Where are people getting "rape" from? I can't see it mentioned in that article. Is it somewhere else?
Welp...that was...not kind towards mothers.
Currently Reading:
DC: The Flash, Challenge of the Super Sons, Nightwing
Image: Lazarus: Risen, The Old Guard, Black Magick
Boom: Mighty Morphin', Power Rangers
Miller has some... out there ideas about women. Doesn’t help that he thinks the Kents are basically losers who kept Clark from being the God-Emperor he was meant to be, at least in DKSA. For Miller, Miracleman is how Superman’s story should end.
In this take his hair isn’t uncuttable which is fine. Different interpretations and all that.
Not seeing what it did badly in regards to mothers. The worst thing is that she doesn't seem all that...studious? But then again neither is Jonathan. He goes a bit of the country bumpkin route, and while its not necessarily a preference of mine Martha isn't portrayed any worse than Jonathan in that regard. Worst he did by her is not having her present for the rocket scene. And even that just feels more odd because its not usually done that way than it is an outright insult. She gets her moment meeting baby Kal just the same.
"They can be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you. My only son." - Jor-El
Yeah, I was expecting it as far as Martha went. But then the bus scene. I knew Miller had certain weird ideas about women, but guess I've never encounter him do anything with moms before. It was weird.
Martha was forced into the role of the worrier. That was her entire value in the story. When Clark would get into fights or wanted to join the army, she was the one going you shouldn't do that Clark or they're going to brainwash you Clark. And Jonathan would keep saying "Clark, a man's gotta fight for what he believes in" or such (paraphasing). He even pulled aside Clark at one point to tell him how Martha was wrong about things (Jonathan got a number of one-on-one scenes with Clark. I don't think Martha got one). It played into this idea that mothers make their sons weak or hold them back from achieving their masculine potential. Old-fashioned nonsense.
This continued in the bus scene off to the Navy base. There were a number of references to mothers, but all made in reference to the weakness of the recruits who depended on them. It was very striking. Was it the biggest sin Miller has committed with female characters? Undoubtably no. But is it frustrating that it's 2019 and this comic contains portrayals of women that were outdated 20 years ago? Absolutely.
Currently Reading:
DC: The Flash, Challenge of the Super Sons, Nightwing
Image: Lazarus: Risen, The Old Guard, Black Magick
Boom: Mighty Morphin', Power Rangers
Okay, I see where you're coming from now. I'll look over those examples again.
"They can be a great people Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you. My only son." - Jor-El
"actively harm him"??? I seriously doubt that. But many of Miller's peers said the same thing about his take on Batman in DKR back in the 80's when it first came out (apparently there were guys in the industry phoning Miller up saying he had "ruined" the Batman character). It wasn't true of Batman then and it's not true of Superman now. Miller's vision and style may be an acquired taste but isn't a destructive thing. It's the opposite. It breathes new life into the character.
That's your opinion. Just because a particular artist doesn't appeal to your personal taste does not mean it has no place in pop culture. If you've got a problem with Miller then don't read the book, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should be denied reading something we're interested in reading.Miller hasn’t written anything worthwhile or even good in like 30 years. Stuff like Holy Terror is actively offensive. So it’s understandable to be upset that this is being pushed as some seminal Superman book when it’s shaping up to be one of the worst takes on the character in decades.
As for Holy Terror being "actively offensive", it was a response to 9/11 ... so obviously it was going to be confrontational. But nearly all of Miller's work is confrontational. That's the kind of artist he is. Some of the best art in the world is of the confronting type. There's nothing wrong with that
Again, that's your opinion. Nothing more. I would argue that it does (or at least there's nothing wrong with it being explored in Superman's world). Rape is an inhuman crime which tragically occurs all too often in our world. I've often wanted to witness Superman's response to it. To not have him confront it is a bit like saying the issue should be ignored. That's wrong IMOGang rape doesn’t belong in Superman’s origin.
Firstly, I think it makes total sense that Clark joins the Navy. Secondly, yeah getting specific terminology inaccurate is a bummer but it happens to all writers now and then. No big deal.The SEAL thing is beyond dumb, and Miller getting all the terminology wrong is hilarious because it’s so on the nose. He writes jingoistic, xenophobic nonsense but doesn’t have the interest or care to get basic terminology, like that the Navy is different than the army. But from the guy who wrote Holy Terror, not really surprising.
As for "jingoistic" ... there may be some elements of that in some of his work but, let's face it, superhero comics is basically: Good versus Evil. That whole concept is basically warfare. So that issue is bound to come thru in one way or another.
As for his writing being "xenophobic" ... that's just wrong. I've read all of his stuff. Even Holy Terror (while not his best) isn't xenophobic or even Islamophobic. Just because the villains in the story are Muslim terrorists doesn't mean the story suggests that ALL Muslims are terrorists.
I guess we can agree to disagree. I'm so glad Miller is still producing top quality comics.Miller really should have retired in like 2000.
You realize Miller doesn’t even defend Holy Terror right? Even he knows it was a horribly offensive comic that DC wouldn’t get within 50 feet of. So yeah, it’s not really a difference of “taste.”
“Top quality comics” is pushing it. While I don’t have the same strong negative feelings that Yoda does, this is nowhere near as good as Batman: Year One or The Dark Knight Returns. It’s a fairly middling work so far, we’ll see how he handles the next two books.