Batman Year One SPOILER FREE Review: The Comic that Inspired The Batman
- Eve Andrews
- Mar 21, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 30, 2022
Ever since DC Fandome back in 2021, everyone’s been buzzing about the recent release of The Batman. And now, with the film finally hitting the theatres, the long-awaited arrival has reinvigorated the hype, which got us thinking: what inspired the creative team at DC to release this major movie? Like many of DC’s hits, The Batman has its roots in many of the Caped Crusader’s stories including an old-time comic book: Batman Year One.
Written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, Batman Year One marks the start of an epic four-issue series. A retelling of the Caped Crusaders' infamous origin story, it delves into Bruce Wayne's beginnings as Batman and what initially inspired him to take up the cape. However, there’s a great deal more to it than it being a simple redraw of the tale we already know. As the title suggests, Batman Year One focuses on Wayne’s first year under the mask and how he developed a working relationship with the Gotham City Police. The specific focus of the story is on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon, exploring the slow growth of their professional rapport in the face of Gotham’s corruption, both in the criminal underworld and within the police department itself. And as you can imagine, the commissioner teaming up with a masked vigilante isn’t looked to with approval by everyone. As such, the development of their friendship is far from being all rainbows and smiles.
Known for reinvigorating the character of Batman, Batman Year One left a huge mark on DC, one that still influences the universe to this day. And after reading this comic, all I can say is: there’s a reason it’s such a classic. The script and story work by Frank Miller make for an incredibly intriguing plotline that builds on the classic tale with a knack for refining previously absent details, adding several new layers to the Batman origin story. Alongside Miller’s compelling, fresh take, his lyrical script is complimented hugely by the illustrative art style of David Mazzucchelli. Reminiscent of the classic vintage comic art from the Golden Age era, Mazzucchelli’s addition of subtle details and use of a more muted palette casts a grittier, more lifelike light on the nostalgic scape of Gotham that the comic pays homage to.
With a lot of comic-based media having long since broadened its audience from the family-friendly heroes of the 60s, many have become progressively more graphic, possibly as a means to satisfy an increasingly desensitised audience. However, Batman Year One goes back to basics. It successfully addresses mature issues with a sparing and thus more impactful use of violence. Batman Year One prioritises good storytelling over shock-factor with compelling plots and character development at its core. This technique ought to be used more often by mainstream comic book outlets as, three decades later, Batman Year One still feels like a refreshing read.
Batman Year One could also be a decent jumping-off point for new fans as it remains entirely self-contained despite being part of a much bigger picture. While being part of a more extensive four-issue series, this first volume could easily be read as a satisfying standalone, making for a much less intimidating starting point for curious newcomers looking to scratch the surface of the expansive DC Universe.
Without Batman Year One, the Caped Crusader would probably be a very different figure. It's a pivotal point in the DC Comics Universe that added layers of refreshing realism and humanity to our favourite heroes. It feels far more grounded than many of its predecessors and yet instantly recognisable in the fondest of ways. It is, without a doubt, a must-read for any budding Batman fan.
Have you read Batman Year One? What did you think of it? Do you think it's deserving of all its praise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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