tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post3793332415446907633..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: Batman: War on Crime, Part TwoDoughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-32720433156852128942013-12-10T09:50:27.685-06:002013-12-10T09:50:27.685-06:00Doug, the Vish is actually WELL-deserving of a hug...Doug, the Vish is actually WELL-deserving of a huge belt. <br /><br />If you gaze at his early Bronze Age Avengers masthead drawing, standing with his arms crossed on the upper left corner, you'll typically notice he has.. a well-defined package.<br /><br /><br />No wonder Hawkeye got the shaft.<br /><br />(yes, pun intended)<br /><br />"..I'm just sayin'......"david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-35777676054133954522013-12-09T21:48:17.814-06:002013-12-09T21:48:17.814-06:00I like the look of Batman's utility belt drawn...I like the look of Batman's utility belt drawn here by Ross. <br /><br />Yeah I'm with Doug on this - we see a more human Batman in this story than in previous incarnations. Instead of simply showing up and beating up the bad guys, we get a more intimate look into the people involved with crime. It does a nice job of showing the reader that crime has many victims.<br /><br />As for high belts, what the heck do you call that thing Hyperion from the Squadron Supreme/Sinister has on his midsection?<br /><br /><br />- Mike 'my belt is just about to fall off' from Trinidad & Tobago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-49904846148687655322013-12-09T14:34:56.581-06:002013-12-09T14:34:56.581-06:00If we want to talk cumbersome belts, I'd have ...If we want to talk cumbersome belts, I'd have to nominate the Vision for "most obstructive way to hold up one's superhero panties". What's his belt, about 14" high?<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-51615144745024081742013-12-09T13:38:09.934-06:002013-12-09T13:38:09.934-06:00Doug, I think I've already mentioned before th...Doug, I think I've already mentioned before that I'm a big fan of Joe Staton's art, and that story from B&B 197 is one of my favorite Batman stories ever. It certainly is among the greatest Batman stories ever told - I'm thinking maybe I should get that book...<br />Anyway, all that means I would love a review of that story.<br />Back to the story at hand: Karen also pointed out something that additionally turns me off of the art here - Batman's eye. I prefer the white, opaque look as well.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-39338450670687878132013-12-09T13:12:06.376-06:002013-12-09T13:12:06.376-06:00Agreed on the scars as 'dramatic device'. ...Agreed on the scars as 'dramatic device'. There's no question his artwork is fantastic on par with Rockwell, but I'm more delighted with the story and characterizations, as Doug highlighted. <br /><br />This isn't a 'Miller/Dark Knight' approach. You see much more compassion with this Batman, much more calm and wisdom from what you'd expect a crime-fighting icon would possess.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-16111187859130791852013-12-09T12:47:22.151-06:002013-12-09T12:47:22.151-06:00Nice choice of images and good review again. One t...Nice choice of images and good review again. One thing I notice about Ross's art is the lighting. He usually uses a bright white light, so that it looks like an overexposed photo...like the closeup on Bruce Wayne's face here. I think it's interesting that Ross's parents are an illustrator and a minister. I wonder if the bright wash of light is like the light of god, from the influence of religious images Ross may have seen growing up? Or maybe it's just that he uses bright lights in his studio to photograph the models. Anyway that aspect stand out to me when I compare him to other painters. Garettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-47053917957596981152013-12-09T11:34:24.961-06:002013-12-09T11:34:24.961-06:00I have to agree with Karen in regards to the size ...I have to agree with Karen in regards to the size of the belt. It has the unintentional side effect of making Batman look fat when put up against the huge frame Ross gives him. Almost as if he were trying too hard to evoke Adam West. <br /><br />But put me down as being one in favor of the vials, although I like the compromise Ross has of the packs being metallic rather than just lumpy cloth packs. Batman's utility belt should never looks like something you can get at Home Depot or the Army/Navy surplus. <br /><br />As for the scars I think it's a bit overkill but a good dramatic device but for a much older Batman than the one presented here. But as I've mentioned before modern writers in general seem to have a problem with wanting to lampshade the fact that he has no powers while also making him invincible and at times even seemingly all-knowing.<br /><br /><br /> MattComixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14015552734150732758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-28254865380384179652013-12-09T10:03:06.077-06:002013-12-09T10:03:06.077-06:00Thanks Edo for jumping in to share your thoughts h...Thanks Edo for jumping in to share your thoughts here. The more I think about it, the less sense the scar tissue makes, although the shock value is certainly strong. <br /><br />As for utility belts, my main issue here is Ross draws the belt so big, I don't know how Batman could possibly jump around and perform any act that required agility with that huge buckle sticking into his ribs! I prefer a sleeker belt with pouches.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032477453891087135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-38753559936709599032013-12-09T09:55:06.488-06:002013-12-09T09:55:06.488-06:00Edo --
I have that B&B story reprinted in The...Edo --<br /><br />I have that B&B story reprinted in The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told. Count on it for my Friday reviews after the 1st of the year! I loved Joe Staton during the All-Star revival (and on the Huntress stories), and it's always a pleasure to feature his work here.<br /><br />Concerning the utility belt, I also like the streamlined look of the vials, but the pouches or cases seem so much more practical. <br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-48049449326340207012013-12-09T09:24:34.696-06:002013-12-09T09:24:34.696-06:00Oh yeah, I forgot to answer the fashion question a...Oh yeah, I forgot to answer the fashion question about the utility belt: I like the vials.<br />Also, Doug, you make some good points about the scar tissue on Batman's body, which bother me as well - and it comes up in other stories as well (e.g., in the Batman/Catwoman team-up in Brave & the Bold #197, Selina is initially shocked by the scar tissue on Bruce's back). Given how most of the physical confrontations in the Batman stories play out, I would think the bulk of the scar tissue and bruises would be on his frontal torso and face. Also, your point about the similarity to flogging wounds is pertinent: it looks like most of the bad guys Batman fights are brandishing whips or steel cables, when in fact he usually gets shot at, or is attacked with blunt objects, or he gets punched or kicked.Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-45979257579877090412013-12-09T09:14:21.727-06:002013-12-09T09:14:21.727-06:00Another good review, Karen & Doug. Based on yo...Another good review, Karen & Doug. Based on your summary, and the panels provided, it does indeed look like a solid Batman story. However, I can't help thinking it would be so much better if the artist had been Neal Adams, or Jim Aparo, or even, given that Dini collaborated with him on the animated series, Bruce Timm. In other words, Ross is still not doing it for me. Sorry...Edo Bosnarnoreply@blogger.com