What Comic Books Have You Read Today?

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

Report what comic books you have read today--and tell us a little something about it while you're here!

[JD DeLuzio]

I reread the early Kamandis a couple of years ago. I liked them, but it's not the same as reading them as a Cold War Era kid. It still feels like Planet of the Apes on steroids, although I'm certainly aware that Kirby visited similar territory in 1957 with  "The Last Enemy" from Alarming Tales. (I have Shocking Tales #1, which reprints it).

I'm currently reading Joe Kubert's Fax From Sarajevo (1996). It's a way in part of getting at a friend/former mentee's childhood during the seige of Sarajevo, which she rarely discusses.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

I remember reading Fax From Sarajevo sometime in the years right after it came out. I was really impressed with it. That Joe Kubert, he could tell a story.

I hope it helps bring you insight and connection with your mentor.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

NEW COMICS I HAVE READ TODAY THIS MONTH: Cruel Universe #1, Space Ghost #4, Deadweights #5, Jonny Quest #1, Babs #1, Dick Tracy #4, Robin Lives #2, Get Fury #4, Jenny Sparks #1, World's Finest #30, Wonder Woman #12, Epitaphs from the Abyss #2, My Bad (v3) #4), Zero Hour 30th Anniversary Special, Archie: The Decision, Batman: Dark Age #5, Florida Man vs. Hogzilla #2, Marvel Must Haves - Spectacular Spider-Man (free), Captain America #12, Marvel 85th Anniversary Special.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER:

That's the official title, but I tend to think of it as "The Goddamn Batman." This series was tremendously unpopular around these parts back in the day, but 1) I think Miller's intent is largely misunderstood, and 2) I wonder how many people actually read the whole thing? Actually, "the whole thing" is a bit of a misnomer itself, as the story was slated to run 12 issues and it ran only 10. I never understand why finite series such as this (and, say, Alan Moore's 1963) come to an end an issue or two shy of completion. It seems to me the writer and artist could get together and just do it, but I don't know anything about making comics, just reading them. Personally, I don't get any more upset over All-Star Batman than I would over a Tangent or an Elseworlds. And that was how I felt in 2005. Today, DC continuity is even less of a thing now than it was then; every version of Batman is its own "vision."

With absolutely no evidence or interviews, I think Miller was writing a parody of "grim 'n' gritty" comics in general, and od "Batman" comics specifically. Read from that point of view, the "Goddamn Batman" is frikkin' hilarious. Batman comes to an (epiphany of sorts) in issue #9, in which he realizes and admits he was wrong, but nothing every really comes of it because the series comes to an end the very next issue. Now more than ever I'm curious about the ending, but after 16 years I'm not holding my breath. Many have said that ASB&RtBW is the story of Frank Miller's Dark Knight, and whereas I think that is true to a certain extent (ASB&RtBW refers to Year One from time-to-time), thematically, Year One pairs with The Dark Knight Returns and ASB&RtBW pairs with The Dark Knight Strikes again. I also think that Frank Miller was puching the envelope as far as he possible could just to see how much he could ger away with. ASB wasn't it, but that day would come.

[JD DeLuzio]

Repeating what I think most if not all of us know, but: The intent / expectations thing is key. DC, at the time, issued a statement about how their All-Star titles were going to show their most iconic characters, unfettered, from continuity, as "the most iconic versions of these characters." The line (which was supposed to feature several titles, but only released three), was also a way to get people into comics who weren't reading them, especially with movies in the works.

The response clearly had something to do with DC's stated intent.

I'll just post this myself:

 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I had forgotten about that, but I think the "unfettered from continuity" part of the charter was emphasized more than the "most iconic versions of these characters" part. Having said that, All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely remains to this day one of my favorite version of the Man of Steel. But I don't recall a third series...?

[JD DeLuzio]

Matter of debate. A few years after basically scrapping the concept (All-Star Flash and so forth), they published an All-Star Batman (no "and Robin") which was apparently in mainstream continuity so its status as part of this series is debatable. It's not as though DC hadn't used the "All-Star" title previously.

 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Oh, the "Rebirth" one? that was published so long after the initial two (more than a decade), I wouldn't count that as part of the same concept. Like you said, "It's not as though DC hadn't used the 'All-Star' title previously."

[Captain Comics]

A hardcover of All-Star Batman by Scott Snyder ships Sept. 9. 

[Richard Willis]

Jeff of Earth-J said:

ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN THE BOY WONDER:

I never understand why finite series such as this to an end an issue or two shy of completion.

Back in the 70s, missed issues in a regular series would have to be replaced by something else, usually a reprint, to avoid paying the printer with no retail money coming in.

Finite miniseries that don’t exactly fit between existing runs, in my long-held opinion, don’t need to even be solicited until they are complete and in the hands of the publisher. I get the impression that the creators are being paid upfront and then either having long delays between issues or never finishing. Generally, the publishers are afraid of offending the superstar creators by making these reasonable requirements. “Horrors! The superstar will never work with us again!”