The Most Hated Batman Comic

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  • Опубліковано 6 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 688

  • @cheyennesmith3365
    @cheyennesmith3365 8 місяців тому +568

    The ideas of the twin towers getting destroyed was popular in fiction for decades before it happened. There were tv episodes where the towers were getting attacked and some involved planes. There was even a comic where Twoface flips his coin to decide whether or not to destroy the twin towers. A lot of writers had this weird idea of the towers getting destroyed.

    • @FishTheJim
      @FishTheJim 8 місяців тому +87

      Some of this may have something to do with the 1993 bombing.

    • @VonWenk
      @VonWenk 8 місяців тому +46

      It was also raised in a report on possible terrorist attacks that the Bush Administration apparently ignored.

    • @Americanbadashh
      @Americanbadashh 8 місяців тому +23

      @@VonWenk There were a lot of reports on possible attacks during that era

    • @lordcolinb
      @lordcolinb 8 місяців тому +7

      Building 7 😮

    • @FIREBRAND38
      @FIREBRAND38 8 місяців тому +13

      @@lordcolinb Spare me from conspiracy nuts

  • @Bardia006plus1
    @Bardia006plus1 8 місяців тому +1043

    at this point everyone realized that frank miller lost his mind.

    • @Christ2010Grad
      @Christ2010Grad 8 місяців тому +89

      And yet they still hired him to write All-Star Batman and Robin.

    • @simonmacomber7466
      @simonmacomber7466 8 місяців тому +33

      Including Frank Miller himself, eventually.

    • @garrettwhite5943
      @garrettwhite5943 8 місяців тому +20

      Lost his mind? Did you watch the video? This is his best work. He's holding a mirror to the comics of the time.

    • @simonmacomber7466
      @simonmacomber7466 8 місяців тому +75

      @@garrettwhite5943 Even Frank Miller says that he was not in his right mind when he wrote this graphic novel.

    • @garrettwhite5943
      @garrettwhite5943 8 місяців тому +15

      @@simonmacomber7466 He's literally never been in his right mind. He's like Alan Moore lite

  • @ChrisSuperDude
    @ChrisSuperDude 8 місяців тому +500

    The irony of the Twin Towers thing is that in response to 9/11, Miller wrote a story called “Batman: Holy Terror” where Batman would get revenge on Muslims for doing 9/11, which was his revenge fantasy for the event. A story he’s since denounced entirely not only cause it is one of the worst stories ever, but because Miller said he does not have the same mindset he did in 2009.

    • @AnAverageGoblin
      @AnAverageGoblin 8 місяців тому +146

      You're leaving out how it was changed from Batman to a generic racist white guy. it started as Frank's manchild self-insert and became a generic self-insert instead.

    • @paulakroy2635
      @paulakroy2635 8 місяців тому +83

      I feel like what isn’t mentioned is Frank actually saw 9/11 happen in person

    • @kevinsuarez8949
      @kevinsuarez8949 8 місяців тому +44

      You're wrong, Holly Terror is an elseworld Batman's story created by Alan Brennet where Bruce was raised in a church and he has to fight its corruption. Although it's true that 9/11 affected Miller hard, he never created a Batman story like you said

    • @GoodDudeMadWorld
      @GoodDudeMadWorld 8 місяців тому +5

      I remember when attack of the 4th wall covered it. It was terrible.

    • @mrheroprimes
      @mrheroprimes 8 місяців тому +21

      @@paulakroy2635 What happened was Frank Miller was in the middle of drawing the panel where he had the flying batmobile crash into a building when the reports were coming in of what was going on and had the World Trade centers and he looked down at what he had drawn and the news and he was like Oh my god what have I done.

  • @fengusburnt
    @fengusburnt 8 місяців тому +556

    A parody that isn't easily understood as one is obviously a failure. That said, just because something is a failure doesn't mean it has no value.

    • @Jackfromshack
      @Jackfromshack 8 місяців тому +12

      understanding of a parody directly depends on the knowledge and outlook of the reader/viewer. it shouldn't be easy to understand for tourists.

    • @fengusburnt
      @fengusburnt 8 місяців тому +72

      @@Jackfromshack Yes, it actually should. A parody easily mistaken for a poorly made comic is in fact a poorly made comic.

    • @fanofmediastuff269
      @fanofmediastuff269 7 місяців тому +2

      You're right, we can learn from the mistakes and take it to not make the same. Or think about ways to fix it without changing the narrative. Mostly the Dark Knight strikes again

    • @fengusburnt
      @fengusburnt 7 місяців тому +9

      @@fanofmediastuff269 And a failed story can be interesting, even a weird piece of history or a stage in the decline of legend.

    • @attackofthecopyrightbots
      @attackofthecopyrightbots 7 місяців тому +4

      mgs2 took years for people to realize all the hidden commentary it had and now most people like it

  • @dwbmotorsports1
    @dwbmotorsports1 8 місяців тому +442

    Miller was battling his own mental health while being disgusted with the mainstream industry at the time. Miller's best work has always been when he's had a good editor who can help him with dialog. Now someone please explain the Master Race lol! Again superb video!

    • @spongecakes1986
      @spongecakes1986 8 місяців тому

      Do I even want to know what Master Race is?

    • @mrheroprimes
      @mrheroprimes 8 місяців тому +24

      @@spongecakes1986 It's the third and final chapter of dark night returns basically the atom gets tricked by a cult inside candor to restoring them to full size and they go on try to conquer earth spree, Batman and Superman team up to try and stop them wearing mechanized armor after creating a kryptonite weather pattern only for Bruce to suddenly drop dead during the fight leading to Superman taking his body to a latter's pit, To quickly resurrect him back into his physical, In order to beat this kryptonian cult.

    • @spongecakes1986
      @spongecakes1986 8 місяців тому +12

      @@mrheroprimes that's wild. Kryptonite weather pattern? What the hell does that even mean?

    • @mrheroprimes
      @mrheroprimes 8 місяців тому +10

      @@spongecakes1986 Exploding a kryptonite bomb into a rainstorm which weekend the cultists,

    • @spongecakes1986
      @spongecakes1986 8 місяців тому

      @@mrheroprimes okay that makes more sense

  • @oppenheimer6321
    @oppenheimer6321 8 місяців тому +187

    It's wild that Miller is responsible for two of the best Batman stories (Year One and TDKR) but also two of the worst (All Star Batman and DK2).

    • @DrLynch2009
      @DrLynch2009 8 місяців тому +7

      @BareMcDaddy I don't know, DK3 is a good Superman story.

    • @marcustmachado
      @marcustmachado 7 місяців тому +1

      ​@@DrLynch2009The problem is not the story but the art. Bad art and bad computer effects and coloring.

    • @marcustmachado
      @marcustmachado 7 місяців тому

      ​@@DrLynch2009those mini comics that were bad

  • @KenDAKL4ever
    @KenDAKL4ever 8 місяців тому +1081

    More hated than All Star Batman?

    • @mmx9316
      @mmx9316 8 місяців тому +204

      I think they’re both equally hated

    • @jaydenjohnson4221
      @jaydenjohnson4221 8 місяців тому +70

      More hated than Tom King’s Batman Run?

    • @kerry-j4m
      @kerry-j4m 8 місяців тому +87

      I LOVED the Jim Lee art-work tho. GOOD stuff.

    • @eonnexus
      @eonnexus 8 місяців тому +132

      All-Star Batman had a few good moments and PHENOMENAL art. This shit doesn't have either.

    • @UnrealNeoBat
      @UnrealNeoBat 8 місяців тому +12

      ​@@jaydenjohnson4221How could it be worse than the two works of Frank Miller folks had just mentioned?

  • @MutantsInDisguise
    @MutantsInDisguise 8 місяців тому +239

    If you think about it, Frank Miller's Batman is a tragic irony in itself. Why? Well, because both THE DARK KNIGHT and BATMAN: YEAR ONE are milestones in Batman's publication history. But in the 21st century, Miller got nuts and inserted his own traumas into his works. Can't blame him, though, since Miller's always been so misanthropic in his worldview, but his next Batman works feel so unneccesary. At least THE DARK KNIGHT is still its own thing despite those unfortunste sequels (and its two prequels that are sequels to YEAR ONE).

  • @altEFG
    @altEFG 8 місяців тому +102

    DK2 is not really "different" from all the edgy 90's comics that DKR spawned. While parodying pointless edge, Miller just ended up making more edge. If he tried to replicate Kirby's art, he seemed to only have seen the simplicity and ugliness of it and turned it to 11, but he not the charm of it. And Kirbi's art is not really ugly, but rather stylistic.
    I think a more interesting direction would be if the comic started with a very gritty and edgy tone, but slowly reverted to a more cheerful and fantastical tone of the classic comics by reverting or introducing certain characters that acted like that and to really play on the contrast.

    • @oldylad
      @oldylad 7 місяців тому +4

      Has to do with 9/11 imo, miller felt very strongly about it and it likely result in heightened edge

  • @chris_t2020
    @chris_t2020 8 місяців тому +87

    Bro. This is the most complete analysis I've seen to this pice of work. It's great that you went further and read complementary material in order to comprehend what was going on during the story. Pure respect for you my man. You are still and FOREVER be THE Batman channel on UA-cam.
    God bless you and I hope you become popular/mainstream one day.

  • @Mad_Oph
    @Mad_Oph 8 місяців тому +119

    Knowing Miler's style, I feel like the Robin/Joker might have been a bit of meta-commentary on constantly resurrecting characters and the equating it with the psychological trauma/loss of self that is often the trade-off for an actual in-universe return to the living.

    • @FabioNegro
      @FabioNegro 8 місяців тому +6

      Robin/Joker queer ia a commentary about the Fredric-Werthamistic gay fear

    • @PlatinumImperum
      @PlatinumImperum 8 місяців тому +1

      Like on The Boys Comic?
      That would be nasty

  • @diegodankquixote-wry3242
    @diegodankquixote-wry3242 8 місяців тому +69

    Nothing will be more iconic when batman declares he has grown past the concept of being old as Dick burns to death in motten slag.

    • @e-man7418
      @e-man7418 3 місяці тому

      Literally everything in the DKR1 was more iconic.

    • @Sandra_aschenbach_doyle
      @Sandra_aschenbach_doyle 6 днів тому

      @@e-man7418brah. He was being sarcastic.

  • @simplyhoodie
    @simplyhoodie 7 місяців тому +35

    From what I've gathered, this story is just Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

    • @one_with_kevrything9825
      @one_with_kevrything9825 6 місяців тому +5

      Malone. Matches Malone. Lieutenant Jr. Grade.

    • @simplyhoodie
      @simplyhoodie 6 місяців тому +9

      @@one_with_kevrything9825 Batman, close your comic book, now!

    • @one_with_kevrything9825
      @one_with_kevrything9825 6 місяців тому +6

      @@simplyhoodie I hear it's amazing when the purple suit clown from flap-jaw space with the tuning flower does a raw gas on Hari Kari rock! I need Smylex! 89!

    • @doclouis4236
      @doclouis4236 2 місяці тому

      Not really, it's just confusing satire disguised as an homage to certain era of American comic books. Not everything that criticizes technology or A.I. is related to MGS2.
      There's plenty of pre-2000s stories that do the same thing and MGS2 is not the first to bring up the themes of misinformation or A.I. manipulation.

  • @TONYGILLEY
    @TONYGILLEY 8 місяців тому +32

    I can't really be that mad at Miller for the consequences of the Dark Knight Returns as he himself has seen what he (and Moore) ushered in, where just about EVERY hack writer and editor in the comic industry took the WRONG messages from TDKR and Watchmen and applied it to mainline comics. If anything, I save my disdain for those hack writers and idiot editors like Dan Didio and his moronic sensibilities {his over-reliance of 9/11 being reflected in the DC Universe and his pathetic attempts to copy/paste Marvel's growing stupidity mucking up its own universe onto DC} being TOP of that hate list.
    Yeah, I miss The BATMAN of O'Neil/Adams.

  • @mr2000s
    @mr2000s 6 місяців тому +2

    I just discovered this channel yesterday and I am BLOWN AWAY by the detail with which you’ve examined these comics with. I look forward both to your future Batman content and any other characters/franchises/general topics you decide to cover in the future ❤

  • @ItsOver9000Productions
    @ItsOver9000Productions 8 місяців тому +45

    An attack on the world trade center had not only happened before, but was something that was kinda expected for years. I remember many people talking about how obvious and glaring of a target it was years before 9/11.
    In Spider-Man 2 Enter Electro, the ending of the game had to be redone because of 9/11, Spider-Man TAS had to cut out a sequence if i remember correctly, there also the episode where a plane crashes on a bridge in season 1 or 2, there's the Raimi teaser that had a helicopter webbed up in between the towers, etc. while the attack was tragic and a shock, its surprising an attack to that degree didnt happen much sooner.
    Also, this a great analysis. I've never held this book in high regard but your analysis has opened my eyes to another perspective that actually gives some depth to this story. Great work man

    • @CantusTropus
      @CantusTropus 8 місяців тому

      There were previous attacks on the WTC, for instance it was bombed in 1993. It wasn't the first time something like that happened, and plenty of people were speculating that it woudl happen.

    • @KasumiKenshirou
      @KasumiKenshirou 8 місяців тому

      The Spider-Man Animated Series actually referenced a previous attack on the WTC where an explosion was set off in a parking garage, but didn't bring the buildings down. Kraven smells the residue of the cowardly terrorist attack in Man-Spider's webbing and figures out that he's in the WTC parking garage. (Man-Spider is Peter Parker, who's mutated into a spider creature.)

  • @TheMicBartz
    @TheMicBartz 8 місяців тому +46

    Actually, for the first time ever, I see unexpected depth in this story. Thanks!

  • @Minority119
    @Minority119 7 місяців тому +4

    I remember a tumblr post that tried recoloring miller's work with more striking colors and less shading and it really showed that the great sin of the art isnt the art itself but rather the colors

  • @Bi0mega
    @Bi0mega 8 місяців тому +50

    I think the biggest problem with DK2 is that it it all feels so spiteful and unnecessary. On the one hand, yes, you can read the story as a critique on the Dark Age of Comics, an entire era that Miller and Moore distanced themselves from like absent fathers. On the other hand, the man who did DK2 also went on to do Holy Terror, a response to 9/11 that defies description, and a book that was originally intended to be a Batman story before DC stepped in and said 'absolutely not'. 9/11 absolutely broke Miller's mind, I don't think that's a particularly spicy take, but the seeds were always there to begin with and this is the start of that dark period.
    You can definitely be charitable to DK2, I do agree that some of the criticisms are overly harsh and unfair, but, then again, 'overly harsh and unfair' describes the book itself rather well and it doesn't change the fact that it was made by a creator past their prime with no real understanding of what they were doing or where they were going anymore. DK2 is an ugly book in all senses of the word, and while I can appreciate what's being attempted, what's delivered is a horrible mess that fails in every meaningful way.

    • @brianmurphy250
      @brianmurphy250 7 місяців тому +9

      Spiteful is also the best way to describe All Star Batman.

    • @oldylad
      @oldylad 7 місяців тому

      I don’t think it’s spiteful, it clearly is a bit bitter, but it’s a solid parody. Not top tier or anything, but reading it 20 years ago made everything hit. I think people are way too harsh on it and way too harsh on miller. All star he deserves it, but I think due to the parody being so time sensitive and All Star and Holy Terror people go in expecting it to be bad and not thinking about when it was written

    • @e-man7418
      @e-man7418 3 місяці тому

      I'm getting the feeling that Frank Miller is "that guy" in his industry that made some generational work so everyone meat rides and makes excuses for everything he does even when it's obvious dogwater.
      He's the Kanye of comics

  • @MikeOrtego
    @MikeOrtego 8 місяців тому +63

    I see what you are saying but if someone has to go through such great pains to explain that this is a parody then I think Frank Miller failed at this attempt to make a parody. Just my thoughts!

    • @paulakroy2635
      @paulakroy2635 8 місяців тому +8

      I mean, idk from first reading I thought it was a parody

    • @matti.8465
      @matti.8465 8 місяців тому +4

      And even then, it's not a very good parody

    • @oldylad
      @oldylad 7 місяців тому +1

      I understood it when I first read it blind

    • @oldylad
      @oldylad 7 місяців тому

      @@matti.8465it is. If you were around back then you’d get it, but think of it like this, if someone made a good parody involving modern events or tropes of today, say about inclusivity or something, most people would get it easily, but in 20 years? Most people would need to have it explained to them. That’s what’s happening here, there’s enough to get that it’s a parody because some of the things he parodied are still present today in comics, but the majority of it flies over a modern readers head. Is it bad because people 20 years after the fact don’t get it?

    • @KentaroMiyamoto21
      @KentaroMiyamoto21 6 місяців тому +3

      Exactly. While it pains me to quote the Joker, he made a good point. "If you have to explain a joke, there is no joke."

  • @aidanhever3369
    @aidanhever3369 8 місяців тому +54

    WTH did I just watch !? It's like if Frank Miller and the editors at DC Comics just watched the Yellow Submarine movie and decided to use it as inspiration for this abomination as we knew it.

    • @KentaroMiyamoto21
      @KentaroMiyamoto21 6 місяців тому +1

      I doubt that. Yellow Submarine was really fun. This comic... isn't.

  • @aurahoneydew9607
    @aurahoneydew9607 8 місяців тому +46

    Surprised you're not covering the whole shebang of theFrank Miller universe that universe has a surprising amount of entries and spinoffs.
    As of this Date that Batman universe consist of:
    -The Dark Knight Returns & strikes again
    -holy terror(all bit censored since it was meant to be Batman but DC refused to let him be used that way)
    -Year One
    -Spawn/Batman
    - Batman: The last crusade
    -all-star Batman and Robin
    -Superman: Year One
    -Dark Knight: The Master Race
    -Dark Knight: The Golden Child

    • @paulakroy2635
      @paulakroy2635 8 місяців тому +15

      He does things in chronological order

    • @makeitthrough_
      @makeitthrough_ 8 місяців тому +3

      Did it ever occur to you he might already be planning to cover all of that but videos take time to make? That's like walking out of Empire Strikes Back and going "I'm surprised they didn't show Vader losing and the downfall of the Emperor, who was barely even in the movie!"

    • @aurahoneydew9607
      @aurahoneydew9607 8 місяців тому +4

      @@paulakroy2635 makes sense though that would be difficult with the with that universe because the stretches between them are massive decades in some cases.

  • @wrestlingconnoisseur
    @wrestlingconnoisseur 8 місяців тому +20

    The worst thing about that comic was Brainiac's dialogue. I kept thinking Miller must have written it in a drunken stupor after attending a strip club.

  • @iBrummski
    @iBrummski 8 місяців тому +29

    Miller was turning off and outsmarting himself way before the Matrix Resurrections was turning off and outsmarting itself

  • @stepheneaton4978
    @stepheneaton4978 6 місяців тому +8

    I had zero problems with comics in the 90s. X-Men Blue and Gold teams, Death of Superman, Knightfall, the creation of Malibu and Image, great memories.

    • @rebelpunk13
      @rebelpunk13 3 місяці тому +1

      DC in the 90s actually had a lot of great runs. Kingdom Come, Doom patrol by Morrison, Starman by Robinson, Mark Waids Flash run, The Spectre by Ostrander, Morrison’s JLA run, the Justice League International run, JSA by Johns, Aquaman’s revamp by Peter David etc etc

  • @KasumiKenshirou
    @KasumiKenshirou 8 місяців тому +27

    It seems like Miller was trying to do a bunch of stuff that had been done better by others.
    - Azrael was already a reaction to dark and gritty comics: a "cooler", "edgier" Batman.
    - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker had a Robin that was turned into the Joker. I'm not sure which of them was released first, but an animated movie takes a lot longer to create than a comic book does., so I assume RotJ started production first.

    • @oldylad
      @oldylad 7 місяців тому

      A real was a reaction that supported the idea though, and BB was after this, but regardless neither are a parody like this. You could say that Spider-Man did a better job than the dragonfly with being a bug bite hero, but that can’t really apply because Spider-Man isn’t a parody

    • @curiositytax9360
      @curiositytax9360 3 місяці тому

      I really liked this comic book. I don’t get what everyone’s problem is.

  • @jeremiahmurphy9927
    @jeremiahmurphy9927 7 місяців тому +9

    I've never seen a creator miss the point of what made The Dark Knight Returns such an atristic success than the people who created The Dark Knight Strikes Again.

  • @cbleck2349
    @cbleck2349 8 місяців тому +5

    This is a great idea for a video. I never see this comic discussed, at least not in a way that it is given some real analytical attention. You truly are the best Batman comic UA-camr.

  • @evyring.2422
    @evyring.2422 8 місяців тому +4

    Good job Salazar.
    I have to say, I expected you to talk more about old Bruce being the love interest of Carrie, about Robin not being able to cut the mustard (or whatever miller wrote) and the ending in general.
    Still, magnificent essay as always. I can't unsee Kirby in those illustrations now.

  • @bujilou
    @bujilou 8 місяців тому +2

    Your updated little intro is awesome and then you get straight into the video which is great. Expeditious but thorough

  • @smashstuff86
    @smashstuff86 8 місяців тому +12

    15:47 If you want to include non-Batman stories, Grant Morrison wrote a Sentinel flying into a building on Genosha at the beginning of the m@ssacre. That was released just a few months before 9/11.

  • @ClaireSunshine
    @ClaireSunshine 8 місяців тому +36

    "This is all too strange to be a coincidence" That or it's just a coincidence that prior to 9/11 having a plane crash into something (like a building) was a pretty popular narrative piece to establish that shit was hitting the fan that fell out of favor after 9/11 due to 9/11 being a sensitive subject, thus making any prior uses of it seem strange given how little we see it today.
    That or some weird conspiracy to show 9/11 ahead of time in a batman comic happened, really both of these explanations are entirely plausible. I'm not trying to be rude per say, But the way you talked about it is conducive to conspiracy nutcases.

    • @mrscruffles801
      @mrscruffles801 8 місяців тому

      Or maybe you're just looking for reasons to criticize someone and have a point of contention.

    • @vlagerio7921
      @vlagerio7921 8 місяців тому +8

      @@mrscruffles801 Yup, that's exactly what it is when anyone slightly criticizes an influencer you like lmao.

    • @mrscruffles801
      @mrscruffles801 8 місяців тому

      @@vlagerio7921 Who asked you?

    • @Leecostomo
      @Leecostomo 4 місяці тому +1

      ​​@@mrscruffles801 Yknow, you're right. Those 3 DC comic writers caused 9/11. Its plain as day!
      Its not like the superhero comic industry is solely based on the concept of good guys fighting people who would be considered actual Terrorists irl. Doing something plane-based (especially when planes are a very formidable vehicle, which, if strucken down anywhere below a city, just causes immediate havoc. And proabably the most convenient way for calendar man to cause the most damage) is COMPLETELY UNTHINKABLE?
      And its not like "bringing down the biggest skyscraper in Gotham" is a completely unthinkable idea pre-9/11. I mean, for me personally, the idea of "kicking down an empty trash can" sounds much less interesting. A big ass skyscraper getting hit with something might cause for the thing to fall, and kill more people. Such an attack has such a high damage potential. Gee I wonder why comic book artists would make their comic books interesting.
      Also the fortune teller comic... Fortune telling is pretty arabic-adjacent when it comes to stereotypes. Same for mind control. Why not continue the theme?

  • @hyhy2200
    @hyhy2200 8 місяців тому +43

    So, which means… if they had scrapped all the characters and replaced them with the ambiguous look-alikes… and named it Bad-man Darknight Re-puns, it will possess the potential to be a, say, cult satire classic? 😮

  • @juniorjames7076
    @juniorjames7076 8 місяців тому +36

    You have actually somewhat redeemed Frank Miller, somewhat, in my eyes. Damn, Salazar! This is the best analysis of Miller's work I have ever seen, and Miller owes you one for doing it. Great work. Kudos.

  • @BrianRidgway-u5g
    @BrianRidgway-u5g 8 місяців тому +3

    Very good comments. I may now go back and give the second series another shot. Frank can be easily misunderstood, but sometimes a great 'failure' can be as interesting as anything in a Creator's catalog. I give Miller credit for trying something new, raw and unpredictable.

  • @brettpritchard265
    @brettpritchard265 8 місяців тому +17

    I love Dark Knight Returns and Year One but everything else Miller has ever written for Batman seems to be hateful, nasty, angry crap.

    • @arcadeassassin7176
      @arcadeassassin7176 7 місяців тому +2

      I kind of like DK: The Last Crusade. It sort of feels like an older Miller reflecting on his past works with Jason Todd being a stand in for the Batman books he made post Year One.

    • @brettpritchard265
      @brettpritchard265 7 місяців тому +1

      @@arcadeassassin7176 I wasn't aware of that one. Perhaps I'll look it up. Thanks.

  • @sgtjarhead99
    @sgtjarhead99 8 місяців тому +24

    I had almost the identical experience. Hated this book the first time around, but after I reread it the second time around, I found I actually enjoyed it more and some of the ideas actually sunk in. Oddly enough, this was the same for All Star Batman and Robin.

    • @ProjektTaku
      @ProjektTaku 8 місяців тому +6

      Nah, All Star Batman and Robin was pure nonsense. Stuff like kidnapping Dick, abusing him, being a prick to Alfred and Hal make that Batman seem like a crazy lunatic with no redeeming qualities.

  • @TevyaSmolka
    @TevyaSmolka 8 місяців тому +10

    dark knight strikes again is such a trainwreck in my opinion

  • @alexmanrique2280
    @alexmanrique2280 7 місяців тому +3

    The problem is that it only has subtext, that he wants to tell something under the story, but not the story itself

  • @dante_0962
    @dante_0962 8 місяців тому +10

    Giving too much credit it’s just Frank miller being crazy, I mean why is Martian Manhunter looking like the thing with no importance to the story a tribute to Jack Kirby? Or Wonder Woman and Superman is actually a subtle celebration of craziness/silliness of comic books?

  • @TripleCubedTriune
    @TripleCubedTriune 8 місяців тому +5

    I couldn't even read it straight through. Tried several times.. it seems like there should be a story there, the layout, dialogue & art is all over the place.

  • @josephikrakowski1137
    @josephikrakowski1137 8 місяців тому +6

    Frank Miller having 2 of the best Batman stories and 2 of the worst is crazy

  • @erikschwartz1214
    @erikschwartz1214 5 місяців тому +2

    Every critique I have watched about this masterpiece always says the story makes no sense, or its hard to follow the narrative, but I never had that issue. Its very straightforward with its story. Sometimes I think this comic is too smart for the average comic reader, who seems to need neat, tidy panels that hold their hand.

  • @ryanstoick601
    @ryanstoick601 8 місяців тому +17

    Truthfully, I've always liked DK2. Miller knew he couldn't top The Dark Knight Returns. So, he was having fun with the whole concept of sequelizing a work like that. The wheels came off the wagon, and the wagon was on fire... He was just exploding on every page. I had a great experience. I found it to be a fun ride.

  • @beezlebubb
    @beezlebubb 7 місяців тому +1

    This a more personal note as an artist, but if you look up recolors of this comic, part of the troubles was because of very early digital coloring. With a redone more DKR 1 inspired look as done by an artist on Tumblr, it really changes how your eyes follow the sequence. I personally am a big fan of Frank Miller's later Batman.

  • @Twinkformer
    @Twinkformer 8 місяців тому +3

    I often find it bizarre when people cite the Dark Knight as their favorite Batman story, because it simply omits or straight up contradicts his original character, while it was a cohesive story I never felt a connection to it. When I first read DK2 I enjoyed the callbacks immensely, and despite its MANY flaws I still have a special place for it, especially that flash costume

  • @thecouncil719
    @thecouncil719 7 місяців тому +3

    As much as this is absolutely INSANE, I find the artwork and story very interesting. While this may the craziest sequel ever, out of context I think it's really interesting and the artwork in particular is really cool looking to me.

  • @cooldustin82
    @cooldustin82 8 місяців тому +3

    I bought this when it first came out when I was in college. I was already a fan of Frank Miller's work, reading Sin City throughout the 90s and having read the Dark Knight Returns, which was originally released when I was a little kid. I didn't like it. I gave it to my friend for free. He wasn't a big comic book reader like me so had no major complaints.

  • @jetsilveravenger
    @jetsilveravenger 8 місяців тому +13

    I can still recall the first time i read this so many years ago shortly after it came out and I was absolutely baffled by the complete lack of backgrounds. You could never tell where anything that was happening was supposed to be happening. I suppose you could call it a minimalist approach or something but it just comes across as lazy. Terrible storytelling even if the story was good. It's just characters running around in colourful voids where things like depth and distance are impossible to discern.

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 8 місяців тому +3

      At the time, while browsing over the issue in a bookstore, I saw it as a typical sloppy cash grab, indicative of the massive decline in quality put out by DC and Marvel. 'What is this GARBAGE? No wonder I only read and support small indie published or foreign graphic novels." I remember saying out loud to myself.

  • @emphorepolpatinedasenate
    @emphorepolpatinedasenate 8 місяців тому +17

    Saying jack kirbys artstyle as "ugly" is a bad take imo. I love his artstyle

    • @calumhouston3308
      @calumhouston3308 4 місяці тому +3

      Yeah anyone who considers Kirby's art to be ugly is not worth listening to.

    • @Captain_Pistachio
      @Captain_Pistachio 4 місяці тому +1

      I'm with you. His artwork is so distinct, even to this day.

    • @paulakroy2635
      @paulakroy2635 2 місяці тому

      ⁠@@calumhouston3308it’s very stylized. I have heard arguments that a lot of hated artists in comics have a lot in common with Kirby

  • @VideosJacked
    @VideosJacked 8 місяців тому +13

    Frank Miller pulled a Tobe Hooper? Hooper made Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre II which in itself is a parody of the slasher tropes that Hooper helped solidify in the genre.

    • @VuotoPneumaNN
      @VuotoPneumaNN 4 місяці тому

      No he didn’t. DK2 is not a parody, and the existence of ASBAR proves it. This video is completely wrong.

    • @VideosJacked
      @VideosJacked 4 місяці тому

      @@VuotoPneumaNN imagine being the guy who uses All-Star Batman and Robin as an argument AGAINST parody. I wholeheartedly believe Frank Miller is smart enough to realize when he accidently does satire... even years after the fact.
      Edit: checked out your music playlist... you have great taste in music Holmes.

    • @VuotoPneumaNN
      @VuotoPneumaNN 4 місяці тому +1

      @@VideosJacked I simply think that one being the sequel to the other and keeping the same tone, while definitely not being a parody, proves that the other was meant to be taken equally seriously? Or are you claiming that ASBAR is parody too? A parody of what?
      I think Frank Miller has proven time and time again (Sin City, 300, Holy Terror) to be utterly incapable of subtlety and subtext. He has a very simplistic, crass worldview and it transpires in his thematic and narrative choices. Basically, all of his oeuvre could be summarised in "white strong men good". I think with DK2 he wasn't parodying the edginess he generated, he was reclaiming possession of it. And if that degenerated into accidental satire, well, then it means he is so entrapped in his own tropes that he himself has become a parody of his golden age.
      Re: music. Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed the playlist.

    • @VideosJacked
      @VideosJacked 4 місяці тому +1

      @@VuotoPneumaNN You have restored a little faith in humanity. While I don't agree, you at least have thought a bit about this. I am not too versed in 300 or Holy Terror; I only saw 300 on tv. Holy terror has piqued my interest for it's sheer lack of tact. Curious, you didn't even touch on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre parallel I made; have you seen them? Because of your arguments against parody, I'm going to pick up a copy of 300... get a used copy of Holy Terror.

    • @VuotoPneumaNN
      @VuotoPneumaNN 4 місяці тому +1

      @@VideosJacked I would advise you read online scans of both and don't spend money on them. Neither is worth the money.
      I haven't seen the second Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but I get what you mean, and remain convinced that Miller's intent was different.

  • @demizson576
    @demizson576 8 місяців тому

    27:54 - About Miller not having any experience at creating parody or satire...
    "Tales to Offend", a little DarkHorse experiment from '97, comes to mind. It was VERY CLEARLY meant to be satire! - How much it succeeded is a different question.
    Here's Linkara's review from 2013:
    ua-cam.com/video/eQbVDjHJHec/v-deo.html

  • @MyEnemy
    @MyEnemy 7 місяців тому +8

    A risky idea, poorly executed. I read the DK2 graphic novel one afternoon in a bookstore. I intended to buy it, but couldn't resist sitting down and getting a sneak-peek first. I remember opening it up, waiting for it to get good, at which point I would take it to the register and make my purchase, but it never did. I was so disappointed when I finished it; I put it back on the shelf and left the store feeling like a really bad joke had been played on me.

  • @callmejacob3234
    @callmejacob3234 7 місяців тому +28

    This is the Batman that Zack Snyder loves.

  • @VonWenk
    @VonWenk 8 місяців тому +5

    I didn't mind Dark Knight 3 or the one-shot Dark Knight Universe issue he did, but the only thing I remember liking about The Dark Knight Strikes Again is Plastic Man complaining that the Elongated Man wasn't even funny.

  • @verspin
    @verspin 8 місяців тому +3

    Oh man lovely. Just some days ago I reminded myself about this comic's existence because of one reddit post talking about it
    I hate it more than anything but it also fascinates me how it was created in the first place. It's kinda like a car accident that you can't look away from. The art in the comic can actually make you feel sick. There sure are some ways to explain why Miller choosed this approach but still
    DK2 sure doesn't have place in my heart but it does have place in my head...

  • @DrLynch2009
    @DrLynch2009 8 місяців тому +5

    This is why John Byrne never returned to Superman.

  • @dragowolf268
    @dragowolf268 4 місяці тому +1

    So when you doing a vid on dark knight 3

  • @Jackfromshack
    @Jackfromshack 7 місяців тому

    This is best analysis of this comic that i ever saw. You sir just deserved a new subscriber. I will look forward to the analysis of All-Stars B&R

  • @AndersonDiaz-pm8go
    @AndersonDiaz-pm8go 8 місяців тому +12

    Joe Rogan as Lex Luthor was hilarious 🤣 that should be a fancast

  • @waynesolo
    @waynesolo 8 місяців тому +6

    DK2 is prophetic and prescient. Ugly art but BRILLIANT story. It pretty much could've been written today with how much it predicted. It's a great book with really awful art. It would make a great animated story.

  • @178laaleros
    @178laaleros 8 місяців тому +1

    Thank God this never got a animated feature this only exists in comics and is a product of the time it came out.

  • @AndreLuis-qq6fx
    @AndreLuis-qq6fx 8 місяців тому +4

    Have you considered making a DK3 video? greetings from Brazil!

  • @Vidiot-Savant
    @Vidiot-Savant 8 місяців тому +3

    A plane crashed into Gotham in The Dark Knight Returns as well. It's the scene where Gordon has to rally the citizens to put out the fire instead of rioting during the blackout.

    • @jimjo8541
      @jimjo8541 5 місяців тому

      Helicopter

    • @Vidiot-Savant
      @Vidiot-Savant 5 місяців тому

      @@jimjo8541 You're thinking of the Two-Face sequence. After the nuclear bomb detonates though, the EMP knocks out a jumbo jet that crashes into Gotham, setting fire to several city blocks. Gordon quells the riot and rallies the people to help put out the fires.

  • @koushikraja331
    @koushikraja331 6 місяців тому

    Another weird coincidence was the fact that one of the tie in issues to the ongoing event at that time, our worlds at war, featuring the heroes of the dc universe fighting against the cosmic threat of imperiax on earth, featured a panel where lex luthor's twin buildings were destroyed.
    It was to be published on September 12, do obviously it was drawn months or weeks ago, but it was such a chilling scary coincidence.

    • @Elfenlied8675309
      @Elfenlied8675309 4 місяці тому

      The vast majority of people don't seem to mentally grasp that a bomb was detonated below the World Trade Center by members of Al-Qaeda in 1993. That is what he was referencing, and yes it was drawn months before 9/11 happened.

  • @Jesus_Christ113
    @Jesus_Christ113 8 місяців тому +4

    watched all of your videos following Batman through the comic book ages back to back last night, so glad this came out today

    • @chris_t2020
      @chris_t2020 8 місяців тому +1

      You should watch the Golden, Silver and Bronze Bat from the Unlisted playlist. These are old but more detailed.

  • @gregorykeithmorris3970
    @gregorykeithmorris3970 6 місяців тому

    Very good video. I think it'd be interesting if people who did the two-part TDKR film adapted the follow-up by incorporating its stronger elements and severely tweaking the flaws, sometimes in a self aware way. Casting wise, you could have Peter Weller, Ariel Winter (as Carrie Kelly's Robin), Mark Valley and Robin Atkin Downes reprising their roles. As an added bonus, Jeffrey Combs may reprise his role as The Question from Justice League Unlimited. He is impeccable in that part after all.

  • @toonman5099
    @toonman5099 6 місяців тому +1

    Regarding the weirdness of the stories coming together prior to 9/11, it feels like that was going on across media in general. Like...there was an episode in Superman the animated series where a plane was going to crash into something, but then 9/11 happened and they changed it to a train. It's very eerie that so many similar stories happened and were conceptualized around 9/11.

    • @Elfenlied8675309
      @Elfenlied8675309 4 місяці тому

      The vast majority of people don't seem to mentally grasp that a bomb was detonated below the World Trade Center by members of Al-Qaeda in 1993. There was no prediction for anything, all references from the 90's are in fact, referencing that attack.

  • @Sluggwurth
    @Sluggwurth 8 місяців тому +6

    Tied for most hated with All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

  • @marklaing6694
    @marklaing6694 8 місяців тому +2

    Sal!!! You’re back!

  • @rodrigofigueiroa9184
    @rodrigofigueiroa9184 6 місяців тому +2

    I think for example the crazyness of the narrative is a very good point in what INTERNET was becoming at time and is today. DK one is narrated through telejornals - well edited and filtred. DK2 is narrated through INTERNET. A mess of counterpoints and memes and shit.

  • @brikmin
    @brikmin 8 місяців тому +5

    DKR was also heavily satirical, it was just less obviously so. DKR is hilarious when read in the right context.

  • @caronte008
    @caronte008 8 місяців тому

    Whoa. Thank you for this essay. I actually only ever read the first issue of DKR2 and never bothered with the following issues. But having watched this video i get it now and I never would've come to these conclusions on my own. You've once again proved why your channel is one of the best comic book channels. Kudos.

  • @jeremyhudson1481
    @jeremyhudson1481 8 місяців тому +1

    Truly fantastic and informative. It gave me a whole new respect for this book after your video. You are a miracle worker!!! 🦇🦇🦇🦇

  • @dziewiaty
    @dziewiaty 4 місяці тому

    15:23 No, it does not make strange coincidence. It tells you crashing a plane into tall buildings are obvious terrorist tactic. The whole WWII V2 rockets projects was just designing pilotless planes you can launch at infrastucture.

  • @keithgehman3945
    @keithgehman3945 8 місяців тому

    It’s really interesting seeing where in his career miller made this comic. With less faith in authority (Superman and the us government) but faith in a new one, some strong man like Batman creating a new authority to combat an outside attack

  • @joshuataylor7443
    @joshuataylor7443 8 місяців тому +5

    Grand Way Batmen wasn’t rejected by DC he just gave up on the project because he had to much stuff in his plate.

    • @juniorjames7076
      @juniorjames7076 8 місяців тому +6

      Gerard Way, you mean. Too bad, because that rendition of Bats looked SICK!!!! Would have loved to see the finished product. damn.

    • @joshuataylor7443
      @joshuataylor7443 7 місяців тому +1

      @@juniorjames7076 Way Gerard Way, Thanks for correcting me.

  • @rhoadrunner3281
    @rhoadrunner3281 8 місяців тому +2

    It’s hard to make another good Batman comic when you’re responsible for the two best Batman comics.

  • @str8ballinonyou
    @str8ballinonyou 6 місяців тому

    This was one of the nost funniest and at the same time thought provoking breakdowns ive watched. I love a great breakdown,especially one that makes you think great job man 🤙🏾.

  • @driveasandwich6734
    @driveasandwich6734 8 місяців тому +1

    I've needed a DK2 UA-cam video for the longest time; this really scratched that itch.
    Having read World's Funnest, those connections between some of DK2's most iconic/infamous aspects and arguably the best part of the former comic blew my mind! Genius catch there

  • @Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache
    @Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache 6 місяців тому

    Crazy Uncle Frank: "So how'd you like the book I wrote and drew?"
    "That's not writing and drawing. I've seen writing and drawing. What you did in there was pure chaos."

  • @Bubberonii
    @Bubberonii 8 місяців тому +2

    Love your videos man! Keep up the good work!

  • @ralphwheat1536
    @ralphwheat1536 8 місяців тому +3

    When you're pass your prime and seeking those glory days...STOP!!! JUST ENJOY WHAT YOU DID!!! Was the Editor was sleeping when he sent that work to editorial?

  • @handoffate7262
    @handoffate7262 8 місяців тому +3

    To be fair I’ve always thought the art was garbage in the dark knight returns too. Great story but man is it tough to look at.

  • @liquidfhap3620
    @liquidfhap3620 8 місяців тому +5

    i disagree with the comment that frank miller cant do satire or parody.Besides DKR being the dark reimagining of Batman it is filled with satire and jokes about politics,media and society in general that resonate with people and are true to this day.Just because a writer/artist lost his touch and wanted to do a full parody and exaggeration about the comic industry of the 90s doesnt mean hes bad at it.

  • @ShadowOfTheBat1997
    @ShadowOfTheBat1997 8 місяців тому +1

    Will you have videos on the later post crisis batman comics in the 2000s? I'm curious to hear your thoughts on them

    • @SalazarKnight
      @SalazarKnight  8 місяців тому +2

      Of course I will. It's just a matter of time before we get there.

  • @JohnDoe-qy5eu
    @JohnDoe-qy5eu 8 місяців тому +3

    I’ve been waiting for this next part for so long!!!

  • @MarsHottentot
    @MarsHottentot 7 місяців тому +1

    All Star Batman and Robin is the (attempted) explanation of the Robin abomination from DKSA. I wrote an essay of you're interested

  • @Spike31773
    @Spike31773 8 місяців тому +2

    Hey Salazar, what happened to your video about the dark knight returns, did it get deleted?

    • @SalazarKnight
      @SalazarKnight  8 місяців тому +3

      That video is unlisted. But you can still find it on the playlist section of my channel.

    • @Spike31773
      @Spike31773 8 місяців тому

      @@SalazarKnight ah ok thanks👍

  • @jollyroger80s
    @jollyroger80s 4 місяці тому

    What I find most interesting in Frank Milker's Dark Knight 2 comic is the continuation of the criticism regarding the role of the press and the excessive sexualization of television programming. While the world is on the brink of chaos and destruction, debates in the media are occupied by topics regarding three sexy girls who call themselves "The Super Hotties". The journalistic program "The Naked Truth" in which the presenter gets naked is also hilarious.

  • @fitnessabcvideo
    @fitnessabcvideo 8 місяців тому

    Your best video yet, an incredible dive, and yes I'm re reading it right now with a different approach. Well done fella,

  • @Tatkirbologna
    @Tatkirbologna 8 місяців тому +5

    The Master Race was pretty good! The more I read DK2 I appreciate it more and this video will also help with that. The art is terrible of course but I’m not a fan of the first Dark Knight’s art either although that is one of the greatest stories ever made

  • @MeryoMaluco
    @MeryoMaluco 8 місяців тому +4

    weird how dceu had inspiration of dark knight strikes again injustice new 52 and etc, what a mess of confusion and chaos

  • @sblinder1978
    @sblinder1978 7 місяців тому +1

    I'm so much angrier now that I've been corrected on the identity of the DKR2 Joker. My brain turned him into Jason Todd and I had to goggle it to verify you were right. WTAF

  • @smyk3ns
    @smyk3ns 8 місяців тому +8

    This comic grew on me over time.
    I think it's a classic from Frank

  • @AceLM92
    @AceLM92 8 місяців тому +2

    The first time I read this comic I hated it, but I was also on a 3-day beer bender after having a sucky week. Upon rereading it (because I'm a sadist like that) I can appreciate aspects of it. For example if you were to see it without color or just the original pencils, the art is much better. I'm inclined to believe this was the beginning of the fallout between Frank Miller and colorist/then wife Lynn Varley. Frank doing this as a parody and also celebrating things that he liked from the Silver age is what I get now. And I think him also doing such an over-the-top version of Batman is probably him basically telling annoying people bugging him about doing more Batman, "F you, I've done other things."
    You're spot on when you say that it should have been called The Justice League Strikes Again or something.

  • @cosmicg3610
    @cosmicg3610 8 місяців тому +1

    Your analysis skills never cease to amaze me. Great work!

  • @DARTH_COMiX
    @DARTH_COMiX 8 місяців тому +3

    first of all, the music choices are really nostalgic to me.
    second of all, i have a few questions:
    1. why don't you have an intro anymore? your early videos had ones, and it was great.
    2. do you have a pet?
    3. do you read manga/watch anime?
    4. what do you think tim drake represents in the overall batman mythos?
    5. have you ever thought about your own batman comic storyline? i once thought of a storyline where batman fights the ventilequist and it asks the question: who is the real dummy here? batman, or bruce wayne?
    also, i saw your new profile pictures on twitter and instagram. looks great! will you make it your youtube profile picture on youtube in the future?
    thanks for your time and the awesome video as always!

    • @SalazarKnight
      @SalazarKnight  8 місяців тому +5

      Thank you. I'm very glad you like the music.
      I'll try to answer as briefly as possible:
      1. Intros are dangerous because most people skip them, so I try to dive right into the content now.
      2. No, but I'd like to. I'd name it Krypto or Ace.
      3. The only one I have ever watched/read entirely is Dragon Ball. (Not Super tho... yuck)
      4. Tim Drake is a modern interpretation of Robin, introduced just to follow tradition. He's definitely my favorite Robin and there's a more nuanced answer to this question but it doesn't fit in a comment section.
      5. I have thought about a couple, but I wouldn't dare share it in case someone steals my completely awesome and totally original ideas lol. Just know that they also involve The Ventriloquist, Black Mask and Rupert Thorne.
      I'll keep my profile pic here as it is for now. Thank you for writing!

    • @DARTH_COMiX
      @DARTH_COMiX 8 місяців тому +2

      @@SalazarKnight thank you for responding to me. i love your videos so much and you uploading them is something i always look forward to.

  • @Steamj2
    @Steamj2 7 місяців тому +2

    The plot is literally what mgs2 warned us about

  • @The_Man_Who_Sold_the_World.
    @The_Man_Who_Sold_the_World. 8 місяців тому +2

    I just hate far-right Batman
    7:37 also that is NOT Superman's character. I prefer the change of him being blackmailed over him willingly becoming a government dog in tdkr. That book really screwed his character up.

    • @Rengokuo4o6
      @Rengokuo4o6 8 місяців тому

      I like dark knight returns Batman though.