All-Star Batman and Robin #7 - Atop the Fourth Wall

Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara looks at the seventh issue of the continually dreadful All-Star Batman and Robin!
atopthefourthwall.com
Originally uploaded January 20th, 2014.
ORIGINAL INFO: The comic that teaches us that true romance is making out after setting people on fire.
RUMINATIONS: It’s continually amazing how decompressed this story is, even by decompressed storytelling standards. It’s been seven issues and yet barely any time seems to have passed… if it has at all. Maybe a day? Two days? It’s hard to say, since the book requires a flow chart with its constant repetitions of “five hours ago” or the like. It really feels like no editing was done on it at all, but I’m beginning to suspect that Frank’s editor DOESN’T want to edit it, that they like his work exactly as it is despite all the glaring flaws in character, dialogue, and just general storytelling. This issue in particular became infamous due to Crazy Steve suddenly deciding to have sex with Black Canary in the rain for seemingly no reason. Much like Scott Ciencin’s Silent Hill comics, I’d be curious what the hell Frank was trying to ACHIEVE with this crap, what the meaning behind some of it was… but I just fear he DOESN’T have any meaning. He does stuff because he wants to, not because it actually makes any sense.

[@tannerprice2018]

With that whole, “Batman values all life, that’s why he hasn’t snapped Joker’s neck” thing, I’m just reminded of Arkham City, when Batman gets infected by a toxin Joker gave him, then at the ending, he gets cured of that toxin, but then Joker attacks him and accidentally drops and spills the antidote, and Batman admits that even after all Joker put him through, he still would’ve saved him.

[@henkman00]

That actually is…pretty funny!

[@zeitgeistofficial8166]

I laughed my ass off at Batman losing his shit at Black Canary because she was about to insult the car. Beautiful.

[@battlion507]

Bat Segway!

[@henkman00]

Crazy Steve: “CHICKS dig the CAR, dig THE car, chicks. DIG the car. My car, chicks. Car, CHICKS!”

[@CreepsMcPasta]

"Let me take you to school, suckers...- in chemistry" Bleach is a water based solvent, so no, it wouldn't ignite like that

[@carterheer8278]

Apparently, ASBAR takes pace in the same universe as Jeff the Killer...that makes more sense than it should.

[@th3rasave]

CreepsMcPasta woah! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3XGZ4Oompxqd7s

[@mochiman6307]

Haven't seen your vids, but you're one thing frank isnt, smart

[@ColinG943]

Wait, Creeps?

[@JaelinBezel]

Hell, we use it to mop the bathroom floors when we run out of the regular floor cleaner. That use for it is actually listed on the label. :^)

[@SommerSen]

"Has anybody told you, my good man, that you are totally HOT?" And that's the *story* of how I *died* out of *goddamn* laughter

[@carlrood4457]

The problem with the deconstruction argument is that there's really so little of these actual characters in this book. Batman lacks all nuance. There's none of the planning, detective work, or use of psychology. Why's he even wearing the costume? It's supposed inspire fear to give him an edge. In this, his psychotic actions are more than enough to inspire fear. Then there's the idea that he enjoys all this. Way back in the late 80's or early 90's, there was a crossover between Batman, Green Arrow, & The Question. It was early post-Crisis, so who knew what about whom and who'd been teammates, previously, was unclear. Anyway, upon seeing the equipment in the Batcave, Ollie made a comment about his thinking Batman spent all his time beating up crooks. Batman's response was that encompasses about a tenth (maybed even less) of what he does. Essentially, it was playing up his detective and other skills which, admittedly, don't make for exciting comics panels. It's why I think I like the O'Neil/Adams and The Animated Series Batman so much. There's such great balance to the character. While he may take satisfaction in his work if it saves lives and 100% believes it is necessary, Batman in no way enjoys it. He's actually someone who lets himself take joy in very little, which is what makes those quiet moments where he takes pride in the various Robins so special. It's why I love the Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman friendship so much. These are people Bruce knows he can't intimidate and has no reason to try with, so he's subtly more relaxed with them. He's professional, but doesn't push. I've always believed that the real person isn't Bruce or Batman. It's the guy in the Batcave with costume on and cowl pulled down, investigating and discussing the case with Alfred or Robin.

[@SommerSen]

"Deconstruction" Yeah, because its realistic that women randomly kiss him, or that he has all that equipment and money despite seemingly not caring about anything other than sadism. It completely ignored Bruce. Just because its edgy doesn't mean it says something or is realistic. The Lego Batman Movie is a much better deconstruction than whatever this is

[@ecliptorcalrissian5014]

Congratulations... you get Batman MUCH better than Frank Miller.

[@adonis7626]

You understands Batman better than Miller and many writers.

[@jewishjellydonut]

it's also just not true, you can tell from how frank miller acts that this is just his psychotic projections put on the page. sure, maybe a deconstruction of batman would act something like crazy steve does, but this was never intended as a deconstruction and should not be treated as one.

[@eugenideddis]

Dick Grayson age 12 was actually trying to kill Jockoboy, he just can't aim that thing in the slightest. His killing of the rat was an accident, he was trying to set it down and the rat got in the way.

[@jonathansanderson7787]

And now, a short list of people who are better detectives than Crazy Steve: - Hercule Poirot - Miss Marple - Jessica Fletcher - Jessica Jones - Hermione Granger (in Chamber of Secrets at least) - Eddie Valiant - Odo - And of course, Batman

[@karkatvantas9557]

I think you missed a pretty big one. You know. Sherlock Holmes.

[@paulmahoney7619]

Jonathan Sanderson hell, inspector Clouseau is a better detective.

[@dnmstarsi]

Dick Gumshoe is a better detective than El Loco Steve.

[@AgentWolnyTyl3k]

And of course Tim Drake, which (at least in the newest continuity) is said to be even better at deduction than his mentor. Also apart from DC: "L" Because: He. is. *"JUSTICE"!*

[@SuperKiobi13]

I would rather have inspector gadget at least he had penny

[@sleshstamp]

"Totally Queer Name." Miller must be goddamn old.

[@jfdrac]

i mean kids in the late 90s still said so 30s would really be all he would need to be

[@ateliertohka7327]

Yup. He's 62.

[@strubberyg7451]

This story can work. It sure doesn't, but it can... Batman was nice at first, but all these years of crime fighting (let's say 5?) Made him sour and a tad violent (not this crazy, but not his usual). He rescues Dick Grayson, they stop a Joker plot, and they help each other, motivating each other, giving them a reason to move on. Batman gets to see up close a citizen of Gothem, and this rekindles his passion, while Dick, who is lost due to the loss of his parents is finding a new purpose in life. Dick is growing up faster, while Batman grows more kind. Drop Black Canary (no reason to introduce a revised origin for her), keep Superman as a worried friend of Batman (as someone who remembers what Batman from 5 years ago and laments of what became of his friend) and focus mainly on the relationship between Bruce and Dick. You can still be gritty, you can still have an unkind, broken Batman (as long as you promise to fix him later) and you can still have an unsmiling Joker (he finds it no fun fighting against a broken, hopeless Batman. He is delighted to see a newly invigorated Batman, with a new soft spot no less!). Maybe keep Barbara Gordon as another sign of Dick growing up (no innuendos intended). Maybe hint at the establishment of the bat family, as long as you don't lose sight of Batman and Robin. The point of this story is a revised origin tale. You need to bring the characters to their status quo, but you get a chance to play with how they got to that status quo. Here? No amount of positive influence Dick has on Crazy Steve will turn him to the Batman...

[@kryptonavenger2024]

I know it's two years too late, but that's a MUCH better story than what we got.

[@strubberyg7451]

THX! Didn't think someone would read a comment on a video that got packaged into a compilation, but it's always nice to get complements!

[@mikethegrunty5968]

It's ok, Lewis. You'll always trump the bee gees in my eyes

[@dooplon5083]

Barry Gibb right now: Tragedy When the feeling's gone and you can't go on. It's tragedy When the morning cries and you don't know why It's hard to bear With no one to love you, you're Goin' nowhere

[@tinkerer3399]

Bee gees, my god.

[@mikethegrunty5968]

+Tinkerer lol

[@tannerprice2018]

Mike White ix-nay on the ump-tray.

[@bluestar2059]

I've seen other suggestions about why Batman doesn't kill the Joker. One is that he thinks that Gotham would just make something worse, and I think the city was literally cursed in one continuity so he may be right, but my favourite is that it would be, in the words of Batman: Under the Red Hood, "Too damn easy". He thinks that if he does kill someone, even someone as horrible as the Joker, that he won't be able to stop himself from doing it again. He fears that killing the Joker would just be the start of a very slippery slope. I like that, it shows that Bruce knows exactly how, for want of a better word, weak he is.

[@MultiHydralisk]

Anyone else excited for the upcoming Crazy Steve vs Bearded Idiot movie? :D

[@mqfii8992]

If it really were Crazy Steve vs. Bearded Idiot, BI would confess his love for CS, only to be rejected because CS Is into skin tight costume wearing Dick Grayson, age 12. Thus Bonkers Betty (Wonder Woman) breaks In, calls Batman a sperm bank via her ass, as soon as she finishes it, Irish Ninja (Black Canary) also breaks In with her bike of infinite fuel just to say he's the goddamn Batman. And so our movie ends with BB and BI banging so hard they destroy the planet, as BI give some hypocrital speech about guns at the post-sex as WW replies "I hate your guts".

[@islamroks11]

+Marcus Vinicius Quintas Filho That...O.K, I would pay to see that sort of movie if only for the sheer WTF factor of it. My god, that sounds gloriously stupid.

[@gamejtv]

+Marcus Vinicius Quintas Filho …Pants to be darkened…

[@Kth77]

And even Bonkers Betty is going to appear! An all star cast.

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

+Marcus Vinicius Quintas Filho They then proceed to vomit all over each other.

[@CaptainJZH]

One part of me wants to rearrange ASBAR to put it in chronological order.

[@mikethegrunty5968]

Good luck. You'll need it

[@dubbingsync]

That doesn't mean the story would be any better, so would it be worth it?

[@dubbingsync]

That doesn't mean the story would be any better, so would it be worth it?

[@CaptainJZH]

+Rhys Causon No, but it would certainly be interesting.

[@iankopeski2831]

I think Rip Hunter is trying to do that and even he is ripping(no pun intended) his hair out over it.

[@Dragonpit]

The more I see this, the more I wonder if Frank Miller had an abusive father. And a prostitute mother. That tried to get him off. This is making me go to a weird place.

[@th3rasave]

Dragonpit jeez... ...things are almost starting to make sense... ...almost...

[@depthshell8017]

It feels like that one South Park episode where Mr. Garrison wants his dad to molest him because he wasn’t molested young age like all the other kids

[@disneydork100]

"Striking terror, best part of the job" THAT WAS A LINE IN HOLY MUSICAL BATMAN! I HAD NO CLUE IT WAS QUOTING *THIS*!

[@anthonykoslowski5346]

17:33 Thomas Jefferson had two f's in his last name, not three. I'm surprised that nobody else saw that.

[@jdpragmatic8644]

BECAUSE POOR LITERACY...

[@Valdagast]

Now I want to see a Bat-Segway.

[@vaiapatta8313]

"Avenger or detective?" Er... avenger? I mean, he _is_ kicking the guy's ass. He _is_ getting revenge.

[@dnmstarsi]

Yeah but that kind of revenge is tolerable at best as a beat down wouldn't make Dick even with him when that guy killed his parents.

[@nooneofimportance2110]

You know, When I hear the "the Goddamned BATMAN!!" thing I can't help but think back to the Judge Dredd Movie and Sly Stallone screaming "I AM the LAW!!" or whatever Sly is saying for the last word.

[@dukespubber741]

Obviously Linkara has never played Ride to Hell: Retribution. That game proved that it's possible to have sex without removing any clothes.

[@PolarPhantom]

+Duke Spubber I'm not sure who's a more compelling protagonist, Crazy Steve or Jake Conway.

[@mqfii8992]

+PolarPhantom Let's go somewhere In the middle and say neither of them?

[@evanbao93]

+Duke Spubber Why would he? Angry Joe had already taken care of it.

[@cellperfecto421]

+PolarPhantom I wanna see a Death Battle between the two

[@negavenom]

+Duke Spubber Really because they look like they were dry humping to me.

[@darkhero-3097]

This series just makes me think of a miniseries that would definitely be counted as a much better All Star Batman (and Robin) book: Batman The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Both are exceptional books that features actually good writing and story telling, featuring basically all of Batman’s rouges gallery. Granted, Robin’s origin only appears in the second half of Dark Victory, but it’s definitely foreshadowed in the book previously, and it’s a great origin for Dick. It also handles the issue of Robin being involved in the death of his parents much better, as it shows Dick and Bruce hunting down Tony Zucco to interrogate him, only to end with the obese Zucco having a heart attack and dying.

[@miikafrosti1631]

8:23 That makes sense. Ever heard of Mark Waid's Irredeemable? That had a Superman-analogue instead of Superman's character itself, and the comic was better off for it. Granted, even if ASBAR had some other character instead of "Batman", it still wouldn't work as a Batman-deconstruction. If the comic just had a guy named Steve on it, it would STILL come across as more of a mockery than something that makes us look at Batman in a different way. Speaking of which, how many comments have you had from people claiming that this is a parody of Batman, if I may ask?

[@battlion507]

+Miika Frosti Yeesh, I hate it when bad works of any medium are "excused" or "pardoned" because they claim to be parodies and/or satires. If that was the case, then why didn't they say it was a parody/satire in the *FIRST* *PLACE!*

[@miikafrosti1631]

+Tony Davis (Battlion50) Hey, I'M not saying that this is a parody. I'm just saying that there's got to be someone out there who tried to claim that, considering the ridiculously awful dialogue that this story has. I was just curious about how many people tried to say "this is a parody of Batman" to him. You're completely right about this NOT being a parody.

[@susanwhitehall8706]

It's not a hobo in a Batman suit, it's just Torgo.

[@BloodylocksBathory]

1. Dick Greyson (age 12)'s floating head brought Vertigo to mind for me, lol. 2. How has his skin not been infested by guano-eating invertebrates in that cave by now?

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

Weren't you paying attention to Steve's rambling? He's DAMN STRONG!!

[@BloodylocksBathory]

CN what I'm Saiyan? With FAST HANDS

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

+BloodylocksBathory BIG MOUTH...

[@MyMagnificentOctopus]

Miller really needed to add "So's this, love chunks." (What is with the "love chunks"?)

[@ryanangelastro504]

Anyone think ASBAR was gonna end with Crazy Steve not giving back Green Lantern’s ring, shoving Superman in a room full of Kryptonite, using said ring to take over the world, make Bonkers Betty and/or Irish Ninja Black Canary his queen, making Plastic Man his court jester, and Dick Grayson Age 12 finally going insane.

[@oryanstudios2252]

18:12 I love how the three examples he gives all start with "I Am"

[@Rgoid]

2:53 - "And Lunchtime doubly so."

[@Mooseplatoon]

You know, I could understand the argument that this is an intentional deconstruction of Batman...if the person making that argument had not read it nor watched these videos. There is so much that's disturbing about it outside of Batman's insanity, and since very little of it is told from Batman's POV we can't blame him or any other character for the story's utter detachment from reality.

[@Happy00Fangirl]

it only just now occurs to me that you've been calling is ASBAR bc thats the acronym, not ass-bar because it's nonsensical............

[@dukespubber741]

Man, that intro is just full of Hilarious in Hindsight.

[@Blacknight8850]

If that IS stock artwork of Catwoman that Miller submitted, did he accidentally drop a pen or paintbrush on it while he was working on something else? Those gobbets of ink all over it don't look deliberate.

[@dukespubber741]

+Fors Clavigera No, it's deliberate. I believe it was first done in either Sin City or 300, but has become one of Frank's signature traits. Holy Terror is full of it.

[@Blacknight8850]

+Duke Spubber True, but I always assumed in those cases that they were meant to be blood or dirt splatters. I guess it's just one of his artistic tropes now, like crude anatomy or scratchy lines instead of backgrounds.

[@inferno9714]

It's because Franky boy draws with one hand if you catch my drift.

[@jfdrac]

i always assume he wanked one on his art and then just told them it was artistic choice

[@ecliptorcalrissian5014]

I think that it's Frank Miller who's actually not here and being impersonated by a hobo wearing his clothing.

[@WinterSteele]

These ASBAR reviews legitimately crack me up like almost nothing else. There's just so much WTF jammed into every issue, it transcends into a sort of grandeur that must be seen to be believed.

[@tanuki01]

Someone please make an actual, proper All Star Batman and Robin that plays true to the proper spirit of the characters

[@avengemarvel1355]

Scott Snyder and a bunch of artists are doing one right now.

[@dragonsword8129]

Yep. They just removed "and Robin" from the title and then made their own story that's much better.

[@autobotstarscream765]

Dragon Sword So there's another All-Star Batman now?

[@Rgoid]

Autobot Starscream Yep. Crazy Steve is back, as psychotic as ever. Dick Grayson Age 12 is nowhere to be seen, though.

[@Rgoid]

Dragon Sword That's debatable.

[@funnyblog100]

Two years later people are now reading a good deconstruction of Batman as a Psychotic figure known as the Batman who Laughs. Dark Knights Metal is awesome.

[@SgtTwilight]

I actually giggled at the scene where Batman got angry at Canary for insulting the Batmobile. I think a scene like that could work with better writing.

[@Gohan_Fanboi]

Take a shot everytime there's a "Goddamn" line in this comic.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Please make a full version of Crazy Steve singing Here Comes The Sun.

[@Ungulates]

When boots go TAK on dirt, but TANK on metal, what kind of metal is it? ...Nth metal. :P

[@Egalitariat-likesecretariat]

Hey, buddy... Wanna buy an ungulate?

[@Ungulates]

HellChuggapri1 That's actually where I got this name!

[@Egalitariat-likesecretariat]

Ungulates This thread must seem so weird and obscure to the unenlightened,

[@Ungulates]

+HellChuggapri1 "Of course, almost everyone knows that 'ungulate' is the collective term for hoofed mammals, but why risk confusion among a handful of illiterates?" :P

[@ColeVecsion]

I prefer nu metal

[@fleetadmiralauto6506]

Ah yes, ASBAR, starring Crazy Steve, Dick Grayson Age 12, Hooters Waitress, Bonkers Betty, Beardless Idiot, Stretchy Moron, Loser Lantern, and Obsessive Fangirl

[@d-brothers3112]

The worst part about Irish Black Canary is that you could completely take out the Irish part and it wouldn't even affect the story

[@michaelbozas]

15:41 OMG best panel. I started choking from laughter. Ok Godammit. I love this goddamn version of that goddamn Batman Batman in this goddamn comic. OH GODDAMN IT!

[@tiawheeler1153]

Are you sure that those aren't bottles of brain bleach? There is quite a demand for stuff like that...

[@JohnDoe-nq4du]

The bleach-thermite combo thing is, yea, complete bullshit, as far as the chemistry is concerned.

[@MistsMagic]

Just imagine, there used to be a time where the latest Miller news was an alternate cover... And now, NAVY SEAL Superman...

[@shiftyspaghetti2053]

If I want a deconstruction of the Batman character, I'll watch the Lego Batman movie.

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

R.i.p. John Hurt

[@eleanorbwells]

This brightened my day. Can't wait for ASBAR #10 :)

[@maskawin89]

Linkara, I really liked that "Commercial Break" transition. You have a decent singing voice.

[@LaineMann]

The funny thing is that I’m watching this on Premium and I was SO confused the first time that happened. It took me a few minutes to realize that an ad was supposed to be there.

[@starwarsnerd100]

A bit off topic, but "Why doesn't Batman just snap the Joker's neck?" has always been such as false dilemma. He's a serial killer and a terrorist rolled into one, and no special powers. After the first time he doused Gotham in laughing gas he'd either be killed on sight, captured and given the death penalty, or taken to a high security facility instead of Arkham. The writers try to pretend its all about the morality of killing for the greater good, but its really about keeping a popular character in the story. In all the debate and controversy that surrounded the surviving Boston Bomber being sentenced to death, not once was the point "If we don't execute him he might escape once a month to kill again" ever raised.

[@alucardyoici]

+starwarsnerd100 My problem is why Batman is the one that is expected to do it, most of the cops in gotham are brutal enough to shoot him while he is cuffed without giving a shit. And unlike Batman it's not the guy that everyone knows he keeps kryptonite and stuff to kill his best friends in case bad stuff happens who does it. In death of the family Bullock try to arrest him while he just killed half the police department, he doesn't even have him shot when he refuse to stand down

[@FNGLHR]

+alucardyoici That's my issue with the argument myself. What is it with people demanding Batman pull the trigger? If someone on the Police Force honestly feels that Joker should just get wasted he could easily do the deed himself. Just wait for the next caper, shoot the clown in the face during the inevitable gunfight that ensues and you can be a hero for a day. If they're a Sniper they'll have even better luck. Hell, in a system of corrupt cops or even just incredibly violent ones who like to play loose with the rules this is even less of a problem. Gotham is known for it's less than stellar law enforcement record when it comes to police conduct. Catch the Joker, pretend he tried to escape and shoot him dead. Yeah sure, Batman might find out, but do you honestly think any judge or jury will convict you? And even if they do, you'll still be treated like a hero. After all, how many people were weeping when the gunmen who got killed in the Bank of America shootout? Their families sure, but Joker has no family! You'd get a hit on your head from Harley Quinn at worst. It's not like Batman is going to prevent anyone from killing him. I doubt he actually tells Cops to stop shooting in the middle of a gun fight so he can take the bad guys himself. He's not one to call dibs. The crux of the whole mess is this, Joker is a popular villain, therefore he cannot just be outright killed. He will come back because it's inevitable, people want to see more of him. It's the same reason Megatron never killed Starscream, he was a character people wanted to keep around. Besides, why should Batman kill someone like the Joker just because he might escape? The fact is, if you can subdue someone with less than lethal force, law enforcement officers are required to attempt that first. That's why they can only shoot when they feel their life is in danger. Even then there is always an option before hand. At least that's how it's supposed to work. Batman doesn't kill the Joker because outright killing a suspect is never preferable. Batman is the cop you want ultimately, the person who subdues the bad guys through application of appropriate force. Because he's the ultimate bad ass, he can accomplish said task without killing people. If more Cops were like Batman, we wouldn't have situations where kids get killed because they have a toy gun. There's more to it than that, but ultimately I feel like most of the people who consider the argument for Batman to kill Joker are missing the point. It's not about crossing a line, or it being too easy or even a question of morality. It's about the appropriate action for a person to take in face of a criminal. Batman can't kill Joker because then it sets a precedent that killing is a solution. And once you accept that it is, then it becomes a lot easier to apply in other circumstances for one reason or another. That and the dipshits who say this kind of stuff are almost always arm chair generals who think pulling a trigger and blowing someone's brains out is simple and easy to justify in some cases. You know who thinks like that? Psychopaths. Give any of those people a gun and have them point it at a human being and see how willing they are to shoot. Chances are most of them will feel sick to their stomach and those who don't have a few problems already.

[@alucardyoici]

+FNGLHR Plus since Batman is portrayed as manipulative who keeps contingency plan to arrest or kill his friends (he has his reasons but that must build trust issue) no one is gonna believe he didn't kill someone with no premeditation. And if one of the hero who use fear as a weapon start murdering the police are gonna arrest him.

[@AsylumEscapade]

+starwarsnerd100 One simple answer: escalation. If you played "Batman: Arkham Knight," you'll see that when the Joker died in Arkham City, the other villains joined forces to take over Gotham City. If Batman started killing his rogues gallery, how long before they join together to stop him??

[@starwarsnerd100]

Jim Samples That's not my point at all. The point (as the other two commenters mentioned) is "Why is it all up to Batman?" No matter what Batman does either a vigalante or corrupt cop would shoot Joker, or a completely justified cop would shoot Joker in the line of duty, or he'd be arrested and given the death penalty, or he'd be arrested and put in a jail he'd have no chance of escaping from.

[@shanavalkyria3438]

Oh, Ballerina Gummibear, your two good for this comic lol

[@wdcain1]

I dislike the idea that ASBaR is a deconstruction because while Batman is shown to be violently and unlikable, he's still exceptionally skilled. Someone as derange as Bruce is here would never have the patience to make it through years of the ninja training and technical education Batman would need. Heck, I honestly can't believe this Bruce could fool anyone into thinking he was a normal individual.

[@Forever_Muffin]

Omg so that bit in the Holy Musical B@man where Bats says "Striking terror... best part of the job" is referencing this?! okay, i will laugh even more now at that musical XD so amazing

[@TristanJHorta]

2:00 Two years later and your Intro song is viewed more than a Bee Gees song. Good job!

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

Hell yeah!!!

[@edwardramos4591]

The Investigation Team are better detectives than fat free Punisher here.

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

Good god, it's been a while since I watched one of these. I totally forgot how insane these are.

[@thegayhare]

Any one else wanna see a bat segway

[@L1701]

thegayhare "Sir, you sure you want to take the Bat-Segway?" "It's not that far away, I'm not in a rush, and it's good for the ENVIRONMEEEEEEEEEEENT! I AM BATMAN!"

[@nvfury13]

"Batman cares about all life, it's why he hasn't snapped Joker's neck like so many people *say* he should." Yep, knowing that Joker will murder multiple people every time he escapes before Batman captures him again, letting Joker live means Batman cares about all lives...except innocent victims like his own parents.

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

From Injustice 2: Joker: You didn't kill me and look what happened Batman: That's on you, Joker Joker: Keep telling yourself that, Bats...

[@paulmahoney7619]

Nick V in pretty much every story where Batman kills the Joker it makes everything worse.

[@rachitdhawan3127]

Is it wrong I agree with Jason Todd/Red Hood, it doesn't have to be the penguin, scarecrow, or dent, just killing Joker would be enough.

[@JaelinBezel]

Yeah like Wonder Woman has loads of compassion too, even for her enemies, but even she has been willing to kill if they are just that evil. In Gothamazon when she was called in to fill in for Bats, she comes close to slaughtering them all, thinking about how easy it would be, but instead she helps them and reforms about half of Batman's major villains in the long term.

[@averagegamecritic]

Also deconstruction doesn't work very well in an official story, as Batman has a known history to everyone. A fan fiction is fine as it is a known new take. A published fan fiction wouldn't be bad.

[@tonystank1048]

Did BvS took inspiration from this comic when it comes to Bats? Because that looks a lot like Crazy Steve

[@dragonsword8129]

Frank Miller was a leading consultant for the movie.

[@TheSefirosu200x]

And acted just like him, what with the wanton murder.

[@aros0018]

With the big difference being that the movie did not act like Batman's overly violent methods and unsympathetic nature towards criminals was a good thing. In fact by the end of the movie Batman realizes how far gone he'd been and how wrong his actions were. Basically, in the movie, Batman was shown as fallible and had to acknowledge he was wrong, whereas fallible and wrong are two things Frank Miller is not likely to ever write Batman as, just everybody else who isn't Batman.

[@xanderm6090]

He never felt guilty for his actions. He summoned together the League, but he didn't stop killing.

[@darylchurch2115]

This comment actually made me sad. The modern portrayal of Batman in film is a psychopathic lunatic, he is Crazy Steve. And we're expected to think of him as a hero? At least in Arrow, Oliver Queen had the excuse of PTSD for his murder spree.

[@Mishomish0]

I'll give something to Frankie boy, if he wanted the meme dead fast, I think he managed it by overusing it.

[@Ellthom]

Could play an awesome drinking game to this series, every time someone says "Goddamn", take a drink. You'll probably be dead by the end but at least you wont have to read any more :P

[@135mikerules23]

And so’s THIS nummy muffin.

[@tommydiaz-millan2438]

Inspector Jacques Clouseau was a detective until he went missing and got replaced by another from New York who would become Blossom's dad and a son named Roberto Benigni and a not Clouseau with white hair. Oh and Clouseau took plastic surgery to make himself look like James Bond. Inspector Gadget was a robot detective.

[@funcoolfunfun]

My theory with the timeline of the comics is that every timestamp is how far in the past the events are from the present, so an event with a 3 hours ago timestamp would take place 2 hours after an event with a 5 hours ago timestamp.

[@ColeVecsion]

+funcoolfunfun Wait, how would that even...hmm, well, if you go by the 5 hour time stamp in...oh! i get i*head explodes *

[@callianr6980]

That first page. That first freaking page killed the part of me that has studied Mixed Martial Arts for seven years. First off, you don't kick somebody in the face like that. It's pretty tiring and your momentum will be completely gone by the time you finish. It would be more effective to use a side or hook kick as that allows you to lean back more and kick higher. From what I studied, you would have your leg up that high for two reasons: either to deliver an axe kick- which is not that likely because, as the name suggests, an axe kick focuses all it's force downwards to hit an opponent who might be reeling from an attack to the chess or something or a crescent kick which COULD conceivably hit someone in the face, but considering there is nothing to show Steve has moved his foot to the side to do so it does not appear to be a Crescent Kick. Second, why is Steve leaning forward? WHY IS STEVE LEANING FORWARD!?!?! That not only limits the range of your kick, but puts your head in a vulnerable position to be punched, kicked, or hit at with a weapon if the kick misses or because one of his buddies nearby wasn't hit, which leads me to- Three, HIS HANDS SHOULD NOT BE SO FAR AWAY FROM HIS FACE! You need to keep your hands close to your face at all times so that way you can quickly and efficiently block any of the aforementioned punches, kicks, and weapons. And four, that foot position just looks awful. Like, I can see how Steve might have gotten into that spot with that horrible kick, but I doubt they were ever in a proper position to effectively kick with in the first place.

[@carlosangel3647]

Awesome work Linkara. Thanks for the laughs and good times! =D

[@robinghoshal6771]

you're not a bad singer you know

[@RenjiMaili]

You know, if Batman did kill the Joker then the populace of Gotham would not see constant loses due to the Joker. In honor of the election season, I suggest you vote for Jason Todd as protector of Gotham. Out with the Bat!

[@alucardyoici]

+RenjiMaili no but then they'll get constant loss of zombie joker, because this is dc. Also given how hard Joker is getting beat up at times chances are he can't really be killed

[@RenjiMaili]

+alucardyoici Good point. And now that you mentioned it, I am surprised that DC has not produced an elseworld series featuring a Zombie Joker coming back to haunt a morally devastated Bruce Wayne.

[@kyleshea384]

+RenjiMaili A ghost would work better

[@RenjiMaili]

Kyle Shea It would fit the theme better but being a zombie capable of bringing Gotham and the Bat family to ruin by spreading a plague with no cure? Seems like something the Joker would enjoy more. All the more if Batman had to put down a plague stricken Selina Kyle.

[@kyleshea384]

RenjiMaili Good point

[@Merit2397]

According to the ruminations concerning this video, Lewis believes that the editor of this book took one look at All Star Batman and Robin and liked it "exactly as it is" (probably because of Frank's reputation as a once, ONCE mind you great writer) and let it go through despite the constant flaws in it. Personally, I'd like to think that the editor just didn't want to deal with Frank Miller in general and just prayed that this thing would make a decent profit just by having Miller's name on it.

[@lorddrayvon1426]

23:40 judging by this pose, Dick has been snapped on half at the waist. Ow. And I thought Liefeld art looked painful.

[@Azazreal]

Dick totally tried to kill him and just missed. Axes are heavy

[@lionsanchez]

i still waiting for All-Star Batman and Robin #10 Review

[@EntertainmentExpertz]

Anyone notice at 17:35 Thomas Jefferson has 3 F's? Because poor literacy is kewl

[@Albukhshi]

I thought when I read this it was going to be spelled fefferson (which would have been hilarious, if a tad niche), but I'm giving Frank Miller and his editors too much credit...

[@sirpheredin1379]

KC NotQuiteHD- Because poor literacy should be expected from Crazy Steve.

[@Dreigonix]

The extra F is for F YOU.

[@ryanangelastro504]

DID NO ONE EDIT THAT?!

[@shiftyspaghetti2053]

If I want a deconstruction of Batman, I'll watch The Lego Batman Movie.

[@christopherb501]

One of the very best Batman movies.

[@battlion507]

4 mins in on Linkara reading out the dialogue in Batman's growling voice, and I need a breather. Godda........ *sigh* stupid memes...

[@Derp13465256]

What was crazy Steve planning to do if Dick Grayson age 12 actually had killed that guy

[@skyslasher2297]

toss him on the streets most likely he's just the cruel

[@theultimatememelord5494]

Plot twist: He was hoping that Dick Grayson Age 12 would kill him.

[@kadenoverstreet6658]

I would want go back an rewrite this story with batman as the compassionate and good person that he is NOT CRAZY STEVE

[@lynkz1210]

When is ASBAR #10 review gonna come around??? I'm so excited for it!!

[@DEEAD666]

I'm ok with Sin City, I really like it, but this ain't BatMan at all.

[@Q.Q.Kachoo]

“Thomas Jeffferson and all that.” Thomas Jeffferson (with 3 Fs) is a hobo friend of Crazy Steve’s.

[@dragonsword8129]

20:22 My thoughts exactly. :)

[@svartfrasr9755]

I'mma go fetch the papers, fetch the papers.

[@CNWhatImSaiyan]

The papers will be fetched.

[@Egalitariat-likesecretariat]

Hey, he's Johnny Two-times, Johnny Two-times.

[@WeltonCG]

19:24 I've been learning Danish lately. "Tak" in this language means "Thank you." I guess Danish readers would be really weirded out by this onomatopoeia; what would Crazy Steve be thankful for? But then again, readers everywhere in the world are weirded out by ASBAR.

[@alucardyoici]

+Welton Gonçalves what onomatopoeia they have for footsteps?

[@Morningstar91939]

Who steals bleach, honestly?

[@gomamon8439]

What if the other half of Steve is Bonkers Betty? Goddamn Batman by night and angry "feminist" by day? I only suggest it because Bruce Wayne hasn't been seen since issue 1.

[@paradiso123]

Gnome King Lol, my favourite headcannon

[@th3rasave]

Gnome King i'd ask how they slim down and have their stubble removed, only to beef up and have hairy face again in "Batman" mode, but that's going down a rabbit whole I DON'T want to go down...

[@averagegamecritic]

He said Avenger! Was this a cute reference to Batman almost being in the Avengers from his crossover? Also, your joke about the trigger is hilarious!

[@TevyaSmolka]

Question linkara any opinion on all star batman and robin getting a volume 2 just wondering

[@namelesslang5909]

Regarding the whole deconstruction thing, a better series that does the idea of a nutty Batman-like figure would be the Moon Knight series. Certainly a much better and more nuanced thing than this, and it gives us great things like Moon Knight punching ghosts.

[@amiefortman7220]

Hey now, Bruce, what did John Hurt ever do to you? :)

[@kyleshea384]

Maybe he didn't like The Journey

[@kylefrank638]

Was the twist of the series going to be that Two-Face infected Batman with his own blood, like Joker in Arkham City? That'd be supported by all the captions coming in twos, and 17:37 this.

[@ckd8520]

1:29 And then DARK KNIGHT 3 happened.

[@ckd8520]

Eamonn Deane www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/133820-exxxclusive-frank-miller-to-get-co-writing-credit-on-all-double-take-comics-from-now-on.html

[@zvonimirtomac7896]

How the hell does Frank Miller still get hired to write?

[@battlion507]

+Eamonn Deane Overrated? Ya mean good but overshadows other WW works overrated or "Reviewed" to be good, but is not that great overrated?

[@jakebryant3445]

Oh boy you haven't seen the animated Killing Joke adaptation have you(Azzarello was the screenwriter(

[@PhantomLantern2814]

I've heard it's not that bad

[@matthewbissonnette4949]

I find the problem with some of the female characters in the medium of comics is that they are overly sexual in their presentation which is kind of sexist. Fan service I think is a detriment to the medium sometimes because some female characters only serve to be an attractive sex object and neglects to develop them as characters.

[@SasukeUchiha-ix2yk]

4:37 Fixer confirmed

[@noahmagana137]

10 years of the review of crazy steve issue 7

[@BrandonRaske]

anybody want linkara to upload more rerun episodes each one of the 4 days

[@Lawnie]

Y'know, I think Dick Grayson would've appreciated a Turbo Man doll more.

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

6:43 i don't know i don't think thats the reason why he hasn't tried to specifically kill the joker himself 26:11 "Violence is not strength and compassion is not weakness". Compassion is more like a "double edged-state of being" depending on the context. because sometimes, compassion can cost you A LOT, and sometime sbe very selfish depending on context. so is weakness and strength. And about Violence it depends sometimes. it shouldn't be but well, it depends on context