# Frank Miller's latest Batman - Wow... just wow! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253 "2006-06-03T03:44:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/1 "2006-06-03T03:44:27Z")
Via Fark [All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder](http://www.i-mockery.com/comics/longbox7/) ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/2 "2006-06-03T03:46:27Z")
Hehe, saw that, at least he didn’t go all [Batwoman](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,19181,00.html?fdnews). ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/3 "2006-06-03T05:19:12Z")
You mean Frank “[W… wh…who…](http://www.shortpacked.com/d/20060207.html)” Miller? ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/4 "2006-06-03T13:04:33Z")
This book’s the hottest thing on the stands. Not _everyone_ buying it could be enjoying it ironically. At least some of them have to be enjoying the book on its own merits and not laughing at it. We’ve got a sizeable comic book fan contingent here, somebody fess up. I won’t laugh at you. I just won’t take your opinions seriously ever again. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/5 "2006-06-03T13:49:20Z")
Hotter than _All-Star Superman?_ :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![B\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@B\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B_Soup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/6 "2006-06-03T17:26:06Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Via Fark > [All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder](http://www.i-mockery.com/comics/longbox7/) Great review. Hilarious. I was wondering if it was just me that thought this latest Batman title was , to put it kindly, poorly written. (Hey, if Frank Miller never writes another story again, he’ll be considered one of the greats. Even the best can swing and miss occasionally). I was going to drop this title, but this review makes me want to see what happens next. Plus, there’s always the Jim Lee art. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/7 "2006-06-03T19:42:44Z")
> [@B Soup](#): > > (Hey, if Frank Miller never writes another story again, he’ll be considered one of the greats. If, however, he does, at least in any property other than Sin City, the chances of his being considered a great are going to go to zero. Unfortunately for Frank, _Holy Terror, Batman_ is still in the offing. (And it says a lot about my expectations for Miller than the fact that HTB lookw like it’s going to reek to high heaven doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the fact that there’s already a Batman story called Holy Terror - the first official Elseworlds title.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/8 "2006-06-03T20:41:35Z")
I don’t even read comic books, but that review was hilarious. Does anyone know how many times Dick Grayson’s age was specified? ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/9 "2006-06-03T20:49:37Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > If, however, he does, at least in any property other than Sin City, the chances of his being considered a great are going to go to zero. > > Unfortunately for Frank, _Holy Terror, Batman_ is still in the offing. > > (And it says a lot about my expectations for Miller than the fact that HTB lookw like it’s going to reek to high heaven doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the fact that there’s already a Batman story called Holy Terror - the first official Elseworlds title.) The Dark Night Returns was awesome, he’ll definitely be remembered for that. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/10 "2006-06-03T20:57:56Z")
I haven’t read the books, but the review does say that the premise was to try and use 50’s style story telling. It seems a bit like what happened was that the dialogue become “Dick Grayson, 12 years old” due to that, but then that combined with Frank “W…Wh…Who” Miller, ended up as freak fest. Not that that really solves anything beyond knowing for the future not to put a guy who writes modern dark and gritty tales to try and write in a style that encouraged plot holes out the butt and innuendo every two seconds. The art looks pretty amazing though. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/11 "2006-06-03T21:48:26Z")
I agree about the art. Too bad about the story. The whole making Robin eat rats thing is especially stupid. Maybe it could work well as part of a darker Batman story, but here it just makes him look like an idiot. Didn’t he know that Alfred would try and interfere? For comics that are supposed to capture the feel of 50’s comics, I think they should get Kurt Busiek to write. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/12 "2006-06-04T07:05:01Z")
In the latest issue, Batman surpassed LOEG’s Edward Hyde for the “Most Inappropriate Copped Cheap Feel” award. Ew! ---
**Author:** ![Stentor\_2.5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Stentor\_2.5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stentor_2.5)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/13 "2006-06-04T23:45:42Z")
Speaking as a red blooded man, I support this book based on its initial depiction of Vicky Vale. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/14 "2006-06-04T23:50:12Z")
I first became aware of this series through a link to [this page.](http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/1289100.html) From now on, I will always think of Frank Miller as a 15-year-old boy, just discovering that girls don’t automatically act out his fantasies for him. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/15 "2006-06-05T00:35:04Z")
> [@The Punkyova](#): > > I first became aware of this series through a link to [this page.](http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/1289100.html) From now on, I will always think of Frank Miller as a 15-year-old boy, just discovering that girls don’t automatically act out his fantasies for him. Oog. That script is pretty scary sounding. Certainly I can see throwing in some gratuitous stuff for the audience, but “She has a great ass. The kind of ass any man wants. Oh god give us her ass Jim…” (Not an actual quote, but I don’t feel like reading through to find what he actually wrote.) Rather disturbing to read something where you can tell the writer is using one hand to type… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/16 "2006-06-05T00:42:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Oog. That script is pretty scary sounding. Certainly I can see throwing in some gratuitous stuff for the audience, but “She has a great ass. The kind of ass any man wants. Oh god give us her ass Jim…” (Not an actual quote, but I don’t feel like reading through to find what he actually wrote.) Rather disturbing to read something where you can tell the writer is using one hand to type… Hang on, that was a real script? I assumed it was parody-otherwise… Must go burn my copies of Batman Year One and DKR. They are…sullied, now. They have Miller-Spunk on them. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/17 "2006-06-05T02:05:18Z")
Gotta admit that’s one great review. I’m particularly fond of the captions to the panels: > [@](#): > > Anyone this happy in a Frank Miller story isn’t going to stay that way for long. or > [@](#): > > It’s at this moment, running across the moonlit ocean hefting an automobile over his head, that Superman realizes he’s a fucking idiot. That’s some quality funny there. Is anyone with me that, like Dave Sim, Miller’s just gone completely nuts? And it’s a shame, too. What Grant Morrison has done with All Star Superman has been really good. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/18 "2006-06-05T03:48:01Z")
My husband manages a comic shop and while he stocks to the book for those who want it, he encourages people NOT to buy it. It’s such dreck. Please, Miller, go rest on your laurels somewhere where there aren’t any writing instruments of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/19 "2006-06-05T03:49:56Z")
How well is it selling, by the way? This seems like the kind of thing Wizard would hype as the best comic ever, and one you’ll surely be able to stockpile and pay for your kid’s college education with. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253/20 "2006-06-05T03:59:47Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Is anyone with me that, like Dave Sim, Miller’s just gone completely nuts? The way I see it, there’s four possible explanations: 1. As you said, the man’s gone nuts. What talent he once had has been consumed by creeping insanity that only favored earlier works. 2. Like the films of Paul Verhoven, it’s intentionally written as a really shitty comic to point out the absurdities of the genre and characers. It’s satire. 3. Springtime for Hitler. He wrote this to get DC off his back, with the goal of failing so spectacularly that he’d never be asked to go near Batman again… But people loved it. 4. He just doesn’t care. It’s crap we wrote up in fifteen minute chunks between bits of Sin City 2, but a paycheck’s a paycheck! All seem equally likely to me at this point. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-millers-latest-batman-wow-just-wow/359253.md?page=2)