I had to scan this comic book cover myself, the ones I can find online is another version... I wonder if this cover was not released in the US? (Too bloody?)
If you have been reading Batman you will probably think that it's a trick cover, one of those designed to sell comics by letting the reader think the comic contains something it doesn't... because no Batman comic can be as violent as this cover hints at.
Wrong.
If you thought The Dark Knight was violent...
Holy cow.
In this comic, issue 5 of "All Star Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder" by Frank Miller and Jim Lee, there is a scene where Batman interrupts a rape in progress (well, it hasn't started yet. Blood, sure, but no sex please), and then kicks six shades of living shit out of the three would-be rapists. Seriously, there are broken limbs and livid blood all over the place. Then the relieved woman overhears a plea for an ambulance and instead kicks the guy in the nuts. Very hard. Then Batman instructs her to find a cab and to not call the police or an ambulance for the seriously injured perpetrators but to leave them lying in the dark alley. He wants them to suffer and feel the injuries for the rest of their lives...
This is a DC comic book? Wow, not in Kansas anymore.
I am sure many people who share my generally liberal constitution will be horrified. But I think it's good. Because this is a Batman in an alternative universe, and he is not presented as a lofty do-gooder, but a dangerous and borderline insane vigilante. And let's face it, somebody who would dress up as a bat and use every night to seek revenge for the murder of his parents would not exactly be a stable individual.
Also this presents us with human "justice" as it normally is: bloody rage. A wish to hurt somebody who hurt you. Nobody on this planet is trying to rehabilitate any criminals. We want revenge.
Of course it is wrong, violence begets violence begets violence. And if it is "justified", that makes no difference.
We need to see this as it is, only then can we change it.
I haven't read this comic, but I guess as long as Batman sticks to his code of not killing (something he had no problem with in the early days, though), he can kick the shit out of bad guys as much as he wants... At least that must be their idea. He can probably get away with it because at least he's just a normal guy - trained, but still just a normal guy. No superhuman strength. I don't have a problem with this super-bloody version of the Dark Knight, and it makes sense that it's escalated since The Dark Knight Returns, which after all was over 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteHe might be crossing the line by denying them medical attention, though, as they might be beaten badly enough that they could die later, even if he didn't outright kill them. Cross that line, and he becomes no better than The Punisher.
Good thing it's an alternate universe. Does Bruce Wayne have a goatee? :-)
No, but Alfred has a mustache, and interestingly he is younger and works out vigorously, and is worried about Wayne's sanity.
ReplyDeleteI'd have less qualms about a good, explicit porn, non-bloody comic with another kind of splatter.
ReplyDeleteBut at least the Falwell Bible approves of violent "citizen justice", like stoning to death anybody who works on a saturday or lets go of a non-disguised cussing. :-P
I bet the USA had no problems with the BLOOD on this cover. But that near-rape scene probably earned an instant "Mature" rating.
"Good thing it's an alternate universe. Does Bruce Wayne have a goatee? :-)"
Ha ha, good one! I remember the "evil" alternate universe Buzz Lightyear, and the new look of the hero in Jak & Daxter 2.
Now, if only some classic series like Star Trek had done an episode with this excellent idea. For instance, an evil Cpt. Kirk with a goatee. One can dream. ;o)
As I may have mentioned, I don't wear a goatee anymore these days. Just in case my evil double was involved in the current bombings wave in Lebanon, let HIM get arrested or have an umpteenth ID-check.
Speaking of the Punisher, I saw the movie a while ago. One thing I really didn't get is this: why did the neighbor with the face piercings not simply lie and pretend, something like "I don't get involved with scary characters like this guy next door", instead of his super-clumsy tight-lipped act that automatically got him tortured by the bad guys?
I mean, there had to be a more plausible scripting for the scene if they needed to show he was loyal to the "hero". (That is, the guy who slaughters for a just and patriotic motive, naturally.) The goons could simply have gotten suspicious, or seen a slightly dubious clue, anything...
And that final scene with the explosions? (Oops! Hope that wasn't a spoiler.) Dead-cool, sure. But totally ridiculous. Such intricated visual overkill would be suited for a Devil May Cry movie! (I sure hope they make one some day.)
"Such intricated visual overkill would be suited for a Devil May Cry movie! (I sure hope they make one some day.)"
ReplyDeleteAmen!
It should be pointed out that comic books were once far more violent than the most violent today. That's where the Comic Code came from. As for the rape scene (or almost-rape scene), it should earn a Mature rating right there because that's a bit different than just doing a sex scene.
ReplyDeleteBut at least the Falwell Bible approves of violent "citizen justice", like stoning to death anybody who works on a saturday or lets go of a non-disguised cussing. :-P
ReplyDeletePlease explain this! WTF?
Now, if only some classic series like Star Trek had done an episode with this excellent idea. For instance, an evil Cpt. Kirk with a goatee. One can dream. ;o)
ReplyDeleteHey Lady, there is one episode where Kirk is evil. It's quite unique. I can't recall the episodes title but it exists! Check it out!
Again with the Lady stuff? What part of "I don't wear a goatee anymore these days" suggested I wear a bra? (WTF: "What The Freakin...?") Did I wander off in the Twilight Zone AGAIN??? Dang, third time this month!
ReplyDeleteAh well, it's probably a subtle joke on your part, and I didn't get it right away. Just like I was making a not-too-subtle joke by pretending not to know about Cpt. Kirk's alternate reality evil double. I found out about it from a reference in a Deep Space Nine episode. Hey, it's a classic cultural reference, and I'm not too ignorant! :-)
As for the Falwell Bible, of course it was an ironic poke (you could have taken a passing guess) at the way extremists interpret what suits them in the Bible, almost inventing a new version of it where the original spirit is turned into intolerant hatred in daily life.
"It looks like the Bible, it's named like the Bible, but it's not God's message." IMHO.
[In My Heretic's Opinion]
For more details about how I am NOT a woman, please see my latest (and very virile) Hugging Tutorial post, confidently signed Pascal "Macho Man" Savage.
ReplyDelete