So, here's the hardback collection of the first nine issues of Batman: Year One And A Half, by Year One writer Frank Miller and Hush artist Jim Lee....does the clash of grim-and-gritty early Batman plus colourful traditional superhero art work?   No.

When the series originally came out, I gave it one issue before dumping it in disgust.  This wasn't Batman.  This wasn't a natural extension of Year One.  This was soft focus porn-lite with a Bat finish.  The closeups of Vicki Vale in her underwear were not only unnecessary to the plot, they were typical fan-service-wank, a seeming deliberate attempt to position the book firmly at a teen audience, leave your brain at the door here's some tits for your dick.

I'm pleased to report that the series art does improve after that opening chapter (although there are still a few unnecessary scenes scattered throughout) ... sadly the script collapses in a steaming heap of dingo's kidneys.  Batman takes pleasure in smacking peoples' heads in, his dialogue throughout is totally ridiculous;

"Sleep tight, punk" - Batman to Dick Grayson

"What, are you dense?  Are you retarded or something? I'm the goddamn Batman" - ditto

"Nuts?  You wanna see nuts? I'll show you nuts" - ditto

Well excuse me, but if an older guy offers to show a 12 year old his nuts, he needs locking up immediately.

The story, then - it's Robin: Year One, how Dick Grayson came to be Robin, dragged screaming and kicking into (what Miller thinks is) the 21st Century with (what Miller thinks is) hip dialogue and (what Miller thinks is) a modern sensibility.

Despite this, once you disengage your brain, it's actually a reasonably entertaining ride - a lightweight popcorn movie, enjoyable for the couple of hours it lasts, but totally forgettable afterwards.

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