Superman: Year One

Frank Miller, the godfather of the 'Year One' storyline, gives Superman the long overdue treatment in this deluxe sized Black Label tale. In other words - this very well could be an imaginary story. But I'd be totally fine with it being turned into canon.

The childhood story of Superman doesn't really change. His Kryptonian parents, knowing that their planet is doomed, ship baby Kal-El to Earth in hopes of becoming humanity's savior. Raised as Clark Kent by Kansas farmers, Kal-El learns the difference between right and wrong while forging a friendship with Pete Ross and a budding romance with Lana Lang.

Once Clark graduates high school, the origin changes. For the first time ever, in Act Two, we see Kent joining the Navy in hopes of learning what it means to be human while finding his place in this world as a god among men. Clark's romance with the mermaid Lori Lemaris takes an unusual twist with the Kryptonian becoming the ruler of Atlantis, after defeating her father in combat.

It appears that Frank Miller is really going to challenge the established legend of Superman by having him become a super-powered Aquaman. But that's all but forgotten in the final act; just as Clark's relationship with Lana becomes nothing more than a memory by the time he finishes basic training. When Superman meets Lois Lane in a great twist on their first appearance in the crashing helicopter trope, the very young Man of Steel just gives up his life in Atlantis, enrolls in journalism at a nameless University, and becomes an intrepid investigative reporter at the Daily Planet. 

This is not a 365 day year in the life of Superman. It's more of a series of snap shots in the first 25 or so years of life of Clark Kent. This makes for some inconsistencies in the plotting, a ton of forgotten friends and family, and an ending that didn't feel like the end. I wouldn't be surprised for a Superman: Year Two to be announced sometime in the future. Though this book is from 2019, so our chances of that might be dwindling...

As for John Romita, Jr.'s artwork, it too was inconsistent. But it's actually something that works in his favor. In my late 40s, I understand that when you have a career that involves your hands, arthritis and age are your worst enemies. Jr.Jr.'s art has really suffered over the last decade. But when he shines, he really shines here. There were several pages that I spent a long, long time marveling at his dynamic drawings. Powerful renderings. Amazing angles. Kick ass action. It helped improve my rating for this book that feels in desperate need of a director's cut edition.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Year One: Batman/ Ra's al Ghul

   The nearly 600 hundred-year-old Ra's al Ghul is  finally good and dead. To prevent his resurrection the Batman had him cremated and then destroyed all of the world's Lazarus Pits, the source of Ra's near immortality. It seems that the terrorist leader has no viable way of returning to life. But when a letter from beyond arrives at Wayne Manor, it signals the beginning of a global catastrophe!

   The dead have arisen and are mysteriously healing. Plus, those who have been brutally murdered or recently suffered fatal injuries aren't dying either. Now the hospitals are overrun with the infirmed and the streets of Gotham run red with blood and the regenerating dead.

   It appears that mother earth doesn't like there not being any Lazarus Pits and thus thrown the world it out of balance. To restore entropy to its rightful place in the circle of life, the Dark Knight must embark on a global quest to recreate the Lazarus Pit formula or the entire planet with regress back into nothing. Should this happen al Ghul's dream of an earth unadulterated by the pollution of man with come to fruition posthumously.

   I chose to read this book in anticipation as to when I'll be seeing Batman V Superman next weekend. I'm going to go out and say it- I don't like Ra's al Ghul! I love Damian Wayne. I'm fascinated by Talia al Ghul. But the man known as the Demon's Head just doesn't excite me like a Riddler or Penguin.

   Filled with 'zombies' galore and not being rated for mature readers, this book is pretty graphic. Decapitations, blood, gore, and maimings in general, this book's favorite color appears to be scarlet. Plus, you add the incoherent ramblings of Ra's letter that act as the narration of this story- it all adds up to a really awful read, filled at least with a great couple of plot twists at book's end.

   If I'm not a fan of Ra's, then why buy this book? Well, being a 'Year One' story, which I collect, I thought this would be a good addition to my plunder. With flashbacks that reveal Ra's al Ghul's origin story, as well as a look at one of the earliest encounters between the ecoterrorist and the Detective, this book fits the Year One guidelines. 

   But I would've like to have the very first meeting between the two characters, first explored by Denny O'Neill and Neal Adams back in Detective Comics #232 (June 1972) recounted in this book. Maybe it would've helped me to better understand and like the character of the Demon's Head. But, I doubt it.

   Not Worth Consuming

   Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Robin: Year One

I’ve been a fan of the Year One books since I read the very first one- legendary artist/ writer Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. This Year One, devoted to the Dark Knight’s original Boy Wonder, Dick Grayson, shares that vintage feel combined with lots of gritty action and dynamic art.

The book doesn’t start with Bruce Wayne going to the circus and witnessing the tragic death of the Flying Grayson’s. Instead, this story starts with an already established Robin. However, his time as partner to the Batman is almost cut short when an early encounter with Two-face almost sends the sidekick to an early grave. Focusing on Grayson’s recovery and a brief suspension of the Batman/ Robin partner, Year One focuses on Robin and his early encounters with the League of Assassins and what will eventually become the minions of Lady Shiva.

By devoting a large portion of the story to Robin’s earliest exploits with the League of Assassins, it really provides more insight into what will make Robin into his own hero as Nightwing. It also opens a door into what the Tim Drake Robin will encounter with Lady Shiva and the Cassandra Cain Batgirl. This is not the Robin you remember growing up with. It’s still Dick Grayson. But instead of “Holy Batboots, Batman!” this Boy Wonder is more edgier, along the lines of the movie version Robin.

 I hated that Robin- I thought Joel Shumaker ruined the Boy Wonder by making the live-action version of Robin cocky, arrogant, and a little crash. Now, as I look back at this storyline and some of the Neal Adams and Denny O’Neal stories of the 70s involving the decaying relationship between a millionaire vigilante and his ward- I  must admit, Shumaker wasn’t off in how he had actor Chris O’Donnell play Robin. I never thought I’d say it, but Shumaker actually got something in the Batman movies right!

Lastly, the art was beautiful. It looks a lot like Miller’s Year One art but with a slightly more nostalgic bent. I kept thinking the art was by the fantastic Darwyn Cooke. I ever kept checking the front cover but it said “Art by Scott Beatty.”  Guess, I am going to have to look more into works by this Scott Beatty because I loved it!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

"Batgirl: Year One (Titan Books UK Edition)"

WORTH CONSUMING!

Excellent reading, worth consuming. The foreshadowing of events to come is Batgirl’s life is beautifully done. The omen of the Joker (who’ll later paralyze her) is chilling.