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I am notoriously anti-Batman. While I'll admit that there are some amazing runs on the character out there, Peter Milligan's amongst the best. But there's such an overabundance of the character in comics and other media. I feel the same way about Wolverine. I think that it's the fact that these are characters who skirt the edges of anti-heroism so closely that they fulfill the inner belief that we all have a badass inside us who is willing to do whatever it takes to save the day. To me, mediocre stories of these characters, of which there are many, are similar to action films - lots of kicking and punching and little substance.
Which is why it's nice to get writers on a project who care more about telling a story than they do about satisfying a weirdly-strangled bloodlust in so many comics fans. Scott Snyder tells the main story in this issue, a nice return of the Joker piece (there must be a number of them - perhaps I'll try a comparison some time). I've heard nothing but great things about Mr. Snyder's run on this character. Perhaps when, or if, work picks up again, I'll have to invest in the trades. But today's featured writer is Mr. Snyder's co-conspirator on some of the Batman stuff, James Tynion IV. This comic is only one of two pieces I have by Mr. Tynion, which actually highlights an interesting disparity in my collection. Much as I have with music, I find I've stuck myself in an era with comics. I don't buy nearly as many, nor do I know the writers and artists who are popular now. Gah. That makes me sound old. That said, Mr. Tynion's tale of Harley in this issue is lovely. Her relationship with the Joker has always mystified me - it can only work if Harley is truly, completely insane, but more often than not she's portrayed that way. In Harley I actually see something of the fan of Batman who simply buys everything to do with Batman because he's BATMAN!!! - there's no critical interrogation, just adulation. But Harley sees past that, eventually, thank goodness.
Anyway, Mr. Tynion is another of my peeps, a bi dude, and it's so, so nice to see more and more representation - I find these days that I ruminate a lot on my early life, and the way I had to hide, and in a lot of ways fully deny, a whole side of my self. I'm not hidden about it anymore, though there are still times when I feel I have to be careful - starting a new job is always a stressful time. But as more and more people in the spotlight are open about being bisexual, I feel like I regain a little bit of what I lost as a kid.
More to follow.
Further Reading and Related Posts
For another truly amazing Batman run, have a look at John Ostrander's tale of Simon Petrarch, the Batman!
And, of course, there's Grant Morrison's epic run on the character.
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