Holy Terror, Batman!
Encyclopedia
Holy Terror is a graphic novel by Frank Miller
. Miller has described the book as "a piece of propaganda
", and claimed that it is "bound to offend just about everybody."
The book was originally proposed as Holy Terror, Batman! in 2006 but is no longer a project associated with the Batman character or DC Comics
. Miller explained in 2010, "It’s no longer a DC book. I decided partway through it that it was not a Batman story."
from an attack by the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda
. According to Miller, the comic would have been a "piece of propaganda
" in which Batman "kicks Al-Qaeda's ass."
Miller announced the graphic novel during a panel at the WonderCon
comic book
convention
held in San Francisco in 2006.
He summarized the work as, "not to put too fine a point on it, a piece of propaganda... Superman
punched out Hitler. So did Captain America
. That's one of the things they're there for."
The title of the graphic novel is a reference to the War on Terrorism
as well as the catchphrase
("Holy [something], Batman!") used by Burt Ward
(Robin
) in the 1960s Batman television series
.
Later that year, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks
, NPR
aired a brief memorial commentary by Miller which provided insight into his inspiration for this project: "For the first time in my life I know how it feels to face an existential menace. They want us to die. All of a sudden I realize what my parents were talking about all those years. Patriotism, I now believe, isn't some sentimental, old conceit. It's self-preservation. I believe patriotism is central to a nation's survival. Ben Franklin said it: If we don't all hang together, we all hang separately."
In a May 2007 interview Miller relayed that he was still at work on the graphic novel which he said was "bound to offend just about everybody". Miller also said he was about 100 pages into it with 50 remaining. The following year Miller said the series, until then being billed as Holy War, Batman, would no longer feature Batman. "As I worked on it, it became something that was no longer Batman. It's somewhere past that and I decided it's going to be part of a new series that I'm starting.”
In 2010, Miller said he was no longer working on that project, clarifying that Holy Terror was in progress but without Batman. He later said it would feature a new character called The Fixer and not be published by DC: "It's no longer a DC book. I decided partway through it that it was not a Batman story. The hero is much closer to Dirty Harry
than Batman. It's a new hero that I've made up that fights Al Qaeda."
criticized the idea:
Upon release, Holy Terror was criticized as anti-Islamic propaganda. Spencer Ackerman of Wired
said,
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
. Miller has described the book as "a piece of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
", and claimed that it is "bound to offend just about everybody."
The book was originally proposed as Holy Terror, Batman! in 2006 but is no longer a project associated with the Batman character or DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Miller explained in 2010, "It’s no longer a DC book. I decided partway through it that it was not a Batman story."
Development
As originally announced the plot revolved around Batman defending Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
from an attack by the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. According to Miller, the comic would have been a "piece of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
" in which Batman "kicks Al-Qaeda's ass."
Miller announced the graphic novel during a panel at the WonderCon
WonderCon
WonderCon is an annual comic book, science fiction, and motion picture convention, held in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987.The convention was conceived by retailer John Barrett and originally held in the Oakland Convention Center, where it remained until 2003, when it moved to San...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
convention
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
held in San Francisco in 2006.
He summarized the work as, "not to put too fine a point on it, a piece of propaganda... Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
punched out Hitler. So did Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. That's one of the things they're there for."
The title of the graphic novel is a reference to the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
as well as the catchphrase
Snowclone
A snowclone is a type of cliché and phrasal template originally defined as "a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence that can be used in an entirely open array of different variants"....
("Holy [something], Batman!") used by Burt Ward
Burt Ward
Burt Ward is an American television actor and activist. He is best known for his portrayal of Robin in the television series Batman and its theatrical film spin-off.-Early life:...
(Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
) in the 1960s Batman television series
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
.
Later that year, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
aired a brief memorial commentary by Miller which provided insight into his inspiration for this project: "For the first time in my life I know how it feels to face an existential menace. They want us to die. All of a sudden I realize what my parents were talking about all those years. Patriotism, I now believe, isn't some sentimental, old conceit. It's self-preservation. I believe patriotism is central to a nation's survival. Ben Franklin said it: If we don't all hang together, we all hang separately."
In a May 2007 interview Miller relayed that he was still at work on the graphic novel which he said was "bound to offend just about everybody". Miller also said he was about 100 pages into it with 50 remaining. The following year Miller said the series, until then being billed as Holy War, Batman, would no longer feature Batman. "As I worked on it, it became something that was no longer Batman. It's somewhere past that and I decided it's going to be part of a new series that I'm starting.”
In 2010, Miller said he was no longer working on that project, clarifying that Holy Terror was in progress but without Batman. He later said it would feature a new character called The Fixer and not be published by DC: "It's no longer a DC book. I decided partway through it that it was not a Batman story. The hero is much closer to Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry
Dirty Harry is a 1971 American crime thriller produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan....
than Batman. It's a new hero that I've made up that fights Al Qaeda."
Criticism
In August 2006, fellow Batman writer Grant MorrisonGrant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
criticized the idea:
Upon release, Holy Terror was criticized as anti-Islamic propaganda. Spencer Ackerman of Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
said,