Batman is the best character in the entire DC retinue, hell maybe even the entire comic book universe. Even if you're not a DC comic fan you like Batman. Even if you don't like comic books and never read a single issue in your life, chances are that you like Batman. And yes, I do like Batman. And if you ever thought about getting into Batman now would be the time. DC has spared no expense with the current volume, the art and writing are superb.
Zero Year followed after the short two issue mini arc titled NOWHERE MAN in which a man impersonating Bruce Wayne is committing murder and criminal acts. Also in this we see a flashback of Batman and Robin squaring off against the Reaper. I only point this out because it showcases some great artwork from Greg Capullo. SPOILER: the impersonator is Clayface and once again Capullo draws an amazing Clayface and Reaper. The story lasts two issues and is fresh, fun, and cool.
Now we jump into the past about 6 years and the beginning of the next arc ZERO YEAR. Gotham looks like a wasteland. People are running for their lives in the streets. And Batman rides up on a motorcycle kicking ass and saving lives. Then we dive 5 more months into the past. Gotham looks normal again but Batman isn't Batman... not yet anyway. "Oh, so this is going to be another Batman origin story- great..."
The way writer Scott Snyder sets up the story is cool. Batman is doing his vigilante thing but he isn't Batman yet. He's wearing masks and impersonating or disguising himself as other people. A gang of miscreants calling themselves "The Red Hood Gang" is terrorizing the city including Wayne Enterprises. So for the first 4 issues of the story we have Bruce Wayne battling the Red Hood Gang and slowly discovering the Batman. There are even cool backup stories exploring how Bruce gained his various skills, like learning how to drive fast cars and Macgyvering his way out of "no hope" situations. Anyway it's setup really well culminating into a massive showdown between the newly christened Batman and the Red Hood at A.C.E. Chemicals (which if you know Batman at all you'll recognize as the birth place of the Joker). It ends in a climactic battle with an ambiguous demise of the leader of the Red Hood Gang. What a great ending, right? Except it didn't end.
Throughout the last four issues we get little glimpses of a young, still straight laced, Edward Nygma. But he clearly has something going on in the background. Well, Zero Year continues with a new story arc. Nygma unveils himself as the Riddler and a string of really bizarre murders take place, murders in which the skeletal structure of the human body is altered, elongated, and distorted to unbelievable proportions. Batman is still learning to be Batman too, discovering the Bat Cave and setting up shop. All the while we get to see the burgeoning relationship between Jim Gordon and Batman and the rest of the police force gunning for Batman. Batman and Gordon split their forces, Batman goes after Doctor Death, the man responsible for the gruesome murders, and Gordon goes after the corrupt cops and Edward Nygma. At the end Batman defeats Doctor Death but the Riddler blows the bridges and tunnels effectively sealing off Gotham City from the rest of the world. Hasn't that happened before?
Now we launch into the final act of Zero Year, SAVAGE CITY. The Riddler has taken over the city and chaos runs in the streets. Batman, Jim Gordon, Lucius Fox, and a small group of freedom fighters try to fight back. The US government gives word to the military to bomb the city. It becomes a race against time, a battle of the minds, and the limits of physical endurance. I won't spoil it for you but- wait, we've already seen the future. We know Gotham somehow gets back to normal. In effect we know that Batman wins. The ending has already been spoiled for us. This is the inherent flaw in flashback stories, in which we already know where the story ends up.
Review: The story is done very well. Scott Snyder nails it again. And Greg Capullo's art is as good as it was in the 1990's when he took over drawing Spawn. Great stuff. So why did I hate this story? Because Batman's story is so familiar. Everybody in the world knows Batman's origin story. "Oh wait, so you're going to tell it to me again? For the one-hundredth time? And make me pay money for it? Yippi!" I'm sorry but I'd rather see Batman's future, not return to the past for a new new new retelling, only this one's got more stuff in it. I wouldn't mind it if it were only four issues but they drug it out for over a year. I liked the Doctor Death stuff but that was about it.
In Summary, if you enjoy a good Origin Story this one is awesome! If you're like me and are tired of having Batman's origin retold for the 100th time then don't bother. You already know what happens. Don't waste your time, cause that's what this entire last year of Batman felt like, a giant waste of time. And in a couple more years it's gonna happen again and again and again. The most familiar story in all comicdom will get annoyingly more familiar.
Overall ranking: 5 out of 10
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