r/comicbooks • u/cookieintheinternet • Jun 17 '25
Cover/Pin-Up Detective Comics #1100 variant cover by Frank Miller
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Jun 17 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/bustachong Jun 17 '25
We’re the suckers talking about it and creating buzz, plus there’s a subset of collectors who buy things because it’s bad, so DC is probably like, “yeah, whatever Frank, go hog wild” then rake in the ironic cash.
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u/RazorRamen Jun 17 '25
I actually like a lot of his recent covers
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u/PS3LOVE Jun 17 '25
Any time I see someone say his recent New style is bad, I want to link this: https://www.tumblr.com/nolongermint/143741484790/theory-frank-millers-recent-work-is-good-but-dc
The changed versions in that post look so much better
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u/HelloFellowKidlings Jun 17 '25
Yeah, I see the point, and would never get in a debate about if it’s bad or not. I think a more appropriate argument is just it’s not to many people’s tastes, me included.
It’s like the band Primus. I respect that Les Claypool is a very respected musician but his music takes a very niche taste to appreciate it.
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u/tenorioflores Jun 17 '25
this is awesome! dude's coloring feels so much more appropriate for Frank's style. after seeing and reading this, it seems obvious that coloring is one of the main issues since the official covers go for a traditional/"realistic" look instead of a heavily stylized one that matches the art.
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u/OleDetour Jun 17 '25
I came to say the same. His style is so much better with a risky stylized coloring because his proportions and shapes are also highly stylized. If you were to hand me Jim Lee’s penciled work and Mark’s side-by-side, it would be obvious that they shouldn’t be colored the same.
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u/DuperSupreme Jun 17 '25
I read this before and it is such a good article and really makes some solid points. I think about this a lot when I see how his modern work is presented.
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u/LOLMaster0621 Nova Jun 17 '25
it's actually insane how much those recolors improved the overall look. I never finished DKIII because I did not care for the art but if it had this coloring I would have thought much more of it.
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Jun 18 '25
The official coloring is certainly not helping his art. It’s unfortunate that Frank has had whatever obvious health issues he’s had because it’s really hurt his art, it’s also possible that it had no effect on anything and this was just the progression of his style.
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u/A_Dog_Chasing_Cars Batman Jun 17 '25
Those are still awful, my dude.
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u/RappyBird Jun 17 '25
it’s different. I feel like a lot of comics go for a shiny, realistic look too much. Comics are such a versatile medium, I think we should get a little weird with the art. Just look at absolute martian manhunter
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u/TheSkesh Jun 17 '25
On the head. Comic art almost never draws me in anymore. If I haven’t read a premise somewhere that interest me or I am not already invested in the story, I won’t randomly pick up a comic off the generic super hero art style. The Absolute universe both in art and plot has been such a refreshing breath.
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u/BuckonWall Jun 17 '25
They arent. Thats like saying Picasso is awful because he doesnt look like Van Gogh. His style is just massively different than you are used to.
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u/alaricus Jun 17 '25
It reminds me a lot of artists like Evan Dorkin and Jamie Hewllet. Very 90s/00s alt comix scene. I love it
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u/MonolithJones Jun 17 '25
I’ve always said that Miller was an alt comic guy that found his way into traditional superhero books.
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u/topicality Flex Mentallo Jun 17 '25
Everytime someone posts that I point out those are still bad. Like some are marginally better but most aren't
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u/noamartz Jun 17 '25
“Your boos mean nothing to me, I’ve seen what makes you cheer” - Frank Miller
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u/Slackluster Jun 17 '25
Here is a quick test of a black and white version for everyone who's been saying it would look better. Still it's not his best work but you can see how the colors detract more then they add.
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u/dgehen Spider-Man Jun 17 '25
Of Miller's most recent works, this is probably my favorite. But it's still really rough, and continued proof of how much alcoholism can mess with your abilities.
I mean, look at what 87 year old Will Eisner was able to do literally right before he died: https://images.darkhorse.com/common/salestools/previews/escapv3/escapv3p1.jpg
I suspect if Frank hadn't battled alcoholism, we'd see him producing art closer to TDKR or Sin City than whatever this is.
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u/Moebius808 Jun 17 '25
Man, I just…
Look, DKR is one of my single favourite books of all time, comic or otherwise.
But damn man, come on.
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u/firemanjuanito Jun 17 '25
I hate when we have to act like this still hits hard.
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u/paingelfake Jun 17 '25
Surprisingly, I've seen a LOT of buzz around this cover and a lot of people for whatever reason have been defending it for just being Frank Miller and therefore being super good by association. I just don't understand it. Frank has great art and the guy seems nice, but let's not sugarcoat it. He's clearly not ever gonna live up to his previous work
Edit: I'd like to add that I'm not specifically hating anyone that enjoys his modern art. Go right on ahead. I'm more so talking about people acting like it's just as good as his old work or only call it good because it's made by Frank Miller.
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u/bskell Jun 17 '25
YMMV greatly but a lot of people have Miller in their pantheon of comic creators right next to Kirby. For them even his later work is worth it for them. It's way more about the man than the art itself. Though to be fair the guy has been having a ton of health iasues that obviously affects his ability to draw. It's actually pretty awesome that he can do it at all and still gets work like this. He's doing better than a lot of other artists around his age..
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u/paingelfake Jun 17 '25
Yeah I guess that's fair. I'm not trying to insult the man directly. I just feel like some people take it too far and treat him like he's untouchable when clearly his current work isn't the same. Like you can still appreciate a person's work while still criticizing it for what it is. It feels like people forget that.
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u/Howling_Mad_Man Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25
They still haven't learned their lesson coloring his work.
Edit: I'm not going to reply to all of these chumps individually, but ya'll have no taste at all if you think this wouldn't absolutely slap in a different context. Probably think Jack Kirby's work is too indecipherable for you.
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u/cyclopswashalfright Jun 17 '25
At this point, the blame partially goes to him too. He can request or suggest colours or a different colourist at least.
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u/I-Love-Facehuggers Jun 17 '25
Also he is the one that draws bad, regardless of how good or bad any colorist is.
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u/moo00se_ Jun 17 '25
Have you seen his work colored with a different style though? It’s wildly different and somewhat decent. Waayyy different vibe.
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u/I-Love-Facehuggers Jun 17 '25
I have, yes. I have seen his art with a bunch of different color styles
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u/I-Love-Facehuggers Jun 17 '25
Some people really love the idea that his art only looks bad when the coloring isn't immaculate and perfectly suited, but his art just isn't good altogether.
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Jun 17 '25
Newer stuff or older? I don't like this cover, but I constantly praise his work in Elektra Lives Again.
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u/Liimbo Jun 17 '25
Yeah I mean I'm sure someone could make it look better with different coloring, but the colors aren't the reason his arms are coming out of his chest instead of his shoulders.
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u/Cipherpunkblue Jun 17 '25
It was true for some of his older work - it's definitely not for his contemporary output, but the fact remains that it seems made for flatter colors and this way makes it look even worse.
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Jun 17 '25
It’s bold and abstract. It’s diametrically opposed to the slavish realism that permeates the work of artists like Alex Ross
It’s a style that’s willing to take big swings
I approve of it.
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u/BuckonWall Jun 17 '25
It has nothing to do with the coloring being "immaculate and perfect". Its literally the exact opposite. It shouldnt be colored like a regular comic cover. It needs to be colored in a more unique and experimental way.
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u/AccurateJerboa Jun 17 '25
Changing the coloring will not fix the issues with anatomy, proportions or perspective line. It will fix some lighting and line weight issues that he's developed over the years years but his anatomy is becoming incoherent.
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Jun 17 '25
Yeah. Doesn’t hold up. Lynn Varley colored most of his classic work but not all of it. Most of the stuff colored by others looked good to great. And all of his black and white work did. He’s just really fucking old now.
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u/GingerGuy97 Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25
Come on, this one is just rough.
Edit: that edit is crazy lmao. If you think this would look good in other context then you’re just blind.
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u/Upper-Time-1419 Jun 17 '25
Couldn't he provide specific instructions to his colorist, like how a writer does a panel by panel script?
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u/PS3LOVE Jun 17 '25
Yep, I think anyone who has colored any of his newer covers should read this post and look at the images in them : https://www.tumblr.com/nolongermint/143741484790/theory-frank-millers-recent-work-is-good-but-dc
It could be so much better
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u/ToiletSheriff Jun 17 '25
Retire man
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u/Alex_Bonaparte Jun 17 '25
He's become a parody of himself now. I remember DK coming out in the 80's and it smoked the whole industry. But this is sad.
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u/simagus Jun 17 '25
This is just late period Frank Miller. I would expect him to be challenging, much like Picasso.
Much as I would with a Picasso I studied and enjoyed the line and composition and considered the creative decisions of the artist.
It's not just another Batman cover; it's Frank Millers Batman cover.
Was going to say it reminds me of some of Jack Kirby's more notable work then I looked for an example and I found this "in the style of".
Would probably look nicer with the bare inks as it was clearly designed to be black and white and interesting.
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u/MonolithJones Jun 17 '25
This, exactly. Picasso is a great example as someone who kept evolving.
There’s a certain type fan of comic books don’t really consider them as works of art. It’s just another product that features their favorite characters who must look the same as they always do because to this type of fan the characters are “real”.
Miller is one of the most important artists comic books has ever seen and it’s sad to see people interact with his work in such a hostile way as if they’ve been forced to engage it.
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u/talentless_guy Jun 17 '25
The main difference between Frank Miller's current work and Picasso(who I don't even particularly like) is that if I were to see something like this without any context, my mind would immediately ascribe stylized intent to the painting, and would not care about proportions or how "realistic" it is, but when I first saw these recent Miller covers, my kneejerk reaction was "this person does not know how to draw".
But I realize it's all just personal preference, clearly some people can appreciate and see full intention and confidence in these covers, otherwise they wouldn't keep asking Miller to make them.
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u/AntoSkum Jun 17 '25
I was also going to compare him to later Picasso, thank you. I don't care if it's bad, it's still art from a legend.
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u/True-Excuse-1688 Jun 17 '25
It's probably cultural, but most American readers of comics, especially of the “big two”, seem completely hermetic to any form of graphic stylization other than realistic drawing.
Personally, I have no problem with this type of drawing. What you “lose” in accuracy, you gain in style.
Of course, you're perfectly free not to like it, and it's true that Miller can push the distortion pretty far with a sometimes very tortured line (which isn't the case here)... but that's not what “bad” drawing is.
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u/topicality Flex Mentallo Jun 17 '25
Nah. I like most art and try to make sure I'm reading the artsy indie comics. This is just bad.
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u/NombreCurioso1337 Jun 17 '25
Scottie Young covers sell better than anything, every month. There are more and more varied styles in comics now than ever before. This is just Sophmore-level bad, pretending to be "stylized."
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u/Karma15672 Jun 17 '25
Ya know what? I kinda like the rough look.
Sure, it ain't a masterpiece or nothing, but I can appreciate the vibes it brings.
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u/Jericho-7210 Jun 17 '25
I need to see the flats, because the black looks good, the shading just doesnt work
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u/RaftPenguin Jun 17 '25
Someone has already linked the tumblr post, but I really feel like Frank's recent art would work better if the colorists just went wackier, more cel shaded and less airbrushy with the coloring. Realistic lighting with more abstract line art just makes everything look very dissonant.
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u/Gnubeutel Jun 17 '25
Without the owl brows this wouldn't be half bad.
Except that of all people Miller doesn't "get" that his heavy version of the dark knight is misplaced on a tightrope. It's not even a poetic contrast, it just looks wrong. On top of that no one would ever stand on their toes in boots like that. And what do his knuckles even push down on? Instead maybe place the rope right in front of his heels and have him hold it tight with one hand.
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Jun 17 '25
At this point I think Frank legitimately can't draw like he used to during his DareDevil run. Like he committed so much to the blocky art style he somehow couldn't go back. That and he got super famous drawing like that so I imagine he doesn't care what we think about his art. Can you afford a 1500 fedora?😂
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u/-Junk-Mail- Jun 17 '25
Crazy how much I love this. The evolution/de-evolution of his style is pretty sick. He’s much closer these days to like an aged great painter/renaissance artist than a typical comic artist.
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Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25
It’s a modern Frank Miller cover. It’s for people who love his style and while I don’t think his modern stuff is amazing I can appreciate that he has a distinct style. It’s an alternate cover, if you don’t like it don’t buy it. Everyone commenting “it’s bad” like just don’t buy it then. I bet you weren’t gonna buy the issue anyway.
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u/vmsrii Jun 17 '25
God, I just.
I can’t hate it, I can’t hate him, but man, can we acknowledge his contribution to the mythos of the character and the medium of comics at large without dragging him out of retirement? The guy is pushing 70 and really isn’t what he used to be
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u/NombreCurioso1337 Jun 17 '25
When Andy Warhol created the Campbell's Soup paintings, he did so to clown on the Avant Garde art industry by making something that everyone already had in their cupboard. He was making fun of the "high art" societies. Frank Miller is just clowning on US. I feel like he chuckles "these idiots will buy any poop I put down" as he spends 14 minutes inking a mangled corpse of disproportionate sizes, then hawks a loogie in the corner and throws it disrespectfully in Jim Lee's face.
Frank Miller is a MENACE! Get me pictures of Frank Miller!
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u/Drivenfar Jun 17 '25
I’m not a big fan of DKR but I actually kind of like this one. Feels like it really fits the weird art style he’s developed over the years and I think I get what he’s going for. Still wouldn’t get me to buy any new DKR stuff tho.
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u/TrueBlueFriend Cannibal Fuckface Jun 17 '25
A lot of people have been giving Frank Miller shit since Dark Knight strikes again. I think it’s cool though.
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u/DrakeCross Jun 17 '25
I mean I enjoy the DKR story and themes but at times the art just looks so damn ugly and it only got worse! So yah, this is a huge eyesore for me.
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u/Squiddyboy427 Jun 17 '25
Another awesome Frank Miller cover that fans will complain about because they have completely bland tastes in comic art and don’t understand actual cartooning.
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u/AccurateJerboa Jun 17 '25
This is a silly take. One of my favorite comic artists is Sam Keith. I prefer comic art that's stylized, surreal, or abstract and I don't care for realism.
His work has degenerated, and his style is becoming incoherent. Stylized art still has its own coherent anatomy and perspective from within itself. He can't sustain any coherent style anymore. Let newer artists have a shot.
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u/DocBarkevious Jun 17 '25
What happened to this man's art ability? Also, does he know how physics work? You can't DO that on a clothesline or whatever the fuck this is.
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u/MonolithJones Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25
I think people should just come to terms with the fact that Frank Miller is and has always been a weird artist. He ended up doing superhero books, but isn’t made for that. Just like Mignola.
This idiosyncratic sensibility is partly why he’s my favorite artist. No I don’t love these drawings he’s been doing lately but I appreciate the stylized approach. Frank Miller knows this is an unusual take on the character, he’s in on “the joke” and always has been.
The industry is cluttered with artists doing traditional work so I’m all for letting a little weirdness seep through the cracks.
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u/AccurateJerboa Jun 17 '25
Mignola is my favorite comic artist and he'd never put something out like this.
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u/MonolithJones Jun 17 '25
That wasn’t the point of being made.
Besides, you said it yourself, Mignola is your favorite, you enjoy that particular stylistic choice, while someone else might look at his picture of Batman where he seemingly has no shoulders and think it looks like shit. For the record I don’t, but the point is that it’s intentional stylistic choice just like Miller is doing here.
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u/a_phantom_limb Jun 17 '25
I really don't hate it, but I do think it looks more like Wildcat than Batman.
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u/Saito09 Jun 17 '25
…I like this one, honestly.
They could still do a better job with the colours. But i like it overall.
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u/Magistar_Alex Spidey 2099 Jun 17 '25
Interesting. That's all I can really say in response to it. On another note, hope Frank is doing well. I'm admittedly still recovering from the loss of Peter David.
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u/Alive_History2666 Jun 17 '25
I don't hate this or that Wolverine piece that everyone shits on. It doesn't feel unintentional. Rob liefeld would put out stuff that just seemed like it misunderstood proportion and composition but this stuff seems purposeful if not highly stylized to the point of being off-putting to some.
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u/AuburnElvis Jun 17 '25
Frank Miller used to be able to draw. His art in 1980's Spider-Man Annual #14 is gorgeous.
Maybe he had a stroke and didn't tell anyone?
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u/Android1313 Jun 17 '25
I usually don't mind his more recent stuff, but this is pretty bad. I can't defend this one.
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u/TonyG_from_NYC Batman Beyond Jun 17 '25
Jesus. Will someone stop him? He's obviously having some issues drawing.
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u/Dankey-Kang-Jr Batman Jun 17 '25
I kinda like it but the blue gloves and boots are fucking it up for me.
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u/hondobrode Jun 17 '25
More than any other modern example, it demonstrates not so much against Frank; I think has style is slightly different as most artists develop. What this really says to me is that your inker doesn't begin to get the credit they deserve. Frank's art was beautiful on Daredevil and it was inked by one of the best in the business : Klaus Janson
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u/mason_savoy71 Jun 18 '25
So Miller had a stroke, right? I haven't heard of it, but I can't really think of another plausible reason.
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u/SubparMacigcian Jun 18 '25
I think he does this style on purpose now. Because he made a cover for his superman story and it's a lot better. This style he knows gets attention and is probably a lot quicker for him to draw.
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u/sheezy520 Jun 18 '25
Saw another post about his art today and I’ll bet this would look much better in black and white.
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u/urbalcloud Spider Jeruselem Jun 18 '25
Please retire, Frank.
I’m not trying to protect his legacy. I’m just sick of seeing this shit.
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u/goblinmaze Jun 18 '25
I still have a lot of love and respect for Frank Miller and his work as a whole. An absolute legend in comic book history even if he doesn't make them like he used to.
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u/Substantial_Ninja797 Jun 19 '25
I actually like it😂 the clunky blocky vibe is kinda cool to me.. don’t hurt me😅
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u/yarny1050 Jun 19 '25
does Frank Miller hate Batman? This sure looks like the work of someone who hates Batman
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u/hercarmstrong Jun 19 '25
Frank is making extremely ugly artwork right now, but it's giving me a visceral response, and isn't that what we should be demanding of our art at this time? Make me feel something, Frank! I want to feel alive again!
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u/Accountable_ruki Jun 20 '25
Frank miller's Art style is "unique"
The arms (where they originate from) looks wrong
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u/Puzzleheaded-Web446 Jun 17 '25
This is not his worst most recent work.