DC Comics has plenty of loved and celebrated Year One stories. Typically, these stories show the origin of our favorite characters. The trend started way back in 1987 when Frank Miller gave his take on the Dark Knight and Jim Gordon’s famous first year in Gotham City in Batman: Year One. Since then, there have been many Year One stories throughout DC history. Superman, Teen Titans, and the JLA have all had their secret origins along with Batman, but for today’s TBU Five Things, I am only going to focus on some of my favorite moments from the Gotham-centric Year One stories.
1. Riddler: Year One
This is the most recent on the list and the only one that doesn’t involve the comic continuity. This the prequel series of The Batman written by actor Paul Dano who famously portrayed the Riddler in the Matt Reeves-directed film. I really loved this series. You could tell that Dano really went all-in on playing the Riddler andhas an affinity for comic books. There’s a rhythm to writing comic books that I thought Dano nailed.
My favorite part of the run was when Edward Nashton finally put on the Riddler costume that he wore in the movie. Throughout the run, Dano does a great job showing Nashton’s break from reality and his obsession with Batman and taking down the corrupt officials of Gotham. The full page splash of Nashton with the Riddler get-up is made even better by the Stevan Subic art. Just a great image.
2. Robin: Year One
Dick Grayson is my favorite character. Doesn’t matter if he’s Robin, Nightwing, or Batman, he’s my number 1. Ok, well, maybe not as Ric, but I digress. I like Robin: Year One by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty with fantastic art by Javier Pulido and Marcos Martin. It is a great story that shows how the unique bond between Dark Knight and Boy Wonder came to be.
It is an emotional journey that shows how Bruce, Alfred, and Dick became a makeshift family. Bruce and Alfred disagree on how Dick should be raised while Dick is giving some semblance of light into Batman’s dark world.
My favorite moment of the story is towards the end. Dick has been through a lot in his one year as Robin, including almost getting himself and Batman killed by Two-Face (Harvey Dent) and joining a young version of the League of Assassins. Dick finally reunites with Batman and Alfred lets him know that he can still walk away from this life. Dick responds and says “Somebody’s gotta help, might as well be me.” It sums up Dick Grayson to a T. Always willing to do what is right, and it makes him one of the best heroes in the DC Universe.
3. Batgirl: Year One
From the same team that brought you Robin: Year One, we see Barbara Gordon’s first year as Batgirl in an epic nine-part story. Whether as Batgirl or Oracle, Babs is one of the most well-respected and beloved characters in comic books. In Batgirl: Year One, we see that groundwork being laid.
The highlight for me is when Batman and Robin put Batgirl through a test to see if she can handle being a vigilante in Gotham. She goes through a Danger Room-type scenario in the Batcave facing off against some of Batman’s toughest rogues. The art is great, but it’s the narration which makes it great. Babs is trying to prove to Batman she can handle it, but more importantly, she is trying to prove it to herself. She says to herself “Whatever this is, face it,” as she turns a corner and comes face-to-face with a Joker standee. It’s a dark sign of things to come with what we know will happen to Babs during The Killing Joke, but we also see how brave and heroic she is.
4. Nightwing: Year One
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty wrote a Year One story involving a member of the Bat-family. This time around, they are joined by Scott McDaniel to portray Dick Grayson’s first year as Nightwing.
It is a fun story with cameos by Superman, the Titans, and Dick teaming up with Jason Todd, but the best part for me is at the tail end of the story when it is revealed that the narration throughout the story is Dick leaving a message for Bruce telling him that he raised him well and that he was the best father he could be. I think that Dick and Bruce are so similar in their mindsets, and that is when they can butt heads, but in the end they are the perfect compliment to each other.
5. Batman: Year One
The granddaddy of all Year One stories. Written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzucchelli. Considered one of the best Batman stories of all time and a must read for any fan of the character. It defined Batman and Jim Gordon’s Post-Crisis origin in the new DC Universe.
I thought about picking the end of the story with the Joker card and the tease of what is to come next, but I went a different way. I picked the part when Batman takes on the entire GCPD because they are not sure what to make of this guy. Batman takes a bullet to the leg and is cornered, but we know Batman can make possible out of the impossible. This time Batman calls on the actual bats of Gotham City to help him. This is a scene that we see recreated masterfully by Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins.
So there you have it. Five great Year One moments. I’m sure I missed a few and I did not include other character’s Year One stories like Superman, Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, and the JLA. It is always fun to see the origins of our favorite characters and the unique takes writers have on those origins.
