King Batman Run: Analysis and Enjoyment Thread

[Chubistian]

I thought about the heart monitor too. The design of the mask that the “Joker” wears resembles the line indicating the heart pulses, plus the sound of the Roadrunner being similar. I knew about the Looney Tunes reference from before the issue was released thanks to Bleeding Cool, but you people posted some great theories about the reason of the chase! I didn’t give it much thought. Probably I was too occupied being amazed by the incredible art

[Scott Taylor]

There were a variety of sounds other than the beep, like a rumble and the whoosh of water. Probably actual sounds from the real world entering into his dream world.

[Inversed]

Just noticed this now, check out that button on the sewer. Interestinnnnnnnng.....

batman-67-4.jpg

[blunt_eastwood]

Just noticed this now, check out that button on the sewer. Interestinnnnnnnng.....

batman-67-4.jpg

I can't see it clearly and haven't read the last few issues. Is it the Comedian's button?? Is that thread finally being paid off?

[millernumber1]

I can't see it clearly and haven't read the last few issues. Is it the Comedian's button?? Is that thread finally being paid off?

Well, this is a dream. So I think it's not more than an Easter Egg?

[Hilden B. Lade]

I'm leaning more towards fun easter egg territory rather than important detail, though given Flashpoint Thomas Wayne's role in The Button crossover, perhaps this is Bruce's subconscious at work?

[millernumber1]

I'm leaning more towards fun easter egg territory rather than important detail, though given Flashpoint Thomas Wayne's role in The Button crossover, perhaps this is Bruce's subconscious at work?

That's a very good point. It's all subconscious, but I think that might be a good hint that will lead Bruce out of the Knightmare into his battle with Thomas.

[Inversed]

I'm leaning more towards fun easter egg territory rather than important detail, though given Flashpoint Thomas Wayne's role in The Button crossover, perhaps this is Bruce's subconscious at work?

Yeah that's what I was thinking of, the Watchmen parallels linking to the Button storyline, which is tying into Flashpoint Batman.

I do wonder after all this, will all of Batman's subconscious clues he's giving himself allow him to break out of the Knightmares himself, or will he be forcefully awakened by Bane, Thomas, etc. instead?

[millernumber1]

I'm betting he'll wake himself, because he's BATMAN!

[Mr. White]

One thing that everyone can agree on re. King's Batman is that it has polarized readers, with some thinking it is epic while others think it is a heaping pile of garbage.

Some musings though:

(1) Does any feel/think that by the end of his run, everything will make sense and when read in the collected edition it will be "good"/ a classic?

(2) Does he need to "explain" the message of any issue(s) via twitter, interviews etc? If yes, what does that say about his writing/ understanding of the character?

(NB: I've read and highly rate both Vision and Mister Miracle - but we're talking his Batman run here).

[bob.schoonover]

One thing that everyone can agree on re. King's Batman is that it has polarized readers, with some thinking it is epic while others think it is a heaping pile of garbage.

Some musings though:

(1) Does any feel/think that by the end of his run, everything will make sense and when read in the collected edition it will be "good"/ a classic?

(2) Does he need to "explain" the message of any issue(s) via twitter, interviews etc? If yes, what does that say about his writing/ understanding of the character?

(NB: I've read and highly rate both Vision and Mister Miracle - but we're talking his Batman run here).

(1) Having re-read 1-50 in rapid succession a few weeks ago, I do think it goes much better in big chunks. There are definitely slow issues, or issues whose context is missing (the start of Knightmares), but if you're just plowing through them, it all kind of hangs together. When we get to the end, I think Bruce's emotional arc will make sense and probably be pretty enjoyable. I'm getting more concerned that the "What was Bane's plan and how did it work?" part will not hang together at all.

As a side note, I do hope when we get the inevitable omnibii, they include all parts of Monster Men, The Button, and The Price - the first two are definitely important to the overall story, and the third one, well, whatever.

(2) I haven't needed an issue explained to me yet, but the transition into Knightmares was intentionally jarring and I can see where people were confused (I was until I'd read a couple issues and got it). I wouldn't call it writing for trade, per se, but I think King's style generally lends itself to being better in chunks/arcs. Now, one could call that a huge flaw in a serial writing format and there's not a lot I could say to defend it, but I think when he's done around Dec. 2020, one could go back and re-read the story in big chunks and be satisfied (I hope - 1-25 + tie ins is incredibly enjoyable, but I'm not guaranteeing King sticks the landing on this one).

[Inversed]

Honestly, I never thought his Batman has been that "confusing", to the point where he has to explain the message of what each issue means in interviews and on Twitter. The current Knightmares stuff is the only time I've really seen him try to clarify some things, and even then, he's never actually explained anything, just kept to the vague "It's all connected", or "Everything will come together" like so many other writers do.

I will say I do think one flaw with the Knightmares, and some of his other issues, is he's trying to have things both ways, wanting them to be standalone enjoyable stories, while also having to read every issue in order to completely understand it, which I don't think completely fits together all the time.

(1) Having re-read 1-50 in rapid succession a few weeks ago, I do think it goes much better in big chunks. There are definitely slow issues, or issues whose context is missing (the start of Knightmares), but if you're just plowing through them, it all kind of hangs together. When we get to the end, I think Bruce's emotional arc will make sense and probably be pretty enjoyable. I'm getting more concerned that the "What was Bane's plan and how did it work?" part will not hang together at all.

Yeah I agree with you there, his emotional arc and everything going with him personally has been really well executed and everything that's happened regarding it makes sense, it's just Bane's actual planning and scheming I'm still really iffy on, because I'm hoping they don't go too far with him as the "Ultimate Master Manipulator"

[Yohei72]

How does King keep surprising me while working with an 80-year-old character who's been a constant pop cultural presence for decades? It took me a few pages to warm to this issue because of its rigorously minimalist approach, but I ended up amazed. The layers packed into this simple little package are remarkable. I can't believe I didn't connect the "beep beep" to the Road Runner until I saw that pointed out in this thread (especially because I did catch the Wile E. Coyote reference and the fact that the bartender was Porky from King's WB issue). I did think of a heart monitor, both in regard to the sound and the mouth of the Joker's mask.

Nice catch on the Comedian's button there, Inversed. I never would have noticed.

How pissed off are the King detractors in the regular thread? There's a war within me about whether or not to go look at it.

[BruceWayneJr.]

How pissed off are the King detractors in the regular thread? There's a war within me about whether or not to go look at it.

There is no regular thread. It's less hate than apathy at this point.

[millernumber1]

There is no regular thread. It's less hate than apathy at this point.

There's the regular issue discussion threads, and...let's just say there's a reason I resurrected this thread.