Frank Miller has lost his mind

"I'm the Goddamn Batman!!"

-Batman
All-Star Batman and Robin The Boy Wonder

I don't think that I ever foresaw reading a line like that in an all ages Batman book in the 16 years that I have been reading comics. Now with the recent recall of the latest issue of All-Star Batman and Robin due to the swear words not being blocked out properly, I am left to wonder if publishers and creators have gone over the deep end in terms of trying to be so edgy that characters and comics in general are sacrificing quality storytelling and character development for the sake of shocking fans and trying to be unique to the point of ridicule.

Frank Miller is undoubtedly an icon within the world of comics. His run on Batman and Daredevil in the 1980's was nothing short of brilliant. And his work on Sin City and 300 has captured the essence of pop culture by making an ever so successful transition to film. However, his latest comic work, beginning with the Dark Knight Returns sequel, has been described at best as controversial, and at worst as a desperate play for a huge payday. Miller's return to comics in general seems to be less about crafting stories that stand the test of time and more about trying to gain modern relevance in comics through controversy and dark story telling bordering on desperation. The fact that Miller has the Batman character having sex with Black Canary on a dock and calling a 12 year old Robin a "retard" should be enough to ask why this sort of book is being published as an all ages read. In my opinion, his interpretation should be scrapped altogether purely for the fact that it is so off base and completely misrepresents what the character of Batman really is and should be.