Yoyocool
09-10-2009, 04:26 PM
Edit: TO the mods; a impression is a thread topic where you discuss what you've been reading so far as opposed to reviewing. It gives readers a glimpse of what experiences the impressionist has had with the book and gives them a chance to give some Q&A with the person reading it.
Also, if that's not enough, i'm using my Writing Team Staff Authority to authorize this in a effort of maybe seeing more of these threads come bring activity to the Literature forum.
Currently, reading this Batman Graphic Novel written by Frank Miller and i have to say i'm impressed so far. I for one don't read a lot of batman but i do love the character. In my mind though i probably don't give him the credit he deserves and i may say i like other characters more than him but he is like up there. Probably more so than Jenny Sparks but i digress.
The book itself was made way back in 1986 and i have to say i like the old school aesthetics. For someone who grew up reading more of the modern comics; I really never had experience a comic book with a lot of exposition or panels. The closest that comes to this in the modern day is planetary but that make sense because planetary is in a format to kick back to these old ways but i digress.
Being used to modern comics and manga decompression, it was sorta weird at first reading it but i got used it rather fast. There's a lot talking heads so far in what i've read (issue one) and i can see now where Spawn got it's CNN talking head inspiration from.
Frank Miller stuffs a whole lot in one page and yet, i can see elements of decompression way back then in his work. I know by this time he had already read the manga classic "Lone Wolf and Club" and made "Ronin". So, i believe that even as before "The Authority" made the comic book style popular with american comics that manga was already influencing comic books back in 1986.
Panels like when bruce wayne relives his parents death depicts many close up shots panels without text with them being very similar with the previous panel. All hallmarks of decompression.
It was also refreshing to see actual comic book Panels made to be a shape of a word. My prime example is when there is a panel depicting lighting but it's shape in the word SMACK to show the reader what sound effect goes there. IMHO, that works a lot better than having word effects like "Boom" inside the panel since i rarely pay attention to those. But when a panel is shape like it; that takes on a subtle yet remarkable effect. IT's something i wish i saw more in modern comics and manga in general.
The Story itself is about a batman ten years in the future who retired and the city gone worst than the bad state it was when batman patrol it streets. Batman by this time is a myth to the city's youth and crime runs rampant.
It's when the return of Harvey Dent and his disappearance that batman decides to come out of retirement. Hence, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. As for the story, i like the 80's continuity of it all. With Jason Todd Dead (the 2nd robing) and revisiting of batman origins.
The art though is still amazing. Take it for a person that hates most 90's and 80's art that this stands the test of time. The small panels make take some getting used to in the first issue but as it continues; the panels gets bigger and you can enjoy the miraculous details put into them. Not to say the beginning is nothing but them yet it takes up quite a few pages.
Other than that, now i'm going to be working my way to the the rest of the three issues.
Also, if that's not enough, i'm using my Writing Team Staff Authority to authorize this in a effort of maybe seeing more of these threads come bring activity to the Literature forum.
Currently, reading this Batman Graphic Novel written by Frank Miller and i have to say i'm impressed so far. I for one don't read a lot of batman but i do love the character. In my mind though i probably don't give him the credit he deserves and i may say i like other characters more than him but he is like up there. Probably more so than Jenny Sparks but i digress.
The book itself was made way back in 1986 and i have to say i like the old school aesthetics. For someone who grew up reading more of the modern comics; I really never had experience a comic book with a lot of exposition or panels. The closest that comes to this in the modern day is planetary but that make sense because planetary is in a format to kick back to these old ways but i digress.
Being used to modern comics and manga decompression, it was sorta weird at first reading it but i got used it rather fast. There's a lot talking heads so far in what i've read (issue one) and i can see now where Spawn got it's CNN talking head inspiration from.
Frank Miller stuffs a whole lot in one page and yet, i can see elements of decompression way back then in his work. I know by this time he had already read the manga classic "Lone Wolf and Club" and made "Ronin". So, i believe that even as before "The Authority" made the comic book style popular with american comics that manga was already influencing comic books back in 1986.
Panels like when bruce wayne relives his parents death depicts many close up shots panels without text with them being very similar with the previous panel. All hallmarks of decompression.
It was also refreshing to see actual comic book Panels made to be a shape of a word. My prime example is when there is a panel depicting lighting but it's shape in the word SMACK to show the reader what sound effect goes there. IMHO, that works a lot better than having word effects like "Boom" inside the panel since i rarely pay attention to those. But when a panel is shape like it; that takes on a subtle yet remarkable effect. IT's something i wish i saw more in modern comics and manga in general.
The Story itself is about a batman ten years in the future who retired and the city gone worst than the bad state it was when batman patrol it streets. Batman by this time is a myth to the city's youth and crime runs rampant.
It's when the return of Harvey Dent and his disappearance that batman decides to come out of retirement. Hence, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. As for the story, i like the 80's continuity of it all. With Jason Todd Dead (the 2nd robing) and revisiting of batman origins.
The art though is still amazing. Take it for a person that hates most 90's and 80's art that this stands the test of time. The small panels make take some getting used to in the first issue but as it continues; the panels gets bigger and you can enjoy the miraculous details put into them. Not to say the beginning is nothing but them yet it takes up quite a few pages.
Other than that, now i'm going to be working my way to the the rest of the three issues.