Back in the day, Denny O'Neil, who knows rather a lot about writing all three characters, wrote an excellent trilogy of annuals for Batman, Green Arrow, and the Question.
This year, Fabian Nicieza wrote a pair of annuals for Batman, Azrael, and the Question.
The contrast is stark.
Denny would often leave story elements unresolved or, especially with Vic Sage, unanswered, but this was deliberate and the reader was rewarded by the elevated mood and complexity.
I just don't get the same sense of satisfaction or craft from this year's story. To quote Homer Simpson, as one so often does, "it was just a bunch of stuff that happened". Perhaps I lack valuable context; I am wholly, and willfully, unaware of what's going on with the Azrael character, and that is probably the most fertile direction for theme and unity to derive, given the villain and motive.
There are ample unanswered questions, but rather than appreciate them as meat to chew on, I am left with a sense of ennui; why should I care?
I will note, in Fabe's favor, that at no point was I unaware that this was a different Batman; the characterization was effective in that way.
However, Harvey Bullock recognizing the Question's secret identity, by recognizing her ass, through her coat, is certainly a low point. The Question used to work closely with both the original Batman and Nightwing, so her ability to distinguish that the latter is now the former is not surprising. But, if Identity Crisis taught us nothing, it is that the notion of "secret identity" is fragile in the modern superhero genre, and one does not preserve a fragile thing by roughly handling it; it must needs be eschewed or dealt with delicately from afar.
Anyway, the point is, I suppose, that I really, really liked Denny's work on The Question, especially when Rick Magyar's inks made Denys Cowan's art look better than before or since, and there's not anything that gives me the same juice today. Of course, I'm twenty years older. That probably has something to do with it.
The title of the post, incidentally, is a pun on "superannuated". 'Cause it's a Batman Annual, not a Superman Annual, and my tastes in comics are probably too old for today. Yeah, OK.
Posted by Greg at November 1, 2009 9:53 PM
I see what you are saying about the Question and Grayson.
It would make sense for a disguised hero to rely on more than a mask to hide their identity. Even having stage ability is only going to go so far. If somebody gets within spitting distance, facial details are likely going to be enough to blow the charade if the two people know each-other enough.
But, on the other hand, Grayson would have little reason to be that wary of Montoya/Question.
Dom
-through the coat, really?
There was a time Harvey Bullock was one of the leaders of a major spy agency instead of a down on his luck, sad sack slob of a cop.
I give him the nod.