The last Batman issue "Storybook Endings"
Aug. 18th, 2011 07:25 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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scans_dailyBatman 713 hit this week, the last issue before the reluanch next week.
And what does the last issue of the flagship title have going for it?
Well, it does have moments like this!
It's actually a rather... odd issue, and feels rather like it's treading water with nothing better to do, which is a shame as it has some very nice moment in it, but they don't add up to a particularly satisfying whole.
It's a retelling of the history of Batman and Robin... like we really needed another one of those.
What sets it apart is that we have no idea who is telling the story, or to whom, or why...
It also focuses on the importance of the Robin's (Well, bar one, but we'll get to that) in Batman's life, and how the first Robin created a balance to Batman (Again, hardly news)
There are some nice observations though, pointing out (during a sequence showing the Dynamic Duo defeating the Riddler and his gang) that whilst Batman dealt with the Riddler;
I like the fact that the narrator notes how annoying he was, and how that would REALLY grate on the bad guys)
There are multiple artists in the story, which leads to some odd moments, such as Robin's costume design changing between pages (He loses, gains and loses the tunic flaps below the belt within three pages.
We then get the usual procession through Dick's maturation, his separation from Batman as a crimefighter, noting that Robin was always "A more social hero, he needed human contact, and being his friend was considered and honour" and the creation of the Nightwing persona.
We then get a trot through the other Robins, "the wrong candidate" who led to tragedy, the third "Some consider his assumption of the role a tragedy as well, or at least a tragic mistake" (Rest assured the reveal of who the narrator is does make these rather odd judgements a lot more explicable) and then a mention of the extended family who cropped up, with a single page encapsulating Jim Gordon, Alfred, Babs as Oracle, Huntress, Catwoman, Steph as Batgirl and Damian "the son he never knew he had. Then Batman's apparent death, and the original Robin becoming the new Batman, and the new Robin being the original Batman's son. Even when Batman returned, he saw the new Batman and Robin, and was happy with them as a team, and gave them Gotham to protect.
Then this nice little two page sequence
It's been commented before, that we should have seen more of a tonal shift in Damian over time as he worked with Dick's Batman, as he saw what a more well-rounded approach to crimefighting (and for once I don't mean Dick's ass... well, not ONLY his ass) is better than focussing purely on the fighting itself. It's nice to see that addressed, however briefly, and in the next page we do see that Damian still DOES have things to learn, certain assumptions he has to get out of his head but that he doesn't resent them as much as once he did.
As for who the narrator is, and who they are speaking to. Well, I won't tell you who the narrator is, you can find that out for yourself (though there are clues scattered through even this short posting), but the people being addressed are three young boys, Three creative kids named Bob, Bill and Jerry, who, having heard this story, have a GREAT idea for a new story of their own!
And what does the last issue of the flagship title have going for it?
Well, it does have moments like this!
It's actually a rather... odd issue, and feels rather like it's treading water with nothing better to do, which is a shame as it has some very nice moment in it, but they don't add up to a particularly satisfying whole.
It's a retelling of the history of Batman and Robin... like we really needed another one of those.
What sets it apart is that we have no idea who is telling the story, or to whom, or why...
It also focuses on the importance of the Robin's (Well, bar one, but we'll get to that) in Batman's life, and how the first Robin created a balance to Batman (Again, hardly news)
There are some nice observations though, pointing out (during a sequence showing the Dynamic Duo defeating the Riddler and his gang) that whilst Batman dealt with the Riddler;
I like the fact that the narrator notes how annoying he was, and how that would REALLY grate on the bad guys)
There are multiple artists in the story, which leads to some odd moments, such as Robin's costume design changing between pages (He loses, gains and loses the tunic flaps below the belt within three pages.
We then get the usual procession through Dick's maturation, his separation from Batman as a crimefighter, noting that Robin was always "A more social hero, he needed human contact, and being his friend was considered and honour" and the creation of the Nightwing persona.
We then get a trot through the other Robins, "the wrong candidate" who led to tragedy, the third "Some consider his assumption of the role a tragedy as well, or at least a tragic mistake" (Rest assured the reveal of who the narrator is does make these rather odd judgements a lot more explicable) and then a mention of the extended family who cropped up, with a single page encapsulating Jim Gordon, Alfred, Babs as Oracle, Huntress, Catwoman, Steph as Batgirl and Damian "the son he never knew he had. Then Batman's apparent death, and the original Robin becoming the new Batman, and the new Robin being the original Batman's son. Even when Batman returned, he saw the new Batman and Robin, and was happy with them as a team, and gave them Gotham to protect.
Then this nice little two page sequence
It's been commented before, that we should have seen more of a tonal shift in Damian over time as he worked with Dick's Batman, as he saw what a more well-rounded approach to crimefighting (and for once I don't mean Dick's ass... well, not ONLY his ass) is better than focussing purely on the fighting itself. It's nice to see that addressed, however briefly, and in the next page we do see that Damian still DOES have things to learn, certain assumptions he has to get out of his head but that he doesn't resent them as much as once he did.
As for who the narrator is, and who they are speaking to. Well, I won't tell you who the narrator is, you can find that out for yourself (though there are clues scattered through even this short posting), but the people being addressed are three young boys, Three creative kids named Bob, Bill and Jerry, who, having heard this story, have a GREAT idea for a new story of their own!
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Date: 2011-08-18 06:59 pm (UTC)so frustrated I could cry.
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Date: 2011-08-18 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 03:48 pm (UTC)I liked shobogan's response.
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Date: 2011-08-19 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 07:11 pm (UTC)[insert incredibly lame pun about how i probably just spoiled the "surprise" here]
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Date: 2011-08-18 07:13 pm (UTC)But that doesn't mean she's the narrator.
(Oh, and I would add that the use of the term "lame" as a derogatory is frowned upon on s_d)
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Date: 2011-08-18 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 07:51 pm (UTC)(Actually, "lame" is one I have to keep watching out for myself, so I tend to notice it.)
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Date: 2011-08-18 08:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 08:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-18 07:26 pm (UTC)Also, she was an awesome Batgirl. (Though i haven't seen as much of her time as Spoiler or Robin) =D
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Date: 2011-08-18 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 02:20 am (UTC)[puppy dog eyes]
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Date: 2011-08-19 07:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 11:59 am (UTC)I don't how to go on living in a world where Dick in short-shorts isn't canon. Reboot is totally going to give him pants, the spoilsports.
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Date: 2011-08-19 12:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 03:16 am (UTC)I kinda want to go to the LCS tomorrow just to read this, but then I'd feel bad about not buying it. But heck, the guys'll find something to tease me about one way or another, so might as well just give them an opening.
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Date: 2011-08-19 09:50 am (UTC)things will never be the same again...
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Date: 2011-08-19 10:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-19 02:08 pm (UTC)Wow, in just the pages posted here Dick and Damien both loose their tunic flaps. It's something they could bond over, maybe -- "Yo, you lost your flaps again, kid. I used to hate when that happened to me..."
Honestly? I thought Continuity was someone's actual job. You know, like... an Editor... Silly me.