With all the hoopla of The Batman hitting both the big and little (for some) screen. recently, I thought it would be a great opportunity too look at one of the best origin stories of the Batman.
We all know the story from Detective Comics #33; one night on the way back from a movie the Waynes are accosted by a mugger. In the ensuring confrontation, Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed and Bruce was left an orphan, albeit an orphan who made a promise! This origin was expanded on and revised any number of times, most notably Detective Comics #256, itself immortalised in the Batman Brave and the Bold episode “Chill of the Night”, and Detective Comics #457, adapted for B:TAS. After chronicling an possible end for The Batman in The Dark Knight Returns, writer Frank Miller went back to whence it started, deconstructing a character that was somewhat still mired in the 70’s.
For many, Year One is as much about Jim Gordon as it is about Bruce Wayne. The story starts with both characters coming into Gotham, one as a penance and for the other revenge. Through Miller’s diary-esque monologue, a feature used in the new movie, we get to see Bruce’s and Jim’s motivations, actions and ramifications. Through their story, we also get meet Catwoman; Bruce’s and Selina’s first meeting, which added to the context of Tom King’s run on Batman, along with the crime boss Carmine Falcone and introduced to Sarah, Gordon’s until then only spoken of wife from DKR. Miller establishes Batman as he is learning his way, another aspect used within The Batman, with a fight on a stairwell going Batman’s way more through luck than by good management. Other familiar institutions are also on show; Bruce as the playboy, the ever faithful Alfred and the corrupt Gotham police force; all well established facets of the Batman mythos expertly utilised.
Of course, the writing is but one aspect of this great mini-run. David Mazzucchelli, who had worked with Miller previously on Marvel’s Daredevil, itself a high point for an atg times “poor man’s Spider-Man”. Mazzucchelli lines are exquisite, showing Gotham as a dark and seedy place of concrete canyons. Under Mazzucchelli’s pencils, Batman is a lithe character, yet grows into his own presence. Other characters reflect a sort of pseudo-40’s look, appropriate when you considers the first appearance of Batman was 1939. Thanks to the lack of “sensationalism” in Mazzucchelli’s pencils, this series could be seen as the first time of Batman as a shadow, a threat of vengeance and rumor to scare those “cowardly and superstitious lot”; an idea that was built upon through the late 80’s and revised even now, again in the opening minutes of The Batman film. Colorist Richmond Lewis delivers a scheme that abandons bright colors in favour of tans and dark colors that are even more impressive when you think that digital colouring wasn’t even around back then. Of course subsequent deluxe editions and reprints will be digital; for me you cant’t get better than the original issues of Batman #404-#407. Todd Klein does fantastic job with three distinct fonts in play that features two separate monologues and of course the dialogue.
The impact that this mini-series had on Batman is incomparable, building on aspects from DKR and loading the mythos with nuances and elements that would be used for a number of years, across different media, including Batman Begins, B:TAS, The Batman film and of course the animated movies of the same name. As good as DKR is, I think it is a product of its time. For me, the timeless element, the impacts and influences on show, the less is more use of the Wayne’s killer all serve to ensure that Year One, is the definitive origin story of the Batman.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 5 Stars
Written by; Frank Miller
Art by; David Mazzucchelli
Colors by; Richard Lewis
Letters by; Todd Klein
Published by; DC Comics
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