The art elevates this insanely.

Peak fiction

Batman definitive origin, "Year One" sets the whole scenario that would later be beautifully explored in "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory". It's a good comic with a nice script and a wonderful visual art. A must-read for anyone into comics.

The impact early Frank Miller had on Batman media and the world of graphic novels is palpable decades later still, even to the most uninitiated. Many deem his incarnation of the character to be the definitive one - tired, gritty, restless and uncompromising, looming over Gotham not as a slick, vigilant shadow, but a bulky, growling rook, ready to crash down any time. People have almost come to expect this cold despondency and nihilism from other authors' works, but because I grew up religiously revering the Schumacher films, I don't personally feel much of a connection with Miller's Batman.

...With the exception of Batman: Year One. A book so perfectly complete, so satisfyingly whole and competent, so sharply written and terse, it almost makes me wish it was it's own thing entirely, free of the cape crusader's tropes and character limitations. A story, which may be simple in the big picture, but so intricate in how it's told. Beautiful, poetic and philosophical, yet gritty, raw and cold. A true perfect storm of opposite fronts clashing gloriously across this 4-issue page turner.

It sets itself up with an amazing introduction to Gotham for James and Bruce, who both enter Gotham the way they'll see it for the rest of their lives - the former via road, in the belly of the beast, the inside man - the latter from the sky, outside looking in, carefully observing, distant. It's fair to expect a similar level of storytelling throughout the book, and it absolutely does not disappoint. It's one of the very few times in Frank's career where he actually treats these characters as people. And it felt so natural, it's anyone's guess why it's such an anomaly among his works. And what's so intriguing about it til this day, is that with such a real, grounded depiction of Bruce Wayne, it really leaves you unknowing if this interpretation of the character could really become the legendary, noble Batman we've all come to know and love, or will this hideous, sickening world produce something more akin to what we've seen in DKR and DK2? It really tests your para-social relationship with the character, your empathy. Do you want to see Bruce become this nightmarish Milleresque monster tormented for your amusement, or an Adam West-like, quippy detective you can befriend and root for?

A brilliant character study. Just read the flippin' thing, it's a one-evening affair and it's one you'll remember for long. Even if, like me, your bread and butter is more lighthearted superhero action. If for nothing else, at least get it for that beautiful, strangely vaudevillian, red-black cover. What a strong image to haunt the reading of this book, hot darn!