A Face Slapping Good Time
In this second issue of Batman Zero Year we continue to ride along with young Bruce Wayne trying to establish himself as Batman. And what a ride it is. Like other stories of the Bats origin, it is a thrill to see he crime fighter as a man and not a god. This Batman does mess up. He loses his temper. He gets hurt and yes, he could even die.
Where Scott Snyder makes this story special is how he turns convention on its ear. While reading you are never quite sure if things or people are what they appear to be.
Bruce again faces the Red Hood Gang and it's enigmatic leader. The dynamic between the two is great. Whether the leader is who we think he is, we are experiencing the rise of two people destined for greatness in their own way. Bruce may be green, but he is already showing a cunning and intelligence that even impresses his adversary. Later when he meets another of the famous rogues gallery, he has a playful battle of wits that is both ingenious and stunning. It is bound to be what is talked about most in the book.
Year Zero is also showing the strains that Bruce's night job are having on his personal relationships. Being a crime fighting vigilante can lead to a lonely life and he does nothing to help that prospect. He may come off a little too much as a whiny little arse, but the emotional impact is there.
Greg Capullo's art is stunning. He puts so much detail in every panel that every other DC book pales in comparison. I really can't say enough about his work here.
There is no reason I can think of why anyone should not read this book. Batman's origin has been told countless times, but Scott Snyder makes it fresh again. The art is second to none and if that isn't enough, it ends on a cliffhanger that has me waited for the next issue with baited breath.
9.8/10
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