Well, there's good news... and bad news...

[icon_uk]

Good news!

Batman won't be in Frank Miller's "Holy Terror"

Bad news!

Frank Miller is still writing "Holy Terror"




From this article in the UK newspaper 'The Guardian"

A "hard-edged" new superhero, The Fixer, is set to take on al-Qaida in acclaimed comic book author Frank Miller's latest outing, the "gut-wrenching" graphic novel Holy Terror.

Set for release around the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the long-awaited comic – "a dark, uncompromising superhero tale for the modern era", according to its publisher – was originally intended to feature Batman taking on the terrorist group, and was called Holy Terror, Batman! "Superman punched out Hitler. So did Captain America. That's one of the things they're there for ... It is, not to put too fine a point on it, a piece of propaganda," Miller said in 2006 at a comic convention where he described the book as "a reminder to people who seem to have forgotten who we're up against".

But the author of The Dark Knight Returns and 300 told the LA Times's Hero Complex blog last year that he had "decided partway through" that the graphic novel was not a Batman story. "The hero is much closer to 'Dirty Harry' than Batman. It's a new hero that I've made up that fights al-Qaida," he said.

Told in the author's iconic black-and-white style made famous by his Sin City series, Holy Terror "seizes the political zeitgeist by the throat and doesn't let go until the last page", according to its publisher Legendary Comics , a subsidiary of Legendary Films.
Miller said The Fixer was "very much an adventurer who's been essentially searching for a mission". He told the LA Times that he was "very different than Batman in that he's not a tortured soul". Instead, "he's a much more well-adjusted creature even though he happens to shoot 100 people in the course of the story"

"He's been trained as special ops and when his city is attacked all of a sudden all the pieces fall into place and all this training comes into play. He's been out there fighting crime without really having his heart in it – he does it to keep in shape," said Miller. "It began as my reaction to 9/11 and it was an extremely angry piece of work and as the years have passed by I've done movies and I've done other things and time has provided some good distance, so it becomes more of a cohesive story as it progresses. The Fixer has also become his own character in a way I've really enjoyed. No one will read this and think, 'Where's Batman?' ... My guy carries a couple of guns and is up against an existential threat. He's not just up against a goofy villain. Ignoring an enemy that's committed to our annihilation is kind of silly. It just seems that chasing the Riddler around seems silly compared to what's going on out there. I've taken Batman as far as he can go."

The 120-page Holy Terror is due out on 14 September.

If I may borrow a Yiddish expression... Oy vey. I thought this was a bad idea with Batman, I think it's a bad idea with The Fixer...

Comments

[mullon]

But then what's the point?

[dewinged]

Bad news!

Frank Miller is still writing "Holy Terror"

FIxed that for you. ;)

[darkblade]

If it wasn't written by Miller this would have slipped below everyone's radar and we could all pretend it doesn't exist and have slightly happier lives for it.

[darkknightjrk]

You know, I'm really conflicted.

I don't necessarily like the idea of the book--I think it has the potential to be really stupid and offensive to everyone involved; and if there was a time that was appropriate to do this, it's probably passed.

On the other idea...I still love Frank Miller's work. His Dark Knight Returns was what got me hooked on comics, and pretty much everything I've read of his has been, if not amazing, than at least entertaining.

So I'm at this place where I'm not too sure if it's going to be any good...but there's a part of me that wants to get it and see for myself. I'm not sure if it's tempting enough to drop 30 bones for it, especially during a month where I'm already going to be buying a lot of comics with the DCnU stuff.

I will say this, though--hopefully with this thing out of the way, this means we're one step closer to him doing that Sin City Nancy story he talked about some years back.

[pyrotwilight]

Without Batman in it it kinda defeats the point. I mean it's kind of funny and sort of a big parody of the real world if Batman of all people fights Al Qaeda but nearly anyone else and it'll likely come out being very offensive, just shy of Pigman potentially.

[kamino_neko]

Goddammit, Miller.

This wasn't a good idea 10 years ago, it's not a good idea, now.

At least when it was Batman, there was a bit of dark humour in the title...

[leikomgwtfbbq]

Can we stop giving this man work until he promises to start making sense in his stories? Seriously! Has he written anything *not* completely bugfuck in the last ten years?

I wonder if this will be written in that bizarre, repetitive Torgo-speak from his later Batman comics...

[thanekos]

I love that the teeth-losing terrorist is giving the fourth wall a " I can't believe he's doing this either " look

[kamino_neko]

So he is!

[mynondw]

"Can we stop giving this man work until he promises to start making sense in his stories?"

I would like that very much.

Also, that is some seriously shitty art up there.

[leikomgwtfbbq]

I've never liked Miller's art. It's a weird, ugly style.

[miramira]

"he's a much more well-adjusted creature even though he happens to shoot 100 people in the course of the story"

I don't know what's worse: the fact Miller probably said/wrote that with a straight face, or the fact that it probably is true compared to Miller's current take on Batman.

[icon_uk]

DKSA was perhaps where the scales tipped for me.

[icon_uk]

Yeah, it's sort of between "Sigh... it's a living" and "For Pete's sake this is STILL happening?"

[darkknightjrk]

I have to admit I LOVE DKSA. I mean, once it gets to the Joker ending, it truly jumps the rails, but before that, it's basically a batshit nuts mix of Super-Friends, V for Vendetta, and Sin City, and that's just amazing to me.

[eyz]

Exactly my thoughts!

Somebody stop the GoshDarn Frank Miller!!! °___°

[golden_orange]

Even leaving aside how long this has been taken, hasn't the death of Osama bin Laden already made this a little bit redundant anyway?

[icon_uk]

Not really, as Al Qaeda still exists as a very dangerous organisation. The loss of Bin Laden was a severe blow to them, but the group still functions.

[golden_orange]

I was actually referring to the whole "hunting Osama bin Laden" aspect that was, IIRC, the centrepiece of the plot, unless that's been changed and I'm not aware?

[icon_uk]

At least when it was Batman, there was a bit of dark humour in the title...

I'd like to think he was aware of that when he wrote, but ten years later I'm not entirely convinced.

[icon_uk]

Fair point... I shudder to think to be honest.

Anger is one word to put it

[kenwyn89]

I think the moment I was really turned off Frank Miller was with 300. As part of my course we were looking at films- and when you sit down and break down the story and interpretations of it, it says some very very worrying things (not that people weren't worried before). Firstly, he completely dehumanises the Persians to the point of them being orc-like. Xerxes is effeminate, decadent and black whilst all the Greek Spartan 'heroes' are white, and rather homo-erotic by accident I think (very funny considering the real spartans encouraged/expected gay relationships between soldiers). He characterises democracy and beaurocracy as the work of perverted, demonic men, and calls it necessary propaganda. He's so narrow minded and he's only going to worsen any chance of bettering relations.

[blackruzsa]

With the habit of many people to equate Al Quaida to terrorism (true) and to all Muslim peoples (complete bullshit), this does not bode well at all.

[cleome45]

Yeah, September 11th is all about you and your bruised l'il ego, Miller.

Huzzah.

[gehayi]

Has he written anything *not* completely bugfuck in the last ten years?

Not only has he not written anything sane, everything he's written for years has been, in essence, Sin City fanfic. And this is going to be insane, too. Look at these two sentences:

He's been out there fighting crime without really having his heart in it – he does it to keep in shape

"he's a much more well-adjusted creature even though he happens to shoot 100 people in the course of the story"

So, basically, the Fixer doesn't give a damn about law or justice or protecting civilians. Nope. He fights criminals--and kills criminals--as part of an exercise program. An exercise program WHICH INCLUDES MURDER. And Miller sees nothing wrong with this.

I think the industry should stop giving Miller work until he gets psychological help.

[insectposse]

His art just gets worse and worse. Why's the mummy with the big knife getting punched by Shoddy Cosplay Daredevil?

"I've taken Batman as far as he can go." Does this mean ASBAR is done and we'll never get the "pleasure" of seeing Dark Knight: Boy Wonder?

[leikomgwtfbbq]

Yeah, a rampant serial killer with no intentions or mission beyond "murder the shit out of everyone" sure sounds like a lovable and well-adjusted sort, doesn't he? Ya just want to take him home to Mother.