"Pseuds ahoy!" — or, "I’m apparently going to be defending my enjoyment of ASB&R for the rest of my life" — or, "I’m too nice, sometimes."
To answer a question posed elsewhere: I enjoyed All-Star Batman and Robin because…
1) It’s Frank Miller clearly having a good time with the character
2) Like the majority of Miller’s recent work, its tongue is firmly in cheek…
2 1/2) …though not all the time, since, also like the majority of Miller’s recent work, there can be tone shifts throughout the story — not so much in this work, so far, but I think that’s what bothered people about Dark Knight Strikes Again
3) It’s written like a Big Hollywood Summer Action Movie (with the attendant chase scenes, dialogue, gorgeous dames*, etc.), freeing up the character from the “Dark Avenger of the Night” straightjacket that’s been making the Bat-books so (yawn) terribly exciting over the last two decades
4) I’m not the world’s biggest Jim Lee fan, but the art in this series has kind of grown on me, particularly in the facial expression department…Robin’s reaction to the Batmobile is priceless
5) Miller also seems to be deliberately tweaking the too-serious fans who don’t want to see these kinds of shenanigans in their caped crusader comics, what with his dialogue (“I’m the g–” well, you know) and staging choices
6) The overall over-the-top outrageousness of the comic…there’ve been a couple scenes in each issue that just plain make me laugh out loud. I can’t remember the last time a Batman comic made me laugh. I mean, with it, not at it.
Okay, to be fair, I do understand that this comic isn’t to everyone’s taste. No comic ever is, nor should it be. And it’s not perfect…again, few comics are. I wasn’t even sold on it at first, but upon reading the second issue, something clicked and I just fell into its groove. I like this comic because, to me, it’s just plain wacky fun…not because I’m trying to be contrary, not because I’m trying to be pretentious, but because I’m getting my money’s worth out of it. Believe you me, the last thing I wanted to do is add yet another comic book to the (semi-)monthly pile, but, well, there you go.
But if you like Batman, but don’t like this comic, it’s not as if there aren’t a half-dozen or so different Bat-books on the shelves at any given time. You’re spoilt for choice, you are.
I’ll just be over here, reading my ASB&R and laughing my darn fool head off. (First person to say “emphasis on ‘fool'” will get such a pinch….)**
Additional linkage:
The mighty Jog has a good review of the second issue.
* To reiterate a comment I’ve made before about this comic…it’s by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. If having scantily-clad beautiful women in the comic came as a surprise, you just haven’t been paying attention.
** Okay, this time I promise to let it drop. This isn’t “Mike Sterling’s Progressive All-Star Batman,” after all.
