Batman #30

Event\Storyline: Batman: Zero Year Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Danny Miki, Greg Capullo Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: April 16, 2014 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 26 User Reviews: 49
8.5Critic Rating
8.5User Rating

ZERO YEAR SAVAGE CITY begins!This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.Combo pack edition: $4.99 US

  • 10
    Comic Vine - Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero Apr 16, 2014

    Zero Year continues and Savage City is giving us and Batman a Gotham City unlike any seen before. Batman is still early into his career and it appears Riddler is more formidable than anyone thought or realized. Snyder story continues to have a big epic feel and the art and color by Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia is astounding. Some may say this doesn't feel like a typical Batman story but that's what makes it stand out. We're seeing Batman and Gotham City in a new light. Despite being set in the past, there's still no telling what will happen next. Zero Year continues to be an explosion of fun. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Gotham Spoilers - Gotham Spoilers Apr 16, 2014

    Like I said about, Zero Year fatigue is real, and despite how good the story or art is, the fact is, Zero Year has been going on for quite some time, and I'm personally ready for it to be over with Eternal having begun, and whatever is going on with Robin in the summer. That said, despite my fatigue, Savage City quite possibly gave me that last jolt needed to really stay enthused towards Zero Year, with the end closing in. Nothing about Zero Year has been typical so far, and the final arc seems to be the least typical out of all of them, and definitely reignited my interest.  Read Full Review

  • 10
    Nerds On The Rocks - joecorallo Apr 16, 2014

    This might be the best showcase of his work yet. Some of the most gorgeous splash pages and intricate panel work I've seen him do. The level of detail and work put into some of the pages in this issue hearken back some of George Perez's greatest works in the business. He must have busted his ass on this issue, and every Batman fan should be grateful for that. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Joey Garces Apr 19, 2014

    The pair of Snyder and Capullo continues to impress as the story telling and artwork are equally top notch. This storyline continues to separate itself from any of the other origin stories of Batman in the past, something that we can all appreciate. An epic finale has been set up and if it's anything like this issue then I recommend we get our pre-orders in now. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Unleash The Fanboy - Russell Johnson Apr 16, 2014

    I don't feel any shame in coming across as a gushing fanboy on this one simply because this is such a great overall story and a superb kick off to the final act. If you have abandoned 'Zero Year' at any point before issue #30 then you are doing yourself a disservice. Get back on board immediately! This is the story Snyder and Capullo were meant to tell and it is simply the best overall origin story in the New 52 and is poised to be a classic Batman story for all time! Don't miss this issue as it set's up what's sure to be one hell of a final act! Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Geeked Out Nation - Jess Camacho Apr 16, 2014

    Batman #30 is a lot of exposition but all of it is needed. While not as action packed as issue #29, there is a lot of fantastic set up and Riddler drama. The end of Zero Year is beginning but Snyder and company are not slowing down. I think it's safe to say at this point that Zero Year is yet another Snyder and Capullo classic Batman arc. Read Full Review

  • 9.2
    IGN - Mike Logsdon Apr 17, 2014

    Batman #30 is an undoubtedly epic entry by Snyder and Capullo. The storytellers give us a terrifying new vision of Riddler while giving fans a satisfying payoff to events foreshadowed nearly a year ago. While a destroyed Gotham has become a slightly tired trope in the New 52, it's still done in a creative and interesting way here. We get a great look into how all of our heroes are dealing with Zero Year, and it's exciting to see the overall design coming together. Finally, Capullo and the rest of the art team deliver yet again. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Book Resources - Greg McElhatton Apr 16, 2014

    "Zero Year" has been enjoyable up until now, but "Batman" #30 feels like we've shifted out of a fast jog and moved into the sprint. Everything's come together, and Batman's moving into position to save his city feels epic. Snyder, Capullo and Miki have turned in a strong first chapter of "Savage City," and at this point readers just need to hold on to best enjoy the wild ride towards the conclusion. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Weekly Comic Book Review - Dean Stell Apr 22, 2014

    Zero Year is powering to an excellent ending. The story is entertaining, beautiful and even touches on some real-world problems. Bravo! Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Population Go - Chris Lemmerman Apr 23, 2014

    The final arc of Zero Year is off to a cracking start, and shows that Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and the rest of the creative team have really thought this through. Considering this is a year-long storyline, there could easily be times where the foot is taken off the pedal, and the momentum is lost, but this is clearly not one of them. This book remains as good now as when Zero Year started last year. With only three issues to go before Zero Year comes to a close, Batman has a lot to accomplish, but if any creative team can help him do it, it's definitely this one. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck Apr 19, 2014

    I think my real reluctance with the "Zero Year" story is just that this is well-trod ground, with Frank Miller's "Year One" story being the gold standard. This story only suffers by comparison with that classic - on its own merits, "Zero" is quite good. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Spectrum - Lars Arboleda Apr 23, 2014

    Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman run continues to be one of the brightest spots in the New 52. Despite the countless stories told about the caped crusader, this creative team has managed to deliver a fresh and modern take on the Batman mythos. And whether you like the idea behind Zero Year or not, you have to give Scott Snyder a lot of credit for the sheer boldness in deciding to do a re-imagining of Batman's origin story, even more so when you consider that it dares to retread the hallowed ground that is Frank Miller's Year One. And now that we're in the final act, I am honestly of the opinion that Zero Year is a classic in the making. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Newsarama - Brendan McGuirk Apr 21, 2014

    n icon is forced to only play the greatest hits, and to relive past glories. A pop star, though, couples their catalog full of smashes with the vital promise of many years more to come. Batman tops the charts. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Multiversity Comics - Matt Dodge Apr 17, 2014

    "Batman" #30 begins the third and final act of 'Zero Year', and shows Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo operating at the peak of their skills. Snyder has laid out a detailed story, and filled it will great character moments, while Capullo spends every issue finding new interesting ways to render Gotham and its terrified inhabitants. The conclusion of 'Zero Year' is getting closer, and Snyder and Capullo seemed poised to deliver something thrilling and impressive. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Weird Science - Jim Werner Apr 16, 2014

    Batman #30 starts the Savage City story and everything has changed.  While the story is heavy on setup and exposition, it is great and has me wanting the next chapter now.  I'm sure every Batman fan is already invested in the story, but this arc is one every DC fan should be reading. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Batman-News - Andrew Asberry Apr 16, 2014

    It's definitely different! Whatever parallels could be drawn between Zero Year and Year One are thrown out the window in the first issue of Act III: Savage City, which has more in common with I Am Legend than any Batman origin story. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Apr 19, 2014

    I've been enjoying Zero Year for the most part, but Snyder and Capullo really go a little too far in this issue. When writing a prequel, you kind of need to keep in mind that what you're writing takes place before everything else. But clearly, from the major status quo changes in Batman #30, Snyder's imagination may have gotten a little too big for his britches. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicList - Brandon Borzelli Apr 19, 2014

    Batman is the best book on DC's schedule and has been for some time. The book has a consistent story that jumps around the timeline but holds true to the character and puts the pieces in place of a bigger story that keeps Snyder's overall theme in mind perfectly. This particular issue puts Batman and Gotham in one of the worst positions possible but the joy will be watching Batman pull himself and the city out of it. It's a good issue and is one of the best reads month in and out. I recommend checking this comic out. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    All-Comic - Derek Baker Apr 16, 2014

    If Zero Year is going to be this good, then it can go ahead and last forever. Snyder and Capullo are really rolling. Its redundant to tell anybody to buy this series, since everybody is buying it. Buy two copies? Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Infinite Comix - Chase Magnett Apr 17, 2014

    Batman #30is not a perfect issue. The exposition and opening cipher slow the reading experience and don't work on multiple levels. But the parts of the issue that do work, work very well. From the beautiful establishing panels of Gotham to the Riddler's mad master plan to the tower-tumbling action sequence,Batman #30offers excellent moments that create clear stakes for "Savage City". Despite its unevenness, it's a great introduction to the final part of "Zero Year". Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Following The Nerd - Sarah Barclay Apr 21, 2014

    The dream team of Batman and Jim Gordon has been reunited in this mess, finally! But are they going to be able to beat the Riddler all on their lonesome? My money is on probably, eventually! Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    AIPT - Jordan Richards Apr 16, 2014

    Batman #30 is a decent, but could be better start to Savage City. It's slow going with its world building and very dialogue heavy at the start, but the promise and potential so far is strong and makes you really want to see what comes next. If you are in this far, there's no reason to give up now in this small bump in the road. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    DC Collectors - Wayland Smith Apr 19, 2014

    I like Batman as a character. This arc has been uneven, and this issue wasn't a great one for me. I've come this far, I'll ride the rest of it out. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    Shadowhawk's Shade - Abhinav Jain Apr 18, 2014

    Overall, this is one of the more disappointing issues of the entire series, largely because this is a catch-up issue and little more than that. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon Apr 16, 2014

    I hate to bring up "Year One," because comparing "Zero Year" directly to it is unfair to what Snyder and Capullo were assigned to do. But part of the reason that "Year One" worked so well as a prequel story was the efficiency in its storytelling. Everything you needed to know and wanted to know could be found in one place. "Zero Year" has been a sprawling mess of an event that's crossed over with too many titles and involved too many other creators of varying levels of talent. Snyder and Capullo can only control what happens in their book, and they've done all right on that front. But the scope and length of this event has robbed them both of the ability to imbue this arc with the stakes necessary to tell a great story. They were able to manufacture some in the first two acts of "Zero Year," but so far it hasn't carried through to the final act. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    PopMatters - Michael D. Stewart Apr 21, 2014

    The pieces that make up Year Zero would seem valuable, and in the New 52 they are, but because so much of what we see and read has been done before, the depreciation is more than we anticipated. For all the Jim Gordon's camel-colored shame coats, we have special-ops teams dropping in to a cut-off city. For all the beautiful visuals created by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki and FCO Plascencia"especially the double-page overgrown cityscape spread on pages six and seven"we have buildings toping over like trees or dominoes. One is repetitive. The other is laughable. And we've gotten to the point in this patchwork origin where it's hard to tell the difference. Read Full Review

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