He's back, and he's Bats
November 20, 2019 9:34 AM Subscribe
Several years after their epic review of Batman: Odyssey [TVTropes] (previously on the blue), Neal Adams' utterly gonzo take on the Caped Crusader, Laura Hudson and David Wolkin are back to review/analyze/goggle at Adams' latest, Batman vs. Ra's al Ghul.
Hudson points out that this is part of DC's "Year of the Villain" event, so it's part of DC continuity.
Hudson points out that this is part of DC's "Year of the Villain" event, so it's part of DC continuity.
I just scrolled through the articles quickly, looking at the panels. I am a little stunned. Adams used to be the best at drawing Batman - some of his 70s comics were definitive. But now it looks like he has really lost his knack for drawing the Caped Crusader. I guess I'm better off remembering the old books and just dismissing this stuff as fever dreams.
posted by Ber at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2019
posted by Ber at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2019
There is no such thing as continuity. There never was. It has nothing to do with Neal Adams. Any indication of a connection between two writers/artists on a character is a delusion on the part of the artists and the readers.
posted by Billiken at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by Billiken at 12:16 PM on November 20, 2019
I’m not remotely into comics, but, wow, that Polygon piece makes me think the whole thing was Neil Adams’ giant joke on DC. I can imagine him laughing to friends “These idiots would pay me if I just wiped my ass and drew a bat on it. Watch this...”
No, Adams is legit nuts, but in a harmless crank kind of way. For example, he produced a documentary in support of the "expanding Earth hypothesis" (which forms part of the basis for the plot of Batman: Odyssey). As said above, Adams is an extremely talented artist and has been a champion of creator rights over the years, but the dude has a bunch of wacky ideas.
posted by Sangermaine at 12:31 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
No, Adams is legit nuts, but in a harmless crank kind of way. For example, he produced a documentary in support of the "expanding Earth hypothesis" (which forms part of the basis for the plot of Batman: Odyssey). As said above, Adams is an extremely talented artist and has been a champion of creator rights over the years, but the dude has a bunch of wacky ideas.
posted by Sangermaine at 12:31 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
To this day, I will still sometimes bust out with "SUCH AN OCTOPUS OF A THING!"
posted by Kat Allison at 2:00 PM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Kat Allison at 2:00 PM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
"...AND I HAVE ONLY AN INKLING?" ...get it...inkling! Stream of consciousness comic work at its finest.
posted by Dillionaire at 2:44 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by Dillionaire at 2:44 PM on November 20, 2019
Admittedly, I only skimmed the article, but did anybody at any point call out how intensely, graphically homoerotic this art is? Not just a little; I'm talking Tom-of-Finland-level homoerotic. In one frame, Nude Batman is actually peeling a banana while gazing deeply into your eyes, and confiding his most intimate thoughts.
If Neal Adams isn't out, I seriously worry about him, and hope that he's OK. Especially after that frame where Batman is shot, over and over, spraying blood, contorted, while the text explains that he can't fall to the floor because the impact of the bullets keeps knocking him upright.
posted by panglos at 8:41 AM on November 21, 2019
If Neal Adams isn't out, I seriously worry about him, and hope that he's OK. Especially after that frame where Batman is shot, over and over, spraying blood, contorted, while the text explains that he can't fall to the floor because the impact of the bullets keeps knocking him upright.
posted by panglos at 8:41 AM on November 21, 2019
Admittedly, I only skimmed the article, but did anybody at any point call out how intensely, graphically homoerotic this art is?
Oh yes, repeatedly. See also the panel of Alfred making suggestive hand gestures while he and Bruce waggle their eyebrows at each other.
Although Laura Hudson also entertained the possibility that Bruce could be seducing a lady--or just you, the reader--whatever your gender is--with his shirtless banana eating.
posted by straight at 11:29 AM on November 21, 2019
Oh yes, repeatedly. See also the panel of Alfred making suggestive hand gestures while he and Bruce waggle their eyebrows at each other.
Although Laura Hudson also entertained the possibility that Bruce could be seducing a lady--or just you, the reader--whatever your gender is--with his shirtless banana eating.
posted by straight at 11:29 AM on November 21, 2019
that Polygon piece makes me think the whole thing was Neil Adams’ giant joke on DC. I can imagine him laughing to friends “These idiots would pay me if I just wiped my ass and drew a bat on it. Watch this...
The whole thing is way too earnest for that. Adams seems convinced that he is BLOWING YOUR MIND with this stuff.
posted by straight at 11:30 AM on November 21, 2019
The whole thing is way too earnest for that. Adams seems convinced that he is BLOWING YOUR MIND with this stuff.
posted by straight at 11:30 AM on November 21, 2019
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posted by Thorzdad at 11:23 AM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]