Batman by Scott Snyder / What is your verdict?

[maxpower00044]

I would disagree. IMO Black Mirror was a masterpiece while Court of Owls just seems average in comparison. I'm waiting for Snyder's 2nd arc already.

Enjoy Scott's writing a ton. Love the current story line. But, Dick Grayson talking to whales keeps TBM from being an instant classic. Great story, but that part is just silly, to me.

[Officersmile1466]

I rank Grant Morrison higher, but Snyder is by far the best writer on a batman book at the moment. He blows the other titles out of the water easily. I only recently read the black mirror and found it to be really astonishing. The court of owls has been ok but I'm keen for it to get to the action packed third act so we can leave it in the past. I understand what he's doing with this arc but to me it's been too little to bleed out for so long.

[Let's Kill Hitler]

I already commented on this thread near the beginning but I think my opinion has changed somewhat. I think Snyder and Greg hit a high point with issue 5 which is of the best issues of the new 52 so far and is comparable with the best parts of Morrisons run. But since then the last 3 issues have begun to ware on my a little. There have been a couple of odd plot moments and the talk of owls is getting repetitive. Now that the mystery of the Coart has diminished somewhat I'm less interested in reading about them, yet there's still some big questions that I'm getting the feeling won't be answered, they're just plot holes.

I thought The Black Mirror was a masterpiece but this run isn't really comparable even if it's still enjoyable.

[DarkBeast]

This thread shows a good example of the negative minority being MUCH more vocal than the positive majority. With all the hate that gets spewed in the induvidual issue threads, I would have expected to see more 1's and 2's.

I'm pretty sure you would probably say I was part of the "negative majority", but the way the poll is worded I was torn between a 4 and a 3. In terms of ALL DC writers, he almost certainly above average. In terms of the handful of writers I'M spending money on, he's about average.

Very few of those critical of Snyder think he's an awful writer. We just see some flaws where you don't. And when the run gets so much ridiculous praise at the expense of other things, we're sort of compelled to argue against it just to restore a bit of sanity. (Though, on the other hand, I am aware of one or two posters who just seem anti-Snyder for the sake of being anti-Snyder. There are dozens more who are anti-Morrison in the same way.)

I mean, there are people saying "This is the first time I ever really felt Bruce was in danger". REALLY? Bruce has been in danger in pretty much every classic Batman story ever, including many not-so-great stories. Just because people are subjectively, emotionally connecting to what Snyder and (especially) Capullo are doing does not mean that "This is the first time ever that ____".

I don't hate the run. It's one of my 20 or so favorite comics coming out right now. But... Is it original? Or logical? Or innovative? No. I like it a little more every issue, though, on average. But it'd be nice if people could praise something without insisting that it's the "best thing ever".

I'm a huge fan of Morrison's run, but I could easily point out flaws in it. The people who praise Snyder's run don't seem to even be aware of its flaws. Sometimes it's like they aren't really even taking in what's on the page, just reveling in the hype or something.

I've read a lot of Batman, and I feel this is just as strong as Batman's strongest stories. And, I know I'm not alone on that one.

Of course you're not alone. People have short attention spans. They just do. They're too caught up in spur-of-the-moment shock value and spooky images to really examine things in a sensible way.

I've heard a podcast in which Batman #5 was called the most innovative comic book ever. Because of the page-rotation stuff. And I LIKED Batman #5 quite a bit, but--c'mon. They have short attention spans, so they forget about stuff, and they're always eager to call something current the "greatest ever." I know for a fact that some of these people have read Promethea, which makes the page-rotation stuff in Batman #5 seem like a cheap superficial gimmick. I know for a fact that many of them are at least aware of the Black Glove and "R.I.P." stuff--So if you like what Snyder's doing, fine. But don't act like it's so very original. You guys should know better.

Further, the people who think Snyder is the greatest ever don't even NOTICE Bruce's random power fluctuations all throughout this series. In issue #1 he beats 80% of his Rogues Gallery in just a few pages. Then he's beaten up by ONE Talon. Then after being drugged and beaten some more, he inexplicably resurrects himself--much like a pro-wrestler would--and beats the Talon. And then he's able to fend off an entire army of Talons (before getting to the Bat-armor). I had a good time with these comics, generally, but have to point this stuff out because the people who praise Snyder to the heavens don't even NOTICE these things. If they noticed it, it might temper their fawning just a bit.

It probably sounds like I'm being vitriolic. But if the comics just existed in a vacuum, I'd be very okay with them. I still am very okay with them, actually. I'm looking forward to Batman #9 in a few weeks. Can't wait! But then I go online and see these ridiculous things posted about how "original" or masterful Snyder's run is. I'm just trying to inject some sanity here.

Jury's out on that one, but I think there are plenty of strong Batman stories, including some recent work like Morrison's run. I'm not really trying to criticize it, I'm more saying that, as someone who has also read a lot of Batman, I think there are quite a few runs just as good if not better than Snyder's. My problem is not with the praise Snyder's getting, more with the fact that I think other runs are getting overlooked when people say The Black Mirror was the best story in decades and other such superlative statements. I enjoy Miller, Moore, and Loeb's work tremendously too, but I have the same problem with the way those works are sometimes praised at the expense of other great ones.

Totally agree (although I've only LIKED some of Loeb's earlier stuff, never enjoyed it 'tremendously').

[TZDEKA]

I don't agree with your "power fluctuation" argument much at all, but I do agree that it's frustrating seeing people act like everything that happens in this run is the most groundbreaking thing ever. Your example in particular I agree is kind of annoying, the assertion that this is the first story in years to make Batman seem human or fallible is pretty ridiculous. I've found it to be a fun ride thus far, but this has hardly been the most extreme challenge Batman's ever faced, and even for all the "Bat-God" criticisms Morrison's run has had plenty of times where Batman's made a mistake or found himself in a jam.

[Jared]

Comparing him to other Batman writers historically, he's above average. But in comparison to current DC output, he's excellent. He's got the best bat-book going right now, certainly. And I say that as someone who enjoys several others.

[Reginleif]

I gave him 1 star apparently, dont even remember doing it...

[Personamanx]

Had to give him a two. Definitely below average when compared to the two DC books I read regularly.

[Jasoninthewoods]

He writes a Batman that I want to read as opposed to "Cave man" Batman ,and the acid trip that followed.

[Russell]

5 stars. Probably the best guy working regularly on comics right now

[allstarmatches]

Currently really loving Snyder's work on all his books. Batman, Swamp Thing, American Vampire, and the recently-completed Severed are all top-notch.

[George Taylor]

I'm really enjoying his Batman and I think it's really good but some parts of it are silly and corny to me

[smokeysabear]

I really like this arc so far, it's one of my most anticipated titles every week it comes out.

But best ever? Quite simply, no. It's not even over. Let's wait until it's complete before bestowing it with too much praise. These hyperbolic statements about being the best Batman has been in years, or the best run ever, or whatever it is some person is saying about it make me uncomfortable when the work hasn't even been finished. Let Snyder take us there before we make judgements.

In other words, just enjoy the ride. Or don't.

[zur en arrh]

5 stars. Probably the best guy working regularly on comics right now

Jonathan Hickman, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Wood, Rick Remender, Grant Morrison, Ed Brubaker, Mike Mignola, Jason Aaron? Come on.

[paulski]

I'd certainly have him ahead of 7 of those guys personally.