It gets two stars for exposing how ridiculous Green Lantern is. Other than that, it's an object lesson in that some creators can deliver a definitive take on a character and then proceed to completely destroy their credibility thereafter. This is Batman on shrooms. ( )

Graphic Novel BookClub Sept 2016:

This one was....weird. It's very, very, VERY Frank Miller. There are definitely some positions of the women and choices by them that are glaring Old White Boy's Club, at least one of which really pissed me off as a female reader. Which actually bleeds into everything he did with Canary and Diana, too.

I think the first thing that grabbed me while reading it was how well the artist did Dick's eyes, and really a lot of the art, when it wasn't being "gritty, bloody or gratuitious." I loved every single thing Alfred. I loved the Gordon's appearance, (except for the mother/wife, being shown only once as an alcoholic), but both Father and Daughter were lovely in the little clip we got.

Batman really was an eye/mental sore for most of his whole appearance. ( )

This is my least favorite read in several years by a wide margin. I should admit up front that I’m not much of a superhero fan, but I had high hopes since Miller has written some of my favorite superhero comics. Those hopes weren’t met.

Miller is writing in the same staccato style that he used to such feat effect in Batman: Year One and the early years of Sin City, but it reads almost like parody. In fact, viewing this book as parody is the only way it makes sense to me. Parody of Miller’s early style, and parody of superhero comics for adults. The main stylistic element at play here is to make every character the least likable version you can imagine, and have Batman say “goddamn” every other word.

Over nine issues, Miller introduces half the DC cast of characters, and a number of plots, and resolves none of them. I know that the story continues, but, goddamn, I have no stomach to read more.

#Bookstagram #BookReview #GraphicNovel ( )

I will admit that I have some mixed feelings about this volume. On the one hand I like Frank Miller's work, and the nitty gritty environments he creates. His take on Batman in volumes like Year One is very good. On the other, well, Batman is really psycho this time. Not sure "psycho" is the best word to use but it is the word that comes to mind. Robin's origin is a lot more survival of the fittest once he is with Batman. And yet, even though many readers did not like that aspect, it seems somewhat right for the hopeless and extremely corrupt Gotham City that Miller depicts. In the end, I was willing to take a chance on this, and I am glad I did. Then again, I do like a lot of my comics reading on the very dark side. So maybe that is why it worked for me, albeit not perfectly.

We also get to see some of the other heroes, the start of what will become the Justice League. I found that a bit reminiscent of Moore's Watchmen in the sense that the heroes can be assholes and have their foibles. Wonder Woman here is not a very nice amazon, for instance. And then there is the Joker, who we see briefly. Seeing how an author does a take on the Joker is always interesting to me, so seeing how Miller did it was interesting. It does seem very viable.

So, I did not love it, but I certainly liked this. I think only hardcore Batman fans, or people who feel a need to be complete in their reading of Batman tales, will want to grab this one. I think more casual readers may not like the much darker elements. As for me, I may look for the next volume. Curious to see what happens next. ( )

Rather unpleasant take on Batman and other superheroes, but one not wholly without entertainment value. ( )