It’s crazy to think we are 22 issues (zero issue included, obviously) into Snyder and Capullo’s incredibly well-received run on Batman. It is especially hard to believe as this issue is the beginning of their epic ‘Zero Year’ storyline, where we’ll spend the next 12 or so issues watching a young Bruce Wayne of yesterday turn into the Batman of the New 52’s today. There’s been a lot of talk about how this is ‘unnecessary’ or how it somehow degrades the legacy of Miller’s ‘Year One’ somehow, but for me it’s ultimately about the story. Is it any good?

Yes. It is. It’s not the best we’ve seen out of Snyder, but I think slow pacing and taking his time teasing out the story is where he’s at his best. There’s a lot in this first issue – multiple flashbacks, new characters, villainous reveals – but Snyder lets it run at it’s own pace and doesn’t ask too much of it. He leaves plenty of brathing room, even with his supposed ‘wordy’ style. It’s very much the first part of a long story, but I don’t always see that as a bad thing.

Greg Capullo has been incredible on this book since issue 1, and he keeps it up here. The truck sequence alone is amazing, but I think it’s the early silent single panel of Batman on the bike that really makes me happy he’s the regular Batman artist. Also of not is Snyder’s American Vampire cohort drawing the hell out of some car chases and Brazilian skylines in the otherwise rather innocuous back-up story. Superb.