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BATMAN #23

Witness the moment Bruce Wayne becomes Batman as “Zero Year” makes history!

And in the backup story, a young Bruce Wayne fights for his life in a death match in Russia!

Story by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo & Danny Miki
Colors by FCO Plascencia
Letters by Nick Napolitano
Cover by Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, Gary Frank, & Brad Anderson

Price: $3.99
iFanboy Community Pick of the Week Percentage: 4.2%

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Comments

  1. Avatar photo 85 says:
    August 12, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/ibatmani-23-reveals-bruce-waynes-ties-to-the-red-hood-gang

    The coloring in this book recently has been really amazing!

  2. Avatar photo lobsterjohnny says:
    August 12, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    I feel guilty for not picking this up this week to save money for next semester. Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki and FCO Plascencia have been making Batman look amazing every issue. Once I get some extra change, I will pick this up in trade down the line.

  3. Avatar photo player1 says:
    August 12, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    I bought the first two HCs of this.

    I’ll be reading the rest of this in library trades.

  4. Avatar photo ghostmann says:
    August 12, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    Fuck trades! I can’t wait that long to read one of the best comic books on the stands today.

  5. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    August 12, 2013 at 9:37 pm

    This has been a lot of fun. Even if it’s sort of putting Year One out of the picture this is (so far anyways) a great retelling of the origin.

    So to the naysayers I say: Lighten up!

  6. Avatar photo Gabe.Summer says:
    August 12, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    Picking it up this week, next month, every month. This is too good for trades.

  7. Avatar photo player1 says:
    August 13, 2013 at 12:45 am

    Interestingly, I was considering starting to pick this up in issues with Zero Year.

    Thanks for talking me out of it.

    And in the interest of full disclosure, I’m never really in a hurry to consume media immediately.

    I’m still enjoying comics and music from the 1930s.

    I just watched DKR and John Cater last week.

    I finally got around to watching that Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon.

    I don’t have the money, the time or the inclination to worry about getting everything that is supposed to be hot the minute it comes out.

    Maybe thirty years ago I could’ve cared…

    The only reason I got the first two HCs of this were because it got good buzz.

    I still haven’t read those yet.

    😉

    I’m in no hurry….

  8. Avatar photo sitara119 says:
    August 13, 2013 at 9:48 am

    I buy digitally after 2 months, so tomorrow I actually am just starting Zero Year. Glad to hear so much positive buzz.

    • Avatar photo BionicDave says:
      August 19, 2013 at 4:27 am

      I wish I had your restraint! I was fine holding out a month for the digital dollar save, but two months feels like an eternity. DC may have beaten me down with this move, but they just pissed me off with it; so now I make up the difference by cutting a few other DC titles.

  9. Avatar photo microwave25 says:
    August 13, 2013 at 10:26 am

    These Zero Year cover have been really underwhelming.

    • Avatar photo sundogsherpa says:
      August 13, 2013 at 11:23 am

      I concur. Perhaps Snyder and Capullo are going for the no frills covers to convey a simpler time? There is no glamour while Bruce is getting used to the cowl.

  10. Avatar photo Invincipal says:
    August 13, 2013 at 5:30 pm

    So has anyone noticed the DC solicits for November list Batman at 40 pages but at a price of 4.99. Anyone know whats up with that? I can’t image DC trying to sell 5 dollar monthlies. I hope it’s a typo, Snyder is great but I’m not paying that much for them.

    • Avatar photo BCDX97 says:
      August 13, 2013 at 6:33 pm

      Seem like the tie-ins are 3.99 for 40 pages but this is 4.99 and some other books are 3.99 for only 32 pages while some stayed at 2.99. The pricing is all over the place, and I don’t like it.

      I hope this issue has more than 20 pages. I’ve dropped a ton of DC books, I don’t want to keep on dropping.

    • Avatar photo Invincipal says:
      August 13, 2013 at 7:14 pm

      Yeah, the pricing that month is all wacky. I hope the batman price bump isn’t because of the glossy covers. Glossy covers don’t make comics worth 5 bucks. Honestly I would rather comics be printed on lower quality paper if it cost less to buy them. I read them for story and don’t even bag mine anymore.

  11. Avatar photo Nightwing97 says:
    August 13, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    WHOA!!! Get singles, get trades! Whatever floats your boat…!

    Anyways, SOOO loving this and looking for it! Love you, FCO! Love, you Danny! Love you, Greg!

    But most of all, I love you, SNYDER! Stay on the book for as LONG as you guys want! 🙂

    • Avatar photo ssnyder1835 says:
      August 14, 2013 at 11:54 am

      Thanks for the kind words – appreciated! Appreciate the trust, and thanks again to all.

    • Avatar photo Nightwing97 says:
      August 14, 2013 at 5:24 pm

      No problem! You guys have been doing a kick-ass job and get better with every issue!

      LOVE the new armchair scene. Has ALWAYS been my fave scene from Year One, but I’ve always felt that it was too fleeting had some more potential than was used. You guys fully realized it. Keep up the good work! 🙂

    • Avatar photo deepspacesamurai says:
      August 14, 2013 at 10:26 pm

      It’s great to see Scott Snyder commenting on ifanboy again.

  12. Avatar photo phess1">phess1 says:
    August 14, 2013 at 8:13 am

    Too much exposition but I having feeling this will be the site POTW.

  13. Avatar photo robbydzwonar says:
    August 14, 2013 at 11:54 am

    I was just about to side with issues until I heard something about $5 cover price

  14. Avatar photo maxpower00044 says:
    August 14, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    Dammit time is moving sooooo slow at work. I just want to go and read this issue already!

  15. Avatar photo Boyling says:
    August 14, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Solid issue overall, but I gotta say I really dug the new take on the armchair scene. It was of course instantly recognizable, but I went back and browsed through Year One again and noticed how Bruce mentions the importance of the cave as a base of operations, whereas here we see the cave projected around the room, giving it an unspoken visual character. Also we actually get to see Alfred patch him up before, unlike Year One where Bruce is hunched in the chair, bleeding and waiting to ring the bell. We don’t just hear how Alfred is a “gift” from Thomas Wayne – we actually get to see how crucial and nurturing he really is. Then finally, that the scene still retains Bruce’s monologue to his father and even includes that final line, just sealed the deal completely. While I’ll still love Year One dearly, this felt like a nice way of honoring the iconography of Batman’s origin while still giving it a new spin.

    • Avatar photo ssnyder1835 says:
      August 14, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      huge thanks

    • Avatar photo phess1">phess1 says:
      August 14, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      I kind of agree with you on the Arm Chair. Ever since this series started I’ve been wondering how Snyder and Capullo would approach that and how they would pull it off. By managing to do it in there own style was pretty amazing. Def the best part of the issue.

    • Avatar photo phess1">phess1 says:
      August 14, 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Hey Mr. Snyder crazy we wrote that at the same time. First of all sorry about any criticism that may offend you. I do think you are a kick ass writer I’m just sort of a dick. Secondly if you don’t mind me asking how did the process go about with you considering that scene, deciding how you would approach and reaching the conclusion to execution? Did you know from jump what you were going to do or did it take a long time to figure it out?

    • sakyweeber says:
      August 15, 2013 at 10:28 am

      So, what was that purple sphere? Have they referenced that before. I can’t remember.

    • Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:
      August 15, 2013 at 10:37 am

      From the beginning of the arc, yes. It’s an omnidirectional camera and projector. Bruce fell into the cave with it as a boy and it captured that moment in time. Activating it as an adult, the sphere projects a 3D image of the cave throughout that parlor.

      Pretty cool concept and execution, if you ask me.

    • sakyweeber says:
      August 15, 2013 at 10:44 am

      Thanks Paul, yes now I remember. The issue makes a whole lot of sense now.

  16. Avatar photo microwave25 says:
    August 14, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Best issue of the arc so far. I know Capullos gets all the plaudits and rightfully so but man the colouring in this issue was sublime.

  17. Avatar photo kingjoeg says:
    August 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    The riddler with mutton chops is awesome. I’ve noticed the colors a lot more in this arc. Keep up the good work FCO! Also well done to the whole creative team, i’ve given you thanks before so FCO can have the brunt of my gratitude this time.

  18. Avatar photo kingjoeg says:
    August 14, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    Also quick question, which building did the red hood gang burn down? Bruce’s mansion seemed to be fine after that scene as Bruce and alfred were sitting in it. Bit confused as to where he was.

    • Avatar photo Conor Kilpatrick">Conor Kilpatrick (@cskilpatrick) says:
      August 14, 2013 at 6:40 pm

      Bruce’s downtown apartment.

    • Avatar photo kingjoeg says:
      August 14, 2013 at 7:30 pm

      So he walked from his downtown apartment to his mansion whilst heavily bleeding?

    • Avatar photo smo5000 says:
      August 18, 2013 at 8:47 am

      Yup, a beating and two gunshots to the torso, then he walks all the way to his mansion.

      The word “human” in comic books has always had a loose definition…but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

      I still enjoyed reading this issue….but I’ll never accept “Bruce Wayne is a human” by anyone again. He has indestructible organs and bones. 28 hours fighting different people and he still has a face? lol, who did he fight the lollipop guild?

      They should drop him out of a plane completely naked in the next issue, maybe he’ll glide towards an eagle and ride it all the way back to Gotham. Or a bat for symbolism.

    • jon swalwell says:
      August 18, 2013 at 10:43 pm

      Or an owl…

  19. Avatar photo JokersNuts says:
    August 14, 2013 at 10:07 pm

    Very good issue, has definitely renewed my interest in Zero Year. I was so glad the bell was retained, as was the bat on the bust and the famous line to his father. It was important to me that bit carry over from Year One. Also, great back up! Really enjoyed that.

  20. Avatar photo TheNextChampion says:
    August 14, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    I have a feeling some people are gonna be upset over the re-imagining of Frank Miller’s ‘I Shall Become A Bat’ in Year One. But I really loved that moment because it was a different enough take to not sully Miller’s book but still be totally unique. A lot of it has to do with Capullo’s art because Snyder’s idea was perfectly executed by him.

    Overall this was another great entry to Year Zero. As mentioned above, Snyder and Capullo totally killed it. Also, people should not forget the entertaining back up by Tynion IV and Albuquerque. Those have been a blast to read and this one was another good entry. Can’t find anything to complain about this.

    I bow to your talents again Scott.

    5/5

    • Avatar photo JokersNuts says:
      August 15, 2013 at 11:22 am

      No way, the re-imagining took pains to honor and tribute all the vital aspects of the original. Bell, Bust, I shall become a Bat. It was awesome and really made this old stickler happy.

  21. Avatar photo BradLWoods3 says:
    August 15, 2013 at 2:55 am

    Parents gunned down, I shall become a bat, yadda yadda yadda… let’s read Batman’s origin for the millionth freaking time. Sigh. And once again, Snyder falls into his annoying pattern of being too wordy. But I did enjoy the backup.

  22. Avatar photo ed209AF says:
    August 15, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    My favorite interpretation of the armchair sequence will be Morrison’s spin on the Year One concept.

    That after all is said and done, Batman is nothing without his allies, and when Bruce rang the bell to summon Alfred he officially gained his first ally as Batman.

    The Butler did it.

    That being said, Snyder continues to do a noble job changing the origin in slight ways, even if it probably didn’t need changing in the first place. I think this is going to end up being the Batman equivalent to Johns’ Superman: Secret Origin.

  23. Avatar photo WheelHands says:
    August 15, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    Sadly, this kinda got lost in the shuffle of a five star week for me. Nothing bad about it certainly, but I find my interest waning with each issue, and we’ve barely gotten started.

    My hope for the remainder of the arc is that Snyder strays further from the iconic and immortal parts of the various origins we all know and love, and just tells the story of whatever the hell this Zero Year really is. The fact that the title has been refered to in other comics suggests that Zero Year is an actual event in the characters’ lives, and that intrigues me. I wanna see more of that cocky Batman strutting around a ruined Gotham during the day we saw in the first issue. That had me curious and entertained. I have no interest in seeing any more subtle alterations on timeless stories, however creative.

  24. Avatar photo Boyling says:
    August 16, 2013 at 6:18 am

    I also have to give a lot of credit to the backup story here. I don’t know how many times I’ve thought about why the villains would be afraid of Batman if they eventually learn that he will never kill them. But the fear of death is not the only fear. The fear of having this relentless force after you, who will ruin everything for you, who will never die and never quit – to a weaker mind, that can probably be horrifying as well. Add to that the countless myths and ideas that would soar around the streets of Gotham about Batman, he’s probably a very scary entity. I think the backup played with the origin of this concept pretty well 🙂

  25. Avatar photo dmanness says:
    August 16, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    Loved this issue. From start to finish I was completely wrapped into the story and holding my breathe at every page turn. Especially loved the tipping of the cap to Year One while spicing up the bat threw window scene. The way the cave image was projected onto the mansion was very cool. That panel of the week was magical. Great job team! My Batman’s origin. 9 more issues of this, very excited to see what is coming.

  26. jon swalwell says:
    August 16, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    So is this armchair scene the same as the one from Issue 7 on page 1?

    • Avatar photo Nightwing97 says:
      August 16, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      Umm, not really.

      When they did that issue, I’m sure Zero Year wasn’t even a sparkle in Snyder’s eye. They were still working off the assumption that Year One was still canon. The new scene has been revamped and executed BRILLIANTLY IMO.

  27. Avatar photo theWAC1 says:
    August 17, 2013 at 1:53 am

    Have we the reader actually found out what happened to Bruce Wayne s parents yet? I know the zero issues dealt with it, but I think it’s been untold so far in zero year. Am I wrong? When and how will that be told?

  28. Avatar photo BionicDave says:
    August 19, 2013 at 4:35 am

    I must admit – I was a bit bored reading this issue. Perhaps it was too wordy, and/or I’m not in the mood for yet another ride on the origin train. But the only stuff that interested me was Edward Nygma.

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