Is This The Worst Batman Comic Ever?

1. Will Frank Miller Ever Make A Comeback?

So... is All Star Batman & Robin the worst Batman comic ever conceived? Quite possibly. It's frankly absurd, whether it be the characterisations of Batman and the Justice League or the casual bigotry the comic illicits from page-to-page.

All Star is also a testament to the decline of Frank Miller as a creative force in the comics industry, with the writer/artist capping off his trilogy of garish books (Dark Knight Strikes Again, All Star...) in Holy Terror, a comic littered with horrid stereotypes that was actually intended as a Batman story, before DC decided not to proceed with it. That said, efforts have been made on DC's behalf to reintegrate Miller into the company, with Dark Knight III and the soon to be released Golden Child reuniting the All Star writer with his pointy-eared betrothed.

Aside from Batman, DC has also given Miller the keys to the Man of Steel on Superman: Year One, one of 2019's weirdest comics, and one that sadly also intimates that the longtime comics legend is past his prime.

It's one thing to spend two-thousand words dunking on one of the industry's vaunted creatives, but it's worth suffixing this essay with a closing comment - or maybe even two. Frank Miller is one of the most influential artists the comics medium will likely ever see. He redefined Daredevil, reimagined Batman and achieved both feats before bringing Sin City to the fore in the early nineties. Throw in a great Wolverine story with Chris Claremont, and several other series of varying quality and influence, and it only makes his modern day works all the more frustrating to approach.

At the time of writing, it's difficult to say whether or not Miller will ever bounce back. DC are certainly trying to facilitate a comeback of sorts, but one does have to wonder if Miller's moment has passed by. Is the appeal of a 'Frank Miller comic' enough to keep fans coming back? Evidently so, given the writer is returning with another Dark Knight comic next year. But is it right?

The decision to fall back on the Dark Knight universe seems almost calculated and - dare I say it - safe, at this stage. Even with so much talent attached, it might best if Miller turned his attention elsewhere, and tried fashioning a modern legacy away from his past works and controversies.