5.0 out of 5 stars The answer to,"Where do I start reading Batman comics?"

A.p. · September 20, 2015

So you want to start reading Batman comics? I bet you've searched all over the internet, on sites such as comic vine, youtube, yahoo answers, and they all tell you the same thing: Start with Batman: Year One. Why start with this book? Well, this review will explain everything: The cover, the artwork, the extra features, the story, and what I recommend you read next. Without further ado, let us begin.Once upon a time, there was a man named Frank Miller. In 1986, Frank wrote a little story called The Dark Knight Returns. This critically acclaimed alternate-universe novel featured Miller's revolutionary interpretation of Batman. Shortly after, he was asked to write something else. Anything. He took a very general route: a Batman origin story. Little did he know, this 4-issue story would become a classic, essential Batman collection.Batman Year One collects Batman issues 404-407 into one remastered collection, complete with bonus features of extra artwork, preludes, afterwords, etc. Here is a breakdown of the book's contents:- A one page long newspaper clipping titled The Crime Blotter written by Slam Bradley, the original star of Detective Comics #1, perhaps as a homage to him.- A 2 page introduction by Dennis O'Neil from March 1988 explaining how the idea for Batman Year one was introduced.- The 97 page long story itself. More on that later.- A 37 page afterword(s) complete with original sketches, the process of remastering the color, original scripts, black and white artwork, etc.- An advertisement at the end for other graphic novels, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Haunted Knight, and Catwoman: When in Rome, all by the Dynamic Duo of comics whose names aren't Batman and Robin, Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale. Perhaps DC is trying to tell us something...The story itself is phenomenal. I'm not going to spoil anything, but here's a little opening to draw you in:Lieutenant James Gordon has been called in to work in Gotham City. During the train ride there, we learn of his opinions towards his new workplace. He complains about the long ride, the scummy people, the lousy effort of the police force in a mob-ruled city, how he knows it will be difficult to raise his family. Think Detroit. While there, he learns of the corrupt Gotham police force, and the return of Bruce Wayne, a millionaire playboy who inherited his dead parents' wealth by default. Bruce himself is struggling mentally. He wants to become a vigilante, a self-appointed crime fighter, but he lacks one minor thing: others simply won't fear him. It finally dawns to him that he should become what he feared, a bat.Cover art for the book is basic. That's all it has to be. A red book with a sketch of Batman that stretches from front to back cover (I purchased the paperback version)The story hits everyone differently. If your memory of Batman is the Adam West, joke-cracking pun-filled crime fighter, this story will come as a shock to you. You may have to read the story a second time before you can really appreciate it. It is very dark, filled with blood, cheating, alcohol, prostitutes, and drugs. What I'm trying to get at here is that this isn't a story to read to your kids at bed time. Nevertheless, it is still a masterpiece.Speaking of masterpieces, David Mazzucchelli absolutely nails it on the artwork. It focuses a lot on lighting and shadows, perfect for the noir mood of the story. It also focuses on little, tiny details, the lining of the bricks of the apartment building being staked out by a psychopath, the raindrops on Gordon's car window, the debris of the collapsed house Batman uses to hide from the police (yes, I just said that, Batman hiding from the police)The story occasionally switches narration between Batman, Jim Gordon, and Catwoman. The amount of use of this tool can be what makes or breaks a story. Miller balanced it perfectly. There are no "supercriminals" so to speak, no Joker, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze; just the mob, police force, and some no-named petty thieves. After all, it's just Batman's first year. It broadcasts the successes, failures, and luck of Batman.All-in-all, it was a fantastic read. It's really something you can read again and again. This book will start you comic/TPB collection, and hopefully it will be a long one. You will see some connections to the Nolan films in this book, as it played a vital role as inspiration for Batman Begins. Upon putting this book down, it immediately poses another question: Where to next? Perhaps you didn't like this new spin on the Batman. Maybe you want a more vibrant kid friendly version. I would suggest picking up Batman: Chronicles Volume 1 or Batman: Archives. They are a collection of older Batman comics from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze age. Perhaps you did like this Batman and what to further oversee his development into the Dark Knight. Batman Year One in my opinion is the starting point for the modern age Batman. If this interests you, I'd pick up at least one of the following graphic novels:- Batman the Long Halloween - a murder-mystery spanning over a year- Batman: Dark Victory - an intended sequel for The Long Halloween, introduction of Dick Grayson AKA Robin- Batman Haunted Knight - a collection of 3 Batman short stories- Catwoman: When in Rome - further reading on Catwoman- Batman: The Man who Laughs - introduction to the Joker- Batman and the Monster Men - my recommendation if you want to read Batman in a chronological order. However, it is very expensive at this time on Bolo.- Legends of the Dark Knight - a comic series consisting of several batman short stories, no order is required, though some are sequels to others.- Anything you firggin' want - no explanation needed.I payed $8 for the book via Bolo, and it was a steal. If you see the book for under 10 bucks, don't hesitate to pick it up. I hoped I helped all you new readers, or veterans who never read this your time around. 5/5 stars, 100/5 stars, actually. It doesn't matter. Read it if you haven't. You won't regret it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Batman: Year One-My first Amazon review

W.S. · August 20, 2011

This is probably one of the best stories, not just Batman tales, but one of the best STORIES, period, I have read. This is a modern redo of Batman's origins that also intertwines his rise with Lieutenant James Gordon's slow rise to the post of Commissioner (by the end of Year One he is a Captain). The main storyline revolves around Bruce Wayne returning from 18 years of training and traveling across the world after the murder of his parents to start his "quest" and James Gordon moving from the Chicago PD to Gotham's police force, which, unsurprisingly, is pretty corrupt (A one page prologue drawn as a Gotham newspaper has an article that sets the tone for this). Slowly, since they both are basically working towards the same goal, the start to move toward each other until they finally cross paths. By the end they have developed a working relationship of sorts, and have started to tackle the mundane but powerful elements of crime and corruption in Gotham City; the Mafia, their business partners, and many of Gotham's government officials. I particularly liked the fact that this story does look at what inspired Bruce Wayne to use a bat as a symbol, and how Jim Gordon became such a tough cop. Outside of the Nolan Batman films, this is probably the most strictly speaking realistic Batman you will see, with all of the human flaws and mistake-making that tend to define people. This also applies to Gordon, who has his own weakness and mistakes to overcome as well. We also see Harvey Dent already have a working relationship with Batman early on as an Assistant D.A. before the addition of Gordon to the team, which adds to his later, tragic character as Two-Face. This is a story you could read twice in a row; I would definitely recommend reading this!Sidenotes: This story is the current foundation story which is used as the jumping off point for most of the modern Batman comics, and about 10 or so other stories have been written that take place within Year One, right after Year One, or parallel to it. A good follow up story is Batman: Shaman, which goes into deeper detail as to why Bruce Wayne seized on the bat as a symbol, and looks at what some of his training entailed. Alternatively, given the hint at the end, an additional good follow up would be Batman: The Man Who Laughs, which introduces the Joker after his accident, and Batman:Dead to Rights, which depicts the Joker's trial after the Man Who Laughs. I should also mention that there is a notable subplot in Year One that involves the origin of Catwoman throughout the main story, which serves to show how Batman, to some degree, inspires or creates his super-villain enemies, and how similar he is to them. Additionally, establishes that Catwoman and Batman are very similar people as well(and could be a couple, thus starting their weird relationship). I should also point out that about 30 or so pages of bonus materials are included in the book, and the story itself is 96 pages (97 counting the "newspaper"). The cover for the paperback is very nice and has a plastic coating that helps keep it looking fresh.Cons: I noticed that although most of the reviews are positive, there are a few very negative ones, so I will attempt to list potential reasons why people might not find this story appealing: A. It does not have any colorful or fantastic supervillains (unless you count Catwoman), since Frank Miller was going for a realistic angle.B. The story does not have a typical one-off plot where a villain is introduced, schemes, and is defeated or escapes; instead it is focused on origins and the development of the characters.This means that the story is a little deeper and longer and takes a bit more effort to follow than a typical comic book storyline.C. The art is good, but the colors used are chiefly a lot of blues, greys, blacks, reds, oranges and yellows(mainly for the background, not the characters themselves) to set a gritty "tone", so those who prefer a somewhat more colorful comic or are comic art critics or hard core comic fans may be disappointed. The average reader, like myself, should not find this to be an issue.The only issue I had with my copy was that there were slight marks from shipping, but since this has nothing to do with the enjoyment of the product, I give it 5 stars.

Comprenlo indispensable para tu colección

P. · September 28, 2025

Exelente producto llego en muy buen estado, solo a tomar en cuenta no si sea por la edición que compré pero está venia con papel tipo periódico pero en general 10/10 exelente historia para enpezar a leer a Batman.

Ótimo quadrinho, boa entrega e antes do prazo

R.C. · September 27, 2025

Incrível, um quadrinho lindo, material gostoso de manusear e de qualidade. Para quem sabe inglês, vale cada centavo...Entrega antes do prazo e em boas condições.

جيد👍

T. · August 25, 2025

جيد

Batman: Year One - The Quintessential Dark Knight Origin 🦇💥

R.G. · April 10, 2024

Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One" is a seminal work that has rightfully earned its place as one of the most celebrated and influential Batman stories ever told. This deluxe edition not only presents the iconic graphic novel in all its glory but also offers a treasure trove of bonus material that will delight fans and provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at its creation.From the very first page, Miller's gritty, noir-inspired storytelling immerses you in the seedy underbelly of Gotham City, a world plagued by corruption, crime, and despair. It's a bold departure from the campy interpretations of the past, grounding the Dark Knight in a grim reality that perfectly captures the essence of his character.Miller's writing is matched by the exceptional artwork of David Mazzucchelli, whose stark and expressive pencils breathe life into this dark and brooding world. The character designs, panel layouts, and use of shadows and light create a cinematic experience that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant.But what truly sets "Batman: Year One" apart is its exploration of the parallel journeys of Bruce Wayne and James Gordon, two men driven by a shared sense of justice and a desire to save Gotham from itself. Miller's deft handling of their character arcs, as they navigate the treacherous waters of their respective paths, is masterful. Their eventual convergence is a moment of pure storytelling brilliance, forever intertwining their destinies.For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this deluxe edition is a must-have. The inclusion of Miller's and Mazzucchelli's introductions, as well as the wealth of bonus material, provides invaluable insights into the creative process and the lasting impact of this iconic work.While some may find the tone and subject matter too dark or gritty for their tastes, there is no denying the profound influence "Batman: Year One" has had on the character and the comic book medium as a whole. It is a seminal work that redefined the Dark Knight for a new generation and set the stage for the renaissance of mature, sophisticated storytelling in the world of comics.Whether you're a die-hard Batman fan or simply appreciate exceptional storytelling, "Batman: Year One - Deluxe Edition" is an essential addition to your collection. It is a true masterpiece that has withstood the test of time and will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

Very good

B.N. · April 10, 2025

Good quality