All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder, Vol. 1 - Books

Location: Home > Books > General > All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder, Vol. 1

Similar Items:

•	Batman: The Killing Joke
•	Batman Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
•	Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul
•	Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, Vol. 2
•	Batman and Son

Editorial Reviews:

Book Description
The talents responsible for some of Batman's greatest tales, Frank Miller (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Sin City) and Jim Lee (BATMAN: HUSH) team up for the first time to bring you Batman and Robin like you've never seen them before in this reinvention of these classic characters.

All hell breaks loose at the circus as Bruce Wayne and gal pal Vicki Vale witness a young boy's life shattered before their eyes. Orphaned, Dick Grayson has nowhere to go and no one to turn to -- no one but Bruce Wayne! Expect action, adventure, guest-stars and the unexpected as Miller and Lee deliver the ultimate tales of the Dynamic Duo!

Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Love It or Hate It, But Don't Ignore It August 26, 2008
When I first started reading this comic back in its monthly run in 2005, I dropped it after two issues. Batman referred to himself the "g**damned" Batman. He smacked a 12-year old Robin around. He took delight in fighting cops. It was too surreal to be the Batman that I knew and loved. Plus, the pace was too slow for a comic that experienced delays of six months or more between issues.

But now, a couple of years and two Nolan Batman films later, I picked up Miller and Lee's "All-Star Batman" and read it for what it is: A comic book about a guy that dresses up like a bat and hangs out with a 12-year old boy. At its heart, its both a love letter and a satire. Batman is a weird guy, and nobody knows that better than Frank Miller.

Miller lets readers know that he's in the joke. After being derided in the press for the "g**damned Batman" line, he used it in every subsequent issue. He could have toned the dialogue down, but chose instead to use it as a rallying cry for the series. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Christian Bale uttered the line in the next Batman film.

Robin has always been a hokey character. Christopher Nolan has stated that the Boy Wonder won't be appearing in his series of Batman films. After reading Miller's take, however, I would urge him to reconsider. This is one Robin tale worth telling on the big screen. Miller writes a believable story about a single man who adopts a boy, exposing the situation for what it really is: A kidnapping. Robin humanizes the Caped Crusader, bringing a much-needed levity to Batman's universe with lines such as, "Why is he talking like Clint Eastwood? That's not his real voice!"

When Miller and Lee get around to finishing the series, it could go down as a classic that fits between Miller's "Batman: Year One" and "The Dark Knight Returns." (I can't believe I just wrote that, but g**damn it could be true.) That is, IF they finish the series...

3 out of 5 stars

Expected more! August 24, 2008
Like many comic fans, I waited almost 2 years for this collection. Like many of the other reviewers, I was impressed with Jim Lee's artwork - breathtaking as always and similar to his "Hush" stint.

However, I thought Miller wanted a plot/script for only sheer shock-value to the average Batman reader. Even so, I can deal with the maniacal, possessed, violence-worshiping, sex-on-the-brain Batman. I can also deal with the smart-alecky, murderous Robin. However, the pacing of the storyline is unbelievably slow. We have to wait until the end of the volume to finally see Dick Greyson get his Robin tights and for the Joker to appear. Even then, we have to endure wasted pages devoted to a ridiculous fight with Green Lantern that does nothing to advance the plot. Black Canary only seems to be included in the storyline to give some gratuitous violence and to have (unprotected?) sex with Batman. Batgirl is introduced but that is all that we see of her in the volume. Wonder Woman shows up to mouth off about all men and then suddenly lip-lock with Superman, which seems so out of character even for this interpretation of her. Perhaps Miller has a brilliant way to tie everything together and make it all relevant, but I have to wonder.

I also have to wonder if I will need to wait 2 more years to get volume 2 to see if Miller redeems himself?

3 out of 5 stars

This is either brilliant or a Total Mess August 23, 2008
After reading the reviews, I had my doubts, but I decided to give it a try. As with most everyone else, I wanted to pick this up because Frank Miller's Batman work (excluding Dark Knight Strikes Again) has been fantastic and Jim Lee's art (X-Men, Wildcats, Batman: Hush) has always been breathtaking.

Contrary to what other reviewers have said, the story is not bad. Batman is somewhat crazed (which fits with the Dark Knight version of the character) and the story is frenetic to say the least. There is a great deal of subtle characterization going on throughout, which is something that you don't see too often in comics. The art is, of course, powerful and mesmerizing.

The problem with the story is a couple of ridiculous points that are either satire or out and out stupidity in Miller's writing. Specifically, every third word (seriously, not exagerating) is damn or hell. He is the goddamn Batman a dozen or so times. Robin's reponse to every question is "Why the hell should I" or "The hell you can" or somesuch. If the dialogue is intended to be satirical, it fails in that the audience isn't in on the joke. These dialogue issues harm what is otherwise a good story.

Other than that, there are some things that just shouldn't be. Batman has sex with Black Canary on a dock following a large fight. Batman implies that he recently had sex with Catwoman. This just seems inappropriate, forced, and not in keeping with any version of the character.

If the story continues to evolve (and the hell, damn thing goes away), count me in for more, but otherwise, just publish future issues with Lee's art and we can all make up our own dialogue.

5 out of 5 stars

Miller the iconoclast is back! August 21, 2008
I can understand some of the negative flak that this volume has received, since All-Star Batman & Robin is vintage Miller, doing what he does best: exploring, taking apart and playing with yet another icon of comic book lore. In this case, the target of Mr. Miller's satirical, cynical yet human wit is the partnership between Batman and Robin. The subject is not new to Miller- his seminal and revolutionary "The Dark Knight Returns" featured a young girl as Robin- but this time he revisits the traditional genesis of the Batman/Robin team-up.

As is his trademark, Miller doesn't hesitate to tear down and mock any aspect of the hallowed Batman lore. As such, Robin is a precocious little brat (though not as bad as Damian, Batman's son in the hugely disappointing other series going on in DC right now), with the wit and sarcasm you'd expect from a tough teenager. He makes fun of Batman, pokes holes in his mythos, challenges him in a very different way. This is not the Robin "Boy hostage" we've grown accustomed to seeing, nor is Miller's Batman the dark-but-not-too-dark hero making the rounds right now. This Batman is borderline psychotic, demented and dark, and clearly foreshadows the evolution we see in Dark Knight Returns/Strikes again.

The art is terrific, as is to be expected from Lee. I highly recommend this volume, as I think it's essential to challenge even the most revered of heroes and conventions. It's people like Miller who keep the genre fresh!

5 out of 5 stars

Lighten up August 18, 2008
I can't really tell you what Frank Miller had in his head when he was writing this and the emotions he intended to get out, but what I recieved after reading this was that it was more or less a tounge in cheek look at the character. I mean, (small spoiler) the whole beginning of the scene at the end with the yellow paint has got to be one of the funniest things i've read in a bat-book in years. Take it as you will. If you have a sense of humor I'm sure you won't have a problem with this book. Well, maybe except that they bleep out of naughty words. But it is a comic and I suppose DC feels a kid may pick it up or something. I can't wait for the next trade.

Good Grape Wine Company