Official Batman Titles thread 2.0 - - - - Part 13

[Naked Shia]

Snyder's Batman won IGN's award of best comic of 2012

http://uk.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2012/Best_Comic_Book_Series

that's horrible!

It seems to me a lot of people are comparing Snyder's work and Morrison's run. Just like a lot of people used to compare Dini's work and Morrison's work.

Probably because both Dini and Snyder write straight forward stories, when Morrison is always writing mysteries and playing with the chronology (among other things).

I can totally understand why people would prefer more straight forward stories. For instance, while I'm a huge fan of Batman Rip, I totally understand why some people prefer Heart of Hush (a story I really like btw).

When Snyder wrote black mirror, it was refreshing to read this take on Dick, because we got to see him using his detective skills, and the characterization was great. I was really enthusiast when Snyder wrote court of owls. I liked the first 6 issues. There was a sense of mystery and a great mood. But with night of the owls and death of the family, it became apparent that he was now just trying to write teh definitive batman and joker stories. And the more he tried to pack some emotional scenes, some epic scenes, the less it worked imo. While I like some of his ideas, I think the execution falls short, and Snyder can't write without spelling everything out for the reader. Do we know Bruce consider Alfred like a father? Yes. do we need him to tell that to Dick? I don't think so.

So while I understand the Snyder's love, I do think his work could be better. and it's certainly not the best comic of the yer in my heart.

 

[Saint]

The best comic I read this year is either Daredevil, Swamp Thing, Journey Into Mystery, or Wonder Woman. Flash is a close runner up.

Also, based on the first three issues, next years best is going to be Jason Aaron's Thor.

 

[CConn]

Saga was the best series of 2012.

 

[The Batman]

Daredevil has to be the best comic I've read all year.

 

[Rocketman]

It all comes down to personal taste, obviously. I've strictly said that my opinions are my opinions, and everyone should love what they love. And I agree with the notion, especially after this mess that is the New 52, that everyone should just make up their own continuity. You are your own Batman Historian, at this point. There are just too many chronological issues, it's migraine-inducing.

Personally, I'm just not a Morrison guy, and I think a lot of the problem (my problem) came from him. And I'm not a Frank Miller guy either. I also don't care for Jim Lee's artwork, and I think Geoff Johns is overrated. I realize this is all blasphemy, but again, that's my taste.

To me, my definitive Batman lies somewhere with Dennis O'Neil, Mike W. Barr, and Matt Wagner, and now Snyder is joining that group. Matt Wagner in particular is probably my favorite Batman writer of all-time. Between those gentlemen, Shaman, Venom, Faces, Monster Men, Mad Monk, Fear the Reaper, The Demon Trilogy.... It's as good as it gets for me.

And as far as these new crossovers are concerned, I still think Knightfall and No Man's Land are the two definitive takes on the larger Batverse. I know a lot of people think Knightfall in particular is overrated rubbish, but it's still to this day an exciting thing to get into. Both stories are just epic and endless - yes, more epic than anything Snyder has done.

Yes, I'm an 80's/90's guy.

 

[Motown Marvel]

Daredevil has to be the best comic I've read all year.

Pretty much, yep.

 

[Panthro]

It all comes down to personal taste, obviously. I've strictly said that my opinions are my opinions, and everyone should love what they love. And I agree with the notion, especially after this mess that is the New 52, that everyone should just make up their own continuity. You are your own Batman Historian, at this point. There are just too many chronological issues, it's migraine-inducing.

Personally, I'm just not a Morrison guy, and I think a lot of the problem (my problem) came from him. And I'm not a Frank Miller guy either. I also don't care for Jim Lee's artwork, and I think Geoff Johns is overrated. I realize this is all blasphemy, but again, that's my taste.

Not true. Most people hate Geoff Johns. At least, most of the SHH hates Geoff Johns.

And as far as these new crossovers are concerned, I still think Knightfall and No Man's Land are the two definitive takes on the larger Batverse. I know a lot of people think Knightfall in particular is overrated rubbish, but it's still to this day an exciting thing to get into. Both stories are just epic and endless - yes, more epic than anything Snyder has done.

Yes, I'm an 80's/90's guy.

I liked Knightfall, but still haven't gotten around to reading No Man's Land. You know how it is - so many trades, so little time, so little money...

 

[Roose Bolton]

Conan the Barbarian 3# was the best single issue of the year.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Saga was the best series of 2012.

Agreed. Even I, who loved Batman, only ranked it #3 in the top 10 comics list I put together a couple of weeks back. I put Saga at #2, my highest ranking series of the year. The Underwater Welder was my #1.

 

[Rocketman]

Not true. Most people hate Geoff Johns. At least, most of the SHH hates Geoff Johns.

Huh, I wasn't aware of this.

I'm honestly terrified to read Batman: Earth One, simply because of the outrage I might experience.

... Does anyone here like it?

 

[WeeZiTe]

I wouldn't bother reading it.

 

[Zatanna]

Daredevil has to be the best comic I've read all year.

Agreed.

 

[Motown Marvel]

I thought Geoff johns was fantastic in almost all his writings up through blackest night. Then he quickly unraveled with work ranging from crap to mediocre at best.

 

[RoughNTumble]

too many other responsibilities and no one to reign him in

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

It's sad really. He was showing so much promise.

 

[CConn]

Johns' GL is still quite solid, IMO.

 

[Hush]

Yeah GL is still one of the best books on the market.

 

[Lord]

Huh, I wasn't aware of this.

I'm honestly terrified to read Batman: Earth One, simply because of the outrage I might experience.

... Does anyone here like it?

I personally hated it, but i like his work on Green Lantern and Aquaman

 

[CConn]

Earth One was pretty good. Not great, but not insultingly bad, IMO?

 

[RoughNTumble]

he is still better than most ioo but he could do so much better imf

 

[Rocketman]

Who wants to read my detailed theory for the ending of Death of the Family?

Be warned, this is going to be an insane, detailed read, and I'd even put money on it being the real ending.

This is a combination of two theories between me and someone else, him being blue and me being red:

Spoiler

All through Court of Owls and Death of the Family, Alfred has felt "off". I assumed through CoO that it was to make the reader question whether or not Alfred was in on the Court. I think that what's going to happen is that Synder is again retelling a classic Batman tale in a new way. I believe that Alfred is wearing Joker's face. He has become the villain again like he did before. He knows who they all are. He above everyone else wants Bruce stronger and better. He could get into the house and kidnap "himself". At the end of the last issue, Batman thinks he will stare into Joker's eyes until he sees love. The "Death" will be when its revealed that "Joker" is Alfred. The secret that Bruce is keeping from the family is that Bruce knows that Alfred has had mental breaks and became a villain before and Bruce knew about it and didn't lock Alfred in Arkham. He didn't tell the others what Alfred is capable of.

- I firmly believe that the "Joker" in Death of the Family is NOT THE Joker. Someone else is wearing his face. I'm 100% convinced. There has been zero reason given as to why Joker cut off his own face, so we are waiting for that specific explanation. Why he cut his own face off is a mystery yet to be solved. Secondly, if you notice these alternate covers, the Joker's "Mask" face is worn on top of everyone's face like a mask (i.e., Batman is wearing Joker's face, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, etc.). Everyone in the Bat-Family is wearing his face on these covers except for Alfred.

- There are two Jokers in a deck of playing cards.

- Alfred has a background in acting. We know he studied Shakespeare, and had a part in Macbeth.
- Joker can't stop referring to Shakespearean archetypes, referring to himself as Batman's "Court Jester".

- The Joker is tall, skinny, and lanky.
- Alfred is tall, skinny, and lanky.

I am 100% convinced that Batman will kill The Joker in front of the entire family, only to discover that "The Joker" is actually Alfred, thus, Batman kills Alfred. The REAL Joker reveals himself in Arkham, and The REAL Joker's plot was to make Batman kill Alfred - thus, "killing" the entire family.

Batman is now a murderer, his only murder being the person who means most to him.

And I'm also considering the idea that The Joker has Alfred under some kind of psychotic manipulation. Alfred is "brainwashed" into being The Joker. Either that, or Alfred has been truly evil from the beginning.

Bottom line: We have yet to see The Joker in Death of the Family.

I realize it sounds totally insane, haha, but I am convinced.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Huh, I wasn't aware of this.

I'm honestly terrified to read Batman: Earth One, simply because of the outrage I might experience.

... Does anyone here like it?

I'm a huge Johns fanboy and even I would say avoid Batman: Earth One. It's flat out terrible IMO.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Earth One was pretty good. Not great, but not insultingly bad, IMO?

This is pretty much my sentiment as well. It's a good alternate take on the mythos.

 

[Omegabat]

Who wants to read my detailed theory for the ending of Death of the Family?

Be warned, this is going to be an insane, detailed read, and I'd even put money on it being the real ending.

This is a combination of two theories between me and someone else, him being blue and me being red:

Spoiler

All through Court of Owls and Death of the Family, Alfred has felt "off". I assumed through CoO that it was to make the reader question whether or not Alfred was in on the Court. I think that what's going to happen is that Synder is again retelling a classic Batman tale in a new way. I believe that Alfred is wearing Joker's face. He has become the villain again like he did before. He knows who they all are. He above everyone else wants Bruce stronger and better. He could get into the house and kidnap "himself". At the end of the last issue, Batman thinks he will stare into Joker's eyes until he sees love. The "Death" will be when its revealed that "Joker" is Alfred. The secret that Bruce is keeping from the family is that Bruce knows that Alfred has had mental breaks and became a villain before and Bruce knew about it and didn't lock Alfred in Arkham. He didn't tell the others what Alfred is capable of.

- I firmly believe that the "Joker" in Death of the Family is NOT THE Joker. Someone else is wearing his face. I'm 100% convinced. There has been zero reason given as to why Joker cut off his own face, so we are waiting for that specific explanation. Why he cut his own face off is a mystery yet to be solved. Secondly, if you notice these alternate covers, the Joker's "Mask" face is worn on top of everyone's face like a mask (i.e., Batman is wearing Joker's face, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, etc.). Everyone in the Bat-Family is wearing his face on these covers except for Alfred.

- There are two Jokers in a deck of playing cards.

- Alfred has a background in acting. We know he studied Shakespeare, and had a part in Macbeth.
- Joker can't stop referring to Shakespearean archetypes, referring to himself as Batman's "Court Jester".

- The Joker is tall, skinny, and lanky.
- Alfred is tall, skinny, and lanky.

I am 100% convinced that Batman will kill The Joker in front of the entire family, only to discover that "The Joker" is actually Alfred, thus, Batman kills Alfred. The REAL Joker reveals himself in Arkham, and The REAL Joker's plot was to make Batman kill Alfred - thus, "killing" the entire family.

Batman is now a murderer, his only murder being the person who means most to him.

And I'm also considering the idea that The Joker has Alfred under some kind of psychotic manipulation. Alfred is "brainwashed" into being The Joker. Either that, or Alfred has been truly evil from the beginning.

Bottom line: We have yet to see The Joker in Death of the Family.

I realize it sounds totally insane, haha, but I am convinced.

Oh God,OH MY GOD.If this happens I'm dropping every single Batbook,surely even Snyder is not that stupid.

 

[RoughNTumble]

it's more likely that joker dresses alfred in his face to be killed at the last minute than alfred being mind-controlled