Gotham City Year One #3 is almost as near-perfect as the first two issues. I didnt even get to the usage of SLAM as a sound effect in that opening flashback. But King really steps on his own ending, and its too bad. I honestly was surprised there was that extra page at the end of the bookI thought the issue was over. Now is this arguably a nit pick? Yes. But the choice ruined what could have been a much more powerful moment. Read Full Review

Hester beautifully illustrates the dark and dangerous world of Gotham City and every page and panels makes you feel like you're watching a classic detective movie. Beautifully illustrated throughout. Read Full Review

This might be the most pitch-black of King's works so far, but it's also excellent. Read Full Review

Gotham City: Year One#3 continues to be a well-written and beautifully drawn story that embraces the pulp of the noir genre. Bringing in some interesting character developments and backstory, with an end reveal that propels the story in an exciting new direction, issue #3 might be the best one yet. Read Full Review

Gotham City: Year One #3 is a gripping detective story that explores the characters of its titular city in a meaningful way. Slam's investigative work is captivating and keeps you guessing without ever feeling like it's just pulling answers to mysteries out of nowhere. Both the main characters and the residents of Gotham who only appear for a page are fleshed out such that the entire city comes alive as the story digs deeper into its hidden depths. Every issue reveals a new facet to this complex mystery and I'm excited to read what comes next. Read Full Review

Gotham City: Year One #3 is an excellent example of detective noir done right. Slam Bradley's gritty detective work is matched only by Hester's moody, atmospheric art. That said, the depiction of the Wayne family's moral flaws is gratuitous, unnecessary, and off-putting, holding back a very good comic from being a great comic. Read Full Review

The payoff to the mystery is somewhat disappointing as King seems to lean into the stereotypes he actively wrote against through the first half of the story. Of course, there might be more to this reveal. Regardless, King and the rest of the creative team have established an engaging mystery. Hopefully he can nail the ending. Read Full Review

All of this investment in the setting and Slam's journey below its surface allows the final few pages to land with desperate intensity that's bound to leave readers shaken. It also makes clear that the myth of Gotham City having once been a grand place for all of its citizens was always just that, and that's where Gotham City: Year One promises to grow far more interesting in its second half. Read Full Review

Gotham City: Year One#3 is at its best when it is a vehicle for Slam Bradley to act and react to the startling situations he finds himself in. He's a protagonist who's likable, and this is the key to Year One #3 being successful so far. Unfortunately, the unfolding mystery of the Waynes offers only drips of information, which could make it easy for readers to disengage from it. Slam as the main lead, as well as Phil Hester's wonderful gritty art. are make this issue a worthwhile read. Read Full Review

Tom King and Phil Hester have produced the best issue of the series yet artistically, though the characterization still feels too tied to tropes without much energy or variation other than the stellar artwork. Read Full Review