Daredevil Message Board

Knatty Dreadnok

An interesting thread regarding Frank Miller.

http://www.whiterose.org/howlingcurmudgeons/archives/010195.html
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james castle · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject:

I dunno, for my part I love Miller's current stuff. I sort of understand people not liking DK2 (even though I loved it) but I am truly blown away by people who don't like All Star Batman and Robin. I think it's pure genius. I think at one point hating on ASBaR became sort of the thing to do and critics were trying to out hate each other, writing more and more ludicris damnations of it. "Largest train wreck in the history of comics"? Really?

On the other hand I realize that his newer stuff is right up my alley both in terms of his treatment of the characters (who doesn't love Plastic Man?) and in terms of overall structure. I feel like Miller's newer stuff is sort of akin to some of Morrisson's stuff where it's more about moments and tone; big ideas linked together in a coherant world. It's not like his old stuff, sure. It's so weird seeing people turn on Miller for doing original stuff.

The other thing is that I think the real question is if Miller is now producing bad stuff, bad stuff compared to what? The funny thing about the thread you posted is that a few people throw out Alan Moore as the gold standard which is absolutely ridiculous. His latest LEG required the reader to be familair with Bertolt Brecht's work. Somehow critics held this up as a good thing as opposed to the stupidest thing in the world. If you want to have a "what famous books have you read?" competition every should just make a list and get out a ruler. No need to actually waste money on comics.

End of the day, I think Miller is still producing original, entertaining stuff. And that's enough for me.
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JC

So why can't you see the funny side?
Why aren't you laughing?

Blind Alley · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject:

james castle · Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

Knatty Dreadnok · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:57 am Post subject:

acnelson · Flying Blind Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 29

The article was a little harsh on Frank. I mean every writer is going to have some clunkers here and there. Personally I am wating for "Holy Terror, Batman"
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How do you kill a man without fear?
- Kingpin

Master Murdock · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

I thought I was the only one who could see Frank Miller is terrible.... Cool

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kakkate kina..

acnelson · Flying Blind Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 29

The other night I read "300" again. Frank Miller is brillant
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How do you kill a man without fear?
- Kingpin

Master Murdock · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject:

acnelson · Flying Blind Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 29

Master Murdock · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject:

james castle · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

My favorite Miller is probably some sort of tie between Elektra Assassin, The Hard Good Bye and Born Again. Which basically puts the lie to the "everything he does is the same" argument that gets trotted out by people who haven't read his stuff. "All the women he writes are hookers, etc" gets thrown around a lot too. Which is actually true, I guess, unless you count Martha Washington and Elektra and Carrie and the Black Widow and Wonder Woman, which, you know, I think you should since they are women and he does write them.

As for All Star Batman and Robin, I love it. There is a sense where he's just kicking it up a notch but if you approach it as "this is Batman in his 20s" then it 1. makes sense and 2. is awesome.

I think the real irony is the people who poo poo All Star Batman probably would have poo pooed The Dark Knight Returns when it came out. It reminds me of the outcry regarding Morrisson's X-Men run. At the time fan boys were freaking out like crazy. Turns out it's actually an awesome run. Some people just don't like original stuff until loads of time has passed and someone else has told them to like it.
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JC

So why can't you see the funny side?
Why aren't you laughing?

Master Murdock · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject:

Knatty Dreadnok · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:53 pm Post subject:

I think Miller's best work was Daredevil "The Man without Fear". But over the years I do believe his material has deteriorated.
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Master Murdock · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

The Message Board is currently in read-only mode, as the software is now out of date. Several features and pages have been removed. If/When I get time I intend to re-launch the board with updated software.