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ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN; THE BOY WONDER #5
Written by Frank Miller
Art by Jim Lee and Scott Williams
Cover A by Lee
Cover B by Miller
Edited by Bob Schreck
PLOT:
The Batman puts Dick Grayson to the ultimate test, and the orphaned aerialist must make a difficult choice before becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder. Plus, Superman gathers Wonder Woman and others from the JLA to take down the psychotic Dark Knight.
REVIEW:
One year, two months. People go through things that could last that long. A trade school probably, maybe that is long to have Chemo if you have cancer, but it is not the length of time to release ONE issue from a comic book. I guess you know how I'm feeling with that. But between the fourth and fifth issue, we did find out what was causing the delays: not DC, but Jim Lee because he took too many jobs. There is nothing wrong in saying that this issue was on everyone's minds as the fourth issue got more points than 1-3, and seeing the preview pages to issue five made people wanting this, so bad. Even me. Shall we?
My reaction is that of coolness, but knowing the flaws. Issue 5 is alot like what I felt for both issue 2 and issue 4. In that it brings up the geek in me with the almost hidden JLA, it'll make me talk about Frank Miller's ASB&R version of Wonder Woman for a bit, and there are things to mention overall from this fifth part to the story. But on Miller, I have to ask; what is it with him repeating lines throughout this whole story? Like "shut up" seems to be the keyword for anyone to say whenever. Well if the situation calls for it. Plus, that famous line appears again said by Batman "I love being the Batman". I guess he loves it. I say its famous since on any board, it sort of has a fan cult following.
The main point in this issue was the appearance of the Justice League of America. Unlike all other versions, the JLA seen here does not have a base or station or what not. They're sorta like a hidden superhero team. And they meet where ever it seems right for them. As they meet up in this issue in an electricity location. The superheroes here are Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Plastic Man. It’s pretty obvious why Batman is not on for alot of reasons.
But here is where Wonder Woman comes in. Wonder Woman here in Frank Miller's writing is a very extreme version of the Amazon. She is not like her main comic book counterpart at all. She's almost like some of the JL/JLU version (the scenes from the show where she would criticize men in general) tied into ideas from the Ultimate Wonder Woman pitch. Her in this universe, Diana has recently come into Man's World. From her thought boxes, she says how the world "stinks of men" and that it "leaves a bad taste" and that men "can't do anything right" and "lie". And it continues on when she is with the JLA, where she doesn't see Superman or Plastic Man as men at all and that she doesn't like how a super being like Superman could not be above the humans. And I would have to agree that this is pure Amazon warrior saying when she says that there is only one option to the Batman: kill him and treat it as the "first gift of the Justice League." See? This is not like the Diana we know. For me, I like her this way but ONLY in THIS book and NOT in the main universe. Sorry, I had to spell that out. It very much fits the universe presented here. And anyone who is reading this series must've expected this kind of Diana because the main, normal version couldn't fit here. Some might say she is a , but I have nothing to say on that.
Plus, when Jim Lee draws her in any book, he adds little touches or elements to make it his own version. Which he does for Batman and Superman too. But here, he draws her costume in a way kind of paralleling her Golden Age version. While all of it is the same as the main one, she wears a red jacket instead of the red cape, her boots are high-heeled (not worth pointing out as she always wore high heeled boots even in the Bronze Age but I felt worth mentioning it), she has the skirt (which is what Jim Lee draws her with like in Superman: For Tomorrow) as for her tiara, while I don't know if its actually still a tiara or something like a headband (again, she wears when Lee draws her) but whatever it is, there is an extra piece of metal covering the front of her nose.
The reason why I'm talking about her costume is that Diana here, Superman, and Batman (you have to add him) each are presented paralleling their Golden Age incarnations. I know it’s sort of late but it does make sense. Batman killed people before and was dark, and the addition of Robin lighten him up. Superman was sort of dark and one of the things known about him is that he didn't fly early on, which we saw in issue 4. And Wonder Woman was a feminist, making her here a more extreme feminist. I thought I should mention that.
Back to the book. Now, her comments show that she is at odds with the leader of the group: Superman. So let's talk about him. BTW, both Diana and Superman both say the keyword of this entire series "shut up". Anyhow, Diana knows Superman is from a farm as she nicknames him "farm boy". Superman brings up that before this storyline, he had told her and the rest of the superheroes that he or they should've brought Batman in the moment he first appeared. So there is heated tension between the two (Superman and Batman) and at first I thought it was his Big Blue Boy scout talking, but one of the things he says relates to what happened in DKR, upping the idea that either this series is a prequel to it or just relates to it but not connected. He says that it'll be Batman that will "make us look like monsters, we'd all be soiled by the public eye" and "now that he's kidnapped a boy it'll be the excuse they've been looking for to destroy us". Now him saying, again brings up DKR, but it also kinda sets up what the rest of the book might be about. Because this book has two plots: Dick Grayson becoming Robin, and the JLA after Batman. So could the idea of the government against the superheroes be a third plot?
Oh, and Diana and Superman kiss in this. Are they in a relationship? I don't think so. Maybe he kissed her to calm her down. But the fact that they both kissed reminded me of Frank Miller's interview in one of the Batman Special Edition DVDs where he likes Batman & Catwoman together because they're similar. But he does not like Superman and Lois together because "why would he go after Lois Lane? Why not Wonder Woman? She can match him". And its not just him, over the many years the topic of what-ifs on Superman and Wonder Woman instead of Lois & Clark or Steve & Diana have popped up all the time.
Since we've mentioned Batman, let's mention him. Batman is shown continuing what he is in this series: a psycho. He beats down several rapists and breaks one guy's hand, just so he can remember the pain as it came from him. But one thing from this sequence was that there is a woman here, and I didn't know if she was Black Canary in disguise or even Batgirl (as she appears in the next issue), but it only occurred to me that she wasn't either of them, just a Gotham citizen. But, since she was going to be rapped, when Batman comes in and beats on the men who were going to rape her, she smiles in satisfaction. I think this scene was to somehow show that despite Batman being nuts, the citizens like that woman love him because he is needed in this kind of city.
Overall, this issue was good. I have no mixed feelings about it somehow, looking at my reviews at issues 1-2 where I said that if we waited we could see that this is a good story, looks like that might be coming true. That’s a "might". Diana here might appear to be either extreme or a , but when it comes down to it, she fits with his universe presented in this series. And I totally geeked with the JLA, because...why not? I hope that what Didio said, that they'll only release All Star books when at least 2 of them are done, that issue 6 will come shortly after this and not delayed.
RATING: 3.5/5
Next Issue: Batman and Black Canary get down to business, and a certain Batgirl appears.
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
RE: All Star Batman & Robin; The Boy Wonder #5 REVIEW -
Posted on 21-05-2007 00:00
I got so worked up at how bad this issue was that I clicked NEW THREAD instead of NEW REPLY. Either way here are my thoughts:
Darknight wrote:
This is a really bad time for me and ancillary Batman titles. I dropped Batman Confidential a couple of weeks back and this issue sealed the deal for ASB&R:TBW. The story is so bad that the wait between the issues actually helped motivate me to buy the issue by deluding me into thinking I've been enjoying this since I bought the other 4 issues.
This time around Batman channels Wolverine. He runs around the city talking to himself (albeit internally) about it being a hunter's night. I think that I read this same monologue before in some Wolverine comic. You really can't blame him for being happy about going around the city. He did spend a really long time in the Batmobile and the Batcave. He does however have a pretty good knowledge of anatomy. I didn't know that a compound fracture in the wrist would not heal right and there would be pain for the rest of your life. At least he does try to be educational.
Dick Grayson stood in the Batcave, picked up an ax and said, "Cool." How's that for character development? Didn't the solicitation promise that "the orphaned aerialist must make a difficult choice before becoming Robin, the Boy Wonder." Granted it is a big ax, and would be heavy, but I don't necessarily think that the choice was difficult. Maybe I am a bit impetuous and my habit of picking up heavy weapons is a little too wild and crazy for and old fuddy duddy like Frank Miller.
Alfred acutally made it into the issue. He hit a punching bag for a few panels before I actually figured out who he was. Thankfully through the magic of in panel flashbacks, it because clear. I actually thought for a while that Bruce had grown a mustache really fast. It is cool to see Alfred showing he has some skills other than cleaning and cooking, since several of his origins have indicated that he was a spy for Great Britain, and was pretty capable in his day.
The League is what was supposed to attract people to this issue. These are basically the same characters from Dark Knight Strikes Again. Superman is really powerful, but a weak willed pushover. Wonder Woman is strong willed and bosses Superman around. I wonder if Luthor is pulling her strings like in DKSA. Her costume is pretty cool. It is the same design as in DKSA, but the art and coloring help a lot. Fortunately we don't get a 6 page sex scene (to you guys that would be interested in that, it is not as good as it sounds like it would be) between Superman and Wonder Woman like in DKSA.
Green Lantern and Plastic Man round out the rest of the League, but don't get much characterization. Green Lantern's shining moment comes from taking the supreme femenist's coat after she barked an order to him. Not exactly the actions of a man without fear (yes, I know that that is Daredevil's line, but Hal is supposed to be fearless {cool story idea: Daredevil gets a power ring; thoughts?}). Plastic man is pretty much a pervert. Not too far out of character, but when he is written well, he is funny in a clever way, not in a creepy hide your sons and daughters way.
I can't find fault in the art. Jim Lee seems to have produced a much better cleaner issue than he usually does. I really like his work, but sometimes it just looks sloppy. I guess he had the time to really get things right and it pays off. If you like pretty pictures and big spashes of Batman, pick this up, but don't read the story.
RE: All Star Batman & Robin; The Boy Wonder #5 REVIEW -
Posted on 24-05-2007 22:33
Since most of what I think has been said, I'll just say in a nutshell, I will continue to buy this book for Jim Lee's art, but I hate Frank Miller's writing. It's just too out there. I like a Dark Knight, but not one who is more nuts than the Joker.
RE: All Star Batman & Robin; The Boy Wonder #5 REVIEW -
Posted on 25-05-2007 09:24
I'm with you guys, this title just isn't doing anything for me story-wise. The characters are beyond underdeveloped, they're jokes. There are some good ideas, a few cool lines, and excellent art, but story itself strikes me as a semi-competent fanfic written by a middle schooler.
I’ve only read #4 and #5, but based on those two issues I have to say that the art is awesome, but the story and character development needs some work. This version of Batman is an egomaniac. He’s so bad that Wonder Woman wants to take him down. This is Batman is worse than Azreal’s turn as Batman and we know how out of control he got.
The other issue with it is timing. If they can’t do it monthly they should have done a TPB or something because the long delay between issues is going to kill it eventually.
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