. I don't even know.
= The Black Canary is cool too. As is Batgirl. I particularly love Batgirl's costume here; it's sooo cool and sleek-looking and looks like a real superhero costume. Just so much ♥ love for it. So there are two awesome girls. *shrugs*
My decidely awesome scanning skillz:
So, while Miller's new interpretation is mostly weird and WTF, I agree, you can't blame the man for wanting to try something new and reinventing the character. (I just really wish that the new interpretation made Bruce more likeable instead of a douchbag but I guess you can't have everything.)
I've read reviews where people have totally condemned this as being bad and others who have thought it was a masterpiece, and others who were in the middle who thought it was kinda OK but not the best comic they read. I personally liked it even if I did have some problems with Bruce's character and the seemingly uncomfortable deluge of whores who are only in the comic to get murdered. Ha. /sarcasm.
So yeah am kinda getting obsessed with comics.
Also stumbled upon this article: Former DC President Paul Levitz says superhero stories “more appealing to boys”
"But here’s the thing. It’s not that we [women] don’t like superheroes. It’s we don’t like most of the superhero comics that are offered to us. We don’t like superheroes comics where the women are appendages. Or dressed in outfits that are ridiculously unsuited to the job of superheroing. Or have their boobs hanging out. We also don’t like superhero comics where women are treated like cannon fodder. Or seen as less than their male counterparts. Let me put it this way, if you keep keeping putting food on a kid’s plate and they don’t eat, do you assume they don’t like to eat or they don’t like the food? Right."
I think this perfectly explains why I get creeped out by the gratuitous butt/breast shots of Vicki Vale in this comic (not that Vicki Vale is not an attractive woman and I can appreciate looking at a beautiful woman) and the man-bashing of Wonder Woman.
I also would like to get into the X-Factor & Young Avengers comics as I heard they have canon gay characters. And, uh, judging by my obsession with gay literature, this sounds right up my alley. Though, it is apparently as hard to find canon gay characters in comics as it is to find female characters who don't either give you an inferiority complex or who can be a good role model for you or or who you can relate to on some level.
~*~
Unrelated to comics but, I saw this review of the Nick & Nora films (The Thin Man saga) linked and having heard of Nick & Nora before, read the entire article and was totally blown away. This totally sounds like a movie I'd appreciate seeing! :D (Now if only I could find the movies somewhere...