5-Stars: Easily One of The Greatest runs I have ever read
4-Stars: This was really good
3-Stars: It was okay
2-Stars: I was more underwhelmed than anything
1-Star: I'm trying to find my lighter or match so I can set this on fire
No Comment: I haven't read it, or I really have no opinion(s) whatsoever
Opinions may vary in quality.
My big article on Mariko Tamaki's Hulk & She-Hulk runs, discussing the good, bad, and its creation.
My second big article on She-Hulk, discussing Jason Aaron's focus on her in Avengers #20.
Well, No one has actually said it in this thread; there were people who said it, multiple times, on old threads before the reboot.
I mean, I couldn't believe it. One person said, 'I don't like to read.' Another, 'I don't read books, too many words.' Around ten people, give or take. And I've met some in real life who've also said it. It makes me lose respect for the readership base.
Its not happening here, but it has happened in the past.
I don't think its a particularly well written issue. I don't have a problem with the idea of it, but if I'm being honest, the execution isn't great.
I get the dislike for the Clown art or RIP's, Kubert's, though I like all three quite a bit. The only truly weak art on the run, for me, was the Nine-Eyed Man issue, and I have to assume there were commercial issues for that.
When I did my semi-reread a few months back, I wanted to dislike the early Kubert issues more. I was being pretentious or something. "Morrison was still finding his feet." "Kubert's flash and no oomph." And it was all lies! Lying to myself. Morrison had his small story then and there, whether the longer stuff was even a gleam to be gleaned or not. The ninja manbats art charity terrorism story of Bruce Wayne's son was there like a fist in the face in the night. Damian takes a couple scenes to grow into himself, but that he does, and he's a strong presence immediately. The art is gorgeous. I'd completely forgotten how beefy the terrorist manbats were, how dynamic and excited, and full of personality his Bruce/Batman was, the easy rapport Bruce and Alfred have, physically, right from the start.
"If Morrison wanted to write a Joker novel, he should just have written a damn novel."
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to read that sentence if not as implying someone wanted to write a novel and (somehow) instead, wrote a short story with spot illos.
Doesn't the Clown At Midnight pay homage to old prose stories that were in English comics or am I just making that up? I think the Fatman on Batman podcast said something like that.
"The more 'realistic' superheroes become the less believable they are." - David Mazzucchelli
A horrible case of MMMMEEEEEEEEEHHHHH
For me this was a fantastic story. Morrison uses the intrusion in Batman's mind to give us a summary of his life before he "dies" in Final Crisis. And because he is fighting the intrusion, the Lump changes the dream for a bit into "Alfred's" story, the story of a world without Batman, where we get to explore Bruce's, Dick's, Gordon's and Gotham's fates if the Waynes had survived the robbery.
But what really makes the story, is the ending. Alfred gives a goosebump inducing monologue about his belief in Bruce's ideal and his dedication in standing by his side, Bruce's heartwarming aknowledgement of Alfred's importance in his life ("it doesnt matter who killed Batman, but who kept him alive all these years"), as well as the belief the belief that Batman will always win the way. It gives me goosebumps every time i read it.
Last edited by Dr. Hurt; 05-13-2014 at 08:44 AM.
I preferred Knightfall to this.
I'd be all up for more text/prose use in comics as long as it was good.
Especially the beginning of a story. A nice big text dump of "previously on Batman..." at the start of each issue and a glossary at the back would be neat (although irrelevant now that internet wikis exist).
Do yourself a favour if you have not read final crisis do not read all of batman R.I.P stop just before the end and do not read the last rites issues at the end of the trade,instead forego these two chapters read the batman time and the batman trade except for issue 700 then come back to R.I.P trade to read last rites chapters and the back to time and then batman trade for issue 700 trust me if your a nooby and have no knowledge of final crisis it will read better
Last edited by Dr.Octagon; 05-13-2014 at 09:03 AM.
I agree.. it also,for those who have read everything from batman through the 40's to 50's 60's 70' 80' 90's a great summary of events in batman's life and how his personality has changed and evolved over the years.. brought a tear to my eye.. morrisson is the greatest batman writer there has been in my opinion.
It's been a few years, but I did read from #655 to #683 about three times, and I liked it a lot more each time. I didn't go nuts with annotations and theories or what have you, and I didn't even read Final Crisis, but those to me were just to put icing on an already spectacular cake. Much stronger and deeper than New X-Men, with better collaborations. It's a 5 to me not because it's perfect or because everyone can enjoy it, but because I can say it did as much for me as I could ever expect from a big superhero comic.
Opinions may vary in quality.
My big article on Mariko Tamaki's Hulk & She-Hulk runs, discussing the good, bad, and its creation.
My second big article on She-Hulk, discussing Jason Aaron's focus on her in Avengers #20.
Morrisons mentions a certain Denny O'Neil prose story being influential.
Also, weird fact, the very first Batman story that Morrison ever wrote was not AA, it was an illustrated prose story in some anthology thats never been reprinted and I'm assuming hardly anyone's ever read. It is about Catwoman stealing from the batcave.