Only a few heroes have reached the status of Batman. The character has permeated the pop culture zeitgeist in the world of comics, movies, video games, toys, cartoons, and even lunchboxes. He's become a symbol for many, one that has to live up to certain expectations. Even the slightest change may be subject to heavy criticism and scrutiny.
The Earth One line of DC Comics' Elseworlds has set noticeable alterations to the vigilante by none other than the acclaimed Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. A lot of these stuck the landing with the key exceptions. Here are 5 things the comic did right by Batman and 5 things it didn't.
10 Right: Legacy Of The Waynes
The history of the Wayne family is synonymous with the foundation of Gotham. Thomas and Martha Wayne, in particular, have always been depicted as the last spark of hope of the city. In the graphic novel, they still represent them as the only ones with the power to stand in the crime's way. This version, however, adds a little smudge on their family picture. Regardless of whether they were around, Gotham was always a cruel, dark place full of terror and atrocities committed on a day-to-day basis. So many millionaires in their place succumb to the temptation of corruption. This makes their mission that much more admirable.
As Thomas Wayne runs for mayor the two become an even greater threat to the criminal underground. Another interesting change is Martha is now an Arkham, not a Kane like in the mainline continuity. Her side of the family is haunted yet she still rose above that -- they both did.
9 Wrong: Their Death
However, it was their most iconic scene in comics that didn't quite hit the mark. The reason why the Wayne family had to leave the theater was because of a power outage, not because Bruce was scared of the film. Then, he runs into a stranger outside and tells him to move because he's 'a Wayne'. This prompts the man to engage, and infamously kill the boy’s father and mother with a firearm.
The murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne should always be a result of Batman's greatest underlying theme -- fear. There's something poetic about Bruce later going into life using the very thing which led to the death of his parents as a weapon against his enemies. It should never be a matter of an accident, a child's arrogance or anything else if it won't hark back to such a pivotal component.
The execution didn't feel all that impactful, either. Not an even an iconic image of young Bruce kneeling next to his parents. The whole scene felt more like an obligatory set-up to later events and reveals than a tragic farewell to Gotham’s finest.
8 Right: The Villains Are Back In Town
With Batman's ever so impressive rogue's gallery one has to think long hard before bringing any single one of them into the spotlight. Batman: Earth One does an incredible job with each of them.
Whether it be the Penguin, the Riddler or Killer Croc, every villain gets the time to shine. Even with the noticeable alterations, the characters ring true to their nature. They figure out a way to retain some of the more iconic, yet out-there elements in a natural manner like Penguin's umbrella, Croc's skin condition, or Catwoman's fixation.
7 Wrong: Bullock
When Harvey Bullock's character initially showed up, he was as refreshing as everyone else, representing a fresh, young and just policeman. He was probably the only decent man in the GCPD. Then suddenly the last act of volume 1 flips everything that worked on its head.
After his haunting encounter with the Birthday Boy, he lost all of his likable traits. By the end of the first volume and the entirety of the second, he was a basic, grumpy drunk with no purpose to the story He became the same-old Harvey, only with a cliche story arc that came before. No one was looking for this kind of homage to the original.
6 Right: Alfred
When it comes to Mr. Pennyworth, Geoff Johns decided to strip the character down and reinvent the wheel a little bit. This Alfred is a badass veteran who can get into brawls, with a walking cane at that. He's also rougher on the surface, less sassy and more honest to the bone.
The most important thing they didn't change, though, is how much he cares for Bruce. Alfred will stitch him up, share his advice, act as the voice of sanity, and help out on the field. He'll risk his own life to save Bruce if he has to, no matter how many fights the two get into. He's the parent Batman doesn't deserve but certainly needs.
5 Wrong: The Release Schedule
Many may ask what a release schedule has got to do anything. In the case of engaging your reader, it means a lot. As seen with Doomsday Clock, a slow-release rollout can negatively influence the experience for some readers. This becomes an even bigger problem for the Earth One stories.
A lot of them read like entry points for new fans. If that's so, the attention span of any casual is long gone. It took three years for volume two to release after the first one. Since then five years passed, and there's still no official news as to when the third one will come out. If DC Comics isn't taking this Batman seriously, why should anyone?
4 Right: It Feels Cinematic
The less serialized format is delaying the story from hitting store shelves regularly. However, it also proves the comic book medium can be as enthralling as the movies.
By crafting a self-contained 142-page narrative, the writer can focus on perfecting his storytelling and Batman's character development. The pace is smooth, the themes can be precise, and the story doesn't drag with fifteen threads. The structure improves greatly and as a result, it allows Gotham City to feel more like a myth-come-to-life. With the genius of Geoff Johns and the artistry of Gary Frank in the mix, reading comics like these is a joy within itself.
3 Wrong: No Boy Wonder
Batman. Check. Alfred. Check. Jim Gordon. Check. Batmobile. Check. Batgirl. Check. Robin. Robin?
A Batman story without a Robin isn't the end of the world. There have been several that managed to tell a compelling narrative without Dick Grayson and the company, however, it is a shame they weren't invited. One can only think of the fun and creative makeover any of the potential sidekicks could've gotten. Maybe adding another character would've been too much, but if Johns wants to complete his true-to-heart adaptation of the Batman, a Robin is what he'll need.
2 Right: The Humanized Knight
A lot of times the comic books like to treat Batman like a god. It becomes problematic when a character who's a regular human seamlessly defies the realms of limitations. This, in turn, became a meme which most people recall in the form of the sentence, "Because I'm Batman!".
This comic is everything but that. Right from the very first scene, the story makes it be known. By the end of the day, it's much more gratifying for Batman to screw up and get back up than to beat everyone or everything with no stakes in question.
1 Wrong: Sacrificing Batman's Stature
That doesn't mean he can't be the proficient hero the fans know him to be, though. This version of the Caped Crusader isn't a detective, nor is he trained in a variety of 127 martial arts. He's literally just a rich boy in a bat costume.
Although it's nice the reader can watch the character slowly grow into these traits, it's difficult to overlook the proper missing context that is sequential for the Dark Knight. It's not even about the novice skills at this point. It's that he doesn't strike fear into the hearts of criminals the same way. Perhaps, Volume 3 could change these things whenever it finally decides to release.