tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855039.post8935255719816335551..comments2024-03-21T19:12:11.065-07:00Comments on Every Day Is Like Wednesday: Let's talk at some length about Batman: Earth OneCalebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01391759187396994380noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855039.post-48867802709253288352012-08-14T19:14:42.206-07:002012-08-14T19:14:42.206-07:00That scene with Barbara is actually the reverse of...That scene with Barbara is actually the reverse of The Killing Joke. Barbara helps save herself, and the event inspires her to become Batgirl, instead of forcing her to stop.<br /><br />So I doubt the visual "shout out" was intended as approval of what The Killing Joke did to Barbara.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855039.post-53062461387529614452012-08-11T01:10:05.203-07:002012-08-11T01:10:05.203-07:00Johns has never really "got" Batman. He...Johns has never really "got" Batman. He's admitted as much himself, which makes him a bizarre choice to put on this book.Hyle Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10508273208326244425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28855039.post-42785343990562315072012-08-10T10:45:45.043-07:002012-08-10T10:45:45.043-07:00Solid call, Caleb. The yellow in that pic is spec...Solid call, Caleb. The yellow in that pic is specifically intended to evoke TKJ... yet one more reason I'm well & truly put off by Johns and what he's come to represent vis-a-vis DC.<br /><br />[ <i>Apologies in advance for the rant, JC. Feel free to delete if it's OT.</i> ]<br /><br />Moore's treatment of Babs was grotesque, and I suspect he to some extent regrets it... not because he's squeamish in employing such tactics, but because in the instance of 'The Killing Joke', Babs was victimized <b>purely as a plot device.</b> TKJ eschewed her story in favor of what her victimization meant to the men surrounding her. Moore's admitted that it's a slim thing, barely worth an annual, and certainly his least favorite work-- probably due to the weak, sexist schlock underpinning an otherwise interesting tale. <br /><br />Purely my speculation, mind.<br /><br />Point being, Moore's treatment got a pass because it came at a time in which sexual violence wasn't as casually capitalized on in comics as it is today. "These things happen," yes, but the way in which Johns has chosen to exploit them as a selling point-- as part of his 'style', ugh --seems callow and crass. In my eyes, that scene with Babs and Birthday Boy is a direct shout-out to BS even Moore is embarrassed by.<br /><br />Of course it's not just Johns; DC's tactics have had me puking in my mouth ever since the casual slaughter of Alex Dewitt, followed by Sue Dibney and Stephanie Brown. When we joke about our childhood being raped, it's not euphemistic anymore. Fictional though they may be, these women were part of the formative landscape of my childhood and early teens. To see how they've been treated through the years disgusts me, and Didio doesn't earn the company a pass for resurrecting Steph because her murder <i>should've been vetoed by editorial to begin with.</i> There was no excuse for it aside from the desire to exploit the readership in the hope of moving a few more units; overmore, there's no excuse for us supporting DC by buying this kind of crap.<br /><br />TL;DR: While sexual assault should not be ignored as a topic, it's tawdry as all hell for writers to keep coming back to these perils of Pauline scenarios. If you're going to reduce yourself to cribbing from giallo, DC, at least take a surface-level cue from Hostel & reverse the roles once in a while. And I don't mean Joker cutting off his own face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com