At a time where the movie version of Batman is enjoying its greatest critical success ever, his comic book counterpart is suffering through its lowest point of quality since before Frank Miller rebooted the franchise in 1986. Starting with the far overrated Hush storyline in 2002 (basically a comic book version of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie--a cash cow with no plot), Batman comics have favored cheap gimmicks over strong writing. While this has certainly been annoying, it has only recently escalated to a level that threatens to put an irreversable stain on the series.
In the past, the arrival of a good writer could do wonders to make you forget the bad storylines of the past. This made it possible to tolerate the predictable answers to the secret identity of Hush, the aimless storytelling of Broken City, and the inconsistent characterization littered throughout Tim Drake's temporary replacement as Robin by his girlfriend. The return of former Robin Jason Todd (one of comics' few reliably dead characters) as a villian was troublesome, but it could at least be undone with a run of the mill "oh, he's just a clone" explanation. Last week, however, writer Bill Willingham and his editorial staff managed to draw their graffiti over the world of Batman with a permanent marker.
The story "War Crimes" set out to explain who really killed Stephanie Brown, the aforementioned replacement Robin thought to have died in Gotham City's recent gang war. Never mind that there was no real mystery behind Stephanie's death, as it was pretty much shown in full on the printed page. The story behind the story had to be told! You see, it turns out that Miss Brown really was killed when Leslie Thompkins, the doctor who helped raise Bruce Wayne after the murder of his parents, secretly refused to give her medical treatment for her injuries. It seems that ol' Leslie, whose strong pacifism caused her to frequently oppose Batman's violent methods, decided to make an example of Stephanie, killing her to discourage others from following in Bruce's line of work. Nothing like a murder to champion the cause of nonviolence.
Who cares if this illogical turn of events brazenly defies years of characterization? We're selling comics, people! The future of a beloved character is nothing compared to the value of a moment of cheap suspense. It should only be a matter of time before we find out that, as Linden suggests, the Joker is the product of a torrid affair between Alfred and Mrs. Wayne. That is, unless solid writing once again returns to the main Batman books, returning them to the splendor that now exists on screen in Batman Begins.
"Oh, she's just a clone" stories wanted.
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5 comments:
I'd like to clone what The Kize said by saying that I whole-heartily agree.
I'll also add that for a character to spring back from the dead in some elaborate and highly futuristic manner in a Marvel comic like X-Men or Avengers is so common now that it's expected, but for cloning to begin appearing in the DC Universe ("Batman," of them all?!) is simply disheartening. It has been one of the fortunate and appealing aspects of "Batman" and DC that set it apart from the confusion and mayhem that has become the Marvel Universe.
Superheroes are not realistic, granted, but if there are to be superheroes, "Batman" at the very least has imposed the limitations of the real world on them, and by that, made it all the easier and more tempting to lose yourself in the storyline.
Now every time a clone shows up, what's the point? Anyone and everyone could be a clone. I was even upset when Colossus died, but turned out to have been a clone - and that was X-Men! Where do we draw the line?
I think the root of all this is becoming more and more prevalent as our present culture deteriorates.
"Starsky and Hutch" is dead, they didn't need to resurrect that.
"The Dukes of Hazzard" is dead, there was REALLY no need to dig that up.
Jason Todd is dead. Are we really out of ideas here?
The days of cloning are, in fact, upon us, but I doubt you'll see Dolly the Swiss goat in Gotham City.
In truth, I like the idea of cloning. I wish I had a clone of myself - one that could read these hollow and sell-out plotlines.
Granted, but I'd accept a hacky clone storyline if that's what it took to restore Leslie Thompkins back to her proper character.
Batman was under the influence of Scarecrow's fear gas? Leslie was being mind controlled by Mad Hatter? Any of the above will do.
Here, here!
Her character is too Good with a capital "G" to have been tarnished so effortlessly.
In the meantime, I suggest you follow OMAC. It's been good and shines a shred of hope that this next "Crisis" will be worth the wait.
I think Jeph Loeb has helped to unravel any chance for quality comics to rule over cash cow books. Glitzy, Whiz-bang crap like Hush (art aside) and the brainwashing attempts of yes-machines like Wizard Magazine have awakened a green-eyed beast that threatens to alienate comics companies' true financial support... ADULTS.
Moronic Smallville-loving, OC-watching, Will & Grace DVD set-buying, BIRTHRIGHT worshippers may flock to the store, knees ready to bow to whatever forced MAXI-SERIES!!! EVENT!!! comics companies throw at us, but grown working men and women who care more about UNDERSTANDING A CHARACTER AND THEIR MOTIVES than watching something blow up at the hands of a LONG TIME ALLY...or is it ...FOE?!!! find it a little hard to swallow.
Leslie a killer? Bruce exiling her? I didn't read this issue and I'm glad. DC,you ARE offering a seemingly INFINITE CRISIS of horrible storylines like War Games and anything tied to it. Leslie a friend turned fiend? One_Bitter_pill. What next? Alfred killed Bruce's parents? Please!
I'm a Batman fan. In fact, I might be royalty in the realm of batman fandom, but you know what? I think I'll just keep re-reading Green Lantern: Rebirth and follow Alex Ross' JUSTICE until something NEW worth reading comes out.
Sick `em Kize!
That comment rocked.
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