Neal Adams returns to Batman (with Frank Miller)

[samurainoir]

Yr 1 is another frank miller so I think we can safely say BATS uses GUNS when Miller is writing

I think they are referring to the earliest period in the Golden Age during the first year or so when Batman would be seen with a gun and occasionally killed a criminal or two.

Although it wasn't Year 1 where Batman had the gun, it was Mike Barr's Batman Year 2. That story had to do with Joe Chill and the gun that killed his parents.



Although Miller did try to mess with the fans by having Batman seen shooting a rifle during The Dark Knight, but it turned out to be a grappling gun.

[samurainoir]

Batman unmasked: analysing a ... - Google Books

From the horse's mouth...

'I had Batman use a gun to shoot a villain, and I was called on the carpet by Whit Ellsworth. He said, "Never let us have Batman carry a gun again

So Bob Kane as the creator, actually had no problem with Batman carrying and using a gun, it was an editorial decision that got declared in print in Batman #4.

Batman never carries, or kills with a gun.

In contrast with Batman #1 where Batman kills a bunch of criminals with the Batplane's machine guns.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yes, Batman occasionally used a gun during his first year, but after that, barring flashbacks to the period, he has vowed never to use guns (even in Batman Begins, which handled it very well).

So Bob Kane as the creator, actually had no problem with Batman carrying and using a gun, it was an editorial decision that got declared in print in Batman #4.

Don't believe a word Bob Kane said, either.

Although that may be true. Whitney Ellsworth has long been portrayed as the paragon of virtue at DC. He kept the comics clean, so they didn't suffer much from the Wertham led backlash in the 50s, and also went to Hollywood and toned down The Adventures of Superman after the first violent season.


Chris

[thunderbolt]

And doesn't Miller still have that Batman:Holy Terror story to finish also?

That got killed by DC editorial. Finally a bit of sense from Didio.

[The Toyroom]

^ Good news! I thought the project was stupid to begin with and the delays have already made it seem dated...

[madmarva]

I thought Holy Terror is what Adams is working on. Maybe I just assumed.

[The Toyroom]

My error....the title Miller was working on was "Holy Terror, Batman!".....not to be confused with "Batman: Holy Terror", which was published in 1991 and was by Alan Brennert and Norm Breyfogle.

[johnnystorm]

I remember Miller going on NPR to promote that Batman vs. Bin Laden book he was so keen for. Got a little attention in the press, but then he never followed up on it (surprise!). I don't get the Miller thing anyway, he made a career off of comics, shows up now and again to ridicule the medium & tear down what he can, and the comics world loves him for it.

[kingdom warrior]

I don't get the Miller thing anyway, he made a career off of comics, shows up now and again to ridicule the medium & tear down what he can, and the comics world loves him for it.

I'm not sure if the comic world loves him....but the comic buying world can always get back at him by boycotting any stupid movie he comes out with now......The Spirit was a big slap in the face to hardcore fans and to Will Eisner.

I'm so Glad that movie bombed on him.....

[samurainoir]

I'm not sure if the comic world loves him....but the comic buying world can always get back at him by boycotting any stupid movie he comes out with now......The Spirit was a big slap in the face to hardcore fans and to Will Eisner.

I'm so Glad that movie bombed on him.....

Just to be fair, by all accounts, given the close relationship between Miller and Eisner, I don't think "slap in the face" is quite right term. As anyone in a creative field knows, no one ever sets out to purposely make a bad movie (well, maybe LLoyd Kaufman).

It's readily apparent how much Miller does admire Eisner, and I think it's safe to say in many ways Eisner himself saw a kind of protoge and heir in Miller given the type of storytelling they both did as writer/artists. Were he alive at the time of the production, I don't doubt that Miller would have sought out Eisner's input in the process of making the movie.


Eisner/Miller TPB :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics

The Spirit as a movie isn't really worth watching for many, but I would highly recommend the Miller Eisner book for anyone who's interested in comics and visual storytelling. Even if you disagree with their individual styles and approaches, it is fascinating insight and perspective you can only get when you have a conversation between two different generations. I wish there was more of this kind of thing out there... Mark Millar in converstaion with Stan Lee, or Brian Bendis talking to Steranko!

[The Toyroom]

Just to be fair, by all accounts, given the close relationship between Miller and Eisner, I don't think "slap in the face" is quite right term.

Trust me...."slap in the face" IS the correct term...Miller has always fancied himself the heir to Eisner's throne...and maybe at one time he was...but The Spirit movie was a thinly guised Sin City knock-off...there was nothing Eisner about it....cripes, Samuel L. Jackson as The Octopus alone was a travesty. Thanks to Miller it's highly-unlikely we'll ever see another big-budget Spirit flick again.

[ctc]

>no one ever sets out to purposely make a bad movie (well, maybe LLoyd Kaufman).

...Uwe Boll?



I think it's weird how once upon a time Miller could do no wrong, and now he can do no right. (At least as far as the fans are concerned.)

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

I think it's weird how once upon a time Miller could do no wrong, and now he can do no right. (At least as far as the fans are concerned.)

Don C.

not weird when you are that sucessfull that early in your career and everyone tells you how brilliant you are you will believe it. Now he has become part of his own hype. when anyone criticises him he can say who are you I wrote Sin city I wrote Darkknight" Same is true for Todd Mcfarlane

[The Bat]

Yup! I think Miller's ego, has over taken his common sense.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Miller was one of the first comic creators recognized by mainstream media, so he became the buzz name for the "mature" comic book trend. Due to sloppy journalism, most mainstream reporters thought Batman comics were still campy 60s throwbacks prior to DK, and thus painted Miller as the be-all-end-all that not only saved Batman but returned comics to their pulpy roots, and then some. Miller did take things up several notches, and added an epic scope to things, but clearly any comic fan knows Batman had been grim and gritty since 1970. Thanks in large part to Denny O'Neil and, Neal Adams!

But the result was even those who didn't know comics from their butt knew the name Frank Miller, and before too long Miller was hype onto himself. The problem with Miller now is he's "Sin City's Frank Miller" all the time. He couldn't turn it off for DK2, All-Star Bats or the Spirit. He should take a page from his directing pal Robert Rodgriguez who can film a hardcore, over-the-top gritty movie like Sin City, but then go make another Spy Kids movie. Now THAT takes talent, and leaving your ego at the door.

Chris