Status
Available
Call number
Publication
DC Comics (2007), Edition: Deluxe ed., 136 pages
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: One of the most important and critically acclaimed Batman adventures ever. Written by Frank Miller (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS), with art by David Mazzucchelli (DAREDEVIL), YEAR ONE tells the entire dramatic story of Batman's first year fighting crime. This collection includes new introductions by Miller and Mazzucchelli, loads of reproductions of original pencils, promotional art, unseen Mazzucchelli Batman art, Richmond Lewis's color samples, script pages and other surprises. Collects BATMAN #404-407..
User reviews
LibraryThing member HokieGeek
I never knew superheros could be so interesting and deep! I am now a Batman fanatic thanks to Frank Miller and this book. This book also opened up a world of tights for me which I had previously looked down upon. The story is rich and realistic and I couldn't get enough of it!
LibraryThing member Yakatizma
This is the book that I recommend first to new Batman readers.
Frank Miller's retelling of Batman's origin broke the character free from the campy image and tone that had been established during the 60's and 70's. The Batman, James Gordon, and Harvey Dent that we meet in Year One are deep and
Mazzucchelli's artwork is a perfect fit for Miller's script, portraying a Gotham City coated in industrial grime, and blanketed in deep shadows. The characters themselves are often composed of starkly contrasting areas of light and dark that imply they dwell primarily in the shadows and enter into the light.
All in all, this is a remarkable volume.
Frank Miller's retelling of Batman's origin broke the character free from the campy image and tone that had been established during the 60's and 70's. The Batman, James Gordon, and Harvey Dent that we meet in Year One are deep and
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psychologically plausible characters entangled in believable situations and conflicts.Mazzucchelli's artwork is a perfect fit for Miller's script, portraying a Gotham City coated in industrial grime, and blanketed in deep shadows. The characters themselves are often composed of starkly contrasting areas of light and dark that imply they dwell primarily in the shadows and enter into the light.
All in all, this is a remarkable volume.
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LibraryThing member Stevil2001
So, Frank Miller. I've actually made a number of Frank Miller cracks over the past few years (i.e., "Name a female character in Sin City who's not just a sexual object."), but I'm actually not that familiar with his work. Comic-wise, all I've read is The Dark Knight Returns (which I remember
The thing is... it's not a very good Batman origin story. Oh, sure, Bruce Wayne makes his decision to become the Batman here, but it's not treated with very much depth. Bruce is sitting around, bemoaning the fact that he has botched his attempts at crimefighting and failed his father (we get a one-page flashback to the Wayne murders) when all of a sudden a bat crashes through his window! And so, he's Batman. Where have I seen all this before? Oh, that's right: Detective Comics #33. In 1939. Fortunately, there's not a "cowardly and superstitious lot" here. Actually, that might make it better.
Not to say that Frank Miller's Batman is bad; indeed, he's pretty much spot on. And by "spot on", I mean "owns everyone all the time". That's pretty much all chapter three is about, as Batman manages to take out nineteen hundred cops while he's cornered in a firebombed warehouse. And who says that he doesn't have superpowers?
But despite the constant extracts from Bruce Wayne's diary, we never really get inside his head, we never feel Batman's plight, Batman's dilemmas, not in the way that Batman Begins made us do. This Bruce Wayne, except for an early botched attempt, just is Batman, and the psychological complexity that drives the character in his best stories is just not there. As a Batman adventure, it's fine-- indeed it's better than fine, it's a very good example of its breed. But as an origin story, it falls short on anything other than a perfunctory basis. (It can't help that on every point I was constantly comparing it to Batman Begins. Of course I found it lacking. Most glaring, in my mind, was the lack of supporting characters-- Alfred is pretty much a nonentity in this story, and he's all there is. Aside from a certain someone that we'll get to soon.)
There's supposed to be a transition between Bruce Wayne's inexperience and Batman's experience as he gets the hang of crimefighting... but I just didn't feel it. In the beginning he struggles a lot, and he really messes up an attempt to stop some guys from stealing a television set. Then, all of a sudden, he's totally awesome all the time. I would say "why the transition?" but there isn't a transition-- first he's one way, then all of a sudden he's another. This makes it hard to swallow his early failures as anything other than plot contrivance, when there doesn't seem to be a reason for him to suddenly start succeeding.
So if it's not actually Batman: Year One, then what is it? Well, that's an easily answered question. What Frank Miller actually wrote here was Jim Gordon: Year One. Because 1986/1995 was not just Batman's first year in the city, it was Jim Gordon's. Running in parallel with Batman's story the entire time is Gordon's, also represented by what I assume to be diary extracts of some sort. And while Miller's Batman just is-- even when he's struggling, you don't really feel anything except maybe "awesome!"-- his Gordon is a man you can believe in. A guy trying to do right by his job, his duty, his city, and his family, even though he frequently fails at all of the above. You can't help but feel sympathy for this guy: while Batman just magically succeeds all the time, Gordon does his best, but it's hard to have an impact.
But of course it is. The opposition he faces is nearly overwhelming. There's a whole city out there that doesn't want Gordon to succeed, but damnit, he's pitted himself against it anyway. He even faces opposition from himself, as he keeps being drawn towards his leggy and blond coworker despite the fact that his wife's got a bun in the oven. But despite it all, he just keeps on going, dealing with the corruption and lack of support from his own department as best as he can. Usually his solution involves beating someone, but I suspect that other methods tend not to meet with much success in Gotham.
Whenever the story focused on Bruce/Batman, I found myself impatiently waiting for Gordon's next appearance. The fact that this story is really about Jim Gordon is made most explicit in the final chapter. What's the climax of the book? Not Batman defeating some supervillain or thwarting criminal enterprise forever-- the climax is Jim Gordon deciding to 1) trust Batman and 2) keep on fighting the good fight. That's the moment the book hinges on; Batman's battle is just window-dressing (and indeed, Wayne scarcely appears as Batman in the last chapter, performing his last-minute rescue sans costume).
Catwoman also appears in the book, but I don't really know why. She's a prostitute who decides to don a cat costume and become a burglar for no readily apparent reason. One of her cats gives away Batman's hiding place at one point, and later her intervention botches up one of his operations. I guess she's well-depicted; I'm not really a Catwoman person.
And then there's the art. I was already familiar with David Mazzucchelli from his work on Paul Auster's City of Glass, and I kept on thinking, "It's just not as good." But then I remembered: City of Glass is absolutely amazing, and not as good as that is still quite exceptional. And this art is. It's striking without being forced, grim without being over-the-top, dark without being muddy. It's everything you could ask for from a Batman story, and never disappoints. Always clear, always well-drawn. And his Bruce Wayne, Batman, and James Gordon all look just right. (Gordon even manages to look like Gary Oldman!) Richmond Lewis's use of color is also pitch-perfect.
There is a lot of Batman Begins in here, though-- the corrupt Gotham City Police Department, the bat-summoning device in the boot, the mob-controlled and crime-ridden city, and indeed the entire tone of the book. Though it's a not a very good Batman origin, it's easy to see how it could become one, which is exactly what Christopher Nolan went and did.
But do you know what? I don't mind that the book's more about Jim Gordon than Batman. Because Jim Gordon is awesome. Especially if you imagine that Gary Oldman is playing him. Overall, Batman: Year One is is a good Batman story, a poor Batman origin, an excellent Jim Gordon story, and an enjoyable comic story. And there's nothing wrong with that. (originally written August 2008)
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appreciating more than enjoying) and whatever particularly egregious bits of All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder that make their way onto Scans Daily. And I've seen the movie versions of 300 and Sin City. So, I actually don't have much real experience at all, and I was eager to remedy that-- as well as read one of the stories that allegedly inspired Batman Begins.The thing is... it's not a very good Batman origin story. Oh, sure, Bruce Wayne makes his decision to become the Batman here, but it's not treated with very much depth. Bruce is sitting around, bemoaning the fact that he has botched his attempts at crimefighting and failed his father (we get a one-page flashback to the Wayne murders) when all of a sudden a bat crashes through his window! And so, he's Batman. Where have I seen all this before? Oh, that's right: Detective Comics #33. In 1939. Fortunately, there's not a "cowardly and superstitious lot" here. Actually, that might make it better.
Not to say that Frank Miller's Batman is bad; indeed, he's pretty much spot on. And by "spot on", I mean "owns everyone all the time". That's pretty much all chapter three is about, as Batman manages to take out nineteen hundred cops while he's cornered in a firebombed warehouse. And who says that he doesn't have superpowers?
But despite the constant extracts from Bruce Wayne's diary, we never really get inside his head, we never feel Batman's plight, Batman's dilemmas, not in the way that Batman Begins made us do. This Bruce Wayne, except for an early botched attempt, just is Batman, and the psychological complexity that drives the character in his best stories is just not there. As a Batman adventure, it's fine-- indeed it's better than fine, it's a very good example of its breed. But as an origin story, it falls short on anything other than a perfunctory basis. (It can't help that on every point I was constantly comparing it to Batman Begins. Of course I found it lacking. Most glaring, in my mind, was the lack of supporting characters-- Alfred is pretty much a nonentity in this story, and he's all there is. Aside from a certain someone that we'll get to soon.)
There's supposed to be a transition between Bruce Wayne's inexperience and Batman's experience as he gets the hang of crimefighting... but I just didn't feel it. In the beginning he struggles a lot, and he really messes up an attempt to stop some guys from stealing a television set. Then, all of a sudden, he's totally awesome all the time. I would say "why the transition?" but there isn't a transition-- first he's one way, then all of a sudden he's another. This makes it hard to swallow his early failures as anything other than plot contrivance, when there doesn't seem to be a reason for him to suddenly start succeeding.
So if it's not actually Batman: Year One, then what is it? Well, that's an easily answered question. What Frank Miller actually wrote here was Jim Gordon: Year One. Because 1986/1995 was not just Batman's first year in the city, it was Jim Gordon's. Running in parallel with Batman's story the entire time is Gordon's, also represented by what I assume to be diary extracts of some sort. And while Miller's Batman just is-- even when he's struggling, you don't really feel anything except maybe "awesome!"-- his Gordon is a man you can believe in. A guy trying to do right by his job, his duty, his city, and his family, even though he frequently fails at all of the above. You can't help but feel sympathy for this guy: while Batman just magically succeeds all the time, Gordon does his best, but it's hard to have an impact.
But of course it is. The opposition he faces is nearly overwhelming. There's a whole city out there that doesn't want Gordon to succeed, but damnit, he's pitted himself against it anyway. He even faces opposition from himself, as he keeps being drawn towards his leggy and blond coworker despite the fact that his wife's got a bun in the oven. But despite it all, he just keeps on going, dealing with the corruption and lack of support from his own department as best as he can. Usually his solution involves beating someone, but I suspect that other methods tend not to meet with much success in Gotham.
Whenever the story focused on Bruce/Batman, I found myself impatiently waiting for Gordon's next appearance. The fact that this story is really about Jim Gordon is made most explicit in the final chapter. What's the climax of the book? Not Batman defeating some supervillain or thwarting criminal enterprise forever-- the climax is Jim Gordon deciding to 1) trust Batman and 2) keep on fighting the good fight. That's the moment the book hinges on; Batman's battle is just window-dressing (and indeed, Wayne scarcely appears as Batman in the last chapter, performing his last-minute rescue sans costume).
Catwoman also appears in the book, but I don't really know why. She's a prostitute who decides to don a cat costume and become a burglar for no readily apparent reason. One of her cats gives away Batman's hiding place at one point, and later her intervention botches up one of his operations. I guess she's well-depicted; I'm not really a Catwoman person.
And then there's the art. I was already familiar with David Mazzucchelli from his work on Paul Auster's City of Glass, and I kept on thinking, "It's just not as good." But then I remembered: City of Glass is absolutely amazing, and not as good as that is still quite exceptional. And this art is. It's striking without being forced, grim without being over-the-top, dark without being muddy. It's everything you could ask for from a Batman story, and never disappoints. Always clear, always well-drawn. And his Bruce Wayne, Batman, and James Gordon all look just right. (Gordon even manages to look like Gary Oldman!) Richmond Lewis's use of color is also pitch-perfect.
There is a lot of Batman Begins in here, though-- the corrupt Gotham City Police Department, the bat-summoning device in the boot, the mob-controlled and crime-ridden city, and indeed the entire tone of the book. Though it's a not a very good Batman origin, it's easy to see how it could become one, which is exactly what Christopher Nolan went and did.
But do you know what? I don't mind that the book's more about Jim Gordon than Batman. Because Jim Gordon is awesome. Especially if you imagine that Gary Oldman is playing him. Overall, Batman: Year One is is a good Batman story, a poor Batman origin, an excellent Jim Gordon story, and an enjoyable comic story. And there's nothing wrong with that. (originally written August 2008)
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LibraryThing member Alfonso809
ok… this one I love, I was angry went it was over and I had to go back to my crappy book… and batman kick the shit out of some dude who tried to kill a kitty!!! I love it!!! I love it I say!!
LibraryThing member AnnieMod
Meet Bruce Wayne - a rich man with a dark secret and James Gordon - a troubled cop that tries to always do the correct thing in a world where the truth and justice are forgotten.
Miller's Batman origin story is dark but it does show a Batman in the making - all the mistakes of the new but at the
The story is following the lives of the two men that will become friends - Gordon and Batman (with a few cameos of Harry Dent) but it's not as easy as someone would expect. And from both stories, I was more interested in Gordon's - his reasons for the things he was doing, his personal tragedy and his attempts to fit in a new place... and to change it. Batman's story served more as a background and this is what made this graphic novel exceptional - not making Batman the main character but making him the main reason for everything.
The only parts that just did not work for me were probably when Gordon suspected that Bruce was Batman and Bruce's handling of all the questions and the situation as a whole. It sounded like something out of a children's comics... which is not always bad but just did not work here.
But the book is a great introduction to Batman, James Gordon and the mess called Gotham City.
Miller's Batman origin story is dark but it does show a Batman in the making - all the mistakes of the new but at the
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same time all the principles of Batman that had been seen through the years. And shifting the reason for him being Batman from the revenge is a good thing - yes - his parents are there and their death had happened but it is not the only reason for what he becomes... even if it is still a motivator. The story is following the lives of the two men that will become friends - Gordon and Batman (with a few cameos of Harry Dent) but it's not as easy as someone would expect. And from both stories, I was more interested in Gordon's - his reasons for the things he was doing, his personal tragedy and his attempts to fit in a new place... and to change it. Batman's story served more as a background and this is what made this graphic novel exceptional - not making Batman the main character but making him the main reason for everything.
The only parts that just did not work for me were probably when Gordon suspected that Bruce was Batman and Bruce's handling of all the questions and the situation as a whole. It sounded like something out of a children's comics... which is not always bad but just did not work here.
But the book is a great introduction to Batman, James Gordon and the mess called Gotham City.
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LibraryThing member Paul_Beattie
This is Ground Zero for me. I had no interest in comics or graphic novels until I read this in my first year as a student in 1990.
There may have been predecessors to this style, but this was the first time I encountered it. Overused phrases such as "gritty realism" do not capture just what a
It led me into the world of the graphic novel, and my reading interest has maintained a home there ever since. Yes, there are better graphic novels. No, there are few characters in the comic world more interesting. But if you don't know where to start with graphic novels, or perhaps feel that it is a cheap art, tawdry and unworthy of your time, then do yourself a favour and get this. It may change your outlook on the genre forever.
There may have been predecessors to this style, but this was the first time I encountered it. Overused phrases such as "gritty realism" do not capture just what a
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change in style this was for me, in terms of my appreciation of comic characters. It led me into the world of the graphic novel, and my reading interest has maintained a home there ever since. Yes, there are better graphic novels. No, there are few characters in the comic world more interesting. But if you don't know where to start with graphic novels, or perhaps feel that it is a cheap art, tawdry and unworthy of your time, then do yourself a favour and get this. It may change your outlook on the genre forever.
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LibraryThing member shannonkearns
this is the first batman novel that i've ever read. i really liked the story line and the artwork was great. i'm interested in more of miller's work around the batman narrative.
LibraryThing member stipe168
amazing, best batman graphic novel i've read, better than dark knight returns by the same author. The artwork is old school and great, the writing is incredible. I really liked it.
LibraryThing member comfypants
When I started it, I just wanted to keep reading until the end. It's not even a particularly amazing book -- it's very good, but not as good as other Frank Miller I've read -- I just really enjoy reading super hero comic books, and this gets everything right.
LibraryThing member nerdfighter
A great Batman origin story. Definitely a classic.
LibraryThing member nesum
I just reread this one for the fourth time, probably, and I like it more with every reading. It is, of course, weaker than Dark Knight Returns, but not by a whole lot. It's well-paced and carefully crafted. I must say that the climax is a little weak, but the characters and story drive this
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wonderfully. It's also fun too see just how much this book influenced Batman Begins. Show Less
LibraryThing member atia
While I love the ideas behind this one, and the artwork was good, I'm not much of a Frank Miller fan. I love the desperation and the darkness and the unfairness of the world that shines through here, and altogether I liked this one much better than The Dark Knight Returns, but there was something
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missing. At least Batman himself was more likeable here than in The Dark Knight Returns. Show Less
LibraryThing member JapaG
I am not a big fan of super-hero comics. But I am a big fan of Frank Miller. So, when Batman: Year One came out in Finnish, I decided to make an act of culture and buy it. I would be supporting comic book translation as well... :)
I was very pleased with the story, which was told in a very Miller-y
Mazzucchelli's art is beautiful. At first I thought that the lines were a bit too stark, but after I got used to it, I liked it a lot. The colouring on my version is done by Richmond Lewis, and is superb in bringing out the tone of the story.
The only problem I have is with the translation. Sadly, because that was one of the things that I bought the book for... In the first couple of pages I found too many errors in language and style to make it a comfortable reading. Maybe I'll buy it in English someday, to be able to really appreciate it.
I was very pleased with the story, which was told in a very Miller-y
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way with the voice-overs and everything. The story made the characters seem humane, although Bruce Wayne was still a bit too super-human... But the real major character in this story is Gordon, who I as the reader can identify with really well in this story.Mazzucchelli's art is beautiful. At first I thought that the lines were a bit too stark, but after I got used to it, I liked it a lot. The colouring on my version is done by Richmond Lewis, and is superb in bringing out the tone of the story.
The only problem I have is with the translation. Sadly, because that was one of the things that I bought the book for... In the first couple of pages I found too many errors in language and style to make it a comfortable reading. Maybe I'll buy it in English someday, to be able to really appreciate it.
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LibraryThing member oybon
Good. As many people have stated, is actually more about Gordon than Batman. Arguably Batman himself is the weaker characterisation, with Gordon and ancillary characters proving more interesting.
There are though, in my opinion, some further floors. The colouring in most panes adds little or
Despite its faults though, still a good read and thoroughly enjoyable.
There are though, in my opinion, some further floors. The colouring in most panes adds little or
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nothing, in some cases detracting from the impact of the presented images. This is at its worst in action scenes where the colour acts as a visual bridge between the "traditional" camp batman of the 60's and the darker, more modern interpretation; clashing horribly. The emotional signposting in the text at these points also becomes a little wearing.Despite its faults though, still a good read and thoroughly enjoyable.
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LibraryThing member Kurt.Rocourt
This is the good Frank Miller Batman story. A man on a mission is the premise of the story.
LibraryThing member zzshupinga
Frank Miller wrote and illustrated what's widely considered to be the apex and the ending of Batman with the "Dark Knight Returns." And now he bring us Batman's beginning with "Batman: Year One" (which has been used as inspiration for the latest Batman movie.) The introduction explains that DC in
Miller concocts a brilliant story that makes the characters human. We don't meet the Joker or any of the other slightly crazed villains of Batman in this book. Instead it's the type of characters that you can imagine meeting in real life. Corrupt politicians and cops are the villains in this story allowing Batman and Gordon to be the heroes that they are, not because of theatrics. But because they are human. They admit their faults and come close to admitting defeat on occasion, but they get back up again and continue the fight.
Dave Mazzucchelli is the illustrator on this venture with Miller and his pencils are fantastic, especially when you look at the drawings in the back. He captures the gritty nature of Batman perfectly and how the characters move. The colors though leave a bit to be desired. I know they aren't as over the top as some of the other works produced in this era, but it seems like they obliterate a lot of detail that the pencil drawings had or should have. The artwork still works with the story, I just wish the colors had been less over powering.
If you're a fan of Batman or wanting to introduce people to who Batman is then this is a great introduction and I highly recommend it along with Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns."
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the 80's decided to reboot it's three big franchises and redefine where they came from. But Batman's beginning was perfect. But they decided his beginning could be fleshed out a bit and that's what we find out in this novel. Where Batman came from. Where Gordon came from. And how together they began the team that is taking back the streets of Gotham from the criminals.Miller concocts a brilliant story that makes the characters human. We don't meet the Joker or any of the other slightly crazed villains of Batman in this book. Instead it's the type of characters that you can imagine meeting in real life. Corrupt politicians and cops are the villains in this story allowing Batman and Gordon to be the heroes that they are, not because of theatrics. But because they are human. They admit their faults and come close to admitting defeat on occasion, but they get back up again and continue the fight.
Dave Mazzucchelli is the illustrator on this venture with Miller and his pencils are fantastic, especially when you look at the drawings in the back. He captures the gritty nature of Batman perfectly and how the characters move. The colors though leave a bit to be desired. I know they aren't as over the top as some of the other works produced in this era, but it seems like they obliterate a lot of detail that the pencil drawings had or should have. The artwork still works with the story, I just wish the colors had been less over powering.
If you're a fan of Batman or wanting to introduce people to who Batman is then this is a great introduction and I highly recommend it along with Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns."
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
A re-sart of the Batman story, as only Frank Miller could do! We see Bruce Wayne's first adventures as the Batman, Lieutenant Gordon's arrival in Gotham, and the Catwoman's beginnings! All in one story arc!
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Batman: Year One was written in 1986 as a way to provide additional insight and background into the Batman mythos, providing more information about his origins. In a parallel story, we also see Lt. Jim Gordon arriving in Gotham and rising in the police force, despite the fierce opposition of
I could see how in 1986 this book was something new and different, a darker and more brooding story than the typical fare. However, nearly 30 years later, it's not as terribly exciting as it once was. Furthermore, with the semi-recent Batman Begins movie on the scene, which fleshes out Batman's origins even further, this book pales in comparison. Still, all and all, it's an entertaining (and quick) read that's worth any Batman fan's time.
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corrupt officers who want things to remain exactly the way they are. In terms of plot, there isn't really much of one, just a loose series of events linking Bruce Wayne/Batman and Gordon while showing the growth of both.I could see how in 1986 this book was something new and different, a darker and more brooding story than the typical fare. However, nearly 30 years later, it's not as terribly exciting as it once was. Furthermore, with the semi-recent Batman Begins movie on the scene, which fleshes out Batman's origins even further, this book pales in comparison. Still, all and all, it's an entertaining (and quick) read that's worth any Batman fan's time.
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LibraryThing member epeekid
A great in-depth look at how Bruce Wayne started his Batman career. A fun story that will take batman fans to a deeper look at Bruce Wayne.
LibraryThing member jawalter
Well-deserving of its classic status. Miller's retelling of the Batman mythos avoids all the goofiness that can result from (let's face it) a rather ridiculous rogue's gallery. By simply sticking to a story wrapped around Batman, Jim Gordon, Gotham City, and crime, Miller creates a world grounded
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in reality. Show Less
LibraryThing member CheapRegrets
The Batman's beginnings. Presumed a criminal at start, he build his path through the dark Gotham City. But, even the Batman needs a partner.
A good graphic novel to comprehend how it all started.
A good graphic novel to comprehend how it all started.
LibraryThing member jediphil683
The reason that Year One, to me, sneaks in ahead of DKR is the art. Dave Mazzucchelli's drawings are much more... conventional than Miller's own art, and thus makes this story easy for anyone to get into, even if your brain isn't geared towards comics all that much. Someone wiser than I said that
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Y1 isn't really a story about Batman so much as it is about Jim Gordon, and I can really see where that thought comes from. At its core, Y1 tells the parallel stories of two men who want to leave the world better than they found it, and find each other through that desire. And it's told well, to boot. Show Less
LibraryThing member theboylatham
Eight out of ten. CBR format.
This story details the beginning of both Bruce Wayne's career as Batman and Jim Gordon's with the Gotham City police.Jim Gordon is shocked by the corruption of fellow police officers and Bruce is weak and vulnerable. As Batman grows into his role (with help from Harvey
This story details the beginning of both Bruce Wayne's career as Batman and Jim Gordon's with the Gotham City police.Jim Gordon is shocked by the corruption of fellow police officers and Bruce is weak and vulnerable. As Batman grows into his role (with help from Harvey
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Dent) and Gordon single-handedly cleans up the department it's clear the two would benefit from a mutual agreement.A must read to understand the beginnings of the Batman story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ennuiprayer
I'll never understand why I put off reading Batman Year One for so long. Maybe I wasn't ready for Frank Miller's version of the story. Which bothers me, because I accepted The Dark Knight Returns with open arms.
Many things come to mind while reading Year One, though. First of all, its importance to
Told from the point of view of both Batman/Bruce Wayne and Lieutenant Gordon, the story follows both narrators through their first year in Gotham City. Influenced much by the film noir concept of storytelling - isn't Frank Miller responsible for the film noir graphic novel, Sin City? - the book engulfs the reader, leading them down the path of chaos, destruction and finally redemption.
David Mazzucchelli's artwork combines the gritty comic look that pays homage to Miller's film noir style of writing. There isn't another team who could have pulled the story off any other way - of course, unless you consider the original origin story.
I wonder why Year One wasn't considered as a Batman film adaptation, though you can see its influence on such films as Batman Begins. There's a Joker in the story, but there are a lot of mob bosses, crooked cops, petty criminals and corrupted city officials - did I fail to mention Catwoman?
Many things come to mind while reading Year One, though. First of all, its importance to
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the Batman mythos, a signature in the canon, and so forth. I've said this before with another book, haven't I? It's still very true, however. Told from the point of view of both Batman/Bruce Wayne and Lieutenant Gordon, the story follows both narrators through their first year in Gotham City. Influenced much by the film noir concept of storytelling - isn't Frank Miller responsible for the film noir graphic novel, Sin City? - the book engulfs the reader, leading them down the path of chaos, destruction and finally redemption.
David Mazzucchelli's artwork combines the gritty comic look that pays homage to Miller's film noir style of writing. There isn't another team who could have pulled the story off any other way - of course, unless you consider the original origin story.
I wonder why Year One wasn't considered as a Batman film adaptation, though you can see its influence on such films as Batman Begins. There's a Joker in the story, but there are a lot of mob bosses, crooked cops, petty criminals and corrupted city officials - did I fail to mention Catwoman?
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LibraryThing member akmargie
I was going to jump straight to Miller's Dark Knight Returns considering, you know, I already know who Batman is, why start at the beginning. But then I was yelled at and told that would be blasphemy so I picked this up instead. My first Batman comic. Great stuff.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986
Physical description
136 p.; 6.7 inches
ISBN
0290204895 / 9780290204890