Batman : The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller

I had been browsing online lists for graphic novels. I stumbled upon a list that dealt with Batman specifically. Of the top three on that list, I already had the number two (Killing Joke) and had zeroed in on the number three (Year One). So after much deliberation, I decided to order the top rated (The Dark Knight Returns) along with 'Year One'.

This one is Batman's omega. Miller has tried to look into the head of a retired vigilante. 'The Dark Knight Returns' plays around the psychologies of the main characters. There is a retiring Commissioner James Gordon handing over the baton to a lady officer half his age; Harvey Dent has been treated of his physical and mental ailments; Bruce Wayne is facing a middle age crisis and his alter ego has never truly subsided; The Joker is facing ennui at the lack of a worthy opponent; Clark Kent is trying to survive despite all his super powers. The city is still on its knees but not all hope is lost. The Dark Knight returns to save the day and to take an alternate mode of retirement.

'The Dark Knight Returns' shows a Gotham that is still over run with crime. Despite Batman having put all the major criminals behind bars before his retirement ten years ago, the city has not been able to overcome its disease. Bruce Wayne is having issues coping with his retired life. And he has still not been able to overcome the memory of the night his parents were killed on the streets of Gotham. Wayne decides to come out of his retirement and takes to his caped crusade again. The city is spurred into the never ending debate again : Batman - good or evil. Batman's old foes rejoice at his return. But Commissioner James Gordon does not find his views on Batman echoed in his successor, Ellen Yindel. So Batman must fight for his cause again. He must fight the crime in the city. He must also face Superman in a battle to death. And he has a thirteen year old girl for his aide in arms - Robin.

Miller's storytelling is very comprehensive. He creates exceptional plots and adds action to them. I will not compare him to Moore, both have their strengths in very different domains. But if I am to read more action comics, Miller is definitely a preferred name. The pages of this book were intricately designed and packed with action and words. It has been a pleasure reading and rereading the pages. The art work is not really exceptional though. Frank Miller is better at story telling. I think I will give Batman a rest for some time now. But then there is 'The Long Halloween'...

Batman : Year One - Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

Since I had read 'A Killing Joke' by Alan Moore, I had started looking at more from the Batman series. Recently I had read Mazzucchelli's 'Asterios Polyp' and, looking at his other works, I noticed a cross with my interest. 'Batman : Year One' with Frank Miller. It was hailed as one of the greatest Batman novels ever. The next time I felt like reading a graphic novel, the choice was obvious.

In 1986, Frank Miller had recently finished work on 'Batman : The Dark Knight Returns' when DC entrusted him with reworking Batman's original story. Batman was to stop being a comic character since. Miller turned Batman into the dark character that most of my generation associates it with. But this was before Nolan had come up with the Batman trilogy that would be etched into our brains. But the book stands out over the movies for one simple reason : James Gordon. Miller creates Gordon as a man while the movies treated him flippantly. Miller's storytelling needs to be appreciated here. Wayne's initial struggle as a vigilante and roots of his immense will power that keeps him from killing even the worst of Gotham's villains. How a Lieutenant made a name for himself despite all the disapproval from his colleagues and city's bureaucracy. Gordon's turbulent personal life. Batman bringing James Gordon around to accepting him and relying on him to do the dirty work.

'Year One' traces the lives of two individuals who come to a city run amok and a decaying society. Lieutenant James Gordon and the heir of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne. It traces the beginnings of Wayne's vigilante activities, how and why he finally picks up a cape and a mask. It traces Gordon's struggle within a corrupt police institution and his initial stance against Batman. It tells us the story of how two individuals with conflicting opinions join hands to fight a city full of criminals. 'Year One' also briefly talks about the origins of the Catwoman. But most of the story is about Wayne's transformation into the Batman and Gordon's acceptance of the crusader as a necessary force in the city.

Miller really outshone with his story telling. And Mazzucchelli's art work was aptly dark for the kind of character they were trying to bring to life. It was a well done book with some superb moments. Of course I will read more Miller. And Batman.

The Iliad - Homer / Robert Fagles

This book has had one of the longest shelf lives so far. I picked it up in the international book fair 6-7 years back. Since then it has sat on my shelves for more reasons than one. Ere I read the other Greek tragedies, my mind kept prodding me to pick 'The Iliad' up. But it somehow never happened till my last visit home. I finished Dr. Sacks' fascinating case stories and before I had a chance to pick anything new up, I was looking at the dust covered books in the shelves back home. 'The Iliad'! Finally!

I would like to think that I am no stranger to Greek tragedies. I have read Euripides and Sophocles, though I am yet to read Aeschylus. I had thoroughly enjoyed the plays and the 'deus ex machina's. I have even read Virgil. But never had I enjoyed anything as much as when I read Homer's 'The Odyssey'. The story was more complete than the shorter plays and much more gripping. So I expected the same from 'The Iliad'. And it exceeded all expectations. I finished the book faster than any other work of similar nature or length. The poetry was fabulous. And so was the story. Fagles had done an amazing job with the translation as well. At times I read it out loud to myself. Such was the joy of reading this one. My biggest regret is that I should have started my foray into the Greek works with this one. It is now that the characters of the other plays are falling into place. Most of the other works have been written around this epic. It is here that the primary characters make their mark. The great Agamemnon; pitiable Hecuba; Aeneas, beloved by Gods; god-like Diomedes; the cunning Odysseus. But this book is about swift Achilles. Him and his rage. Him and his inescapable hands.

The book begins in the ninth year of Troy's siege. The city has not yet been taken. In the opening scene Achilles and Agamemnon have a fall out when Agamemnon takes the beautiful Briseis from Achilles. Achilles swears to no longer fight for a king who does not respect his captains. So while Achilles holds off from the battle, the Trojan forces advance till the Achean ships. All this by the will of Zeus of course, for nothing happens without the will of the son of Cronus. Now as the Gods fight on either sides, man-eating Hector pushes forward and the Achean captains are injured and disabled from battle one by one. But Zeus would not relent. He wishes to give Achilles the glory for his mother, Thetis, had held his knee and asked him the favour. But Achilles rage would not be doused, not by gifts from Agamemnon. But he yearns for the glory that war brings. Despite knowing well that that glory would come at the cost of his life before the city is taken. So as the Trojans keep advancing, he sends Patroclus, his beloved aide in arms, to the war on his behalf instead. Patroclus shines in battle, but is taken down by Trojans and Hector claims the glory. Achilles sees blood. He forgets his rage at Agamemnon and instead rages at Hector now. He needs Hector's blood. His mother gets him armour made by Hephaestus and once Achilles dons the armour and picks up his legendary shield, he is an unstoppable force. He tears through the Trojan ranks. He pushes them back behind their walls and Hector, who dares to face him, is humiliated and killed and humiliated again. The book ends after funeral games for Patroclus and Priam's ransoming of Hector's body.

The above story is beautifully portrayed in twenty four parts. There are adjectives abundant and the introduction provided a good reason for them. It is one of those introductions that are as important (perhaps even more) than the book itself. To sum it all up, the book was a joy all through. Right from the original story by Homer to the beautiful translation and the introduction to top it all off. I have already read Odysseus's tale, so I guess there is nothing more that I can get from Homer. But I have a revived interest in the Greek tragedies again and I have Aeschylus' Oresteia lying in my shelves.