short but very enjoyable (Batman: Year One - Frank Miller)

Member Name: diddles_the_cat

Product:	Batman: Year One - Frank Miller
Date:	22/07/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: EXCELLENT CHARACTER BUILDING

Disadvantages: too short

I'm a relatively new fan of graphic novels - been reading them for about a year and having thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, I wanted to read Year One as well.

Firstly I would say that while I did enjoy David Mazzuchelli's artwork in this book, I preferred the art work of Frank Miller in Dark Knight Returns.

The book tells the story of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman and Jim Gordon joining the Gotham Police force. The young Bruce Wayne has been abroad training in martial artists for 12 years and returns to Gotham to take his revenge for the murder of his parents. After adopting the Batman persona he begins his life as a vigilante.

Gordon meanwhile is making enemies within the force with his incorruptible attitude not sitting well within a force riddled with corrupt officals.

Batman's success is also becoming a major headache to Gotham's crime families and it's corrupt police officials and the mayor decides to make Batman the target of a major manhunt - lead in part by an reluctant Lietenant Jim Gordon.

The character building in this book is what stands out the most for me. Batman appear less invicinble in this story compared to most, as he is still honing his skills and his persona, he is not as assured as he would later become and is self-critical during this learning curve. Jim Gordon is a world-weary, flawed, yet powerful and determined man, looking for some good in a rotten Gothan City.

This is a very good book, however i found it too short. I believe the subject matter could have been extended quite easily.

Summary: Very impressive, but could have been better