DC Comics’ “The New 52” is still entertaining the hell out of me. In fact, yesterday’s release of Justice League #2 made me laugh out loud. Comic books provide me with so much entertainment, but usually not the “LOL” kind. Check out the panel above. It’s fantastic. Batman is doing his detective thing. Flash is being earnest, wholesome, and helpful. Green Lantern is being brash — acting first without thinking of the consequences. The characterization is perfect and I found the whole thing hilarious.
Comic books rule.
Anything with the joker or deadpool in it crack me up. I still laugh out loud when I think about a few of the lines from Under the Red Hood.
that does have some lol moments in it for me too. I agree, plenty of Joker's lines are lol funny.
Mr. Padilla;
I finished both of the Batman graphic novels from Frank Miller (Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns) and per your request, here are my (not-a-review) thoughts. (*SPOILERS AHEAD!*)
Year One was better- by far. The illustrations in Year One were updated a bit so that it didn't look like it was pulled out from a Sunday newspaper from the 80's. Still, the art style was a bit old, but it worked fine. This story NEEDS to be turned into a movie. It would be awesome.
I love the dual angle of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman as Jim Gordon is rising through the ranks of a corrupted PD. The way that both stories (that could each be independent of each other) weave into one another is superb! I also enjoyed the excellent job Miller did at fleshing out Jim Gordon to be a flawed character. In doing so, Gordon becomes much more believable as a multi-faceted character. You can relate to him a lot easier and it draws the reader into the story. Hell, I was rooting for the guy halfway through. For me to have that kind of emotional attachment to a character, you have to be a great writer. Likewise, a younger, inexperienced Batman that makes rookie mistakes also fits the profile of a "flawed character" that the reader gets easily attached to. Throw in some political theater mixed in with a side of a Catwoman origin, and this graphic novel is a winner.
TDKR, on the other hand… kind of sucked. It may be a little harsh, but I definitely thought it was weak all around. For starters, the art and paneling was sloppy and all over the place. It was inconsistent and simplistic. Some of the panels even looked washed-out with the colors. There were many things that were exaggerated, even by graphic novel standards. It was just disappointing.
As far as the story goes; there was clever writing and I liked the concept of an "older, retired Batman" coming back for one last hurrah, but I feel that ultimately, the execution was poor. The "TV news" panels interfered with the flow way too much. I understand this is a common tool used in graphic novels, but in this case, it was overused to the point of frustration. I did like the hyperbolic celebrity and political figures from the "David Letterman" character to the insecure caricature of a mayor and the flag-draped president that seems to be a hybrid between Reagan and Bush. The new Robin flat-out sucked. No back story, no motive, no interest. It is probably one of the most unrealistic and one-dimensional Robins ever. The character could have been easily replaced by any other Bat-ally. Speaking of one-dimensional characters, the punks (or Sons of Batman as they are known later on) was an interesting twist, but I feel that they ultimately fell flat as a plot driver. I get what Miller was trying to do with them, but it just didn't seem to live up to the potential (until possibly the very last panel, but by then it was too late).
Lastly, I have to ask a question that has been plaguing me and the climax of the whole story: Why the hell did Batman and Superman fight? There is no explanation other than Supes telling Bruce: "… someone with authority is going to ask me to bring you in…" Why? What happened? What does Batman and Gotham City have to do with the nuclear arms race sub-plot that involves Superman and the president (and the Soviets)? I've read through the story a few times now, and there really doesn't seem to be any justification for a Batman/Superman fight to the death. I'm going to read the alternate ending and the full script of the series that comes as an addendum to the graphic novel to see if it can clarify. There were a few other things I did not like about TDKR, but they were relatively minor.
If you missed it, my "not-a-reveiw" for The Killing Joke" is here: https://rpad.tv/2011/10/11/the-avengers-movie-…
On to Hush.
-M
Year One is available as an animated feature. I just watched it last night. It's very, very good…and I've always had a thing for Eliza Dushku's voice. She's hot.
I'm surprised you were so down on The Dark Knight Returns. I actually like the art. It's stylish. It looks like most of the things Frank Miller has done. Superman has been reduced to the President's watchdog. The boss wants Bats down, so Supes has to comply. That are several bits of inner monologue where Superman laments what he has become. He's supposed to be about "The American Way", but that way has become warped, yet he follows without question.
Just her voice ray?? Also the Nolan's did use batman year one for some of their ideas for batman begins.
That's an interesting bit of social commentary. Still, it begs the question of why the president of the US would want to "get rid of" Batman? It's just one vigilante in one city that's cleaning up crime. Why target him and not other criminals? … especially with the whole nuclear tension thing going on. It just seems kind of a stretch to me and feels like it was shoehorned in just to get old Batman and old Superman to fight in a most epic way. Personally, I would have gone a different angle.
Also, with the inclusion of the Green Arrow, it makes me wonder what happened those final years of the JLA that led up to this point in the story.
(continued)…
The POTUS wants Batman gone because there aren't any "free" superheroes at that point in time. They've all been forced into civilian lives and/or retirement. If one acts up, he could serve as a symbol for others to rise up.
Ah. Thanks for clearing that up. I wish Miller would have clarified that a bit better in the story. You're my new "go-to guy" whenever I have a head-scratcher in the DC Universe.
I would like to read the story of how superheroes got forced into civilian lives and/ or retirement and the country's slow decline into fascism. Does any such book exist that you know of?
-M
He's Frank Miller. It's our job to understand him. :p
I don't know if there are any books in this timeline aside from this and its sequel.
Bad news about Hush (or good news, depending on your taste in art). The hardcover compilation I bought was apparently a tribute to Jim Lee as the etire thing is not inked or colored. I guess in honoring Jim Lee, they threw the inker and the colorist under the bus, eh? I should have opened this book up before I bought it. All the pages look like this:
<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_los9e84hvq1qa61l6o1_500.jpg">
Not that I am against the nice penciling work, it's just that I've been spoiled by color and ink. In addition, having only shades of grey makes it difficult to make out a lot of detail and objects, especially in a busy panel where there is a fight, or rain or Croc.
Selina's butt crack is still sweet, however.
-M
That's still a nice HC to have. I'd keep that to re-sell.
That was pretty funny and Eliza Dushku is not hot guys, sorry. I saw her at Best Buy with no make up on and she is hideous gentlemen. I still like her though and she is hot with makeup on haha.
I've never been a DC guy. I grew up on the Marvel X-Books for the most part. But I took the New 52 relaunch as an opportunity to get into a bunch of the Bat-books. I have to say, I'm liking the direction they're going with them so far.