Sometimes surprises can be a great thing. But anyone who expected Bendis to return to the type of gritty crime drama that defined his early comics career was probably shocked by the contents of Batman Universe. When Marvel Comics mainstay Brian Michael Bendis made the jump to DC in 2019, it was inevitable he'd write a Batman story. Batman UniverseĬreators: Brian Michael Bendis & Nick Derington It also features one of the most haunting endings you’ll find in any Batman comic. Though this book technically serves as a piece of a much larger crossover, it also reads perfectly well on its own. Knight of Vengeance showcases a darker, meaner Gotham City that plays perfectly to Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso’s storytelling strengths. The result is a vigilante who manages to top even Bruce Wayne in the brooding and scowling department. In this alternate timeline, Thomas Wayne became Batman after his son was murdered in front of him. But as it turns out, the best part of this massive crossover didn’t involve The Flash himself, but rather Batman. Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of VengeanceĬreators: Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Rissoįlashpoint marked a critical chapter in DC’s history, paving the way for the rebooted New 52 universe and everything else that followed. To date, Earth One has spawned two sequels, and we're hopeful Johns and Frank have at least one more volume planned that will focus on a certain Clown Prince of Crime. It’s a refreshing spin on the classic dynamic that lets us appreciate how Batman would adapt to a world with more realistic limitations. No longer a kindly butler, Alfred is an ex-MI-6 agent who, instead of serving him tea and tending to his wounds, beats the crap out of Bruce to teach him a lesson. The crucial element that makes this story work is the overhaul of Alfred Pennyworth’s character. Also, instead of being best buds with Jim Gordon, he winds up socking him in the face.

It’s a modern retelling of Batman’s early years where he’s not an infallible master detective who moves like a shadow - a point driven home when, while chasing a crook over the city rooftops, his grappling gun malfunctions and he lands in a pile of trash below. If Batman: Year One were written today, it would be Batman: Earth One.

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