If you have never read Batman, or haven’t cracked a Batman title in many years, writer Scott Snyder successfully brings all readers into the fold quickly with his brilliant lead-in that clearly identifies some of Gotham’s “good-guys” as well as a small assortment of Batman’s rouge gallery. Right off the bat (no pun intended), Batman #1 opens with a fight scene in which a small assortment of villains are introduced and subsequently handed their a@#*s by the Dark Knight. Later, Snyder cleverly sets the reader up to easily identify Gotham’s “good-guys” including Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon and all three robins, although little history is actually given of the later trio.
These introductions are brilliantly woven into a storyline that also highlights Batman himself, more specifically, all three aspects that perfectly balance the dark knight as Gotham’s caped-crusader including Batman as a man of action, Batman the detective, and Batman’s alter-ego Bruce Wayne. Unlike most issues that I have read in the past where the writer sways into one area of Batman’s split persona more heavily than another, Snyder seems to grasp the this character solidly and presents the reader with the total package that truly is Batman. And, amazingly, he does all of this while spinning a story that has me on needles for the #2 issue next month.
As for the artwork from Greg Capullo, it perfectly complements Scott Snyder’s story. Capullo brings Gotham’s darkness to life with both grim, action packed panels as well as forbidding, gruesome panels that play seamlessly against the developing mystery rounding out the last few pages of this book. Needless to say, Capullo impeccably fleshes out Snyder’s immaculate storyline and both deliver successfully with Batman #1.
So far, DC Comics has magnificently reintroduced many of its heavy hitters (although Captain Marvel seems to have completely disappeared from the DC Universe fro some mysterious reason). The #1 issues of Action Comics and Detective Comics were both great as were other many of the titles including Justice League. I have to admit, as a Marvel fan, I am finding myself eagerly Superman #1 and truly believe I may begin to slide over the towards DC a little more often now that DC has pulled their heads out of the mud.
Rating 4.75/5
Batman #1
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion
Cover by Greg Capullo
Support Evil Squirrel Comics
