History Comicbook / AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder

The series was infamous for, among other things, [[ScheduleSlip having an erratic release schedule]]. After the run came to an end[[note]]As in no new issues were published, not that [[CutShort the story itself had been completed]][[/note]], it was announced in 2010 that Frank Miller would write a ContinuityReboot called ''Dark Knight: Boy Wonder'' that would go on for 6 issues and [[AuthorsSavingThrow compile the story that he wanted to tell originally]]. More than half a decade later, there's still no word on [[DevelopmentHell when exactly this series will arrive.]]

* InNameOnly: Pretty much ''everyone'' is insanely OutOfCharacter, but Black Canary is given an entirely new back story and motivation, turning from a LegacyCharacter of her mother into an Irish immigrant from a [[MassiveNumberedSiblings large family]] working at a sleazy bar, who was inspired into crime-fighting ([[SociopathicHero and, well, crime]]) by Batman.

* IndecisiveDeconstruction: The entire comic explores, at its heart, the classic-team up between Batman and Robin, the role of the KidSidekick, and the nature of the KidSidekick as an AudienceSurrogate to make the hero relatable, but it raises these points without following on, nor does it properly cohere with the rest of the book:
** Essentially the early issues, about Dick Grayson being "drafted" by Batman into his war on crime, the TrainingFromHell sequences, and the Justice League raising issues about Batman potentially kidnapping an orphan, mirror common complaints about Batman and Robin, namely that a KidSidekick travelling alongside a hero is reckless child endangerment, and the way the various Robins become Batman's partner-in-crime, can be seen as drafting ChildSoldiers rather than its original intent (i.e. a medium for allowing the kids to [[WishFulfillment share a fantasy]] of being a part of the hero's adventures). The problem is that rather than tackle the subtext of the trope and bring it to light, Miller ''literally'' has Batman kidnap and draft Robin as a child-soldier, subject him to emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, and more or less [[{{Gaslighting}} gaslights]] him into accepting that Batman is boss, and not to be second-guessed, all of which is played as an unironic mutually cathartic team-building exercise rather than a ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'' type spoof, and the comic itself isn't clear if this is a good or bad thing.
** Furthermore, critiquing the idea of Robin as an AudienceSurrogate and how he vicariously enjoys the superhero fantasy that a young audience identifies with, doesn't quite follow when most of the book is openly presented from Batman's point of view, and it isn't Robin gradually coming to see Batman's strange and bizarre world as normal and worth living in, by surrendering his agency, so much as Batman slowly imposing his view and authority on a small child. In addition the comic is clearly aimed at teenagers and adults in its content, its tone, and violence, and deconstructing the idea of Robin without actually addressing the audience the kid sidekick is intended for, more or less prevents it from having anything to say, unlike ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'' which was addressed to children and largely did play the same trope for dramatic effect and tragedy.
** On a meta-level, Batman and comics in general hasn't been a KidAppealCharacter since TheEighties, thanks largely to Creator/FrankMiller himself, and none of the Robins in Batman's main continuity at the time of this comic's publication had been "Age 12". The kid sidekick concept which Robin popularized hasn't been as common and prevalent as it was in the Silver Age, so in a large sense the comic mainly works for those readers who know and remember the old Robin from the Creator/BillFinger-Dick Sprang era, without meaningfully having anything to say to the NostalgiaFilter or broader historical meaning of that connection.
** The other theme in the book is that Batman's negative, dark, and violent personality has a negative influence on society and culture. With Black Canary and Batgirl being inspired to becoming violent superheroes by following his example, except only in the case of Batgirl is it portrayed as a bad thing. And in another instance where Batman saves a woman from rape, she on seeing Batman attack her assailant grins at seeing his cathartic violence. So the comic itself is not sure whether Batman's violence and behavior is a good and bad thing, and as such the big dramatic moment [[spoiler:where Dick Grayson injures Hal Jordan's larynx and Bruce chastises himself and Robin]] doesn't make internal or external sense, or go anywhere.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: An odd example occurs with Green Arrow, since although the story takes place ''before'' ''The Dark Knight Returns'', it features several notable characters from said story (Superman, Catwoman, the Joker,
Bruno), yet Oliver Queen himself is nowhere to be seen[[note]]unless the random patron from Black Canary's bar that resembles him is supposed to be him[[/note]]. This is strange, especially when one considers that characters who didn't appear until ''The Dark Knight Strikes Again'' (Wonder Woman, Plastic Man) get rather prominent roles in this story.

* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: He's the Goddamn Batman!

** Interestingly enough, Miller has also noted that he never ''intended'' for Batman to be seen as truly "heroic" in this arc (quite the opposite), until near the end, where the Goddamn Batman tones down (with Robin's help) to become the "moral" Batman we all know.
* AntiHero: The Goddamn Batman and ComicBook/BlackCanary. Black Canary savagely beats up a bar full of men for rude behavior and steals their wallets, and Batman is a psychotic lunatic who brutalizes anyone in his way, even if they didn't do anything. They are the good guys of the story.

* ButtMonkey: Franchise/GreenLantern exists pretty much to be humiliated and insulted by the Goddamn Batman, then gets his neck injured by Robin so Batman gets to save his life.
* BelatedBackstory: For Dick Grayson (age 12) in ''The Dark Knight Strikes Again''

* CharacterDevelopment: The Goddamn Batman starts out completely insane and isolated but is ''slowly'' becoming more human thanks to the influence of Dick Grayson ([[InsistentTerminology age 12]]). Miller himself has stated that this was the entire point: to explain why the Goddamn Batman needed a kid sidekick, anyway--to bring him back down to earth after a period of having too much fun with his crime-fighting. However, it rings pretty hollow when it's in issue seven (''years'' into the series thanks to ScheduleSlip) of a twelve-issue miniseries that that infamous bleach incident takes place. Far from ascending to herodom and influencing Batman to regain his humanity, Dick Grayson, Age Twelve has yet to take up the Robin mantle and was last seen being very impressed by all the deadly weaponry he was surrounded by. Meanwhile, Crazy Steve is deliberately burning crooks to death and enjoying it, while the equally derailed Black Canary swoons over him because apparently that's sexy. And whenever Dick Grayson, Age Twelve comes up in his narration, it's pretty much always with a "stuck with an annoying kid" comment as if he wasn't the one who KIDNAPPED HIM.

** Also, Batman's character is identical to Frank Miller's in ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', save for him being 20-30 years younger. When TDKR came out, the story seemed to imply it was the decades of superheroing that turned Batman into this sour, cynical person. This story retcons that into Batman having started out as ''more'' of a jerkass than in TDKR and growing more noble, responsible and humane as he grew old, probably thanks to Dick Grayson Age Twelve's influence. This is a bit ironic if you consider that Grayson [[spoiler:is revealed to be a complete psychopath in TDKSA. During their climatic battle, he implies that Bruce's negligence and lack of affection drove him insane. Miller's Batman predictably scoffs and pushes him into hot lava.]]

** Even at his most pumped up, no holds barred, extreme moment in ''The Dark Knight Returns'', Batman couldn't bring himself to kill the Joker. In ''All Star Batman'' he killed crooked cops without hesitation (sometimes plowing through and utterly destroying police cars with ''no way to know'' they were all crooked. He's also quite pleased with crooks killing each other in crossfires, and finishes off the rest by setting them ON FIRE.) This is a guy who places ZERO value on human life.
** The Goddamn Batman rants to Robin about how he can call his "Batmobile" whatever he wants. In ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' Batman muses that it was Robin who came up with the term.

* InNameOnly: Pretty much ''everyone'' is insanely OutOfCharacter, but Black Canary is given an entirely new back story and motivation, turning from a LegacyCharacter of her mother into an Irish immigrant from a [[MassiveNumberedSiblings large family]] working at a sleazy bar, who was inspired into crime-fighting ([[SociopathicHero and, well, crime]]) by the Goddamn Batman.

** Dick Grayson, age 12, initially wants to be an archery-themed superhero called The Hood, a nod to his father's love of the old ''RobinHood'' movies. In real life, the 1938 film ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRobinHood'' was one of the inspirations behind the creation of Robin.

--->'''Alfred:''' Maybe we shouldn't force [[MemeticMutation Dick Grayson age twelve]] to ''survive by eating rats''.

* StartOfDarkness: An unintentional one for [[spoiler:''Dark Knight Strikes Again''!Dick Grayson]].

'''(Goddamn) Batman:''' What are you, ''dense''? Are you ''retarded'' or something? Who the hell do you ''think'' I am? I'm the Goddamn ''Batman''.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The Goddamn Batman fantasizes about what he could do with Green Lantern's ring - force everyone to think ''his'' way. God help us.

* PacingProblems:
** The story is very guilty of this, with [[{{Filler}} a lot of pointless conversations]], taking too long to get to key events (like Dick Grayson, [[MemeticMutation age 12]], actually becoming Robin), and [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters focusing on some other character to the detriment of the protagonists]]. The fact that the series has an [[ScheduleSlip infamously bad release schedule]] is a contender.
** As if to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this, a milk carton with 12-year-old Dick Grayson's face on it is seen by Superman... While Grayson is still in the Batmobile, being driven away from the scene of his parent's murder, towards the Batcave. This journey takes ''several issues''.

* AdaptationalJerkass: In this series, Batman is depicted as enjoying violence and inflicting pain, in contrast to his usual depiction.

* AllThereInTheManual: The story makes more sense as a sequel to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' when you read issue #10 and some plot points, such as Batman's relationship with Green Lantern, become very interesting when compared to ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''. Also confirmed by WordOfGod is that the series is in the same universe as ''The Dark Knight Returns''.
** Interestingly enough, Miller has also noted that he never ''intended'' for Batman to be seen as truly "heroic" in this arc (quite the opposite), until near the end, where the Goddamn Batman tones down (with Robin's help) to become the "moral" Batman we all know. (See CharacterDevelopment, below.)

* AuthorAppeal: Some of the more hostile criticisms regarding ''All Star Batman and Robin'' claim that the whole thing was used by Miller to vicariously live out his personal Batman [[WishFulfillment fantasy]]; citing the disregard for Batman's moral code [[spoiler: (especially during the scene where he rescues Robin from corrupt cops; never mind that he takes pleasure in harming them; but also nearly kills both Alfred and Vicki Vale in the process)]], the over-the top fan service, as well as his less than flattering portrayals of most of the other Justice League (particularly Superman and Green Lantern).

** Also, Batman's character is identical to Frank Miller's in ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', save for him being 20-30 years younger. When TDKR came out, the story seemed to imply it was the decades of superheroing that turned Batman into this sour, cynical person. This story retcons that into Batman having started out as ''more'' of a jerkass than in TDKR and growing more noble, responsible and humane as he grew old, probably thanks to Dick Grayson Age Twelve's influence. This is a bit ironic if you consider that Grayson [[spoiler: is revealed to be a complete psychopath in TDKSA. During their climatic battle, he implies that Bruce's negligence and lack of affection drove him insane. Miller's Batman predictably scoffs and pushes him into hot lava.]]

--> "They call me the Joker. But I'm not very funny."

* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: [[SignatureStyle Very often throughout the text. Again and again. There is repetition. Statements are made. Repeated. Hammered. Insistent. Again and again. Relentless. Tireless. Repeatedly. Again and again.]][[note]][[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] accurately compares the dialogue to [[Film/ManosTheHandsofFate Torgo's]] VerbalTic.[[/note]]

-->'''Vicki Vale''': [[HarmfulToMinors Someone murdered his parents. Right before his eyes.]] [[RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic Brutally. Brutally. It was brutal.]]
* ForgotAboutHisPowers: Frank Miller probably hasn't seen that the modern Green Lantern is perfectly capable of dealing with a yellow room.

* OnlySaneMan: Alfred finds himself making crazy suggestions like, "Maybe we shouldn't force [[MemeticMutation Dick Grayson age twelve]] to ''survive by eating rats''."

* PacingProblems: The story is very guilty of this, with [[{{Filler}} a lot of pointless conversations]], taking too long to get to key events (like Dick Grayson, [[MemeticMutation age 12]], actually becoming Robin), and [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters focusing on some other character to the detriment of the protagonists]]. The fact that the series has an [[ScheduleSlip infamously bad release schedule]] is a contender.

--> '''Batman:''' Not one ''word.'' I've taken ''enough'' grief about calling my goddamn car the goddamn Batmobile. I'm the goddamn ''Batman'' and I can call my goddamn car whatever the hell I ''want'' to call it.

* StupidGood: Green Lantern and Superman both come off this way, more out of ignorance than actual stupidity.

* TravelingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: [[http://www.i-mockery.com/comics/longbox7/default.php The Goddamn Batmobile is also a Goddamn Delorean]]:
--> "[[WritersCannotDoMath Fifteen hours ago]]". That means one of two things. Clark Kent either drank this carton of milk fifteen hours before [[OverlyLongGag Dick Grayson, age 12]], was kidnapped by Batman, and thus it is a magical prescient carton of milk, OR it's actually been a long enough ride in the Batmobile for Dick to have been reported missing, for his name to get to the missing persons groups, for them to submit his information to the milk company, for the milk company to print the cartons, distribute the cartons, and then for Clark Kent to go to the grocery store and buy the carton of milk. Let's see, by my rough estimate, that means that Batman and Dick have been on the way to the Batcave for, oh, about FIVE FUCKING WEEKS now.

--> "WHAT TIME IS IT?!" - [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] and many others frustrated about all the X hours earlier"

-->''"A rotten joint; it sits there like something that came out of the back end of a horse."''
-->''"[[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Which is precisely where this script came from, too.]]"''

* CharacterDevelopment: The Goddamn Batman starts out completely insane and isolated but is ''slowly'' becoming more human thanks to the influence of Dick Grayson ([[InsistentTerminology age 12]]). Not very noticeable due to the large amount of padding but it's definitely there.
** Miller himself has stated that this was the entire point: to explain why the Goddamn Batman needed a kid sidekick, anyway--to bring him back down to earth after a period of having too much fun with his crime-fighting. However, it rings pretty hollow when it's in issue seven (''years'' into the series thanks to ScheduleSlip) of a twelve-issue miniseries that that infamous bleach incident takes place. Far from ascending to herodom and influencing Batman to regain his humanity, Dick Grayson, Age Twelve has yet to take up the Robin mantle and was last seen being very impressed by all the deadly weaponry he was surrounded by. Meanwhile, Crazy Steve is deliberately burning crooks to death and enjoying it, while the equally derailed Black Canary swoons over him because apparently that's sexy. And whenever Dick Grayson, Age Twelve comes up in his narration, it's pretty much always with a "stuck with an annoying kid" comment as if he wasn't the one who KIDNAPPED HIM.
* ClusterFBomb / SirSwearsALot: Almost every character talks like this, even the 15-year-old Batgirl. ''[[EspeciallyZoidberg Especially]]'' [[EspeciallyZoidberg the 15-year-old fucking Batgirl.]]

** Also, Batman's character is identical to Frank Miller's in ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', save for him being 20-30 years younger. When TDKR came out, the story seemed to imply it was the decades of superheroing that turned Batman into this sour, cynical person. This story retcons that into Batman having started out as ''more'' of a jerkass than in TDKR and growing more noble, responsible and humane as he grew old, probably thanks to Dick Grayson Age Twelve's influence.
*** This is a bit ironic if you consider that Grayson [[spoiler: is revealed to be a complete psychopath in TDKSA. During their climatic battle, he implies that Bruce's negligence and lack of affection drove him insane. Miller's Batman predictably scoffs and pushes him into hot lava.]]

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: Frank Miller probably hasn't seen that Green Lantern is perfectly capable of dealing with a yellow room - it's like Batman is the first to ever try that obvious tactic.
** Batman speculating that he could make people think his way with Green Lantern's ring... that's not how it works, Bruce.

** Given that Robin nearly ''murders'' Hal Jordan at one point... you can probably put him on the {{Jerkass}} list too. Though to be fair, this was a 12-year-old boy who'd just watched his parents get murdered, kidnapped by a belligerent man-child dressed like a giant bat who tells him he's going to be a 'detective', and forced to live in a cave where he's told to eat cave-dwelling rodents. His attempt to murder Hal could be seen as the reaction of a severely traumatized preteen.

* LingerieScene: Vicki Vale's first appearance is three pages of her parading around her apartment in pink lingerie and high heels. Doubles as SexSells.
** Some editions feature Miller's script for this scene, which gets pretty disturbing as he goes on and on about how detailed her underwear should be, and even calls himself shameless when he asks for a closeup of her ass.

* MoodWhiplash: Issue 9 was when Batman meets Green Lantern in a yellow room, at first is incredibly funny (DAMN YOU AND YOUR LEMONADE!!) and when Robin starts fighting Green Lantern it's still hilarious and Batman is in on the joke but the fun stops abruptly with a splash page of Robin [[spoiler:punching Green Lantern in the throat, almost killing him if it weren't for Batman]]. Then it's followed by a crowning moment of Heartwarming.

** Not played for comedy but done completely straight is saying Dick Grayson, Age 12.

* Squick: Batman talking about how his mother's breast bled on him after he touched it. Ignoring the fact that it's an implied bullet wound, the overtones are unpleasant to think about.
* TakeThat: Frank Miller has stated in interviews that he thinks Green Lantern is worthless, ''and it shows''.
** Which is curious, [[FlipFlopOfGod considering he wrote Hal as arguably the noblest character]] in ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain.

* StrawFeminist: Wonder Woman, who is introduced shoving a guy out of her way while saying "Out of my way, sperm bank." [[AllAmazonsWantHercules It seems she's mostly unsatisfied by men's failure to live up to her expectations, rather than actually claiming superiority or even equality as a woman]]: men are overhyped, weaker than they are supposed to be, than they should be. Superman proves to be a subversion: his boy-scout, simple morals clash with her pragmatism and warrior ethos, but he has the power, strength, and intimidation to enforce his law, and that ''really turns her on''.

* StrawFeminist: Wonder Woman, who is introduced shoving a guy out of her way while yelling "Out of the way, sperm bank!". [[AllAmazonsWantHercules It seems she's mostly unsatisfied by men's failure to live up to her expectations, rather than actually claiming superiority or even equality as a woman]]: men are overhyped, weaker than they are supposed to be, than they should be. Superman proves to be a subversion: his boy-scout, simple morals clash with her pragmatism and warrior ethos, but he has the power, strength, and intimidation to enforce his law, and that ''really turns her on''.

* InsistentTerminology: The series makes sure you know Dick is 12 years old.
** That Dick ''Grayson'' is ''age'' twelve, you mean.

** Miller himself has stated that this was the entire point: to explain why the Goddamn Batman needed a kid sidekick, anyway--to bring him back down to earth after a period of having too much fun with his crime-fighting. However, it rings pretty hollow when it's in issue seven (''years'' into the series thanks to ScheduleSlip) of a twelve-issue miniseries that that infamous bleach incident takes place. Far from ascending to herodom and influencing Batman to regain his humanity, Dick Grayson, Age Twelve has yet to take up the Robin mantle and was last seen being very impressed by all the deadly weaponry he was surrounded by. Meanwhile, Crazy Steve is deliberately burning crooks to death and enjoying it, while the equally derailed Black Canary swoons over him because apparently that's sexy.

** Even at his most pumped up, no holds barred, extreme moment in ''The Dark Knight Returns'', Batman couldn't bring himself to kill the Joker. In ''All Star Batman'' he killed crooked cops without hesitation.

* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: [[SignatureStyle Very often throughout the text. Again and again. There is repetition. Statements are made. Hammered. Insistent. Again and again. Relentless. Tireless. Again and again.]][[note]][[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] accurately compares the dialogue to [[Film/ManosTheHandsofFate Torgo's]] VerbalTic.[[/note]]

** Miller himself has stated that this was the entire point: to explain why the Goddamn Batman needed a kid sidekick, anyway--to bring him back down to earth after a period of having too much fun with his crime-fighting.

** Batman speculating that he could make people think his way wit Green Lantern´s ring... that´s not how it works Bruce.

** The other theme in the book is that Batman's negative, dark, and violent personality has a negative influence on society and culture. With Black Canary and Batgirl being inspired to becoming violent superheroes by following his example, except only in the case of Batgirl is it portrayed as a bad thing. And in another instance where Batman saves a woman from rape, she on seeing Batman attack her assailant grins at seeing his cathartic violence. So the comic itself is not sure whether Batman's violence and behavior is a good and bad thing, and as such the big dramatic moment [[spoiler:where Dick Grayson injures Hal Jordan's collarbone and Bruce chastises himself and Robin]] doesn't make internal or external sense, or go anywhere.

* ClusterFBomb / SirSwearsALot: Almost every character talks like this, even the 15 year-old Batgirl. ''[[EspeciallyZoidberg Especially]]'' [[EspeciallyZoidberg the 15 year-old fucking Batgirl.]]

* IndecisiveDeconstruction: The entire comic explores at its heart, the classic-team up between Batman and Robin, the role of the KidSidekick, and the nature of the KidSidekick as an AudienceSurrogate to make the hero relateable, but it raises these points without following on, nor does it properly cohere with the rest of the book:
** Essentially the early issues, about Dick Grayson being "drafted" by Batman into his war on crime, the TrainingFromHell sequences, and the Justice League raising issues about Batman potentially kidnapping an orphan, mirrors common complaints about Batman and Robin, namely that a KidSidekick travelling alongside a hero is reckless child endangerment, and the way the various Robins become Batman's partner-in-crime, can be seen as drafting ChildSoldiers rather than its original intent (i.e. a medium for allowing the kids to [[WishFulfillment share a fantasy]] of being a part of the hero's adventures). The problem is that rather than tackle the subtext of the trope and bring it to light, Miller ''literally'' has Batman kidnap and draft Robin as a child-soldier, subject him to emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, and more or less [[{{Gaslighting}} gaslights]] him into accepting that Batman is boss, and not to be second-guessed, all of which is played as an unironic mutually cathartic team-building exercise rather than a ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'' type spoof, and the comic itself isn't clear if this is a good or bad thing.

** The other theme in the book is that Batman's negative, dark, and violent personality has a negative influence on society and culture. With Black Canary and Batgirl being inspired to becoming violent superheroes by following his example, except only in the case of Batgirl is it portrayed as a bad thing. And in another instance where Batman saves a woman from rape, she on seeing Batman attack her assailaint grins at seeing his cathartic violence. So the comic itself is not sure whether Batman's violence and behaviour is a good and bad thing, and as such the big dramatic moment [[spoiler:where Dick Grayson injures Hal Jordan's collarbone and Bruce chastises himself and Robin]] doesn't make internal or external sense, or go anywhere.

** Given that Robin nearly ''murders'' Hal Jordan at one point... you can probably put him on the {{Jerkass}} list too. Though to be fair, this was a 12 year old boy who'd just watched his parents get murdered, kidnapped by a belligerent man-child dressed like a giant bat who tells him he's going to be a 'detective', and forced to live in a cave where he's told to eat cave-dwelling rodents. His attempt to murder Hal could be seen as the reaction of a severely traumatized preteen.

* LingerieScene: Vicki Vale's first appearance is three pages of her parading around her apartment in pink lingeries and high heels. Doubles as SexSells.

* MoodWhiplash: Issue 9 was when Batman meets Green Lantern in a yellow room, at first is incredibly funny (DAMN YOU AND YOUR LEMONADE!!) and when Robin starts fighting Green Lantern it's still hilarious and Batman is in the joke but the fun stops abruptly with a splash page of Robin [[spoiler:punching Green Lantern in the throat, almost killing him if it weren't for Batman]]. Then it's followed by a crowning moment of Heartwarming.

** As if to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this, a milk carton with 12-year old Dick Grayson's face on it is seen by Superman... While Grayson is still in the Batmobile, being driven away from the scene of his parent's murder, towards the Batcave. This journey takes ''several issues''.

* RefugeInAudacity: Black Canary is a barmaid who wears a {{stripperiffic}} oufit as part of her job. One night, the accumulated tension of unattractive men hitting on her in the most vulgar way wears her patience so thin she is ready to explode. Then one of them actually gropes her. She snaps, and beats the everliving crap out everyone, to unconsciousness. She makes a point of making one of them swallow his wedding ring, for obvious reasons. She loots their bodies. She torches the place. She runs away on a motorbike by jumping over a ramp and into the air. Coincidentally, Detective Gordon's car was passing right under. He brushes it off, saying they've got bigger things to worry about. As a matter of fact, he is right. Allstar Gotham is only marginally less insane than ''ComicBook/SinCity''.

** A lot of these issues come up. The series goes over two or three nights, depending on how you look at it, yet Miller seems to forget this since the books took so long to come out. Especially in issue nine. Batman arranges a meeting with Hal Jordan 'In twelve hours' in issue eight; yet in issue nine, Batman is reminiscing about multiple training sessions and Dick Grayson, age 12, being in the cave with him for weeks. Also, apparently an entire clinic was bribed, Dick made a press conference and then they could paint an entire apartment yellow with "nearly an hour to spare" before Jordan arrived for his meeting twelve hours since issue eight.

* StealthParody: Some people speculate the comic is intended as this. Though debatable, once you read the comic it is possible to see where they're coming from. Everything is so over the top, edgy, dark, etc. that it's kind of hard to take seriously. The fact that Frank Miller has proven long ago [[ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns that he can write the caped crusader very well]] also leads people to think he was trying to write a parody. One can see this is an over-the-top parody of Robin as the AudienceSurrogate KidSidekick to the NinetiesAntiHero version of Batman, except Miller's references are A) Dated (since comics aren't targeted for kids like the classic Batman ones were), B) Low-Hanging Fruit. The Goddamn Batman as an over-the-top take on "the Batgod" is plausible until you consider the same comic plays it straight with Batman treating the Justice League as hired help, humiliating and insulting Green Lantern, and dismissing Superman as "no one important".

* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: [[SignatureStyle Very often throughout the text. Again and again. There is repetition. Statements are made. Hammered. Insistent. Again and again. Relentless. Tireless. Again and again.]][[note]][[AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] accurately compares the dialogue to [[Film/ManosTheHandsofFate Torgo's]] VerbalTic.[[/note]]

** Essentially the early issues, about Dick Grayson being "drafted" by Batman into his war on crime, the TrainingFromHell sequences, and the Justice League raising issues about Batman potentially kidnapping an orphan, mirrors common complaints about Batman and Robin, namely that a KidSidekick travelling alongside a hero is reckless child endangerment, and the way the various Robins become Batman's partner-in-crime, can be seen as drafting ChildSoldiers rather than allowing the kids to [[WishFulfillment share a fantasy]], and the overall treatment can seem like abuse and negligence from another angle. The problem is that rather than tackle the subtext of the trope and bring it to light, t a KidSidekick travelling alongside a hero is reckless child endangerment, and the way the various Robins become Batman's partner-in-crime, can be seen as drafting ChildSoldiers rather than allowing the kids to [[WishFulfillment share a fantasy]], and the overall treatment can seem like abuse and negligence from another angle. The problem is that rather than tackle the subtext of the trope and bring it to light, Miller ''literally'' has Batman kidnap and draft Robin as a child-soldier, subject him to emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, and more or less [[{{Gaslighting}} gaslights]] him into accepting that Batman is boss, and not to be second-guessed, all of which is played as an unironic mutually cathartic team-building exercise rather than a ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'' type spoof, and the comic itself isn't clear if this is a good or bad thing.

** Essentially the early issues, about Dick Grayson being "drafted" by Batman into his war on crime, the TrainingFromHell sequences, and the Justice League raising issues about Batman potentially kidnapping an orphan, mirrors common complaints about Batman and Robin, namely that a KidSidekick travelling alongside a hero is reckless child endangerment, and the way the various Robins become Batman's partner-in-crime, can be seen as drafting ChildSoldiers rather than allowing the kids to [[WishFulfillment share a fantasy]], and the overall treatment can seem like abuse and negligence from another angle. The problem is that rather than tackle the subtext of the trope and bring it to light, Miller ''literally'' has Batman kidnap and draft Robin as a child-soldier, subject him to emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, and more or less [[{{Gaslighting}} gaslights]] him into accepting that Batman is boss, and not to be second-guessed, all of which is played as an unironic mutually cathartic team-building exercise rather than a ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'' type spoof.