Batman: Masterpieces
Apr. 21st, 2008 03:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shankieThis is one of those books that has a ton of people credited: editing/presentation Ruth Morrison, writing Doug Moench, artwork Carl Critchlow, Duncan Fegredo, Scott Hampton, and Dermot Power. It's mostly paintings; there's story, but it's only brief snippets that give the art context, followed by sketches. The result is interesting.
Joker has escaped from Arkham and the Batman is presumed dead. Commissioner Gordon is not pleased.
There are quite a few reactions to Batman's supposed death; Jim thinks back to events of The Killing Joke Bats rescued him from, Lt. Sarah Essen Gordon (not dead yet!) distrusted the Bat but still shed a tear... and the Joker remembers a death trap that should have worked, but didn't.
Alfred. Due to the circumstances, he's somber, and almost seems to be in a portal to the underworld. Coolness.
The Robins. Before getting into action, Jason Todd and Dick's earlier career are remembered. AKA guilt-ridden pep talk.
They examine bad guys, the result is their perspective on a variety of baddies; with a few notable entries.
R'as al Ghul, looking dashing as ever. If you're into that 'evil god' look.
Talia does better. She looks like a cross between a religious icon and Lara Croft.
The Scarecrow in this makes me laugh. XP
Later, Tim gets caught stealing files from Jim's office.
The point-of-view starts coming from the Joker, who does his own investigation of what happened to Batman.
He considers Talia as a suspect, much like Robin and Nightwing, but with a slanted perspective; in the hands of a powerful woman, Batman suddenly becomes powerless to fight them off and is put in submissive poses. Which is interesting, seeing as this is the Joker.
Another one. The Joker envisions this scene and is described as being "the color of his hair with envy" at the very idea. Heh.
This is actually Batman from the perspective of Dr. Kirk Langstrom. I like it better than "Man-bat: mindless beast."
Batman as seen by Scarface the puppet. hehehe.
Joker goes nuttier and start talking to bats. heh.
He imagines various scenarios of Batman chasing him.
Such as Batman chasing him as Jack the Ripper. It's neat and totally a reference to Gotham by Gaslight.
In the end, it was all a trick to trap the Joker, Batman is fine, and all is well. I guess.
More scenes, like Joker the king of the world, Batman in a straight-jacket, and all sorts of iconically-done villains are to be found in thepaintings. The best part is the Joker's seeming to grasp even the Elseworlds and putting himself in scenes from stories like the afore seen reference to Gotham by Gaslight, as well as Holy Terror, Master of the Universe... then Norse mythology and Frankenstein.
Joker has escaped from Arkham and the Batman is presumed dead. Commissioner Gordon is not pleased.
There are quite a few reactions to Batman's supposed death; Jim thinks back to events of The Killing Joke Bats rescued him from, Lt. Sarah Essen Gordon (not dead yet!) distrusted the Bat but still shed a tear... and the Joker remembers a death trap that should have worked, but didn't.
Alfred. Due to the circumstances, he's somber, and almost seems to be in a portal to the underworld. Coolness.
The Robins. Before getting into action, Jason Todd and Dick's earlier career are remembered. AKA guilt-ridden pep talk.
They examine bad guys, the result is their perspective on a variety of baddies; with a few notable entries.
R'as al Ghul, looking dashing as ever. If you're into that 'evil god' look.
Talia does better. She looks like a cross between a religious icon and Lara Croft.
The Scarecrow in this makes me laugh. XP
Later, Tim gets caught stealing files from Jim's office.
The point-of-view starts coming from the Joker, who does his own investigation of what happened to Batman.
He considers Talia as a suspect, much like Robin and Nightwing, but with a slanted perspective; in the hands of a powerful woman, Batman suddenly becomes powerless to fight them off and is put in submissive poses. Which is interesting, seeing as this is the Joker.
Another one. The Joker envisions this scene and is described as being "the color of his hair with envy" at the very idea. Heh.
This is actually Batman from the perspective of Dr. Kirk Langstrom. I like it better than "Man-bat: mindless beast."
Batman as seen by Scarface the puppet. hehehe.
Joker goes nuttier and start talking to bats. heh.
He imagines various scenarios of Batman chasing him.
Such as Batman chasing him as Jack the Ripper. It's neat and totally a reference to Gotham by Gaslight.
In the end, it was all a trick to trap the Joker, Batman is fine, and all is well. I guess.
More scenes, like Joker the king of the world, Batman in a straight-jacket, and all sorts of iconically-done villains are to be found in thepaintings. The best part is the Joker's seeming to grasp even the Elseworlds and putting himself in scenes from stories like the afore seen reference to Gotham by Gaslight, as well as Holy Terror, Master of the Universe... then Norse mythology and Frankenstein.
no subject
on 2008-04-22 12:32 am (UTC)I'd be envious of Ivy too if Batman walked around my house looking like that and catered to my every will.
Boy is she lucky. lol
no subject
on 2008-04-22 02:53 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-04-22 07:40 pm (UTC)I first read it in Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (both cool and seriously creepy, written by Grant Morrison ++) as the diagnosis for his condition from his doctor at the time. I have it right here; all imagery and crazyness.
no subject
on 2008-04-23 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-04-22 04:50 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-04-22 07:43 pm (UTC)Wearing nothing but one of those little domino masks, however... different story. XD