Geoff Johns Finally Takes On The Dark Knight

     In less than two weeks Christopher Nolan's final installment of his Dark Knight trilogy will be released nation wide as thousands of "supposed" Batman fans wait in anticipation.  DC Comics is of coursing trying to cash in on every nugget of merchandise money they can gobble up during this frenzy with it's shining star being the newly released graphic novel, Batman: Earth One.  In 2010, DC came out with Superman: Earth One, a modern interpretation of the Man of Steel's origin by writer J. Michael Straczynski.  The one-shot was a huge success with a sequel on the way and DC is now hoping for the same success with this new take on how Batman begun.
    Anyone who is reading comics these days knows Geoff Johns.  He's responsible for reinvigorating Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and teamed up with artist Gary Frank before on Superman: Secret Origin.  Johns is known for his ability to create great dialogue and deep character layers but has had little chance to write the Caped Crusader aside from his run on Justice League and Infinite Crisis.  I'm a huge fan of Johns so I was interested to see what kind of spin Johns could give Batman that writers like Frank Miller and Grant Morrison haven't already done.

     Thomas and Martha Wayne are shot in an alley while their young son, Bruce watches in horror.  That part of the story hasn't changed.  But in the middle of his campaign for major Thomas calls for the man who saved his life years ago, Alfred Pennyworth.  Mr. Wayne needs Alfred's help in protecting him for traitors within his own camp.  When the Waynes are murdered Alfred reluctantly becomes Bruce's legal guardian and soon begins to train Bruce on everything he learned from his previous life as pretty much a British Navy Seal.
     Bruce dons the cape and cowl just as detective James Gordon gets a new partner, policeman/former reality TV star Harvey Bullock.  Bullock shows up in Gotham with the goal of solving the mysterious Wayne murders, but gets more than he bargained for when Gordon shows Bullock how the streets of Gotham really work.  Meanwhile Bruce is also working the case of his parents, and it all seems to lead back to his fathers political competitor, Major Oswald Cobblepot.  But Bruce's new bat costume isn't scaring anyone.  Alfred must try and convince Bruce to give up his pointless crusade or lose the boy he raised to Gotham's criminals and conspiracies. 
    I didn't know what to expect when I heard Johns was taking on Batman.  I always felt like Johns told deeper and happier tales than the Dark Knight should be, but I was pleasantly surprised by Geoff; again.  He wrote subtle differences into the story that did not make it seem like just another recycled version of Bob Kane's classic origin.  I loved how both Gordon and Bullock completely change who they are by the end of the book, and how Gordon's change mirrors that of Gary Oldman's character in Batman Begins. 

     Bruce's first attempts as Batman are so raw, undisciplined, and disastrous that is made me feel like this is how I would be if I tried to jump from tall buildings while chasing criminals my first time out.  That part really sucked me into the story and connected me to Bruce.  The biggest character change was Alfred. In most interpretations he's a den mother to Bruce, but Johns writes him as a rough and disapproving father who tries to dissuade his son's quest at every turn, but trying to keep him safe along the way.  It was a great change of pace, and mixed in with Gary Frank's terrific art I would swear the actor Sam Elliott was in mind when he drew Alfred.  Maybe Mr. Frank was watching Road House at the time.  That would make Bruce Patrick Swayze. 
    Overall I enjoyed this novel way more than the first Earth One tale, and I favor Superman way more than Batman.  But even I are not immune to a great story by Geoff Johns.  Especially when its topped off with Frank's great art.  I'm not sure how true Batman readers will feel about this lighter rendition of a detective comic, but I think it makes it very accessible to all who just love a good story with well developed characters. OMG! That means the Penguin is Brad Wesley!  It all fits into place!  I'm on to you Mr. Johns.  I'm on to you!