Confused by Grant Morrison’s Batman? Sequart Explains it All
Sequart Organization is proud to announce the release of The Anatomy of Zur-en-Arrh: Understanding Grant Morrison’s Batman, by Cody Walker.
Grant Morrison has made a career of redefining heroes, but his work with Batman has been the most comprehensive. From Arkham Asylum and JLA to his recent seven-year run on the Batman titles, Morrison has redefined and reworked the Caped Crusader from the ground up. He’s also introduced new characters (such as Damian Wayne) and new concepts (such as Batman, Inc.).
The Anatomy of Zur-En-Arrh looks at how Morrison’s run understands and reinterprets Batman’s long history. Also, an exclusive interview with Morrison rounds out the book.
The book runs 272 pages and is available in print (list price $16.99) and on Kindle (list price $6.99). For more information on The Anatomy of Zur-En-Arrh, visit the book’s official page. Also, the book features a beautiful cover by David A. Frizell.
What does it say about Morrison’s story if someone has to write a book to explain it? My answer is: Morrison is too self-indulgent and was writing for himself not the readers.
But then what does that make League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which rewards deep reading and serious trivia? I mean, you can’t reasonably expect everybody to have read Bob’s Batman Encyclopedia.
You’re comparing apples and oranges – Batman is (or should be, or it’s on the march to extinction as a comic) accessible to more-or-less casual readers.
LoEG, OTOH, is intended for a rather more limited audience.
That was the big problem with the movie, for that matter – they figured that they had to “simplify” it (i.e., stupidise it) in order for it to be acceptable to a mass audience.