REVIEW - Frank Miller's Holy Terror

Review by Brian Grindrod

The first original graphic novel release in a decade by Frank Miller has been the focal point of much controversy since its release. This 10 x 13 landscape book was initially conceived as a Batman story that would pit the character against Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda as the artist’s response to the events of September 11, 2001. In other words, a propaganda comic book such as the ones that Timely (now Marvel) and DC Comics would publish during World War II. Ghoulish looking German Nazis, demonic inspired looking Japanese soldiers and Adolf Hitler were depicted on titles such as Captain America and Action Comics while other comic book covers would encourage the purchase of War Bonds and the support of U.S. troops.

Consistent with Frank Miller’s past work in which he has never shied away from expressing his social and political views through the comic book medium, Holy Terror clearly states Miller’s position about the threat of radical Islamists. However, the negative responses to the graphic novel and personal attacks directed at Frank Miller has obviously hit a raw nerve to a society that has become all too willing to adhere to the Politically Correct doctrine that has made us fearful of expressing our true opinions and making us guilty for doing so.

Regardless whether you agree or not with his propaganda piece about the subject of the threat of radical Islam, Frank Miller’s renderings, panel display, and cinematic flow is a breathtaking combination of storyboard telling and graphic art. The occasional hint of color on the black and white illustrations taunts the eye into paying attention as to what the artist wants you to focus on the page while conveying the script’s solemn atmosphere. Like Frank Miller’s 300 graphic novel from which the Hollywood blockbuster was visually inspired from, the landscape layout allows Miller to experiment with panel designs that brings about unusual sequences and techniques of screenplay. The dialogue and narration is kept to the bare minimum in order to fully exploit this non-traditional graphic novel format in order to allow the viewer to appreciate the artwork.

You can check out some of the preview pages by clicking on the following link;
https://s3.amazonaws.com/legendary-production/downloads/Frank-Miller-Holy-Terror-First-Five.pdf

A Frank Miller graphic novel always signals the arrival of a new age in comic books. Holy Terror proves this once again. From his traditional comic book styling on Marvel Comics’ Daredevil to the now classic Sin City series, Frank Miller proves once again why he is a pioneer in the comic book medium.