The most bizarre Batman comic is his most offensive. As DC’s most popular and profitable superhero, the Dark Knight naturally stars in more comics than any other character. Entire eras of DC Comics can be traced through the evolution of Batman titles alone. With such prolific output, it’s no surprise that Batman has become the central pillar of DC’s publishing line.
With this vast number of Batman stories comes an unavoidable downside. Not every Caped Crusader comic can reach the prestige and critical acclaim of masterpieces like Batman: Year One or The Killing Joke. Some Batman comics inevitably stand out for questionable writing choices and strange interpretations of the character. The most notable example is Frank Miller’s abruptly-canceled All-Star Batman & Robin The Boy Wonder.
All-Star Batman & Robin Is Bizarrely Offensive
Never Has Batman Been So Out Of Character
Few fans would expect a Batman comic that serves as Dick Grayson’s origin story to be so darkly comedic. The elephant in the room is Batman’s characterization, which makes him come off as a Lobo-possessed Dark Knight. Batman is constantly laughing like the Joker, wishing criminals to strike in order to inflict the largest amount of pain possible. He seemingly burns a group of police officers alive and parks the Batmobile strategically just to shock carjackers.
Besides the criminals he takes joy in punishing, Batman constantly belittles Dick Grayson, who just witnessed his parents get murdered. Batman repeatedly tries to impress Dick with his gadgets, only to lash out at him when the boy doesn’t react the way he wanted. The clearest and most infamous example is Batman calling Dick Grayson “dense” and a slur for not realizing he’s “the goddamn Batman.”
Female characters are oddly sexualized. Vicki Vale and Black Canary are introduced explicitly acknowledging their sculpted bodies, and the comic spends an uncomfortable amount of time addressing their figure. Wonder Woman breaks the trend, only to launch an exaggerated misandrist tirade where she calls a passerby a “sperm bank,” calls Superman a pathetic “farm boy,” and tells Hal Jordan to “be useful” holding her coat. Then, suddenly, Wonder Woman passionately makes out with Superman.
Almost every panel and page in All-Star Batman & Robin is so out of left field that the whole comic can be read as a parody. However, All-Star Batman & Robin crosses the line in issue #8, which introduces the Joker. It’s safe to say that every female character is objectified. Then, the Joker is not only introduced in the aftermath of an intimate encounter with a sex worker, but he also gets heinously violent with her.
Against All Odds, All-Star Batman & Robin Is Surprisingly Comedic
All-Star Batman & Robin Is So Absurd It’s Funny
All-Star Batman & Robin‘s oddly comedic surprises are even more unpredictable than its dark content. Superman makes his introduction almost exactly like Black Canary, posing so that his well-sculpted buttocks are in focus. He then picks up a newspaper, burns it with his heat vision, and says, “damn.” Next time he appears, he’s running across the sea saying, “damn.” And next time, Superman is running back while carrying a car, once again saying “damn…” no context provided.
There are also numerous instances of poor wording. Never mind Batman saying phrases like “whatta ya say, junior, is this cool or what?”. One would expect Batman to start taking things seriously while remembering his parents’ deaths. Yet, Batman smirks and goes, “I touched my mother’s breast… it bled on me.” There’s a million different ways to word this thought, and Batman chooses the worst possible one.
Batman’s one-liners in All-Star Batman & Robin are impossible to find elsewhere in the DC multiverse. Batman is constantly calling everyone he comes across “losers,”“suckers,” and “boy” while laughing uncontrollably. Every character also has their own favorite word. Batman won’t stop repeating Dick Grayson’s age, “age twelve,” while Superman loves to say “damn” and several characters (including Batman) repeat “the goddamn Batman.”
All-Star Batman & Robin Isn’t Entirely Bad
All-Star Batman & Robin Has Great Art
All-Star Batman & Robin is infamous for its bizarre dialogue and wildly out-of-character portrayals, but separating the writing from the visuals reveals a comic with undeniable artistic merit. Jim Lee delivers some of the best artwork of his career, with striking character poses and panel layouts that feel nothing short of cinematic. Scott Williams’ inks and Alex Sinclair’s colors bring Gotham to life with the perfect atmosphere.
The backgrounds and world-building are equally stellar. Gotham looks gritty and lived-in, with intricate detail in alleyways, rooftops, gothic skyscrapers, and the Batcave’s massive, shadow-drenched architecture. Vehicles and costumes receive an impressive amount of attention. Frank Miller’s bizarre writing aside, the art team turns every scene into a showcase of craft.
The real standout of All-Star Batman & Robin is Dick Grayson, who, ironically, may have received one of his strongest origins despite the rest of the book’s chaos. His idea to name himself Robin after Robin Hood is genuinely brilliant, and Batman telling him to drop the hood and the “Hood” is an inspired idea. If the writing stayed serious throughout, All-Star Batman & Robin could have easily become the definitive Robin origin story.
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- FIRST APP
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Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
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Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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D.C.
