Flashpoint - Batman #1

[history79]

Comments

[silverhammerman]

This miniseries really hasn't aged well, even in its few years. I remember thinking at the time that Flashpoint Batman was quite good, and it's still head and shoulders above the rest of that tepid event thanks to Risso and Azzarello's talents, but the whole thing is just kind of trite. A bunch of grimdark nonsense and stupid twists.

[informationgeek]

In that case, how do you feel about it getting an Eisner nomination for Best Limited Series? (Lost out to Ed Brubaker's Criminal).

[silverhammerman]

I suppose being trite doesn't outweigh being well made, though it sounds like a well deserved loss to Criminal. I also think that the context of outshining some of DC's rubbish minis probably gave this series a leg up.

[lordultimus]

Grimderp aside, I actually do like some of the things it comes up with. It just falls under the "everything is horrible we need to change it RIGHT NOW" problem Flashpoint suffered in general.

I mean, say what you want about Hickmans Secret Wars, at least the tie-ins covered a wide range of tones.

[red_menace]

Man, those Green Lantern ads that were on the covers at this time make me giggle. They were so optimistic.

[captainbellman]

Oy, THIS crime against logic.

This series could have been better-written by an enthusiastic thirteen-year-old, and probably the slightly misogynistic tone would be, well, not as pronounced.

I'd ask why Azzarello keeps getting work, but hell, there's a market for anything, isn't there? After all, the "SAW" series kept getting sequels and Seth McFarlane's shows keep getting new seasons...

[deh_tommy]

The Saw movies ended with Saw 3D with a reboot coming soon, and Seth Macfarlane only has two shows, one of which (American Dad!) is praised as one of the best cartoons on air at the moment. There is a market for everything, and you and I not liking something doesn't mean they shouldn't exist, or at least be popular.

[captainbellman]

There's not a lot I can do to make my argument seem logical, so I won't try to - I'm just clarifying that it's not my dislike of such things that makes me wonder at their popularity. It's that, beyond subjective taste, there are things objectively wrong with them, and apparently everyone else is fine with that?

I mean - good taste aside, neither the above comic nor any of the SAW movies have any plot, and most of McFarlane's work thrives on tired formulas and the glorification of bigotry and abuse. Yet there's still a market for that. Which just leaves me aghast.

Please correct me if I'm being rude or patronising.

[deh_tommy]

Well, is it that there's something truly wrong with the things you describe and by extension why someone would like them, or is it wrong because they violate your moral code (and others' as well) and are therefore immoral?