Quarter Bin #27 "St. Swithin, Grant Morrison, Batman, and people named Grayson"

ST. SWITHIN’S DAY (Oni)
From March 1998:
I probably don’t need to make too fine an argument about Grant Morrison having a predilection for writing outsiders. Now, one could write quite an essay concerning the many different ways that Morrison has come to define “outsider,” but suffice it to say, this done-in-one story is an example of him attempting to place that impulse in a more ordinary setting, using contemporary characters and a holiday (that British folk will recognize, anyway). I happen to greatly favor comics that feature caption narration, and that’s exactly what this one does. You wouldn’t be able to differentiate it from the kind of graphic novels that the mainstream and comic book awards seem to prefer (for the sake of that mainstream credibility), and it’s one of those Morrison projects that makes you wonder what his work would be like if he took a few more steps away from superheroes every now and again (though I firmly believe that when all’s said and done, he’ll emerge as one of the most important comic book writers ever).

BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #10 (DC)
From August 1990:
The conclusion of Morrison’s five-part “Gothic” arc (which followed his ARKHAM ASYLUM and was the only other substantial Bat-work prior to what he’s been doing since 2006), which I have still yet to read in its entirety (I believe that all good things don’t need to be rushed, though it doesn’t hurt to get around to them). ST. SWITHIN’S DAY was one of those random Morrison works that are fantastic to find, while “Gothic” is one that I’ve been aware of for years but haven’t made a huge effort to read simply for the fact that in the grand scheme, it now merely represents what he can do if he only puts in a tenth of the effort he’s capable of achieving. When you’re making your way through a favorite writer whilst reading other writers and god knows doing what else, sometimes it’s okay to dial back the comprehensive appreciation (but again, only for so long!). Part of the reason I write this Quarter Bin column is to demonstrate my own path to discovery, not so much to explain everything that I find, so that anyone who’s reading this and wondering how it’s done needn’t be too intimidated. In other words, I find what I like, and so can you.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #14 (DC)
From April 2001:
Like LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, GOTHAM KNIGHTS was another book added to the Batman family of ongoing series that maybe could be considered extraneous (given that the Dark Knight presumably will always have DETECTIVE COMICS and BATMAN itself, and two is more than most characters will ever enjoy), though with Batman, usually a new title really is warranted, because it allows creators to approach his world from a fresh perspective. I picked this one up because it featured Devin Grayson and Roger Robinson, both of whom I consider to be wildly unappreciated, on the creative team. Grayson happens to be writing Nightwing (as she did in his own books for a number of years, the best writer not named Chuck Dixon or Kyle Higgins to do so) in this issue, and that was the other reason I couldn’t pass it up.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #17 (DC)
From July 2001:
Grayson and Robinson are still at work, and still writing Nightwing (though with Batman in the mix), concluding their tale of Matatoa, a villain I would love to see resurface. (That’s what can be so interesting about different creative eras, in that interesting concepts a succeeding creative team or two decided to ignore can be easily brought back). Since GOTHAM KNIGHTS came about when I wasn’t reading comics, it’s always a nice title to sample from the back issue bins. Grayson gets a bad rap for trying to make Nightwing too vulnerable, but I think a writer who can understand how a character works and the most interesting things to do with them shouldn’t be shunned, but rather celebrated.

BATMAN #436 (DC)
From 1989:
Mar Wolfman begins “Batman Year 3” (following Frank Miller’s “Year One” and Mike Barr’s “Year Two”), focusing on Dick Grayson’s origins (famously inserting Tim Drake into the picture so that the new Robin would have a strong link to the Batman family’s past). Maybe call Kyle Higgins a little shameless for exploiting this particular impulse of some Nightwing fans, but this particular comic book background never gets old for me, Dick’s circus experiences evoking something that becomes less familiar to today’s youth with every passing year. Just imagine, fifty years from now, trying to explain this same story to a kid who has never even heard of the circus! I’m sure modifications will be made, just as DC has consistently done in the past, why a story like “Year Three” was even written in the first place, to update, with new significance, new context, new perspective, something we already know.