Any good self-respecting Batman fan has heard of Frank Miller, an author who is no longer introduced. Today we're going to discuss Miller's masterpiece, Batman Year One, and its sequel Batman Year deux. So, start your batmobile and head to Gotham!

Frank Miller: Batman Rebirth

Rewrite the legend

In 1986, the editorial team of DC comics decided that its greatest heroes, Batman among others, were starting to date. Thus, Superman and Wonder woman were entitled to reworked origins, but for Batman… It was much more complicated. Indeed, the Dark Knight created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939 already had everything of a modern hero. His origins, the reason for his crusade against crime was already perfect. So it was decided to simply improve the character, make it more complex and give it dramatic depth. In this, Batman year one succeeds brilliantly in transcribing the origins of the vigilante by making him more realistic and more in tune with his time. Also, Bruce Wayne appears in dark alleys bathed in neon light to testify to life in Gotham. Batman thus reflects the fears, frustrations and hopes of a readership confronted with the realities of urban life.

Artists up to the task

Who better than Frank Miller to rewrite Batman's origins? A recognized artist, he started in comics with the character of Marvel's Daredevil. A complete author, he is best known at DC Comics for his work on Batman: the dark knight returns. Having signed the end of the crossing in cape, it seemed logical that it was he who gave birth to it again. Nevertheless, for Year One , Miller wanted to devote himself only to the script, and left the drawing to David Mazzucchelli. He is an artist recognized for his mastery of composition and his sense of dramaturgy. Together, Miller and Mazzucchelli write one of the founding stories of the myth of the Dark Knight, a must-have for all bat fans. But then, what about its sequel?

Batman year two, a legitimate sequel

Taking over from Frank Miller

While it is true that Frank Miller did not work on Batman year two, his work on Batman year one is the guiding thread of the story. The story takes place some time after the events of Année un, our hero still fights against crime, juggling somehow between his two identities of playboy and nocturnal vigilante. But now, a newcomer forces him to new methods: the reaper. While Miller focused his story on the origin of the masked vigilante, Mike W. Barr wanted to focus on the Batman mythos, its foundation, and the questions that had previously remained unanswered. The screenwriter wanted to explain why the bat never used firearms. For this, Barr did not hesitate to use characters from the first adventures of Batman written by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. One example is Joe Chill, the murderer of Bruce Wayne's parents.

Two drawings, two atmospheres

Following Batman's fierce fight against his new enemy, the Reaper, the reader sees a complex narrative unfold where the villain is actually a reflection of the questions that haunt the hero. How far can he go to stop criminals? In order to best immerse the reader in this story, the drawing must be at the height of David Mazzucchelli's work on Year One. Also, we find two talented artists, Alan Davis and Todd McFarlane. If Davis' fine strokes may recall those of Mazzucchelli, McFarlane's style is very different. Indeed, shadow and light do not present themselves in the same way, which gives a completely different atmosphere to the story. In a sense if Davis approaches the legacy left by Year One by his fine and communicative strokes, McFarlane uses the shadow play proposed by Mazzucchelli to give Batman that dark side that we readers love so much. Together they make Batman Year Two the legitimate sequel to Miller's work. Batman Year One has a special place in the hearts of many bat fans, but that should also be the case with Year Two. A direct result of Miller's work, he continues the exploration and development of Batman's psychology. Also, Justfocus strongly advises you to immerse yourself, or to immerse yourself, in these two books to discover who Bruce Wayne really is!