Comments on: 12/28 - Curious Cat Asks...

By: Tanzim

Tanzim — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:23:56 +0000

Batman: Year One. I actually read DKR after year one, so it was my first encounter with the Miller written Batman. I have nearly everything written by Frank Miller in my collection now.

By: buttler

buttler — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:05:22 +0000

Best for me would be his classic run on Daredevil, no question -- not to be confused with his later return to the title, which was also pretty good.

My favorite single issue would have to be Daredevil #191, "Roulette," featuring DD's game of Russian Roulette with a paralyzed Bullseye.

By: Lynxara

Lynxara — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:39:22 +0000

I really have to give Miller credit for his Daredevil run. Those are the only comics where I've ever cared even slightly about the character, and I think one of the best showcases of his creative strengths.

My other choice would be Ronin, but that's a work that leaves me terribly conflicted. On one hand, it's technically superb. On the other, it's absolutely shameless and inexcusable Orientalism, and set the precedent for many other pulp Orientalist works to follow.

By: dhole

dhole — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:11:05 +0000

I'll say Daredevil Born Again, because I just re-read a bunch of his stuff and that story held up the best by far, pretty much mirroring the excitement I felt reading it the first time lo those many years ago.

Year One is also great.

Other stuff suffers from being mindful of the many writing tics that, while maybe fresh at the time, would soon become tired.

(not just comics by Miller. I found Watchmen, while still good, suffers a bit from being distracted by the notice-able "Moore-isms", like having captions overlap into other panels...)

Year One and Born Again feel much more story-driven, and benefit a lot from Mazzuchelli's presence. They're stories where you can really root for the hero, rather than be kind of creeped out by him. You don't have to be a Miller fan to find these comics very entertaining.

By: The Mutt

The Mutt — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:20:51 +0000

It's clear to me that the more editorial control Miller works under, the better he works. Or maybe the restrictions of an ongoing title with all its continuity requirements and such causes him to think with his brain instead of his balls when he's writing. Inside the box of a Batman or Daredevil comic, he's edgy and groundbreaking. On his own, he lets his worst excesses become what his comics are all about. He's like Garth Ennis that way. When you let him off the leash, he knocks over the lamp and pees on the carpet.

I too am torn between Year One and Born Again.

I'll go with Born Again, because Selina Kyle is NOT a hooker.

By: Gokitalo

Gokitalo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:50:46 +0000

Dark Knight Returns. Picking between that, Batman: Year One and Daredevil: Born Again is always a challenge, though.

By: DanCJ

DanCJ — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:07:57 +0000

People love to say "All style, no substance" as if that automatically makes it a bad thing. In most cases it does, but Hard Boiled is a glorious piece of work!

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:00:33 +0000

As a comic book measured by the quite ordinary standards we measure all those other comic writing joes by... Batman: Year One by a country mile.
Quite honestly I could take or leave most of his other super stuff. His Daredevil runs have been dulled by years of other writers repeating the same story beats ad infinitum. Dark Knight Returns didn't float my boat the first time I read it at 13, nor does it now at 30. And reading Dark Knight Strikes Back felt like Miller was playing a cruel joke on me.

Measured by the standards of a creator owned Frank Miller book... Hard Boiled. All style, no substance. At least no deliberate substance, any sort of story detail being provided by Geoff Darrow's incredible migraine inducing art. The simultaneous zenith and nadir of all the empty 'is it satire or just really bad?' stuff he's been doing ever since.

Oh, and I liked Robocop 2 as a kid. Though I gather he wasn't very happy with the end result...

By: Spaise

Spaise — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:26:03 +0000

Martha Washington and Robocop...i hate the government and that goes doubly for corporations. the cynicism, foresight, and disgust with the overall state of humanity and its future ventures leads me to a strong sense of approval of both works. the theme underlies most of Miller's work, but i think in Martha they hurt a little bit more, and Robocop...the absurdity!

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:21:37 +0000

Batman Year One made me think that Frank was a genius. EVERYTHING after that made me think otherwise. The Spirit Movie has proven: Frank has lost his touch.

By: Matt D

Matt D — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:40:42 +0000

Batman: Year One seems to be the consensus of favorite Miller work for people who generally don't like Miller's works.

By: jay the one letter wonder

jay the one letter wonder — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:49:09 +0000

Just to be a contarian and because it's probably the most different from his other works.... I gotta go with Big Guy and Rusty

By: DanCJ

DanCJ — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:31:50 +0000

Erm.. that was me. I've no idea how the name Keith got in there...

By: Caley Smith

Caley Smith — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:31:47 +0000

pencil for Wolverine #1. that's about it

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:46:37 +0000

Here's my list from Best to worst:

The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: Year One
Daredevil: Born Again
Elektra Assassin
His first Daredevil run
Sin City: That Yellow Bastard
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
Hard Boiled
Sin City
The Dark Knight Strikes Again
Ronin
Give Me Liberty
Martha Washington Goes to War
Martha Washington Saves the World
All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder
Robocop vs Terminator
Sin City: The Big Fat Kill
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Daredevil in Love and War
300
Sin city: Hell and Back
Bad Boy
Batman/Spawn
------ Above this line = good, below this line didn't do it for me -----
Elektra Lives Again
Sin City: Family Values
Martha Washington Dies
Tales to Offend
Wolverine
Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot

By: will_butler

will_butler — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:54:11 +0000

I'm with Zee. That Yellow Bastard all the way.

By: Chris McAree

Chris McAree — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:53:31 +0000

Travis and Michael,
there are some very compelling Miller Elektra scenes included in the Elektra Saga TPB/Limited Series. In particular, there is a fantastic character defining scene where she leaves The Hand.

To the best of my knowledge, they have not been included anywhere else.

Hope this helps.

By: ninjawookie

ninjawookie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:54:20 +0000

Batman Year 1.
These days i'm more inclined to say that the reason that work stands out probably has more to do with Mazzuchielli.

By: P. J. Clark

P. J. Clark — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:19:49 +0000

DK Returns is such a favorite, but Elektra Lives Again looks the best.

By: stealthwise

stealthwise — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:48:18 +0000

Not a big fan of the majority of Miller's output, so I'd say Batman Year One.