COLLECTED EDITION | WRITER Frank Miller ART Jim Lee (pencils) Scott Williams (inks) Alex Sinclair (colours)
ISSUES All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder #1-#9 PUBLISHER DC Comics
He retooled Batman’s origin, offered a definitive Dark Knight tale and in 2005, Frank Miller returned to crush your hopes and dreams and everything that made Batman. Making everybody in
All Star Batman & Robin awfully unlikable, he took a large dump on the incredible legacy of the Caped Crusader, offering his “re-imagining” of a 70-year-old icon.
There’s not much of a plot to speak of, but in the first few chapters, Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of young Dick Grayson’s parents while performing a circus routine, and essentially kidnaps the boy to train him as his ward (“What the hell’s a ‘ward?’ asks Dick. “Shut up,” replies the Batman). The rest of the book is a mis-mash of various thug smackdowns, arguments, unnecessary characters and scenes with a dismally unlikable Dark Knight.
This is not your grandfather’s Batman. Or your father’s. Or even yours, for that matter. This is Frank Miller’s Batman, a sadistic, brutal, twisted and unpredictable Dark Knight, possibly as insane as the foes he faces. He gets a obsessive sensation out of completely bashing the living shit out of thieves, cops, rapists, and anybody he sees. He physically and verbally abuses Dick, his partner, and there is, frustratingly, little development to their abusive relationship.
In fact, every character in
All Star is painted as unlikable, foul-mouthed and in many cases, dim-witted. From Vicki Vale’s gratuitous introduction to poor old Jim Gordon’s obliviousness to everything, from Wonder Woman’s hatred for everybody to Barbra Gordon’s awful dialogue chocked full of swears.... the only one that we find any sympathy for is Dick himself, reduced to living in the cold, endless Batcave, eating rats and fending for himself for days, weeks, months.
Miller’s writing is, put nicely, atrocious. Many big characters are seen only once (there’s a meeting of the Justice League of America that serves of nearly no importance, the Joker and Catwoman are in the book for no reason), the plot disintegrates into nothingness after about four chapters, and there’s an awkward, unexpected and unexplained sex scene between Black Canary and Batman. The dialogue is the worst of it - it’s poorly written, filthy, over-dramatic and most of the characters are just completely misinterpreted (some highlights include the overuse of “queer”, “little snot”, “brat”, and who can forget “the Goddamn Batman”?). This is the man that redefined Batman? In this book, Miller has reduced practically everybody to an asshole.
If there is one positive, it’s Jim Lee’s masterful work with the pencils. He, along with inker Scott Williams and colourist Alex Sinclair, is the only thing that makes this comic readable. Words cannot describe how wonderful Lee’s artwork is; highlights include Gotham’s sprawling, beautifully lit skyline, the incredibly choreographed (and often brutal) action and the dark shadows Batman envelops himself in. There’s not a panel to waste. Every single one is extraordinarily detailed, spectacularly coloured and a real joy to look at.
"It's hard to believe anybody at DC thought this was a good idea."
It’s hard to believe anybody at DC thought
All Star Batman & Robin was a good idea. One of the worst parts about the collected trade edition is that it all ends very abruptly, providing only a small sense of closure and ultimately leaving the reader unsatisfied. Loose ends don’t tie up, characters are introduced without mention again.... it would make sense if there was a Volume 2 to compensate the “Volume 1” slapped on the cover. As it turns out, Miller and Lee never finished the story, and the team were planning to complete it in 2011, but they never got around to it.
However, in spite of all its problems - its unlikeable characters, a lack of plot and poor writing in general -
All Star Batman & Robin is strangely entertaining. You can’t put it down; it has an incredible hook that makes you want to turn the next page to uncover the next hilarious mystery. It may not be Miller or Batman’s finest hour, but it’s worth a read for “the Goddamn Batman” only.
VERDICT: ★★ 1/2 (Okay)
Although it’s poorly written with unlikable characters, a lack of plot and an apparent misunderstanding of the Dark Knight’s legacy, Jim Lee’s art keeps this comic afloat, adding an entertaining quality to a disappointing book.