Question for ACTUAL fans of All-Star Batman

[shaxper]

Really. I don't want your opinion if you dislike this title.

For those of you taking All-Star Batman as seriously as I am, appreciating the comedy in it, but also seeing something deeper beneath the outrageous surface, I'd like to know your thoughts on use of color.

For example, an obvious use of color to express meaning in the first issue is that Dick, while still in his innocent world of trust and happiness, is almost constantly surrounded by pure white backgrounds. In contrast, as we cut to sexpot Vikki Vale, with her jaded attitude and Victoria's secret attire, she represents the murky world of Gotham City. A narrative box above her first panel even says "Gotham City:" and everything on those pages is done in shadowy blues. When Dick's parents die, we never see him with a white background again. It's all blue.

For me, this all represents the larger theme of the arc -- innocents being caught up in the "war" of Gotham, where you're either evil or a jaded and vindictive idealist. This world seems largely represented by blues, but red shows up a great deal, as well.

By the time we get to Dick's arrival in the Batcave in issue #4, something is clearly being done with reds and blues. Take a good look at the page directly after the Batcave fold-out, where Batman and Robin both alternate between blue and red hues. Does the red represent rage and a desire for vengeance, while blue represents grief and jadedness? I guess that would fit with issue #5, where Batman is getting his jollies out of kicking butt and the panels are literally surrounded with red. But then, in issue #6, when Black Canary is kicking ass, everything is in blues.

Maybe blue is just the default color of the depressed world of Gotham, while red represents a red hot thirst for vengeance?

What do you guys make of all this? I'd find it hard to believe there's no purpose at all behind this use of colors.

[karaokefanboy]

In this context, blue could emphasize a sense of family or possibility, since Dick and Black Canary are eventual partners in arms. When it comes to color-related symbolism, I always think of natural staples that share that color, and what the connection might be. (Example. plantlife = green = youth/vitality.) In this case, with the blues, maybe "the sky's the limit" versus the confines of narrowed, single-minded rage. I'll have to look at that page again to consider the connections to the red/blue volley.

I just thought of this, but in contrast to Superman's powerhouse JLA, do you think Robin, Batgirl, and Black Canary might become the All-Star Outsiders? The team's name would make sense re: their status with other "superheroes."

[shaxper]

In this context, blue could emphasize a sense of family or possibility, since Dick and Black Canary are eventual partners in arms. When it comes to color-related symbolism, I always think of natural staples that share that color, and what the connection might be. (Example. plantlife = green = youth/vitality.) In this case, with the blues, maybe "the sky's the limit" versus the confines of narrowed, single-minded rage. I'll have to look at that page again to consider the connections to the red/blue volley.

I like this idea, but I don't think it works. This blue is relatively murky and shadowy -- depressing and cool, rather than optimistic. I agree about looking for natural staples, so my association to blue was depressed. That's why I think it might be the color of Gotham, itself.


I just thought of this, but in contrast to Superman's powerhouse JLA, do you think Robin, Batgirl, and Black Canary might become the All-Star Outsiders? The team's name would make sense re: their status with other "superheroes."

I think that would be amazingly cool, but I'm very much afraid that this arc is going to end before that can happen. I get the sense that Miller isn't looking for a central plot nor a team-up against a common cause. I think he's just trying to show Batman bringing others into his world (most importantly Robin), either through force or inspiration. I would absolutely love to see your idea happen, but I suppose that depends upon

1. How much longer this arc is. I'm betting it ends with issue 8 or 10.
2. Whether or not Miller is staying on for a second arc.
3. Whether or not the next creative team will pay any attention to what Miller has done. I don't think that's likely to happen.

So my best guess is that this would only happen if Miller stayed on for a second arc.

Then again, what do I know?

[Kara Zor El]

I think you have a good point here. The colours are obviously well thought out and red for rage is obvious. Perhaps the blue conveys - Brooding.

[Bat_Fan2232]

i think you have a good point normally i was say you're over analizing but this actually seems legit. There does seem to be a deeper purpose in the coller im actually flipping through old issues and it seems you have a point...

[kalorama]

What do you guys make of all this? I'd find it hard to believe there's no purpose at all behind this use of colors.

Any good colorist consciously uses color to reflect the meaning and emotional content of the work. It's just that too many of the poeple working in comics aren't good colorists.

[Project 22]

First I want to say that I am enjoying this run of All Star Batman. I think that Jim Lee's style, coupled with Frank Miller should have happened years ago when he was working on many other comics. They just seem to flush. They seem like a team, in contact so that when Miller wants to symbolize something, he can contact Lee and state how things should be. While I do think that Miller tends to be a prima donna, I think he has allowed a great amount of creativity, allowing someone else to do the artwork when he possibly feels he could do just as good a job as anyone else out there, something that I wouldn't exactly debate due to the fact that only a writer can actually see into his own head, what he wants drawn and how.

I can't recall who is doing the color work in ASB, but again, I feel that this team probably is in contact fairly regularly. While I'm not a fan of the usage of him being "the Goddamned Batman", it does fit with what they are doing with the story, and it adds to the quality that obviously is being put into the book.

I understand those who don't like this take on Batman, it is a more surreal, dreamlike character, one devoid of anything that we as fans really understand, because despite the fact that he is the headline character (with Dick being partially the narrator), we don't get to see him as much other than Batman. We don't really get to see how he is outside the suit, but I would assume from Miller's style, he probably wouldn't be the most social playboy out there, still wanting to stay away from people, give himeself a mysterious quality that would allow for long stretches away from the world.

I think that everything that has been done thus far is great. I look forward to seeing what else comes and would be saddened if their run didn't last more than a dozen issues because I really feel like with the pacing, they wouldn't be able to tell the entire story that they have set up. Unlike the Ultimate Universe over at Marvel, I would not be happy if there was much of a switch between creative teams on either Batman or Superman Allstar titles.

[Paul Dee]

I can't recall who is doing the color work in ASB, but again, I feel that this team probably is in contact fairly regularly.

It's Alex Sinclair and he usually colours Jim Lee's work. He's also currently doing the Countdown covers at the minute.

[davids]

Miller said as much. When DK2 came out DC all but anounced an upcoming series that would take place In that universe and this for all intent is it!. A bit more satiracal but still true. If you must, call it a prequile to DKR.

In All star #5 Diana was announced as Heir to the Amazon throne. In DK2 we find out that Wonder Woman would be the Amazon queen one day, she would be superman's lover and have a daughter by him.

The way she is shown now in All Star Batman is all the more funny, her hatred of men in general and Superman most of all in the present is all the more shocking because we know what will happen to them both in the future.

How the two of them will get there will be the interesting part. Think of it as the tamming of the shrew and pygmallion all rolled into one but only wth I'm the goddamn Batman as the ring master!

All star Batman and Robin is like watching a stripper work, don't try and fiqure out how it's down. Just enjoy whats coming off. Even if most of the books are at least 4 monts late.

Hang in there with the story gang. It's going to be a bumpy ride, with mMller in charge all the while and laughing at the lot of us!