Batman's First Steps

Batman: Year One is a graphic novel written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli that was published in 1987.  The story is told through the narrative thoughts of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne. Like the title suggests, this is the first year that Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City after studying martial arts abroad to avenge the death of his parents by fighting crime as the Batman.  This is also the first year that Jim Gordon joins the Gotham City Police Department as he has been transferred from the police department in Chicago.  Bruce’s first attempts to fight crime in the bat suit are a little messy and he is immediately put down as a criminal, attacking criminals physically, and corrupt elected officials mentally by leaving them disturbing messages and at one point crashing a party at the mayor’s house.  As the story progresses you find out that Lieutenant Gordon will have his work cut out for him as he seems to be the only cop on the force that is not corrupt.  Gordon has several run-ins with a Detective Flass, and other members of the force that do not like Gordon’s method of doing things that will potentially make them look bad.  On top of the cops having it in for him, he also has to deal with a new kind of potential threat, the Batman.

I’m not a big fan of graphic novels, but I love Batman and would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, and of course, Batman.  In addition to the suspense, I found myself laughing more that a few times at some of the things the characters said and did.  

Mat Sigmon