We know how this Batman's story ends, in a rest home as he struggles against dementia to write his history before he forgets it. However, there is no indication of what the journey before that point holds. That in itself makes Batman: Dark Age #1 worth reading. Read Full Review

Batman: Dark Age #1 perfectly sets up the next endeavor by Russell and the Allreds, hitting all the right notes that made Superman: The Space Age such an unforgettable story for a flagship character of the DCU. The only disappointing thing that could be said is that is half the length (page count) of the Superman installment, but if anyone can pull of a story in fewer pages, Russell is more than up to the challenge. Read Full Review

This is a fascinating look into a story where Batman's creation went sideways, with a last-page reveal that makes everything about this story a lot clearer. It's not quite as immediately captivating as the Superman mini, but it's well on its way to becoming another huge win for the creative team. Read Full Review

I enjoyed this blast from the past take on Batman. The team was able to give us an intriguing take on the Caped Crusader that feels different and new. This is a comic worth picking up monthly and following along. Read Full Review

Batman: Dark Age emerges as a compelling addition to the Batman mythos, inviting readers to delve deeper into the complexities of the Dark Knight's origins and the challenges that lie ahead. Read Full Review

Allred delivers some beautiful art in the story. I enjoy the unique visual style and how it interprets both the characters and their world. Read Full Review

Batman: Dark Age is a fun comic that tinkers with Batman's origin story, but doesn't break it. Read Full Review

A classic story is turned on its head to great effect in this debut. Read Full Review

No spoilers, as you should judge Batman: Dark Age #1 for yourself, but Bruce is in a pickle. We get a new character to work with in this incarnation of Batman's origin, which should have been left alone. This reboot's enough to make me turn off my computer and wait ten minutes to turn it back on to see if Superman lands in North Carolina this time instead of Kansas, or if Batman's parents live and he turns out to be a real playboy! One ripple affects everything.sigh! Read Full Review

I love anything and everything Allred does, but I was equally impressed with Russell’s story, just as I was with Superman: Space Age. Batman’s origin has been retold so many times I would have thought that I never needed to read it again, but Russell shakes up the narrative here, making it completely fresh and intriguing.

Batman: Dark Age #1 isn't your typical Batman origin story, & that’s only a small part of what makes this book so good. After working together on the hit Superman: Space Age, Mark Russell teams back up w/ artists Mike & Laura Allred to deliver a fresh, & sometimes brutal, take on the Dark Knight's beginnings.

As mentioned, the future-defining events of Crime Alley unfold differently yet their impact is no less heavy. Bruce isn’t present for the events & isn’t immediately thrown into a journey of revenge. Instead, we meet a Bruce who has become Gotham's resident "delinquent son," a brooding rich kid w/ a penchant for trouble & paying off the cops to avoid consequences. We also get to see a fun new twist on Bruce’s first meeting w/ Selina Kyle, which sets up the next issue.

Russell's narration, delivered by an older, possibly unreliable Bruce, casts a cynical light on Wayne Enterprise & the power struggles which occurred until Bruce came of age. He is seemingly aware of the evil organization, the False Face Society, who ran things at Wayne Enterprise in his stead & was behind his parent’s murder. They are hellbent on eliminating the only Wayne heir, but Alfred does everything he can to ensure that doesn’t happen. The older Bruce’s recollections of Alfred’s impact on his life are some of the best writing in the book.

Mike Allred's designs are a perfect match for Russell's narrative. He utilizes a retro motif the exudes nostalgia w/ bold lines and it’s complemented superbly by Laura Allred’s vibrant colors. The two create a Gotham that is feels classic, yet unsettling. The world feels like it's teetering on the brink of chaos, a perfect breeding ground for the Russell’s script. It’s a great juxtaposition to the all-white, pristine future Gotham the two create to show how Thomas Wayne envisioned what the city could have become.

This was a bold & audacious reinvention of the Batman origin story. It's a dark, suspenseful tale that will leave you eager to see where this alternate history takes us next & how this version of Bruce ends up becoming the Caped Crusader. more

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RKS - Mar 31, 2024

You must have been reading a different book...

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Batman's origin has been written to death and yet Mark Russell has still come to the table with an interesting new take; one where Bruce is not present for his parents' murder and responds differently to the trauma of their deaths. Here, he is a rich kid pushing his boundaries as Alfred has raised him with a watchful eye, ensuring Bruce does not gain a criminal record which will disqualify him from inheriting the Wayne enterprise. Unfortunately, this does teach our teenaged Bruce not to expect consequences for his actions, which is an appropriate setup for a future vigilante.

It's also interesting to see how Thomas Wayne envision Gotham as an unrealistic, futuristic wonderland, much like something an Elon Musk or a Saudi prince would pitch to entice credulous investors. It hints to a flawed individual, which every good character should be. more

while i normally quite enjoy Mike Allred's art, this was just an insufferable story to slog through.

Bring back BATMAN '66, but PLEASE do not make Allred have to draw garbage like this. You can even see how much he was not enjoying having to draw this within each panel. Poor guy was probably gritting his teeth the entire time.

Ugh, I really wish DC would just stop hiring Mark Russell. The guy gives hack writers a bad name. He might have a shot at writing a decent comic if he didn't inject his warped perspective on issues and turn your favourite characters into dislikable muppets. This book is destined for some 60% dollar bin in a flea market but even at that price I would say you're over paying.