The wait is OVER!!! Batman: Year Zero has finally arrived!!! Now, before I get into this review, please be away that this review contains SPOILERS, so read at your own risk. And seriously, if you haven't picked up the book yet, what are you waiting for? OK, I know some people's work schedule conflict with comic store hours, but go on your lunch hour! Be later for work! Leave early! This issue is WORTH IT!!
Batman #21: We all know the origin of Batman so why was everyone so pumped over this? Simple, because this is the New 52 origin, and while we know the basics of what made Bruce Wayne Batman, we don't know the FULL story anymore. Add to that, the killer creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, who've been kicking all sorts of ass on this book, and you've got a winner! First off, let me say this, the book was NOTHING like what I expected. I totally assumed that this was going to focus on Bruce Wayne AFTER he left Gotham as a young man and follow him on his quests to train with the best of the best and learn from some kung-fu gurus in Tibet, or something to that effect. To my surprise, the story focuses on when Bruce got BACK from that training and is working to reestablish himself in Gotham City.This came as a VERY pleasant surprise to me. Right off the bat, we meet the Red Hood and his gang, and discover just WHY he has henchman. We also meet Bruce Wayne's uncle, Phillip Kane. Let me stop right here and mention that I LOVE what Snyder has done with Bruce Wayne's parents in this title. From the beginning he's given them some VERY deep rooted history and importance with Gotham City. They're no longer just Thomas & Martha Wayne, a doctor and his wife, they're VERY important people in Gotham's history. That is something that we've never had pre-New 52, and it's an amazing addition to the Batman mythos. In short, this issue is GREAT!! I've been reading comics a long time. And I've worked in comics a long time. I can tell when something is going to be a hit. And even though it's only 1 issue in, I can tell that this story is going to rank right up there with such other Batman staples like The Dark Knight, The Killing Joke, Batman: Year One, etc.
-Art wise, this is another home run for Greg Capullo. Capullo has continued to blow me away with, not only his fantastic art, but also his ability to be ON TIME EVERY MONTH without sacrificing quality. This issue in particular, is FULL of great action, great designs of some early Batman staples, awesome page layouts and just flat out FANTASTIC storytelling. This is a book you HAVE to read twice. The first time, you absorb the story and the second time, you need to look at it just to look at the art and all the details that Capullo "hides" in plain sight.
-Fellow Bat-Fans, I don't care what else DC has got coming this year(and some of it DOES look pretty impressive), but THIS is, hands-down, THE comic event of the year. I can't recommend this book highly enough, and I can't wait for the next issue. The only thing frustrating about this is that we'll have to wait 30 days for the next issue. The book does have two variants, which are pictured below. One by artist Jock, and the other is a sketch cover by Greg Capullo.
