That old poll was getting a little stale, so here's a new one to vote on. What's your favorite Batman graphic novel? Up there I put a mixture of my personal favorites, and ones I know are pretty famous.
If you pick "other" (way too many to choose from, I know), comment below and tell us what it is!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Batman: As the Crow Flies Review
Batman: As the Crow Flies (trade paperback, c. 2004)
By Judd Winick
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Rating: ......
This isn't a very well known storyline, probably because it had the misfortune of coming out at around the same time as gems like Batman: Hush and War Games.
"Crow" opens with a mobster who has apparently gone insane. Batman takes him down, but soon other mob hitmen go postal as well. Batman believes it is the work of the Penguin, but Oswald denies any wrongdoing. He has actually hired Scarecrow to scare his 'employees' into submission. He has provided him with a lab, and an assistant, the albino Linda Friitawa.
Then a monster begins attacking the families. It looks like a version of Scarecrow, but Crane claims he knows nothing. Batman tries to control the creature, but he gets a dose of modified fear toxin and Robin has to rescue him. The creature follows the duo back to Wayne manner. batman defeats it with the help of a mechanized suit, and the monster devolves into Crane. It turns out Penguin hired Linda to infect Scarecrow so Penguin could get rid of the Gotham families. Linda is now able to see sunlight, and also exhales nerve toxin, plus an assortment of other abilities. she tells Batman to call her "Fright" right before disappearing.
Rating:
As you may notice there is no rating on this graphic novel. Honestly, its because I couldn't decide. On one hand, (and I've said this before) I really like the way Winick handles the interaction between the batfamily, their internal motivations, and dialogue. He really portrays the characters well.
On the other hand: mechanized batsuit? Honestly? If it works that well, then why didn't Bruce just wear it all the time and be done with it? That's the reaction I have to a lot of the plot in Winick's stories. It's just a backdrop for the character interactions. And quite frankly, there's almost no plot here.
I almost wish DC would let this writer just do some comics with all the characters talking. There are some very, very well done moments in this story. I love the character of Linda, and I wish some writer had picked her up after Winick's storyline ended.
And the chapter with Batman high on fear toxin in the batmobile while Alfred and Robin try to get through to him? Priceless. The way Winick portrays Scarecrow? The best I've seen so far.
Sucky plot, yes, but fantastic characters.
I guess it depends on what you read the batbooks for.
By Judd Winick
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Rating: ......
This isn't a very well known storyline, probably because it had the misfortune of coming out at around the same time as gems like Batman: Hush and War Games.
"Crow" opens with a mobster who has apparently gone insane. Batman takes him down, but soon other mob hitmen go postal as well. Batman believes it is the work of the Penguin, but Oswald denies any wrongdoing. He has actually hired Scarecrow to scare his 'employees' into submission. He has provided him with a lab, and an assistant, the albino Linda Friitawa.
Then a monster begins attacking the families. It looks like a version of Scarecrow, but Crane claims he knows nothing. Batman tries to control the creature, but he gets a dose of modified fear toxin and Robin has to rescue him. The creature follows the duo back to Wayne manner. batman defeats it with the help of a mechanized suit, and the monster devolves into Crane. It turns out Penguin hired Linda to infect Scarecrow so Penguin could get rid of the Gotham families. Linda is now able to see sunlight, and also exhales nerve toxin, plus an assortment of other abilities. she tells Batman to call her "Fright" right before disappearing.
Rating:
As you may notice there is no rating on this graphic novel. Honestly, its because I couldn't decide. On one hand, (and I've said this before) I really like the way Winick handles the interaction between the batfamily, their internal motivations, and dialogue. He really portrays the characters well.
On the other hand: mechanized batsuit? Honestly? If it works that well, then why didn't Bruce just wear it all the time and be done with it? That's the reaction I have to a lot of the plot in Winick's stories. It's just a backdrop for the character interactions. And quite frankly, there's almost no plot here.
I almost wish DC would let this writer just do some comics with all the characters talking. There are some very, very well done moments in this story. I love the character of Linda, and I wish some writer had picked her up after Winick's storyline ended.
And the chapter with Batman high on fear toxin in the batmobile while Alfred and Robin try to get through to him? Priceless. The way Winick portrays Scarecrow? The best I've seen so far.
Sucky plot, yes, but fantastic characters.
I guess it depends on what you read the batbooks for.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Hello Mickey, Meet Peter Parker
Disney just bought Marvel Comics for 4 billion dollars.
If you're wondering why I'm talking about Marvel on a Batman blog, it is because I am jumping up and down with glee. Marvel is now seriously handicapped.
Think about it. DC was bought by Time Warner in '69. Try to name one character/person you associate with the company other than Superman or Batman in thirty seconds.
Now try to do the same with Disney.
Disney already has Mickey Mouse, Donald, Toy Story, Wall-E, and Monsters Inc. Meanwhile, Time Warner does movies, sure, and a stupid cartoon about mice, but the big things are Batman: the Animated Series, the Justice League cartoons, and the Nolan movies.
Time Warner's big thing is DC. That is their main cash cow. But when Disney says "should we make another Cars movie, or Hulk?" the answer will be Cars, because that's where all the little kids beg parents to spend their money. Also, have talking automobiles ever come under fire for being too violent/sexified/generally unagreeable? No.
The comic book market won't change--the two companies will still be deadlocked there. Comic readers don't change that much, and Disney will definitely keep publishing them. But as for other media--movies, cartoons, merchandise--DC will get an edge, because Disney's immense marketing power won't be focused on creating an X-Men cartoon.
It'll be focused on the talking mouse.
(P.S. Please rate this blog in the upper right hand corner. It only takes a second. Promise.)
If you're wondering why I'm talking about Marvel on a Batman blog, it is because I am jumping up and down with glee. Marvel is now seriously handicapped.
Think about it. DC was bought by Time Warner in '69. Try to name one character/person you associate with the company other than Superman or Batman in thirty seconds.
Now try to do the same with Disney.
Disney already has Mickey Mouse, Donald, Toy Story, Wall-E, and Monsters Inc. Meanwhile, Time Warner does movies, sure, and a stupid cartoon about mice, but the big things are Batman: the Animated Series, the Justice League cartoons, and the Nolan movies.
Time Warner's big thing is DC. That is their main cash cow. But when Disney says "should we make another Cars movie, or Hulk?" the answer will be Cars, because that's where all the little kids beg parents to spend their money. Also, have talking automobiles ever come under fire for being too violent/sexified/generally unagreeable? No.
The comic book market won't change--the two companies will still be deadlocked there. Comic readers don't change that much, and Disney will definitely keep publishing them. But as for other media--movies, cartoons, merchandise--DC will get an edge, because Disney's immense marketing power won't be focused on creating an X-Men cartoon.
It'll be focused on the talking mouse.
(P.S. Please rate this blog in the upper right hand corner. It only takes a second. Promise.)