Description
Batman is not a hero. He is just a man. Fallible, vulnerable, and angry. In a Gotham City, where friend and foe are indistinguishable, Bruce Wayne's path toward becoming the Dark Knight is riddled with more obstacles than ever before. Focused on punishing his parents' true killers, and the corrupt police that allowed them to go free, Bruce Wayne's thirst for vengeance fuels his mad crusade and no one, not even Alfred, can stop him. In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Superman: Earth One, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected in this long-awaited original graphic novel from DC Comics.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-07-10
Physical description
27 cm
Publication
New York : DC Comics, c2012.
ISBN
9781401232085
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User reviews
LibraryThing member burnit99
A re-telling of the Batman's beginning, with quite a few twists on the familiar story, and quite an energetic and capable Alfred. Very interesting as a one-shot, but this may be the basis for a re-set of the Batman legend, and I really hope that's not the case. There are aspects of this telling
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that I find less compelling than what I grew up with. Show Less
LibraryThing member akmargie
A fairy okay origin story although kinda choppy and uneven. I would have given it more stars if the art wasn't so obnoxious when it came to it's depiction of women. Ugh.
LibraryThing member BenjaminHahn
The latest Batman reboot. Creative revision. I would have preferred a less shiny style of coloring, but the writing and flow are great. Bruce Wayne as child is more of a punk spoiled brat and plays more of a role getting his own parents wacked. Alfred is a bit more of a badass. I will keep reading
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the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kurt.Rocourt
Good art but bad story. A complete miss on what makes Batman an interesting character. Not really a Batman book more of a, "guy in costume" book.
LibraryThing member R3dH00d
Nothing terribly special here. Given the chance to start fresh with Batman and they just shuffle up the old story and update it to the 21st century.
LibraryThing member rodhilton
I enjoyed Batman: Earth One just as much as Superman: Earth One. The Earth One series retells classic superhero stories in a more realistic, modern-day version of Earth. As with Superman, I think a great job was done making the ideas of the staple character work within a modern context.
Lots of
One thing I liked in particular was that Geoff Johns doesn't use this retelling in an isolated graphic novel as an excuse for the typical "cavalcade of batman villains" like most do. There are some classic villains, updated for this version, but it's not like there are rogue cameos every 4 pages. In fact, there's not even a single appearance by The Joker.
Overall, Batman Earth One is a great retelling of the classic Batman story in a modern day, it's very similar to Year One in that it largely focuses on Batman's origin story, but it's very well-written in terms of character drama (the dialogue is a bit hokey). Definitely worth a read.
Lots of
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changes were made, and I enjoyed seeing how various characters were reimagined to make them more believable, especially Alfred. Bruce Wayne has just taken up the cowl, he's young and inexperienced, but he wants to get to the bottom of his parents murder, thinking it was a conspiracy. It never feels like there are too many over-the-top action sequences, and there's a great deal of depth and emotion at work over the course of the book.One thing I liked in particular was that Geoff Johns doesn't use this retelling in an isolated graphic novel as an excuse for the typical "cavalcade of batman villains" like most do. There are some classic villains, updated for this version, but it's not like there are rogue cameos every 4 pages. In fact, there's not even a single appearance by The Joker.
Overall, Batman Earth One is a great retelling of the classic Batman story in a modern day, it's very similar to Year One in that it largely focuses on Batman's origin story, but it's very well-written in terms of character drama (the dialogue is a bit hokey). Definitely worth a read.
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LibraryThing member hobreads
I've enjoyed Geoff Johns' past work and I've also enjoyed Gary Frank's artwork immensely. So, where does this book fail? Probably from the real world odds and real world unlikelihoods. If I wanted to read about the real world I'd read the newspaper. Batman is the symbol... an archetype of a perfect
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man. A perfect man that's studied martial arts, chemistry, and so on. "He becomes a master scientist" reads an excerpt from his earliest origin, for example. In contrast, Earth One shows him.... well, I'm not going to give away spoilers, but he's a man in a bat-suit that hits people. Pass on this one. You have many other - better - Batman graphics novels to read instead. Show Less
LibraryThing member DanieXJ
Another re-imagining of Batman and Batman mythology. This time it seems (at least at the beginning) to be less about justice and more about vengeance. It goes back to before the nineties re-imagination where it was less about becoming Batman to find Joe Cool, and more about 'the greater good'.
I
But of course the biggest change was Alfred. Wow, and yet, I really really liked the change. Then again, he's one of my favorite characters, so I think someone giving him a deep and interesting back story is always awesome.
I
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liked what they did with most of the characters, making them slightly different. Harvey Bullock's journey, who Cobblepot was, who Detective Gordon was. In one of the last GCPD panels there were even some familiarish looking faces there too.But of course the biggest change was Alfred. Wow, and yet, I really really liked the change. Then again, he's one of my favorite characters, so I think someone giving him a deep and interesting back story is always awesome.
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LibraryThing member SESchend
Not a bad book but problematic from a storytelling perspective.
It's not bad if you already know a lot of Batman mythology and backstory, but if you're looking for a complete story, it's not here.
Johns skips way too many details and just assumes that the reader doesn't need to know what happened to
So an interesting take but not a good starting point for anyone (if you want them to become fans of Batman, that is).
It's not bad if you already know a lot of Batman mythology and backstory, but if you're looking for a complete story, it's not here.
Johns skips way too many details and just assumes that the reader doesn't need to know what happened to
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Bruce beyond losing his parents. Next to no explanation as to why he decides to become Batman, nothing from when Bruce is 9 until he's 19 or so, and the biggest changes are to Alfred, the Penguin (or at least Oswald Cobblepott) and Bullock (and the latter eats up too many pages for a book entitled Batman). So an interesting take but not a good starting point for anyone (if you want them to become fans of Batman, that is).
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LibraryThing member vonze
Never read or bought a Batman comic before, but I thought it would make a good gift. To make sure, I sat down and started reading it and couldn't put it down. It's as good as any Batman movie you've seen.
LibraryThing member devilwrites
The premise: ganked form BN.com: Batman is not a hero.
He is just a man.
Fallible, vulnerable, and angry.
In a Gotham City where friend and foe are indistinguishable, Bruce Wayne's path toward becoming the Dark Knight is riddled with more obstacles than ever before. Focused on
In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Superman: Earth One, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected in this long-awaited original graphic novel from DC Comics.
My Rating: Good Read
I loved the alternate take on Batman's origin and the way Geoff Johns is utilizing the various characters from Bat-verse to create a new spin on an already very familiar story. The ending definitely leaves room for a sequel, one which I look forward to getting, especially since it's fun to see Batman learn how to be Batman. Because I'm a fangirl, I'm always up for whatever interpretations people have to throw at me regarding this character, and this one could easily win my heart with time and a few more installments. I find the character of Bruce Wayne to be fascinating on a psychological level, which is probably why I find his Rogue's Gallery equally fascinating: they tend to be symbols for various psychological states of mind (especially in Nolan's trilogy). At any rate, it's a good read with good art, and I think Bat-fans will be pleased.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Yay. Because while it's a short graphic novel, I want to talk about the details of how this origin differs from others and how it utilizes familiar faces in Batman's universe. For those of you avoiding spoilers, do not read the full review. For those of you who don't care or who have already read this, the full review is linked below, at my blog. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome!
REVIEW: Geoff Johns' BATMAN: EARTH ONE
Happy Reading!
Show More
punishing his parents’ true killers, and the corrupt police that allowed them to go free, Bruce Wayne's thirst for vengeance fuels his mad crusade and no one, not even Alfred, can stop him.In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestselling Superman: Earth One, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected in this long-awaited original graphic novel from DC Comics.
My Rating: Good Read
I loved the alternate take on Batman's origin and the way Geoff Johns is utilizing the various characters from Bat-verse to create a new spin on an already very familiar story. The ending definitely leaves room for a sequel, one which I look forward to getting, especially since it's fun to see Batman learn how to be Batman. Because I'm a fangirl, I'm always up for whatever interpretations people have to throw at me regarding this character, and this one could easily win my heart with time and a few more installments. I find the character of Bruce Wayne to be fascinating on a psychological level, which is probably why I find his Rogue's Gallery equally fascinating: they tend to be symbols for various psychological states of mind (especially in Nolan's trilogy). At any rate, it's a good read with good art, and I think Bat-fans will be pleased.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Yay. Because while it's a short graphic novel, I want to talk about the details of how this origin differs from others and how it utilizes familiar faces in Batman's universe. For those of you avoiding spoilers, do not read the full review. For those of you who don't care or who have already read this, the full review is linked below, at my blog. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome!
REVIEW: Geoff Johns' BATMAN: EARTH ONE
Happy Reading!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Skybalon
You'd think I'd get tired of the "origin" stories. Especially one that has been re-told in so many ways as Batman. This one was really good though, art and story both wonderful. At this point there's no point in calling any particular Batman story as the definitive one, but this one would certainly
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be in the running. Show Less
LibraryThing member nordie
A new story (2012) that goes back to the beginning of the Batman Story.
Alfred arrives at the Wayne Manor for the first time (having served with Wayne Snr in the Army) on the night Wayne Snr is killed outside the cinema with his wife. Alfred is Bruce's legal guardian, and is horrified when he
Meanwhile Mayor Copplepot (The Penguin) is the source of much of the corruption in Gotham and Bruce believes he killed his parents. He goes after the police who covered it up. In the mean time, Detective James Gordon (yet to be the commissioner) is joined by a good looking Hollywood detective who ends up getting Gordon's daughter kidnapped by a serial killer.
All these threads are pulled together in the old Arkham Home (where Bruce Wayne's mother grew up) with a bloody, violent end, that leaves more than one person devastated.
Alfred arrives at the Wayne Manor for the first time (having served with Wayne Snr in the Army) on the night Wayne Snr is killed outside the cinema with his wife. Alfred is Bruce's legal guardian, and is horrified when he
Show More
learns what the grown up Bruce is doing, fearing him unprepared.Meanwhile Mayor Copplepot (The Penguin) is the source of much of the corruption in Gotham and Bruce believes he killed his parents. He goes after the police who covered it up. In the mean time, Detective James Gordon (yet to be the commissioner) is joined by a good looking Hollywood detective who ends up getting Gordon's daughter kidnapped by a serial killer.
All these threads are pulled together in the old Arkham Home (where Bruce Wayne's mother grew up) with a bloody, violent end, that leaves more than one person devastated.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lexilewords
Prelim Review: Honestly speaking I preferred Superman Earth One, which as a Batman fan moreso then a Superman fan, that grieves me. I didn't feel like the artwork or 'new' origin story was as crisp as in Superman Earth One. Oh details were changed (Alfred is a military vet!) but at its core it was
Bruce? He kind of sucked at being Batman at first (or not really sucked, but was very amateur)--okay we kind of expected that (Batman Year One). He was driven by revenge (any Batman) for what happened to his parents and the corruption he perceives in Gotham. He finds a higher calling (again any Batman) in being a vigilante.
Admittedly having Gordon cynical, Bullock the idealist and Cobblepot (aka Penguin) the mayor were interesting changes, but :shrugs: not enough.
Full Review to be posted at Poisoned Rationality
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still 'Bruce Wayne fights crime to atone for the brutal slaying of his parents'. In Superman Earth One it became more of a 'Clark Kent searches for his place in life while learning the true meaning of strength' (or something like that). We see an uncertain, kind of showy-offy Clark who would have taken the easy route in life if nothing had given him a different choice.Bruce? He kind of sucked at being Batman at first (or not really sucked, but was very amateur)--okay we kind of expected that (Batman Year One). He was driven by revenge (any Batman) for what happened to his parents and the corruption he perceives in Gotham. He finds a higher calling (again any Batman) in being a vigilante.
Admittedly having Gordon cynical, Bullock the idealist and Cobblepot (aka Penguin) the mayor were interesting changes, but :shrugs: not enough.
Full Review to be posted at Poisoned Rationality
Show Less