Okay, so it's been a while, but I have still been reading comics, and thinking about them. Up this time is the Hardcover, Widescreen Graphic Novel of the delayed "Holy Terror Batman!" by Frank Miller, now known simply as "Holy Terror" and you can tell right away this is not going to be nuanced.
The story is a ham-fisted tale of how The Fixer has to save the city from extremists, that are using nail suicide bombs to terrorize the city. There is nothing particularly memorable about these troubled, and or “evil” people. The plot is just as hollow as unfounded accusations of the Hill Billy trash that lives in the Ozarks, and has never seen the ocean. That being said, it’s a simple plot that doesn’t seem to be taken seriously. For a writer of Miller’s caliber who did “Martha Washington”, and his brilliant run on “Daredevil” this is not the best Frank Miller can do.
As for the controversial nature of the work where it’s Islamaphobic, maybe it is. But for those that don’t like it, don’t read it. It’s all a matter of freedom of speech. Even hate speech. In the 1940’s after Pearl Harbor the United States propaganda machine would depict the Japanese people as Buck toothed, sometimes fanged, slant eyed, yellow monsters, upon posters that gleefully declared “Slap a Jap”. This comic, I find no different than the propaganda of that era.
The artwork is some of Frank’s best. It’s almost as if “The Dark Knight Strikes Again” never happened. The art is reminiscent of his “Sin City” stories, so is the romance sub plot, but the stark black and white artwork at the front of the book is it’s best. Miller may be a loon to some, but his simplistic, and powerful art design still looks damn good.
About a little over half way through, you can see where the art changes from pre-DC and post-DC. The line is mighty clear, but the art still holds up. But in the end this isn’t a Batman story. It you could insert any number of non-super strong comic characters, and have a equally dumb, yet amazing looking romp through this New York City analog.
Bottom Line: If you can take this comic book for what it is, a ham-fisted, shallow story, and well illustrated piece of propaganda, then you just might like it.
Final Score: Holy Terror receives 3 Stars, out of 5.
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