nerd teacher [books] reviewed Batman by Sean Murphy
Some writers just shouldn't.
2 stars
... There is so much about this collection that makes me wonder why or how it could be published in 2017/2018, especially considering the political climate of the past decade (at minimum). It's mind-boggling how Batman remains one of the most conservative comic book characters of all time, especially considering all the potential conversations that could be had with regards to policing, vigilantism, wealth gaps, etc.
To put it bluntly, this book seems to attempt "ironic" jokes about SJWs, feminists, and race; these are the jokes that the person writing often tries to pass off as jokes, but they're not actually jokes or irony. This can be seen in the opening issues where Harley meets Marian (and claims her clothes are a "step back for feminism," as if the characters have any agency in how the ARTIST drew them). Throughout the issues, there's a news show with a regressive white …
... There is so much about this collection that makes me wonder why or how it could be published in 2017/2018, especially considering the political climate of the past decade (at minimum). It's mind-boggling how Batman remains one of the most conservative comic book characters of all time, especially considering all the potential conversations that could be had with regards to policing, vigilantism, wealth gaps, etc.
To put it bluntly, this book seems to attempt "ironic" jokes about SJWs, feminists, and race; these are the jokes that the person writing often tries to pass off as jokes, but they're not actually jokes or irony. This can be seen in the opening issues where Harley meets Marian (and claims her clothes are a "step back for feminism," as if the characters have any agency in how the ARTIST drew them). Throughout the issues, there's a news show with a regressive white male anchor who rallies against SJWs versus a (later shown to be wrong) black woman anchor. Duke's given some weird scene about how "we don't need no white man (except Jack Napier)," and... seriously. It's just repetitive.
The conversations about vigilantism/policing/wealth that are had is that Jack Napier discovers the $3 billion slush-fund ("Batman Devastation Fund"), but he wants to redistribute it! ... To the police so that way they could have more weaponry, tanks, etc. (And there's one throw-away line at the end with Gordon saying that if it were "in the wrong hands" could be a problem.) Bruce also learns the very same lesson and that he should share his technology! ... With the police to save police lives.
At no point does either character (Jack or Bruce) recognise that the militarisation of the police has actually resulted in MORE DEATHS. At no point does either character think MAYBE THE $3 BILLION CAN GO TO SOCIAL PROGRAMS (but some social programs are brought up via Duke, but it also shows that Jack/Joker uses those to bolster his image and to make people like him and that he... doesn't really seem to care, as he destroys the library he's building for political points against Batman).
Honestly, the only reason this is getting even two stars is because the art is aesthetically pleasing. Overall, it's a rubbish story.
