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COMIC BOOK REVIEW
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Author: Bill Ramey, Founder of BOF Email: BATMANONFILM@MSN.COM Posted: Saturday, September 29, 2007 From DC COMICS: "A study in revenge unravels deep in the Batcave and the young Dick Grayson is about to explode! Batman hands over the triggerman behind the Flying Graysons' murder, but when the killer fingers the criminal mastermind pulling the strings, the Dark Knight and his orphaned aerialist sidekick don't like what they hear. They don't' like it one bit."
When I started reading this title 20 years ago (ZING!), I had a tremendous dislike for it. I’m not a big fan of “A-Hole Batman,” and this “Goddamn Batman” as written by Frank Miller just wasn’t my cup of tea. I mean, really, the way Miller was writing ASB&R‘s characterization of The Batman was just nuts -- literally! How many times has someone called this Batman crazy over the course of these seven issues? Then, I started to figure that there was some sort of method to Miller’s madness here. Maybe he was depicting this young Batman as a headcase -- this friggin’ crazy, unlikable ass -- because he was heading for an epiphany. It is obvious to me now that The Batman’s epiphany will be brought on by one Richard Grayson. Most of issue #7 is Batman kicking the living crap out of several Gotham baddies. Not only does he beat the living crap out of ‘em, he even sets them on fire this time! All the while, the goddamn Batman is laughing his ass off! At any rate, these guys getting their asses kicked by Batman, are the ones who were about to do very bad things to Black Canary in the previous issue. Seems that witnessing someone whippin’ ass is some sort of aphrodisiac -- at least for Black Canary -- since she and The Batman share a “moment” once he’s done. Part 7 of our story concludes with young Mr. Grayson making a very important decision in The Batcave. The Batman brings him something and gives Dick two choices on what to do with “it.” According to Batman, Grayson needs to decide whether or not he’s an executioner or detective. Which one is he? Well, you’ll have to read to find out! How’s the artwork? It’s Jim Lee, so how do you think it is? My criticism is that each issue was filled with nothing more than splash pages. While you certainly still have some of that in this issue, it was much more traditional “comic book” this time around -- and that’s a good thing. So where are we headed? The Batman’s going to have his life-altering moment and we’re going to see Dick transform into Robin, obviously. Oh yeah, a very special and popular Batman villain will be featured in issue #8. And… …from the looks of things, this classic rogue may be behind Dick ultimately finding himself in The Batcave.
BATMAN IN COMICS, and ON-FILM.NET.
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A lot has changed over the course of the seven issues of ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER.
