Batman Deja Vu
September 16, 2015 8:23 AM Subscribe
Very cool! I've read the Darwyn Cooke version the article mentions, but I've never seen the original until now. I'm not sure I appreciate the decision to black out Batman's eyes - definitely preferable to "Little Orphan Annie eyes," but I'm so used to seeing Bruce Timm's Batman with big white lenses that Batman looks perpetually squinty-eyed to me on these pages, like he has a headache. But in the abstract, it's a great idea, aiming for the same kind of effect as giving Batman's cowl prominent brow-things so his eyes are in shadow, but without the consequence of restricting Batman's posture and lighting to a gloomy sameness in order to maintain that effect. I bet if I read the story from start to finish, I'd end up appreciating it.
Bruce Wayne crying is a great panel. I'm used to seeing him drawn as handsome and put-together, with a jutting jaw, and he's just the opposite here. He really looks like someone who's starting to break down crying, especially in the tensed-up brows and lips that are starting to contort into what people call the ugly cry. I can't think of the last time I saw Bruce Wayne so straightforwardly portrayed as being sensitive, instead of as sublimating all his grief into being a stony ragemonster.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 10:39 AM on September 16, 2015
Bruce Wayne crying is a great panel. I'm used to seeing him drawn as handsome and put-together, with a jutting jaw, and he's just the opposite here. He really looks like someone who's starting to break down crying, especially in the tensed-up brows and lips that are starting to contort into what people call the ugly cry. I can't think of the last time I saw Bruce Wayne so straightforwardly portrayed as being sensitive, instead of as sublimating all his grief into being a stony ragemonster.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 10:39 AM on September 16, 2015
Yeah, it's unfortunate that the article references specific pages and panels but doesn't show them. It's hard to get a sense for this powerful, awarding-winning story when it doesn't even explain the plot in a paragraphs. Without that background it wasn't until the end where I realized this story with a fight in the water and cliffs and Bruce Wayne crying and superhero balls was supposed to be something more than described.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 10:40 AM on September 16, 2015
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 10:40 AM on September 16, 2015
While I didn't get this issue when it came out, that's essentially the Batman/Bruce Wayne I remember from my late-70s, 1980s comic-reading days: One that could experience all the emotions (sorrow, joy, amusement, anger, ennui, etc.) and not just grim dark rage. It's a character I miss.
I also miss dense, wordy comics. I try to read some of the decompressed current stuff, but I'm usually left feeling empty and hungry. I guess the analogy would be eating meringue for a meal. Sure it's sweet and light and tasty but it lacks substance and nutrients.
posted by sardonyx at 11:00 AM on September 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I also miss dense, wordy comics. I try to read some of the decompressed current stuff, but I'm usually left feeling empty and hungry. I guess the analogy would be eating meringue for a meal. Sure it's sweet and light and tasty but it lacks substance and nutrients.
posted by sardonyx at 11:00 AM on September 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
The article feels confusing without a physical copy of the comic in front of you.
posted by Ferreous at 11:16 AM on September 16, 2015
posted by Ferreous at 11:16 AM on September 16, 2015
Here's a scan of a substantial amount of the story.
posted by maxsparber at 11:41 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 11:41 AM on September 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
Absolutely the article needs to be better edited. It was one reason I hesitated posting the link, but I figured the interesting parts of it outweighed the confusing bits.
posted by sardonyx at 12:43 PM on September 16, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 12:43 PM on September 16, 2015
« Older A fascinating journey of architectural obsession | Bitcoin for Banks Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by TDavis at 10:32 AM on September 16, 2015