It seems like all the Batman stories I've read are essentially using Frank Miller's version of the character.
The Batman run by Denny O'Neil and our nutbar friend Neal Adams in the early seventies was when the character really started to be redefined from his ultra-rational, always-getting-out-of-traps sixties version. I don't know if you've gotten up to that era, which is basically Claes Oldenburg's wet dream. Batman and Robin trapped in a giant typewriter! Batman and Robin trapped in a giant pippette of doom!
And yes, the credits on the golden age heroes is subject to lots of politics and Bill Finger deserves way more credit in Batman's creation.
Though Batman was pretty clearly modeled after early pulp heroes like the Shadow and The Spider. And Superman borrows a lot from Doc Savage. Green Lantern derives from the Skylark novels by E.E. Doc Smith, etc.
I also read the first volume of the
Superman Chronicles,
which is even more hilarious than the early Batman comics because Superman is SUCH A DICK. He drugs football players to take their place, he destroys oil wells to teach swindlers a lesson, he throws cars around to discourage unsafe driving, all while mocking everyone he sees. He's certainly well meaning, but oh man.
It's weird because he just goes around righting very little, normal wrongs, like unsafe driving or cruelty in a chain gang or an unfinished display for infantile paralysis. It takes a year for them to actually give him a real villain in the Ultra-Humanite, who is not a superintelligent monkey at this time.
Also, Lois REALLY HATES CLARK. It's so over-the-top and ridiculous. But she's actually pretty awesome right from the start, giving Clark fake tips so she can cover important cases that the editor didn't think a "girl" could handle and drugging him so she can meet Superman.
Superman also kills dudes, but not as frequently. And this one time when he sort of accidentally kills a dude, he's like, oh, he got what he deserved.
I enjoyed the early Batman comics more. The art's better, and the stories are more exciting. Superman's stories are almost needlessly complex for such mundane tales.
But, seriously, Superman is a dick.
the Ultra-Humanite, who is not a superintelligent monkey at this time.
Confession: I kinda love the (current) Ultra-Humanite.
So, I feel dirty but I broke down and bought the (pun intended) batshit-insane Neal Adams Batman Odyssey. Only got through the first issue so far, but the commentators were not wrong. This thing is whacked out to the extreme. Like David Lynch made Inland Empire about Batman instead of Laura Dern or something. That may be a compliment, actually.
Lois Lane, girl reporter. Pitched to DC, but rejected. Ponces.
Zim
Genius! Invader Scooge is rather cute. Who would've known?
Emmett and I were just watching some Zim last night, Mortros and the waffle episode.
I just found out that there are new Kickass comics out if anyone is interested. The second issue comes out tomorrow.
Heh. Brave and the Bold does Superdickery the episode.
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