jexjthomas's review against another edition
4.0
Not the total rewrite of Batman's history I was expecting, but I liked that the changes made were original and unforeseen. It's not as gritty or dark as [b:Batman: Year One|59980|Batman Year One|Frank Miller|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327940389s/59980.jpg|2501570], which is by this point probably the definitive Batman origin story, but it also feels a little more human, a little more relatable. In Miller's famous work, Bruce Wayne often comes off as totally single-minded, a sort of more cunning Travis Bickle; here his quest to find his parents' killer seems more natural, almost like something any of us would do. In both works, Bruce Wayne is fallible, but Earth One finds him a little more down to earth, a little more likable.
Probably the biggest changes here would be
In all, the book is a lot of fun, and a fresh look at an origin story that has been done to death in every medium. Batman: Earth One may not strictly need to exist, and it isn't likely to become anyone's definitive version of Batman (since the Earth One line doesn't run in perpetuity like Marvel's Ultimate imprint), but I highly recommend that any Batman fan pick this up, if only for a breathtakingly fresh look at a character with nearly a century of history and continuity, often tangled and contradictory. Here Batman is presented clutter-free, free of history, free of baggage, free of ties to the rest of the DC Universe that place him in a context that makes him only an outsider among heroes, rather than an outsider among men.
Probably the biggest changes here would be
Spoiler
Thomas seen running for political office before being gunned down, against a less Penguin-y Oswald Cobblepot (who is still Gotham's Mayor by the time Bruce dons the cowl), Martha Wayne is an Arkham (an interesting development indeed, with interesting consequences), and, possibly my favorite change: Alfred Pennyworth is now a fairly bad ass ex-military guy who served with Thomas Wayne in Afghanistan (interesting parallel to Sherlock and Watson here?) and was originally hired not as the family's butler, but as head of security. This creates both a deep sense of responsibility for the Waynes' murder, and a dedication to Bruce--both raising him, and later helping the Batman--that isn't based simply on Alfred being a longstanding and faithful servant of the Waynes.In all, the book is a lot of fun, and a fresh look at an origin story that has been done to death in every medium. Batman: Earth One may not strictly need to exist, and it isn't likely to become anyone's definitive version of Batman (since the Earth One line doesn't run in perpetuity like Marvel's Ultimate imprint), but I highly recommend that any Batman fan pick this up, if only for a breathtakingly fresh look at a character with nearly a century of history and continuity, often tangled and contradictory. Here Batman is presented clutter-free, free of history, free of baggage, free of ties to the rest of the DC Universe that place him in a context that makes him only an outsider among heroes, rather than an outsider among men.
rorycb's review against another edition
3.0
A problem with American comics in the Modern Age has been an over commitment to origin stories. I can understand that this is in response to reaching new readers, or the impact on movie or television adapatations, which will themselves somewhat revise the origins for their new audience. It all gets a little tiresome.
So here we go again with this book. Granted this came out some time ago and I'm just catching up with a copy I came across while browsing the local library, but Batman is that character that suffers the origin retelling curse more than any other superhero.
I guess this is ok. There is more of a political corruption spin is given to the story, but not too much to lose readers that aren't of that inclination. Batman is a little bit useless and just manages to get away with his escapades, which is always a good take for these stories. Gordon has a surprising story arc.
Geoff Johns is a very competent writer and doesn't let you time to get bored of any one scene. Gary Frank's art should be right in my wheelhouse but I do find some of the characters expressions irritating and takes me out of the flow of the story.
So it was good enough. If I was in one of my heavy comic book buying phases when this originally come out I would've have definitely brought it and been somewhat disappointed.
So here we go again with this book. Granted this came out some time ago and I'm just catching up with a copy I came across while browsing the local library, but Batman is that character that suffers the origin retelling curse more than any other superhero.
I guess this is ok. There is more of a political corruption spin is given to the story, but not too much to lose readers that aren't of that inclination. Batman is a little bit useless and just manages to get away with his escapades, which is always a good take for these stories. Gordon has a surprising story arc.
Geoff Johns is a very competent writer and doesn't let you time to get bored of any one scene. Gary Frank's art should be right in my wheelhouse but I do find some of the characters expressions irritating and takes me out of the flow of the story.
So it was good enough. If I was in one of my heavy comic book buying phases when this originally come out I would've have definitely brought it and been somewhat disappointed.
lorien13's review against another edition
5.0
When Bullock turned out to be a smiling bit of a prick, and totally honest, it was very odd, but I knew I'd love it. Especially the different Alfred. More honest, in your face, and while very rough still the same sweetheart we all know.
I really wasn't sure what to expect only that I heard this was Batman who killed. While that isn't true, lots of things are on their heads. I enjoy the crap outta this and will be picking up the next volume as soon as I can.
I really wasn't sure what to expect only that I heard this was Batman who killed. While that isn't true, lots of things are on their heads. I enjoy the crap outta this and will be picking up the next volume as soon as I can.
matt4hire's review against another edition
3.0
So...it's not bad. Frank's art is...off, but Johns paints a realistically corrupt Gotham, in many ways a place that's more definitively worse-off than I've seen in other incarnations. The "new" versions of Alfred and Bullock are both pretty great, too, and Cobblepot's a decent enough one-off.
terezaxx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
janedoelish's review against another edition
5.0
This is a "realistic" take on Batman done right - including some "tweaks" to the familiar mythos. Taking a familiar story and making it interesting in its own right is an art that few can appreciate today, but the medium of superhero comics in particular can excel at just this.