Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Jonathan Glapion: inker
Backup by:
James Tynion IV: writer
Andy Clarke: Artist
The Solicitation
• Bruce Wayne has returned from his worldwide quest to take the law into his own hands! • This issue reveals the early steps of building everything that surrounds Batman – the costume, the cave, the car, the gadgets!
Preview
Why I Bought It
Batman!
What I Liked
Ah, Batman. The early years.
Two thoughts occurred to me after reading this, and they both focus on the identity of the Red Hood. Initially, especially after the line "That's Wayne's nest," made me think that the Red hood actually was a member of the Court of Owls. After the second reading, I really thought that Red hood was Joker before he was the Joker. Poisoning, bank robbery, somewhat a master manipulator, all these characteristics seem to scream it. And that's all fine and interesting. I just don't want an identity. joker has always worked best as a big mystery, and I hope it stays that way. Unless a really good story comes into play....
Knowing that Batman has the public identity to the average person, I'm glad the focus isn't entirely on how he became Batman and his parents death. Detective managed to focus on his training, and this comic managed to focus more on the batarang, the bat-symbol, and the relationship with Jim Gordon.
The art is consistent Capullo. Either you are liking the style and it works, or this is something that just won't suite you. It is a big turn from the art in the backup story, which wasn't too bad, but effective. The two different styles are very contrasting, but tell their stories very effectively. My one concern with the art in the backup is that it almost looks like All three future Robins are about the same age, when there should be something of a difference there.
What I Didn't Like
Looking at this "year one" type of stuff with the New 52 Batman is difficult. I went into in previous entries, but the timeline thing and trying to fit everything Batman into a 5 or 6 year time span is just not going to work without some very much clearer explanation. Your best bet is just to ignore it and keep on rolling.
Tynion manages to get one of the better stories together that I've seen him do this issue. My one problem is that if you don't know how these characters are important, the moment kinda gets lost on you. The general public may recognize Barabara, Jim, and Dick. Timothy maybe, but Jason is almost a no. So if this was the backup of any other issue besides a zero issue, which you think is meant to introduce new readers to Batman lore, then it was a nicely done job. But for new readers, kinda a fail on that part.
The end of this issue says that it is continued in 2013. What the hell? That's weird. Maybe Red Hood isn't Joker. But that does seem odd to have that in this issue. Interesting.
Panel to Remember
Out of all the panels, I'm going with the one with the poisoned bank employees. If that isn't a possible reference to Joker, and if that doesn't give you an idea for how the victims of Joker gas will be drawn by Capullo, then this panel is just meaningless. But with that potential there for this to be expanded upon and played out in future issues, it just leaves me wanting to see more.
Quotable
"Bruce Wayne isn't important, anymore, Alfred. He's a mask." -I'm of two minds with this. First, it is great to see Bruce actually say that in the comic and acknowledge it early in his career. However, that just means that he hasn't properly learned how to use that persona.
Grades
Words: 8/10 - And that's based on including the back up in this book. Otherwise, it gets split 9/10 for the main, 7/10 for the backup.
Pictures: 8/10 - See above for the words. Although, I really would think about going to a 9/10 for either of these categories.
Buy Next Issue: It is the start of the Joker story. Let's see how this pans out for everyone involved.
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