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The problem with this issue was that Miller is now trying to rein in some of the insanity. Yes, it was the most "normal" of all the issues (despite the goofiness of seeing everything yellow for most of the book), but it lost some of the sheer nuttiness, and I don't think the nice character moments, as nice as they were, made up for it. But that's just me.

The relative normality of the issue is also actually why I figured I'd recommend it to the folks who normally dislike the book.

It was a normal narrative, just with nuttiness mixed in - a really fun book (not that it isn't normally fun, but I think this issue would be fun for folks who don't normally dig this title).

This issue was really a reversal of sorts on the Batman character that Miller has been building. Suddenly he's realizing that he's been behaving like a raving lunatic this entire time? Why? What has changed? That's not to say that it's not a welcome development...just strangely mystifying, is all.

Why? What has changed?

In the issue, Robin almost kills an unarmed, innocent man, mostly because Batman did not bother to train him NOT to do that, which naturally freaks Batman out a bit.

So that's why he changed.

Lots of times, Robin has been described as the presence that keeps Batman from going off the deep end. It'd be kinda interesting if that's what this whole thing is supposed to show. But I'm completely entertained by the insane issues as well, so whatever.

Here's another look at what Miller's doing with ASBAR.

I was really impressed with ASBAR #9 and how it lines up with Morrison's idea of every Batman story ever being true and part of Bats growing up. A friend described it as a "record scratching moment," where you can feel the needle go off the record and everything changes. This is the bit where the angry, vicious, demon of the night Batman turns into a Caped Crusader, for lack of a better phrase.

I guess ... but the issue felt like one big hate letter from Miller to Green Lantern. While I'm not the biggest GL proponent I still think it was just kind of ... too far gone. I understand that it led to the cathartic moment where Batman realizes, "Whoops, what have I done with this kid", but nine issues in seems a bit ... late.

Veidt

If you can't enjoy Batman taunting Hal Jordan with a pitcher of Lemonade, then your life is sad and lonely.

I find it humorous that some people who dislike this series seem to think Miller suddenly decided to make a 180 degree change in the narrative based on online fanboy criticism. This is Frank Miller we are talking about. I think he's a little too busy shooting movies and counting money to browse forums. On top of that, I sincerely doubt DC Editorial would tell Frank Miller to stop being Frank Miller on an out-of-continuity Batman title. They won't even tell Morrison to stop being Morrison on an in-continuity Batman title!

I think it's quite obvious that Miller's grand plan for ASBAR is to show how Robin humanizes Batman. Think about it: Batman has done whatever he wants in Gotham with nobody stopping him, and on top of that, he knows how to play SUPERMAN like a fiddle. I think that would make anyone develop egomania. Robin's attempted murder of Green Lantern is the first time Miller's Batman has ever been SCARED of himself. And at the end of issue 9, he realizes that isn't a good thing.

And anyone who doesn't find this issue funny really takes their funnybooks too seriously...

Jim Lee recently said this series is slatted to run about 22 issues. At Lee's snail pace, that means more Miller/Batman goodness until 2012 at the earliest. Then there's Miller's "Holly Terror" and the Neal Adams/Miller project still in the pipeline. Like it or not, Miller's Batman isn't going anywhere for a long time.

Miller actually stated in a Newsarama issue from around the time the first issue of ASBAR that Robin's humanization of Batman was the theme of the series.

I read some scans on Scans Daily. It's just not that funny. It doesn't offend me or anything, it's just all over-exaggerated and monotonous.

But I guess that's what they call the "Frank Miller style".

But Dan, you just don't "get it"!

Miller is writing a hilarious parody of something... everyone on line says so!

Can't you see how funny it is because it's apparently allegedly hilarious!

Or maybe it's just a mediocre book that people feel a weird need to justify....

U-Decide!

GASP!!!!
Frank Miller's Batman is human?!?
NO!!!!

Who is this guy that's taken over Frank Miller and
WHAT has happened to the REAL Miller?

It's the "End of Days"!

Well, one of these days, I'll get around to reading ASSBAR.

Maybe if my local library adds the HC/tpb to their graphic novel collection.

I usually hate ASBR. It's just...eh. It missed the nobility of Batman that I enjoy in other titles.

But this issue was fairly cool. I, too, felt like it was pretty hard on GL but since Hal really was the vapid, lame GL for a period years--we get it, he's an arrogant hetero-hooch fly-boy--but overall, this was a fun, funny issue. And it added an interesting reimagining of Grayson which makes perfect sense, actually.

Personally I think the yellow room was hilarious. I always get a kick when Batman finds a low tech way to beat an opponent.

Between this and Morrison's Batman I'm enjoying the nuttiness of recent Batman comics.

"Miller is writing a hilarious parody of something… everyone on line says so!

Can’t you see how funny it is because it’s apparently allegedly hilarious!

Or maybe it’s just a mediocre book that people feel a weird need to justify…."

I don't see why people resort to "it's a parody!" nonsense. Certainly there may be elements of parody (the constant use of "G-D Batman," for example). As you point out, people seem to use it to justify everything they don't like about the series. I'd love to label everything I don't like as a parody. The Patriots performance in the Super Bowl? PARODY! Judd Winick's poor dramatic writing skills? PARODY! Eddie Murphy's last 20 movies? PARODY!

Batman painting an entire room yellow and offering Green Lantern a glass of lemonade is not funny to me because it is a "parody" (and a parody of what, exactly?) It's funny to me because it is absurdly clever. Why? Because I can imagine a Silver Age DC villain doing it before stealing Hostess fruitpies.

Now I'm waiting for Geoff Johns to have someone use the same trick on Hal in the upcoming GREEN LANTERN origin series (back when he had a yellow weakness), and seeing how many ways he can come up with to get out of it.

In the issue, Robin almost kills an unarmed, innocent man, mostly because Batman did not bother to train him NOT to do that, which naturally freaks Batman out a bit.

So that’s why he changed.

Ummm... he had to be TOLD not to do that? How heroic.

The parody argument doesn't work because Miller really doesn't do parody. All Star Batman and Robin is more of a farce (or has elements of farce). Parody is imitating (and often acknowledging) another work or style (whether for humorous intent or not). I'm not sure what Miller imitating other then his usual style.

Batman and Robin painting themselves and entire room yellow is farce. It's a completely absurd and unexpected act.

Now whether someone finds that funny is up to them. But it's pretty clear that's what Miller is going for.

Parody would be Alan Moore imitating Shakespeare, P.G. Woodehouse and Kerouac in Black Dossier.

To quote somebody, I don't remember who, so he must not be important...

"I liked it, but I don't recommend it."

In any case, this just reads like a very good Penthouse-Slash Comic.

So at this point, I'm moving past the theory of "Miller is writing a farce" to "I think Miller is just messing with DC, to see if they have a boiling point".

I mean, he has wound-up Batman, so tight, that I keep expecting that next issue will be the one where he goes over the deep end and starts sodomizing people.

Bart Simpson: Alan Moore, you wrote my favorite issues of Radioactive Man.
Alan Moore: Oh really, so you liked that I made your favorite superhero a heroin addicted jazz critic who's not radioactive?
Bart Simpson: I don't read the words. I just like when he punches people. How do you make his costume stick so close to his muscles?

I think I'm personally way past debating over the inevitable "is it a parody / yes it is / no it isn't / it sucks / it doesn't / its trying too hard" stuff. I just enjoy reading it and can't wait for the trade. It'd be nice if they put

"If you can’t enjoy Batman taunting Hal Jordan with a pitcher of Lemonade, then your life is sad and lonely."

on the front cover though.

Actually, one of the funniest things about this issue was the "next issue" blurb at the back of the *previous* issue, where they called Hal Jordan the "Emerald Imbecile". When was the last time a main player at DC was insulted like that in a "coming next month" blurb?

Even the back page gets in on the act in this thing!

"So at this point, I’m moving past the theory of 'Miller is writing a farce' to 'I think Miller is just messing with DC, to see if they have a boiling point'."

Whatever his motivation is it's still farce.

You almost had the sense that he knew what he was doing with this issue.

I'm assuming it's because of the lack of females.

Ummm… he had to be TOLD not to do that? How heroic.

That would be a nice counterpoint if the argument was, "Man, All Star Batman sure is heroic!"

But no one is arguing that, right? Heck, in this very issue, Batman SAYS he is a criminal.

But Dan, you just don’t “get it”!

Miller is writing a hilarious parody of something… everyone on line says so!

Can’t you see how funny it is because it’s apparently allegedly hilarious!

Or maybe it’s just a mediocre book that people feel a weird need to justify….

U-Decide!

Yeah, I think Grant's "It's a farce" is the more accurate description of the book than "parody."

I thought the bit with Batman having Robin paint the room and themselves to mess with Green Lantern was a funny piece of farce.

Doesn't mean the comic is GOOD, though, of course.

"I liked it, but I don’t recommend it.”

Heck, I didn't even recommend the issue, did I?

You almost had the sense that he knew what he was doing with this issue.

I’m assuming it’s because of the lack of females.

Could very well be the case.

Eh? Black Canary in the hands of Frank Miller is the only Black Canary worth paying attention to.

I still don't get why everyone to appear in the book is an asshole. What's the fun in reading that?

"Ummm… he had to be TOLD not to do that? How heroic.

That would be a nice counterpoint if the argument was, “Man, All Star Batman sure is heroic!”

But no one is arguing that, right? Heck, in this very issue, Batman SAYS he is a criminal."

Fair point. I didn't know that, since I haven't read the issue in question. I do still flip through ASB&R whenever I'm at the comic shop. It's the same sort of impulse that makes me slow down to see a car wreck on the highway.

I'm just the sort that likes my superheroes to actually be... oh, I don't know... HEROIC.

Call it a quirk.

Of course Robin needs to be told not to kill someone he's a Carny! Carnies'll mess you up six ways from Sunday if they want, and won't feel any kind of guilt about it. Dick grew up in this world, and Miller's cynical-as-hell, work-the-rube portrayal as such is probably the most realistic (and fun) version of Dick Grayson that we've seen.

That's totally cool, John. This is not the book for you, which is fine.

I dunno... I like ASBAR. I've always liked ASBAR. I when I read this issue, it felt like it had been planned since the first meeting between Clark and Bruce in Dark Knight Returns - DK II at the very least... Hal's ego over the tracheotomy scar could go a long way to explaining his become a Vaughn Bode-style cube dude in the future...

I’m just the sort that likes my superheroes to actually be… oh, I don’t know… HEROIC.

Well, yippee-skip for you.

This is the best version of Batman ever.

Look at it in the context of it being all out action. This comic is written directly for people who go see the action movies in theaters because of all the explosions and sexual situations. This is the ultimate action flick movie in comic book form.

In this era where Adam Sandler, Pauly Shore, and Will Farrell are proclaimed comic geniuses, in an era where 60-year-old men make action/adventure movies based on characters they first portrayed decades ago (Willis, Ford, Stallone), this book epitomizes what the general public wants in their entertainment; ..... I have to ask why so many people can't see this book for what it is...the best Batman story ever.

Wait... Pauly Shore is a genius???

Are you kidding?

No, really... I DON'T KNOW!!!! I can't tell no more!!!

I'm really asking!

I mean, me & the rest of the World thought you guys were joking when George W. Bush got elected for President!

I know the Batman portrayal is debatable, but this has to be hands down the best Dick Grayson portrayal in a comic ever, or at least the best portrayal since Marv Wolfman ruined the character decades ago.

Mike Z., you are hilarious.

You know T.

I wholeheartedly agree with you and I apologize to everybody, if I came off as a troll. But you hit the nail right on the head!!!

It's hard for me to consolidate that the same Batman who got jumped by two Hookers and a Pimp, in Year One; is the same character who can take on God & the U.S. Army in ASBAR.

It's also hard for me to see that the same writer (who I know is capable of so much more) just throws: characterization, plot, story structure and substance, out the window.

This Batman... just isn't that much different from the one we saw in Spawn/Batman, back in the 90's.

If anything, Batman has been desensitized to accomodate the over the top shock storytelling of the Mark Millar Era.

In other words, I think that back in the 80's when Frank Miller wanted to out do Alan Moore; we got Batman:Year One. And now it seems Miller want's to out do Mark Millar, and that is why we are getting ASBAR.

Either that, or Frank is still pissed about not getting proper recognition for his body of work serving as the inspiration to Nolan's Batman Begins; and doesn't want to give up any stories of substance that serve as something other than a political commentary.

Regardless, I don't think ASBAR #9 was a turning point in his writing. Not at all.

But I do think that, in and of itself, ASBAR #9 was one of the most memorable Dick Grayson (as Robin) stories ever. The only other one that I can think of, at the top of my head, is the classic Rogers/Englehart "Hugo Strange" story from the 70's and the original 'Who is Donna Troy" (which was as much a Robin story as it was a Wonder Girl story).

So yes. I definitely liked this issue. But I can't recommend it. Not yet. Not until next issue. Specially if, from the look of things (and Next Issue's Blurb), Robin is going to learn about the Birds and Bees... ASBAR style.

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