Batman: "Zero Year"

Batman: Zero Year is the collected series of crossover books authored by Scott Snyder and James Tynion, with artwork by Greg Capullo and Rafael Albuquerque. It reenvisions the troubled rise of the Dark Knight, from his birth at the hands of a murderous criminal in Crime Alley to his wanderings across the globe "in search of himself" (steadily training with all manner of renegade and tribe to become the physical and intellectual crime-fighting powerhouse before donning the mantle of the Caped Crusader).

Along the way, we get a candid look at his often turbulent relationship with crime-fighting accomplice and personal valet Alfred Pennyworth, as well as his troubled history with cop (later Gotham Police Commissioner) Jim Gordon. Returning to Gotham, presumed dead, he utilizes latex masks and costumes to fight the dominant menace, the "Red Hood" gang, which has taken over Gotham and is comprised of guys in suits with weird red hoods and conehead helmets covering everything but their lower jaws. Their leader, Red Hood One, is a central villain here but seems to be just the forerunner of even more bone-twisting (one of them literally) baddies later on.

Muscle-bound Bruce is a reluctant Batman, but he reconnects with Uncle Philip who is running Wayne Enterprises now--unfortunately, he's a prisoner of the Red Hoods, who attempt to eighty-six Bruce, not knowing he's the infamous Gotham masked vigilante. Much of Bruce's young life can be seen in flashbacks, with the requisite period updating that must take place in any comic featuring a character this dated. The drop down the Well of Battiness that inspires little, ravingly psychotic (due to his parents' cold-blooded murder) Bruce, becomes a kind of mythological forerunner to the heavy, broodiness that marks out the rest of the book. Since the reinvention of the character by Frank Miller, Batman has lost all sense of fun accorded to him by cult television programs and comics depicting the battle between BM and the Penguin, Joker, Riddler, and other outlandish supervillains too cartoonish to be taken seriously. At least, way back in the day.

The latter villain resurfaces here in a particular noxious and destructive incarnation--and one that is curiously, easily disposed of. Batman is depicted as a monomaniacal avenger (but not, because of that, one of the Avengers, which is a Marvel book). Alfred is the steady voice of reason and conscience as a counterpoint to his obsessive, maniacal, and self-destructive vision quest.

No matter. As regards he plot, we move full speed ahead, dealing with grotesque monster mutant baddies, and a psychotic "E. Nygma" who plots the downfall of Gotham, which is a kind of "Never-Never Land" of the comic book demimonde. Along the way, Bruce gets everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him, and survives it all, giving the electrical activity of his literal HEART to preserve the world of Gotham. Someone should have warned his cardiologist. (Okay, cheap shot. Obviously, someone as buff, athletic, and strong as Bruce Wayne doesn't NEED a cardiologist--in point of fact, in light of the kitchen sink realism Batman is renowned for, wouldn't even be taking a beta blocker, ACE Inhibitor, or diuretic. But I digress.)

Batman: Zero Year is very long, and seems to get longer the longer you read it. There's nary a hint of Robin, but one supposes that is rather de riguer for modern Batsagas owing to events of the past truer, fatter comic book geeks better versed in their Batlore would be well versed in. I'd have to go Wikipedia it all, and I am in a batty mood.

The artwork veers between, largely polished, if not a little stiff, a little too clean, and a section that looks as if it were done for the pages of an issue of Heavy Metal from twenty years back. Sort of fuzzy. The story can be a little hard to follow at times, but, overall, it never does get boring. Instead, it's eye-opening for the average Batfan.

At the end, Batman turns down a hot girl to swing from building to building on a bat cable and hang out with his skinny, cracked-ass English butler. I'd say that's dedication, but may just be stupidity. Either way, it's where it's bat. (I mean, AT.)

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