And so, Batman is born!
Bruce is failing his city, but he might have found the motivation he needs to carry on the promise he made his parents.
The Good
The zero year story of Batman's beginnings has been interesting. Yes, we've seen Batman's story told over-and-over again hundreds of times in past years, but seeing Batman really begin is always a trip no matter what! We get new writers to work on Batman's beginning every time and they always bring there own touch of what might've happened during the change from Bruce Wayne to Batman. Scott Snyder's story has joined that company of excellent stories!
We have Bruce in the wake of being beaten and bruised and wondering if he should really go on with his mission against crime in Gotham. Snyder really puts an emphasis on Bruce's lack of faith in himself and abilities as he really hasn't made much headway against Red Hood and his gang, and that's great! To see the early conflict of pre-Batman and how he will eventually become a coolheaded hero during any conflict. So it was great how Snyder really highlighted that in this issue and also worked in a Frank Miller homage for Batman Year One.
The artwork by Greg Capullo! What can I say? In one word: "fantastic!"
Like in the prior issue, there is a ministory featuring writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with artwork by Rafael Albuquerque on Bruce's time training abroad.
The Bad
While I did enjoy Snyder's homage to Frank Miller's Batman Year One, I also don't think it was a great idea to put it in this story. In Miller's story, Bruce had a near death experience and started bleeding out in his house. At the moment where he was deciding whether or not to continue his mission, a bat busted through his window and gave him the confirmation that he needed to become a symbol; Batman! Scott Snyder's homage to that was similar, however it deviated from Miller's story as Bruce was not bleeding out and about to die. Instead, Bruce was just losing hope; wondering if he could really make a difference. I'm not sure if Snyder wanted to create an effect of "awe" because of the Miller homage or wanted to try something new, but it didn't really create the desired effect that he may have wanted, at least from my point of view. It would've been nice if Snyder either did something totally new or just stuck true to the Miller homage thing.
The Verdict
Batman is finally born! Snyder's story has been really great and it's shown us a younger Batman at a time where he wasn't fully ready to have people aid him in his war on crime. The confrontation between Batman and Red Hood is much expected and it'll be great to see how Snyder builds up to that, as well as the Riddler beginnings. Overall 4 out of 5.
Next review:
Batman 23-26 & issues 28-29 (cause I already reviewed 27, duh) ;)
Arrow review:
Last Batman Reviews:
Upcoming reviews:
1.Snyder & Capullo's BATMAN! -- Comic catch up! (issues 22-29)
2.Millar & McNiven's NEMESIS! -- Comic special! (issues 1-4) COMPLETED!
3.Tomasi & Gleason's BATMAN AND ROBIN! -- Comic catch up! (issues 22-28)
4.Posehn & Duggan's DEADPOOL! -- Comic catch up! (issues 12-24)
5.Snyder and Lee's SUPERMAN UNCHAINED! -- Comic catch up! (issues 2-5)
6.DeConnick's CAPTAIN MARVEL! -- Comic catch up! (issues 13-17)
7.Slott's SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN! -- Comic catch up! (issues 13-28)
8.Wood's STAR WARS! -- Comic catch up! (issues 3-14)
9.Kirkman's INVINCIBLE! -- Comic catch up! (issues 104-108)
