Swipe File: The Frank Quitely Batman Non-Swipe

[Rich Johnston]

Tanker of the Comic Bloc forums first posted this possible swipe file...




Brian Bolland on The Killing Joke




Frank Quitely's cover for Batman And Robin #3, flipped.

With the internal story seemingly a reflection of some of Killing Joke's themes and images, well it's just rather lovely isn't it? Fingers through the hair, mad staring eyes, laughing twisted mouth... too lovely it seems.

CBR ran the comparison, even DC Vice President Richard Bruning and Cameron Stewart complimented the composition on Twitter... but no one seemed to have asked Frank Quitely.

Sadly, just as with the Captain Metropolis/Hooded Justice story, I had to go and ruin it, didn't I. I asked Frank.

He tells me that any resemblance was not deliberate. However, he is tempted to now fashion such a cover at some point in the future if the opportunity arises...

[kaiho]

that would be an incredible homage .... too bad (or is it good after all?) it was unintentional.

maybe there is some black-magic/mystical arts explanation for the coincidense .... MWAHAHAHA !!!!

(is Alan Moore available to comment on this?)

[cjk]

...

Yeah, I totally don't see it.

[KMatchstick]

That's quite the stretch. You really, really, really have to strain your perception to see it.

On the other hand, it IS a comic by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely... if anyone was going to commit such a tribute, it would be those two, and Bolland did create all those amazing Invisibles covers for Grant. Also, let us not forget Grant's genius flippy gimmick with the New X-Men logo, so you've got a small bit more ground to stand on with that one.

[CammyKnoxville]

Brilliant! (if it is a homage)

[The Xenos]

I don't see it. I've been staring at it for hours. When Lord?! When do I get to see the goddamn sailboat?!

Actually.. yeah.. I think the Joker is reaching out from the comics and twisting Quietly's mind without him knowing. All fifth dimensional magiks and stuff.

[KMatchstick]

GRAMMAR NAZI WARNING

It's a common misconception, but the man's name is not Quietly (kwye-et-lee), it's Quitely (kwite-lee). It's a bit of wordplay mucking with the term quite frankly. Frank Quitely.

More stupid shit that makes me twitchy.

[Vbartilucci]

This is one of those Dark Side of the Rainbow things - you'll never convince some people it's not deliberate.

[kaiho]

i understand it wasn't deliberate but i also want to believe in UFOs and ghosts from time to time ....

so i guess i just like "obscure" things happening in our world.

[Eldron]

Damn, that's a shame it was an accident - it would be just the kind of playful trickery that would suit these two. I hope Quitely yields to temptation.