Batman and the Monster Men

[ChrisBaleBatman]

It's happened before. Who's to say 3 or 4 issues down the line, everyone praises it?

 

[souloffire]

yes...after three issues of suck, we should all expect the stories to become ten times better. As Dr.Evil would say "Riiiiiiiiight"

Why do you keep reading them if they suck so much?

 

[nite-owl]

i think it is.

It comes somtime while Year One is still in play, becuase the Red Hood incident just happened. Whether or not The Roman has the scars on his face or not will help alot to place it too. But's it's right after the Red Hood incident and before the end of Year One.

now, supposedly, Wagner is doing a mini-series retelling of The Monk, which i really want to see, becuase that 2-part series of the original story is one of my favorite Batman stories ever.

So is it now going be:

Year one
Monster men
the other miniseries
the man who laughs

 

[CConn]

I'm delaying reading Issue #3 just to tease myself a little.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Pretty good issue. I like Wagner's artwork in this a lot, definitely fits the world of Batman.

 

[Pksoze]

Sorry if its a choice between Journey Into Night vs Monster Men on whats cannon I'm picking Monster Men.

Here's How I view it...

Year One
Monster Men/Mad Monk
Man Who Laughs
The Long Halloween

 

[CrimsonMist]

just got Issue 3 today. Really good. I like the foreshadowing with Maroni about Dent and his ulcer...that was cool. Cant wait for issue 4

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Yeah, that was smart foreshadowing there. Alot of ppl complain that working in reverse like that can kinda suck.....but it can be great as well b/c you can sort of have dialogue that foreshadows what's going to happen....things everyoen knows about, ie: Maroni tossing acid in Dent's face.

The story is pretty sweet so far.

 

[CrimsonMist]

i want to see Dent in this story, maybe a cameo, same goes for Falcone. Maroni's always on the phone with him.

now, what i really want to see is The Monk story

 

[Cobblepot]

I just read the three issues, and it's very good.
I guess it's Wagners idea to revamp, those early Detective comics that had Hugo Strange in them with a couple of giants and Julie Madison!!
Although Wagners art isn't as good as it was in Faces, I still love this story.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Damn ive gotta catch up.

Pretty much the only good batbook out there right now. Matt should be writing All Star Batman

I don't know, I think Miller's All-Star is more fitting with the old fourties comics. I mean, he was a crazy bastard in those. I mean, there weren't any "Goddamn Batman"s, but he did make a lot of comments like that, and DID KILL.

Really, Monster Men is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's cool that they're adapting these cool stories into continuity. On the other hand, reading those stories without the crazy bastard is...well...it's like watching porn without any nudity. What's the point?

 

[The Sage]

I don't know, I think Miller's All-Star is more fitting with the old fourties comics. I mean, he was a crazy bastard in those. I mean, there weren't any "Goddamn Batman"s, but he did make a lot of comments like that, and DID KILL.

Really, Monster Men is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's cool that they're adapting these cool stories into continuity. On the other hand, reading those stories without the crazy bastard is...well...it's like watching porn without any nudity. What's the point?

Well I haven't read many of the old stories so I can't agree. I'm loving Monster & Men so far.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

What I'm digging is the personal life angle. I don't think I've ever read a Batman comic that took that approach to Bruce Wayne, and not neccessarily Batman. I mean, we're getting a good mix of BOTH Bruce and Batman......we see him juggling both his personal life and his night escapades.

What's good to see is that he's, so far atleast, pretty successful at it. Plus, having us see into his wifey's head is pretty cool- it's obvious she knows he's hiding something, she's just not sure what.

 

[The Sage]

Just checked out issue 4. Good issue, though not as good as the first two. The story's moving along well.

 

[Mee]

I got that one too, but on DC's site it says it's not due out till the 8th.

 

[New Shh! user.]

Monster Men is average. It's not Bad, not great.

Nothing new is really added to the character, and as the 4 issues stand, nothing significant will come out it.

All it is a re-vamp of Yr 2, in terms of the character its nothing we haven't seen before.

 

[CConn]

...that's sorta the point. That you don't need anything to be added to the character or have it be reinvented to write a good, enjoyable story. Too many people, I think, get caught up in this idea that great comics need to be these epic, revolutionary tales.

And maybe that's true for the legendary comics, but the ones that are really the most memorable, and enjoyable, are the classic, little throwback adventure stories.

That's what Monster Men is supposed to be. Not some revolutionary graphic novel, not some big character event, but rather a simple, fun story with a classic interpretation of the character. I really don't get how some people can't enjoy that...

 

[New Shh! user.]

...that's sorta the point. That you don't need anything to be added to the character or have it be reinvented to write a good, enjoyable story. Too many people, I think, get caught up in this idea that great comics need to be these epic, revolutionary tales.

And maybe that's true for the legendary comics, but the ones that are really the most memorable, and enjoyable, are the classic, little throwback adventure stories.

That's what Monster Men is supposed to be. Not some revolutionary graphic novel, not some big character event, but rather a simple, fun story with a classic interpretation of the character. I really don't get how some people can't enjoy that...

I do enjoy, but i don't give it a seconds thought between the time i finish reading one issue and when i buy the next. I don't think it has to be 'some revolutionary graphic novel' either, but my opinion of it is pretty justified. It wasn't like i was slating it.

 

[New Shh! user.]

Similarly i don't understand how you can call it Excellent, or whatever word you used in the first post.

 

[ToddIsDead]

I've enjoyed it consistently over the months. It's really good!

 

[CrimsonMist]

it's just a damn good story. It's something for me to read between the All Star delays.

but in all honesty, i think the Monk re-vamp story will kick Monster Men's ass.

 

[CConn]

I do enjoy, but i don't give it a seconds thought between the time i finish reading one issue and when i buy the next. I don't think it has to be 'some revolutionary graphic novel' either, but my opinion of it is pretty justified. It wasn't like i was slating it.

What I'm saying is, I don't understand your reasoning. Like, say you said you didn't enjoy the story, I disagree, but it's understandable. Or even if you didn't enjoy this interpretation of the Batman; it's an understandable opinion, to me, at least. But to say you don't like it merely because there's no big event in it, I don't quite understand.

Similarly i don't understand how you can call it Excellent, or whatever word you used in the first post.

I've explained my reasoning several times throughout the thread, including my last post.

I think the characterization of Batman may be the best I have seen in Post-Crisis, I'm enjoying the story, I love the art, and I love the overall tone and setting of the book. That's it, basically.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Meh, it's like 10x better than ALL STAR......

 

[Mee]

comicscontinuum has a preview of #5 with some pages. Looks just as good as all the other issues.

 

[King Krypton]

I don't know, I think Miller's All-Star is more fitting with the old fourties comics. I mean, he was a crazy bastard in those. I mean, there weren't any "Goddamn Batman"s, but he did make a lot of comments like that, and DID KILL.

Uh...what you're referring to is 1939-1940, and even that period was no where near as sadistic and insane as Miller's warping of the character. He was closer to the early Zorro than anything else. 1940 onward, Batman was more or less his classic self.

Really, Monster Men is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's cool that they're adapting these cool stories into continuity. On the other hand, reading those stories without the crazy bastard is...well...it's like watching porn without any nudity. What's the point?

First off, he wasn't "a crazy bastard" in the originals. He was a modern-day take on the early Zorro. If you don;t believe me, re-read the old stuff and read The Mark of Zorro to see the similarities.

Secondly, why should Batman be retconned into the Miller version just to fit an inaccurate view of the early stories? That, to me, is without point.