Used to love his writing, still love his old stories, BUT...

[Ziggy Stardust]

I've been sifting through old comics and re-reading them. And while I loved Miller's Daredevil work and his Batman work, whether it was Year One or Dark Knight Returns, I find myself disliking the fact that his stories were likely part of the front that not only "darkened" these heroes, but what came in comics afterwards.

So confused....

[ConnorHawke]

I think anything that makes a big impact is usually going to spawn a shitload of imitators. Some are just going to rip off shamelessly, and I think that's what leads to certain styles becoming a parody of themselves.

But art can also inspire in less obvious ways.

A lot of good stuff resulted. Those stories had a partial influence on the 1989 Batman movie, which inspired Batman: The Animated Series, which a lot of people consider the absolute best version of Batman.

While it definitely led to a lot of shit, I think Year One has also inspired some really fun Batman stories.

[Ziggy Stardust]

There is that positive aspect to his work, yes....

[FanboyStranger]

I think most of the shit that followed Miller's seminal work on Daredevil and Batman is that the industry aped the easy to duplicate elements (the tone, the stark "realism") but ignored the masterful storytelling, thematic nuance, etc. What you basically ended up with was the average superhero comic with a darker tone and no thought balloons.

[JKCarrier]

I think most of the shit that followed Miller's seminal work on Daredevil and Batman is that the industry aped the easy to duplicate elements (the tone, the stark "realism") but ignored the masterful storytelling, thematic nuance, etc.

Unfortunately, the list of people doing shitty imitations of Frank Miller work includes Frank Miller...

[FanboyStranger]

Unfortunately, the list of people doing shitty imitations of Frank Miller work includes Frank Miller...

Very, very true.

[Corrina]

I think most of the shit that followed Miller's seminal work on Daredevil and Batman is that the industry aped the easy to duplicate elements (the tone, the stark "realism") but ignored the masterful storytelling, thematic nuance, etc. What you basically ended up with was the average superhero comic with a darker tone and no thought balloons.

The ending of DKR and Year:One are both more hopeful than a lot of Batman works that were published in the 1990s and 200s. That's doing it wrong.

[Ziggy Stardust]

The one that struck me was the DD story where Ben Urich is FINALLY getting a chance to buy the dream house he and his wife have always wanted. And Ben learning his mentor who is now retired, was a mob cronie.

And we learn that the Kingpin is the one who made it so Ben COULD get this house.

The ending had me with tears in my eyes.

[scs]

It's hard to call him an imitation of Frank Miller when he is Frank Miller, however diminished. Let us say instead that he's now just a pale shadow of a once dark knight.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Lmao!!!