A review by rorycb
Batman: Earth One Vol. 1 by Geoff Johns
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.