Frank Milleris without a doubt a legend in the comic community, having written some of DC’s most iconic and influential stories, including the four-issue miniseriesThe Dark Knight Returns(1986), starringBatman. There’s no denying that he is an expert authority in this realm of pop culture, so when he calls something“the ugliest thing I’ve seen in comics,”it is definitely worth paying attention to.
Miller is no stranger to taking risks in both his narratives and his art. However, the creative genius has officially labeled DC’sA Death in the Familystorylineas“the ugliest”thing he has seen in comics, or more accurately, the way the outcome of that storyline came to be.
For those who need a refresher,A Death in the Familyis a 1988 story arc by Jim Starlin that ran inBatman#426–429. It is widely regarded as one of the darkest and most important stories in the Dark Knight’s history, as it featured the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd, at the hands of the Joker. Butit’s not just the story itself that Miller finds so disturbing.
Frank Miller Calls Out DC’s Darkest Moment
Why Letting Fans Vote to Kill Robin Was“the Ugliest Thing”in Comics
In the interview,“Batman and the Twilight of the Idols: An Interview with Frank Miller"by Christopher Sharrett, Miller shared strong opinions aboutA Death in the Familywhen the subject came up. He said,“A Death in the Family should be singled out as the most cynical thing that particular publisher has ever done.”
This is an incredibly bold statement, especially when storylines such asAlan Moore’sThe Killing Joke(1988), Brad Meltzer’sIdentity Crisis(2004), and Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’sThe Judas Contract(1984) exist. However, as Miller continued to elaborate, it became clear that he wasn’t just referring to the story’s content.
Miller went on to explain,“An actual toll-free number where fans can call in to put the axe to a little boy’s head. To me the whole killing of Robin thing was probably the ugliest thing I’ve seen in comics, and the most cynical.”While killing off a child character was already dark,Miller found it especially grim that DC allowed fans to vote on the boy’s fate through a toll-free number.
DC’s Ugliest Moment Gave Rise to One of Their BEST Characters
Why We’re Willing to Forgive DC for TheirA Death in the FamilyStoryline
There is no denying that Miller has an incredibly valid point. Asking fans to decide the fate of a child, even a fictional one, through a public vote feels beyond morbid and carries an almost dystopian tone. Still,without this moment in comics history, one of the Bat-Family’s best characters may never have been born.
It was because of that fan decision, and DC’s willingness to follow through with it, that writer Judd Winick was later able to transform Jason Todd into one of the most beloved and badass anti-heroes in pop culture history. Without Jason’s death, he would never have become the iconic Red Hood. In this way, something undeniably ugly gave rise to one of the greatestBatmancharacters of all time.
Source: Comics Beat
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
Red Hood
Jason Todd is a complex figure known for his tumultuous journey as Batman’s second Robin. Initially impulsive and rebellious, he’s resurrected after a tragic death, becoming the vigilante Red Hood. Armed with intense combat skills and a moral ambiguity, he challenges Batman’s methods, navigating a path between heroism and anti-heroism in Gotham’s unforgiving streets.
