Review by Booklist Review
Johns, writer of DC's flagship title, Justice League, and current creative spearhead of their entire universe, is no stranger to collecting vast mythologies into focused narratives. He and Frank did a superlative job of just that in the recent Superman: Secret Origins. Here, Johns strategically remixes elements of the Batman mythos, laying out his quest for vengeance against a corrupt system in a way that narrows the spotlight on the character's obsession. The Penguin is recast as Gotham City's crooked mayor, Alfred is reinvented as a tough-as-nails ex-Royal Marine, and Bruce Wayne is tied to the city in deeper, more gothically psychological ways. Like the first in DC's line of beautifully bound, more realistic reimaginings, Superman: Earth One (2010), however, this one falls short of a revelatory reexamination of what makes its hero resonant, settling instead for a tweaked but comfortably familiar retelling. If anything, it is Frank's gorgeously lush art that stands out here, putting genuine emotion on faces, conveying the impact of fist against body, and supplying a palpable texture for costumes and environments.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Have you heard the one about the orphaned millionaire who dresses up like a bat? Of course you have. The irony of Batman is that he's one of the most high-profile superheroes ever, despite his dark and mysterious demeanor in comics. Johns's effort is sold as a reimagining, but it's essentially the same story that's been retold for the past 70 years. Bruce Wayne seeks revenge for his parents' murders against the backdrop of a crime-ridden Gotham City, with a few cosmetic updates, such as Alfred the Butler being portrayed as a grizzled military veteran who trains Bruce Wayne with tough love, and the Penguin as the corrupt mayor of Gotham City. The trappings are gritty, but there's not a lot of suspense surrounding them-you know who the villains are and you know they are going to be disposed of. Nor are there interesting character revelations about Batman, with Johns preferring to focus on other characters more closely. Frank's art adds interesting realistic touches without verging too far from Batman's comic book ambience. The book is definitely appropriate for newer fans who haven't read or seen this origin story a thousand times already, or casual readers influenced by the Christopher Nolan movies who want to dip their toes in the comics. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Johns, well known for his work with DC Comics' Green Lantern character, aims to shake up some of the comfort that longtime fans of Batman have enjoyed with this dark and complex new take on the Dark Knight's origin. Johns steps on more than a few toes with his version of the Batman mythos-especially when it comes to the character of Alfred, Batman's loyal and fatherly butler-but also manages to craft a story that is multilayered in its humanity, if more than a little cynical. The art by Frank is immune to criticism, with dynamic action and effortless flow from panel to panel-one can easily see the characters in full motion-brought to life by the rich and deep colors of Anderson. Verdict New comic book readers and those introduced to Batman via the recent films will enjoy this read, but aficionados will likely not appreciate the liberties Johns has taken with their beloved characters, even if they must admit there's an adequate story and fantastic art underneath it all.-M. Brandon Robbins, Wayne Cty. P.L., Goldsboro, NC (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
