Geoff Johns and Gary Frank continue to expand DC Comics’ “Earth One” line with an impressive new take on the Dark Knight with “Batman: Earth One.” (Artwork by Gary Frank, Jon Sibal and Brad Anderson)
By: Jacob Elyachar
One of DC Comics’ latest lines of comics is called Earth One.
Earth One brings some of the comic company’s best creators together to recreate several classic characters and bring them to the 21st Century. Current Shazam creative team Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have successfully retold the origin of the Dark Knight in Batman: Earth One.
This story showcases how young Bruce Wayne became the Dark Knight and his first adventure in Gotham City. Johns’s script perfectly weaves several important elements to the Batman tale but also adds several unique twists along the way including making Bruce’s mother a member of the Arkham family and giving Harvey Dent a twin sister. In addition to those elements, he also creates a new villain called the Birthday Boy, a monstrous serial killer who is obsessed with teenage girls.
He also gives an interesting takes on several classic characters. Hardcore fans will be shocked to see a hardcore militaristic Alfred Pennyworth, a cowardly James Gordon and a very fit but wily Harvey Bullock. In addition, look out for one of Batman’s oldest foes: the Penguin, who has been put in a very important position of power in this book. Also, keep an eye out for a classic Batman opponent that makes a cameo appearance at the end of the story.
Longtime DC Comics artist Gary Frank delivers some of the best pencils of his career with this graphic novel. His designs on the characters are very impressive and blends early Batman drawings designed by the late Bob Kane with Frank Miller’s gritty style along with modern artists Tony S. Daniel and Andy Kubert’s takes on the Caped Crusader. My only complaint about Frank’s work is that he should have had more two-page panels because his artwork is impressive and he really needs to shine.
Overall Thoughts and Grade: This is an excellent take on the Dark Knight and hopefully Johns and Frank will be able to expand upon Batman’s world in the future. A
