What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman: Earth One #1-3
Batman: Earth One - The Complete Collection
In the tradition of the bestselling Earth One series, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank re-imagine a new mythology for the Dark Knight, where the familiar is no longer the expected.
In a Gotham City where friend and foe are indistinguishable, Bruce Wayne's path toward becoming the Dark Knight is riddled with more obstacles than ever before. Focused on punishing his parents’ true killers, and the corrupt police that allowed them to go free, Bruce Wayne's thirst for vengeance fuels his mad crusade and no one, not even Alfred, can stop him. This stunning collection contains all three volumes of the Earth One series! Contains Earth One , Earth One Vol. 2, and Earth One Vol. 3
In a Gotham City where friend and foe are indistinguishable, Bruce Wayne's path toward becoming the Dark Knight is riddled with more obstacles than ever before. Focused on punishing his parents’ true killers, and the corrupt police that allowed them to go free, Bruce Wayne's thirst for vengeance fuels his mad crusade and no one, not even Alfred, can stop him. This stunning collection contains all three volumes of the Earth One series! Contains Earth One , Earth One Vol. 2, and Earth One Vol. 3
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
About the author
Geoff Johns
2,828 books2,469 followersGeoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.
Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 3, 2022
This was fantastic... Well the most part.
I really enjoyed this twist on the character. You could even say that in the beginning, this was a more realistic take on the character.
I really enjoyed all the twists on the villains (except the last one). I thought for sure Joker was going to be one of them. But he wasn't, and I'm so glad. We get to see twists on that character all the time. Why not give some of the other villains some time to shine?
This may just be me, but I feel like the newest Batman movie took some inspiration from this series. Maybe, I'm wrong but it felt like there were some scenes from the movie taken strait out of the book.
Ok, so now let's get in to some negative. But I'm going to have to talk about some spoilers. So you have been warned.
In the last volume of the book, it's goes completely off the rails. And to be honest, it's hurting my score for the whole collection. The villain this time around is Two-Face. To be honest, I have never really been a fan of the character, so this wasn't going to me win me over. But, the way they did the character. Was just so odd for me.
I mean, bringing people back from the dead? The whole thing with the sister. Honestly, I just couldn't wait till it was over.
Because of the last volume I think, I'm gonna have to give this a 3.5. I still recommend though, just know that the last volume wasn't all that great in my opinion. Anyways, I leave you with Alfred:
I really enjoyed this twist on the character. You could even say that in the beginning, this was a more realistic take on the character.
I really enjoyed all the twists on the villains (except the last one). I thought for sure Joker was going to be one of them. But he wasn't, and I'm so glad. We get to see twists on that character all the time. Why not give some of the other villains some time to shine?
This may just be me, but I feel like the newest Batman movie took some inspiration from this series. Maybe, I'm wrong but it felt like there were some scenes from the movie taken strait out of the book.
Ok, so now let's get in to some negative. But I'm going to have to talk about some spoilers. So you have been warned.
In the last volume of the book, it's goes completely off the rails. And to be honest, it's hurting my score for the whole collection. The villain this time around is Two-Face. To be honest, I have never really been a fan of the character, so this wasn't going to me win me over. But, the way they did the character. Was just so odd for me.
I mean, bringing people back from the dead? The whole thing with the sister. Honestly, I just couldn't wait till it was over.
Because of the last volume I think, I'm gonna have to give this a 3.5. I still recommend though, just know that the last volume wasn't all that great in my opinion. Anyways, I leave you with Alfred:
October 7, 2023
Earth One was supposed to be a "reboot" of sorts. Taking the common characters and keeping most of their backgrounds the same, but with subtle differences. Geoff Johns does a superb job with Batman:Earth One. This is the collected HC version of the 3 volume series.
Not only is the writing superb, but the artwork is also excellent. A great combination. In this setting Alfred is a former British Royal Marine Commando who, due to his friendship with Dr. Wayne, takes over Bruce's upbringing after their murder.
This Batman is just learning the ropes. He is not the supreme fighter or even a competent detective. He is just a man trying to figure out how to avenge his parents. But as the story develops we see Batman getting better and learning.
The first volume covers the development of Batman as a crime fighter and how he meets Gordon. The twin enemies of the serial killer and Mayor Oswald Cobblepot are the villains of this story.
The Second volume has Batman meeting Killer Croc and having to do battle with the Riddler.
The Third volume covers the Two-Face story with a strange twist, as well as introducing Clayface.
All three volumes will be at once familiar and different. The alternate Earth One universe will not disappoint any fan of Batman. Kudos to Geoff Johns for writing a great comic and superb artwork to go along with it.
Not only is the writing superb, but the artwork is also excellent. A great combination. In this setting Alfred is a former British Royal Marine Commando who, due to his friendship with Dr. Wayne, takes over Bruce's upbringing after their murder.
This Batman is just learning the ropes. He is not the supreme fighter or even a competent detective. He is just a man trying to figure out how to avenge his parents. But as the story develops we see Batman getting better and learning.
The first volume covers the development of Batman as a crime fighter and how he meets Gordon. The twin enemies of the serial killer and Mayor Oswald Cobblepot are the villains of this story.
The Second volume has Batman meeting Killer Croc and having to do battle with the Riddler.
The Third volume covers the Two-Face story with a strange twist, as well as introducing Clayface.
All three volumes will be at once familiar and different. The alternate Earth One universe will not disappoint any fan of Batman. Kudos to Geoff Johns for writing a great comic and superb artwork to go along with it.
April 24, 2026
(4.0 for Books 1-2, 2.5-3.0 for Book 3)
The first scene of “Batman: Earth One” shows a rookie Batman’s grappling hook misfiring and him falling several stories into an alley afterwards. Heck of a way to start the story and to tell us what type of Batman universe is. The three volume series by Geoff Johns is a reimagining of Batman’s early years with an emphasis on how this Bruce Wayne is a bit more unfocused, selfish and very prone to making mistakes. Other characters from the Batman mythos have slightly/majorly changed - Alfred wasn’t meant to be Bruce’s butler but is now head of security/Bruce’s trainer, Harvey Bullock is a bit of a playboy and celebrity cop trying to be a real one (and is handsome?), Lucius Fox is a 20-something intern, etc. Beyond that, this trilogy shows how this Gotham and the Batman mythos might start off different but slowly becomes more akin to the Gotham City of other Batman continuities.
Overall the Earth One universe’s writing is fine. Johns’ writing I think is sufficient in trying to create a revamped and even subversive Batman universe for the 21st century (making it akin to the Ultimate Marvel universe). The subversive parts sometimes just play around with expectations of Batman lore/characters (the nature of Harvey Dent) but mostly in regards to attempts to show how this is a more realistic/gritty world where classic Batman tropes run up against reality with hilarious/unfortunate results. It also does occasionally get dark and edgy (i.e., Book 1’s serial killer who is just a masked man baby in a birthday hat targeting teen girls). Taken together it makes Batman Earth One feel less like an essential comic book rewrite and more like a Hollywood condensation/reworking of Batman for the 21st century. That feels fitting because I know that several subsequent Batman-related movies have taken inspiration from Earth One, specifically the Robert Pattinson Batman. Ultimately Johns’ story starts decent but good, gets better, and then ends messily, much like Batman film trilogies in my experience (Nolan’s trilogy).
Batman Earth One’s biggest strength in my opinion is Gary Frank’s art. I’ve seen Frank’s work in other comic books and the realistic style really does lend itself well here with what Johns’ was aiming for. And the 2-page splash panels look phenomenal is this style.
My thoughts on each Book of Batman Earth One is as follows:
Book 1: The first story covers the start of Bruce’s forays into being a Caped Crusader. We get the basics of the Batman origin again (parents killed in front of him after they left a movie theater) and him donning the mask. The differences of course being he’s not a genius detective or unstoppable ninja, this Batman is an amateur making rookie mistakes in his sole quest of proving Mayor Oswald Cobblepott had his parents killed. It works for what Johns set out to do but this out-of-his depth Bruce should have stayed to just this volume. Some of the rest matches with what we’ve seen in other Batman origin stories like Gordon being beaten down by years of corrupt cops and threats on his daughter until the events of the story. There are satisfying parts throughout with Gordon (him and Bullock becoming bash bros to save Barbara). By the end we sort of were on track to the standard status quo in Gotham, with Bruce vowing to use Batman for more than just vengeance, Gordon actively going after criminals, Bullock looking into becoming an alcoholic, etc. It’s a more than sufficient start.
Book 2: Personally I found Book 2 to be the best of the three in terms of story, action, and overall feel. I’d say it's the book that feels the most like the 2022’s Batman movie, besides the inexperienced Batman we’ve got The Riddler targeting Gotham’s elite and Batman starting to uncover the related conspiracy. Also included is an awesome moment where Earth One Batman stops just being just a vengeful vigilante and becomes a hero to the people by rescuing bombing victims, a moment for sure Matt Reeves drew upon for the finale of the 2022 movie. Beyond this I liked the additional changes John made to the universe. The Harvey Dent here is still antagonistic but has more to do with him being concerned for his twin sister getting caught up in the Wayne-Arkham insanity. What I really liked, if not loved, is the change of Killer Croc not being a villain in this continuity, but a tragic figure and an eventual ally. It really helped make it feel more of an “Elseworlds” story whereas a lot of Batman characters are just growing into their traditional story and character roles. All in all, this was a quality Batman story and one that has the cinematic feel to it that I can see influenced actual filmmakers.
Book 3: After the peak of the previous Book, this felt like a letdown. The story mainly deals with the fallout of what happened to Harvey and Jessica Dent and the legacy of the Arkham family as it pertains to Bruce and his mother. I sort of get what Johns was trying to do with the Arkhams but whether the family curse is real or not it felt a little out-of-place in this universe (same for the reveal about the identity of Bruce’s “grandfather” even if I like how it paid homage to the imposters’ complicated comic history). Worse though I found to be the treatment of the Dents, it might be a twist on the Two Face character, but it's a predictable twist that relies on trite tropes about women. In terms of writing this volume is the weakest with it really feeling repetitive or characters staying as they were/reversing changes in previous books (i.e., Bruce simultaneously seems like he has better focus/direction but still making amateurish mistakes). Still there were some enjoyable parts like how neat it was seeing this universe’s Bat Family finally formed even if Bat Hound got more buildup than Robin) and merged with the Outsiders to include Catwoman, Croc and Rag Man. Speaking of Catwoman, her outfit aside I do like the changes to Batman’s relationship with her with him flirting back and the hilarity of him just paying her to help. But all that can’t change the fact Book Three feels repetitive, unfairly undoing some of the progress of the previous volumes and honestly just there to make this a trilogy.
I suppose I don’t really “get” why Geoff Johns felt the need to create “Batman Earth One” beyond just making an expanded and more realistic origin story for Batman and his supporting cast. Still there are some changes to the lore I can appreciate and I can see why at least parts of it has subsequently influence other Batman media (even if I think the likes of "Batman: Year One" is more likely to still been seen as the better and more influential story telling the start of Batman's crime-fighting career). Not the end-all must-read retelling of the Batman story but, other than Book Three, it remains a pretty entertaining Batman comic.
The first scene of “Batman: Earth One” shows a rookie Batman’s grappling hook misfiring and him falling several stories into an alley afterwards. Heck of a way to start the story and to tell us what type of Batman universe is. The three volume series by Geoff Johns is a reimagining of Batman’s early years with an emphasis on how this Bruce Wayne is a bit more unfocused, selfish and very prone to making mistakes. Other characters from the Batman mythos have slightly/majorly changed - Alfred wasn’t meant to be Bruce’s butler but is now head of security/Bruce’s trainer, Harvey Bullock is a bit of a playboy and celebrity cop trying to be a real one (and is handsome?), Lucius Fox is a 20-something intern, etc. Beyond that, this trilogy shows how this Gotham and the Batman mythos might start off different but slowly becomes more akin to the Gotham City of other Batman continuities.
Overall the Earth One universe’s writing is fine. Johns’ writing I think is sufficient in trying to create a revamped and even subversive Batman universe for the 21st century (making it akin to the Ultimate Marvel universe). The subversive parts sometimes just play around with expectations of Batman lore/characters (the nature of Harvey Dent) but mostly in regards to attempts to show how this is a more realistic/gritty world where classic Batman tropes run up against reality with hilarious/unfortunate results. It also does occasionally get dark and edgy (i.e., Book 1’s serial killer who is just a masked man baby in a birthday hat targeting teen girls). Taken together it makes Batman Earth One feel less like an essential comic book rewrite and more like a Hollywood condensation/reworking of Batman for the 21st century. That feels fitting because I know that several subsequent Batman-related movies have taken inspiration from Earth One, specifically the Robert Pattinson Batman. Ultimately Johns’ story starts decent but good, gets better, and then ends messily, much like Batman film trilogies in my experience (Nolan’s trilogy).
Batman Earth One’s biggest strength in my opinion is Gary Frank’s art. I’ve seen Frank’s work in other comic books and the realistic style really does lend itself well here with what Johns’ was aiming for. And the 2-page splash panels look phenomenal is this style.
My thoughts on each Book of Batman Earth One is as follows:
Book 1: The first story covers the start of Bruce’s forays into being a Caped Crusader. We get the basics of the Batman origin again (parents killed in front of him after they left a movie theater) and him donning the mask. The differences of course being he’s not a genius detective or unstoppable ninja, this Batman is an amateur making rookie mistakes in his sole quest of proving Mayor Oswald Cobblepott had his parents killed. It works for what Johns set out to do but this out-of-his depth Bruce should have stayed to just this volume. Some of the rest matches with what we’ve seen in other Batman origin stories like Gordon being beaten down by years of corrupt cops and threats on his daughter until the events of the story. There are satisfying parts throughout with Gordon (him and Bullock becoming bash bros to save Barbara). By the end we sort of were on track to the standard status quo in Gotham, with Bruce vowing to use Batman for more than just vengeance, Gordon actively going after criminals, Bullock looking into becoming an alcoholic, etc. It’s a more than sufficient start.
Book 2: Personally I found Book 2 to be the best of the three in terms of story, action, and overall feel. I’d say it's the book that feels the most like the 2022’s Batman movie, besides the inexperienced Batman we’ve got The Riddler targeting Gotham’s elite and Batman starting to uncover the related conspiracy. Also included is an awesome moment where Earth One Batman stops just being just a vengeful vigilante and becomes a hero to the people by rescuing bombing victims, a moment for sure Matt Reeves drew upon for the finale of the 2022 movie. Beyond this I liked the additional changes John made to the universe. The Harvey Dent here is still antagonistic but has more to do with him being concerned for his twin sister getting caught up in the Wayne-Arkham insanity. What I really liked, if not loved, is the change of Killer Croc not being a villain in this continuity, but a tragic figure and an eventual ally. It really helped make it feel more of an “Elseworlds” story whereas a lot of Batman characters are just growing into their traditional story and character roles. All in all, this was a quality Batman story and one that has the cinematic feel to it that I can see influenced actual filmmakers.
Book 3: After the peak of the previous Book, this felt like a letdown. The story mainly deals with the fallout of what happened to Harvey and Jessica Dent and the legacy of the Arkham family as it pertains to Bruce and his mother. I sort of get what Johns was trying to do with the Arkhams but whether the family curse is real or not it felt a little out-of-place in this universe (same for the reveal about the identity of Bruce’s “grandfather” even if I like how it paid homage to the imposters’ complicated comic history). Worse though I found to be the treatment of the Dents, it might be a twist on the Two Face character, but it's a predictable twist that relies on trite tropes about women. In terms of writing this volume is the weakest with it really feeling repetitive or characters staying as they were/reversing changes in previous books (i.e., Bruce simultaneously seems like he has better focus/direction but still making amateurish mistakes). Still there were some enjoyable parts like how neat it was seeing this universe’s Bat Family finally formed even if Bat Hound got more buildup than Robin) and merged with the Outsiders to include Catwoman, Croc and Rag Man. Speaking of Catwoman, her outfit aside I do like the changes to Batman’s relationship with her with him flirting back and the hilarity of him just paying her to help. But all that can’t change the fact Book Three feels repetitive, unfairly undoing some of the progress of the previous volumes and honestly just there to make this a trilogy.
I suppose I don’t really “get” why Geoff Johns felt the need to create “Batman Earth One” beyond just making an expanded and more realistic origin story for Batman and his supporting cast. Still there are some changes to the lore I can appreciate and I can see why at least parts of it has subsequently influence other Batman media (even if I think the likes of "Batman: Year One" is more likely to still been seen as the better and more influential story telling the start of Batman's crime-fighting career). Not the end-all must-read retelling of the Batman story but, other than Book Three, it remains a pretty entertaining Batman comic.
September 25, 2022
We've had multiple revisions of Batman's origin and here's another one. I think the best way to think of this is a remix or a DC version of Marvel's Ultimate line, as there are parts of Batman's mythos Johns is trying to retroactively tie neatly together. Do these changes make the story better? I'm leaning towards no. This is the Complete 3 volume collection of the previous GNs. But for me, the story lacks payoff, it is open-ended if Johns and Frank want to revisit the world but these changes, particularly to Harvey probably need another volume to completely resolve. And it's hard to know where DC stand on this, as it seems like they've given up on this Earth One prestige format book concept. This feels like another aborted attempt at a modern refresh, after All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, so from that lens, I'm almost like why bother with this. There isn't anything inherently new or different, just a remix or refresh of old ideas that doesn't give a proper ending either, just like All Star Batman and Robin.
Frank does nice art at least and it's nice to see him spend an extended time on Batman here.
Frank does nice art at least and it's nice to see him spend an extended time on Batman here.
November 14, 2022
Geoff Johns should be charged with writing all superhero origin stories going forward. When given the opportunity to reintroduce a known quantity to a bored audience, the man excels.
Batman: Earth One is an Elseworlds take on the Batman mythos, though it is, at first, barely changed from the standard Bat-origin. Rich kid Bruce Wayne, parents murdered, takes up masked avenger mantle, helped by Alfred, and so on. But Johns makes a number of slight shifts that tip the dominoes until, by the end of this three-volume omnibus, we're in entirely different Bat-territory.
And it's fantastic! Each little twist is so smart and subtle that you barely notice until suddenly everything is different. It helps that Batman: Earth One is expertly plotted - this isn't a new origin purely because origin stories are fun. This complete collection contains a trilogy of self-contained mysteries with overarching connections. It's really a trio of brilliant Batman stories, each one a huge success. Have a friend who's interested in Batman but hasn't read any of the comics? Hand them this collection.
Enough about the caliber of the writing: let's talk about how Gary Frank should be illustrating every Batman comic. The man just gets what a Batman comic should look like. Grim and dark, but with clear lines, action-packed panels, and expressive emotions. Simply superb.
Batman: Earth One is an Elseworlds take on the Batman mythos, though it is, at first, barely changed from the standard Bat-origin. Rich kid Bruce Wayne, parents murdered, takes up masked avenger mantle, helped by Alfred, and so on. But Johns makes a number of slight shifts that tip the dominoes until, by the end of this three-volume omnibus, we're in entirely different Bat-territory.
And it's fantastic! Each little twist is so smart and subtle that you barely notice until suddenly everything is different. It helps that Batman: Earth One is expertly plotted - this isn't a new origin purely because origin stories are fun. This complete collection contains a trilogy of self-contained mysteries with overarching connections. It's really a trio of brilliant Batman stories, each one a huge success. Have a friend who's interested in Batman but hasn't read any of the comics? Hand them this collection.
Enough about the caliber of the writing: let's talk about how Gary Frank should be illustrating every Batman comic. The man just gets what a Batman comic should look like. Grim and dark, but with clear lines, action-packed panels, and expressive emotions. Simply superb.
November 22, 2022
Simply loved this modern take on Batsy, and ESPECIALLY Alfred cuz dam was he a badass.
The art was great, and the coloring just brilliant. Moreover, the stories were nice and kept me entertained. It deserves the solid rating.
The art was great, and the coloring just brilliant. Moreover, the stories were nice and kept me entertained. It deserves the solid rating.
August 8, 2022
Is Batman: Earth One odd? Yes. Does it do a good job of taking existing material and making new twists out of it? Yes. Very recommended for all Bat-Fans out there.
January 10, 2025
El dibujo es bueno, pero la historia ya se ha contado muchas veces. Esta versión no aporta demasiado y, además, se ve afectada por el exceso de elementos de la historia de Batman introducidos con calzador.
September 14, 2026
WOW! Loved this rendition of Batman. This whole story seems to be Johns' petition for a live-action Batman story, with each being a movie that builds off one another and leads into the next story.
Each story in this trilogy (which hopefully will continue after that crazy cliff-hanger and setting up [SPOILERS]) beautifully sets up the next one. The themes of using hope to fight the evils of Gotham carry on throughout and each obstacle creates the next one. Cobblepot breeds the Riddler, which breeds [SPOILERS]. Similarly, despite being dark and Batman initially acting out of anger and using fear, it is nice seeing him grow to learn to inspire others to do good, leading to his makeshift "Batfamily" beautifully named the [SPOILERS].
Speaking of characters, many of them were very likable and fun twists on the beloved characters. In fact, most maintained both their core characteristic/value as well as relationship to the each other. Almost like a good adaptation... I particularly liked Cockney mentor Alfred, disillusioned Gordan becoming the detective we know and love, handsome Bullock who becomes the guy we know and love, and the Dent Twins who have a fun take on the duality of the canon Harvey. Plus I love how Bruce grows throughout the series. Who would have thought we could give Batman himself a character arc more compelling than his supporting cast? Great origins! And yes, that is every major character. The character work was just that good!
Plus the villains were all great, especially the Ridder who remains an enigma the entire story. Plus it was fun seeing Cobblepot be a perfect amalgamation of his various incarnations, but leaning towards the gentleman gangster. Also the original villains were extremely well used.
Even without the excellent character work, the plot was also very interesting with great additions to the lore, especially with the Arkham family's personal ties to Bruce. Also there were some great twists, in regard to the Arkhams and the last twist with the special reveal of [SPOILERS].
Finally, the art and panel arrangement was outstanding. If you use the Hoopla panel by panel mode, it legit feels like a grounded live-action movie. I am 100% convinced, this is the Batman movie series Geoff Johns would make if he could and I am fully on board.
In short, if you love Batman: READ THIS! If you want to know more about Batman, this is a fun intro to the character with minimal comic weirdness, so you should also read it.
Each story in this trilogy (which hopefully will continue after that crazy cliff-hanger and setting up [SPOILERS]) beautifully sets up the next one. The themes of using hope to fight the evils of Gotham carry on throughout and each obstacle creates the next one. Cobblepot breeds the Riddler, which breeds [SPOILERS]. Similarly, despite being dark and Batman initially acting out of anger and using fear, it is nice seeing him grow to learn to inspire others to do good, leading to his makeshift "Batfamily" beautifully named the [SPOILERS].
Speaking of characters, many of them were very likable and fun twists on the beloved characters. In fact, most maintained both their core characteristic/value as well as relationship to the each other. Almost like a good adaptation... I particularly liked Cockney mentor Alfred, disillusioned Gordan becoming the detective we know and love, handsome Bullock who becomes the guy we know and love, and the Dent Twins who have a fun take on the duality of the canon Harvey. Plus I love how Bruce grows throughout the series. Who would have thought we could give Batman himself a character arc more compelling than his supporting cast? Great origins! And yes, that is every major character. The character work was just that good!
Plus the villains were all great, especially the Ridder who remains an enigma the entire story. Plus it was fun seeing Cobblepot be a perfect amalgamation of his various incarnations, but leaning towards the gentleman gangster. Also the original villains were extremely well used.
Even without the excellent character work, the plot was also very interesting with great additions to the lore, especially with the Arkham family's personal ties to Bruce. Also there were some great twists, in regard to the Arkhams and the last twist with the special reveal of [SPOILERS].
Finally, the art and panel arrangement was outstanding. If you use the Hoopla panel by panel mode, it legit feels like a grounded live-action movie. I am 100% convinced, this is the Batman movie series Geoff Johns would make if he could and I am fully on board.
In short, if you love Batman: READ THIS! If you want to know more about Batman, this is a fun intro to the character with minimal comic weirdness, so you should also read it.
April 10, 2026
¿Creo que acerté al tomarlo como punto de partida...? Sé tan poco de la organización de estos cómics que ni estoy segura de poder afirmarlo al 100%, pero ha sido un volumen emocionante que muestra las bases del pasado de Bruce Wayne y, de paso, contexto inicial de lo que es Gotham City. Entre la tan buena introducción y el hecho de que ya hay desarrollo visible en los personajes siendo este apenas el primer volumen de tres, poco hay para quejarse.
Cumple con todo lo que se podría esperar de un primer volumen, quizá más. No paraba de pensar que cierto personaje secundario tendría que tener un arco de desarrollo propio que le hiciera reflexionar y cambiar como para que dejara de caerme tan mal, y ya se están dando atisbos de eso. No sé cómo resultarán estos arcos de personaje que se dan, pero hay un desarrollo muy noble por parte de los protagonistas, y unos crímenes que van más allá de lo que esperaba encontrar en esta historia relativamente corta. Termino el volumen con muchas ganas de ver cómo continuará. Soy fan demasiado grande del desarrollo psicológico de personajes, y espero que Bruce Wayne y la comisaría de Gotham City me den para rato.
Cumple con todo lo que se podría esperar de un primer volumen, quizá más. No paraba de pensar que cierto personaje secundario tendría que tener un arco de desarrollo propio que le hiciera reflexionar y cambiar como para que dejara de caerme tan mal, y ya se están dando atisbos de eso. No sé cómo resultarán estos arcos de personaje que se dan, pero hay un desarrollo muy noble por parte de los protagonistas, y unos crímenes que van más allá de lo que esperaba encontrar en esta historia relativamente corta. Termino el volumen con muchas ganas de ver cómo continuará. Soy fan demasiado grande del desarrollo psicológico de personajes, y espero que Bruce Wayne y la comisaría de Gotham City me den para rato.
February 10, 2023
„Ne mogu da nađem curicu. Izgubila se u lavirintu ludila naše porodice.”🖤
Ovaj strip sam čitala jedan i po puta u dahu😊 Prvi put sam isčitala detaljno a onda sam uzela iz početka da uživam u priči samo kroz crtež.
Ovo izdanje je sačinjeno iz tri dela koja čine ovu priču. Na početku sam najviše uživala u liku Alfreda, ali kako je priča odmicala postajalo je sve zanimljivije i puno neočekivanih obrta na (po mom mišljenju) jako dobar način.
Strip čini plejada poznatih likova, od Pingvina, Ridlera, Harvija Denta do buduće Betwoman i sjajne badass Catwoman. Od likova u ovoj priči mi se najviše dopao već pomenuti Alfred, ali i Vejlon Džons (navodni Ubica Krok) a najjeziviji mi je bio Rođendanko koji je dobio malo, ali efektonog prostora u priči.
Najbolji obrti nam dolaze u trećem delu u kom sam i najviše uživala, ali ne bih da otkrivam ako će neko da čita da ima čemu da se iznenadi😊
Dopala mi se i cela priča sa istorijom Betmenove porodice i ludilom Arkamovih.
Ovaj strip sam čitala jedan i po puta u dahu😊 Prvi put sam isčitala detaljno a onda sam uzela iz početka da uživam u priči samo kroz crtež.
Ovo izdanje je sačinjeno iz tri dela koja čine ovu priču. Na početku sam najviše uživala u liku Alfreda, ali kako je priča odmicala postajalo je sve zanimljivije i puno neočekivanih obrta na (po mom mišljenju) jako dobar način.
Strip čini plejada poznatih likova, od Pingvina, Ridlera, Harvija Denta do buduće Betwoman i sjajne badass Catwoman. Od likova u ovoj priči mi se najviše dopao već pomenuti Alfred, ali i Vejlon Džons (navodni Ubica Krok) a najjeziviji mi je bio Rođendanko koji je dobio malo, ali efektonog prostora u priči.
Najbolji obrti nam dolaze u trećem delu u kom sam i najviše uživala, ali ne bih da otkrivam ako će neko da čita da ima čemu da se iznenadi😊
Dopala mi se i cela priča sa istorijom Betmenove porodice i ludilom Arkamovih.
February 17, 2024
Wow- that was one HELL of a comic-book experience! I’ve always loved Geoff Johns writing(Flashpoint). So, when you get him to write Batman’s origin story- you know it’s going to be an amazingly solid story! And this- this did NOT disappoint! I loved all of the little differences and things that made this such an original take on the character! Bruce is incredibly thoughtful and nice in this comic! I love what they did with characters like Killed Croc and especially Bullock! The pacing was super quick and the writing and action are top-tier! I know that some people are pretty decisive on the ending feeling rushed and some of the twists being obvious- but I LOVED everything about this comic! Not only is it one of the best looking graphic novels- but it’s also one of the best written! Absolutely pick this up if you have any interest in comics OR Batman- it’s essential reading! 5/5 Stars!
January 9, 2025
This was a pretty neat take on Batman. I picked it up because I had enjoyed the Wonder Woman Earth One collection so much. About a third of the way in, I think I had the story figured out. That's not a put down on the book, it was just something that happened. I still enjoyed the ride.
The story was good, kept my interest, waiting to see what happened next. The art was also really good. The characters looked like they could be real people. Nerd alert: I didn't much care for the Batmobile in this story, I mean the way it looked, like not a real car.
If you like, or used to like, comic books, I recommend this one. You get the whole story in one book.
The story was good, kept my interest, waiting to see what happened next. The art was also really good. The characters looked like they could be real people. Nerd alert: I didn't much care for the Batmobile in this story, I mean the way it looked, like not a real car.
If you like, or used to like, comic books, I recommend this one. You get the whole story in one book.
August 15, 2026
OH MY GOSH
Absolutely mind blowing ending. To start, the writing and art is peak IMO. I think it’s kind of a slow burn story until the end, that’s when things really pick up. The ending is very well thought out, but I didn’t get all of it at first and had to search it up later. I missed a few visual clues that never got explained, which the reader was meant to discover, but I’m kinda retarded so obv I didn’t catch it. That being said, putting the pieces together at the end is super satisfying.
I think it’s really funny how similar this book is to The Batman. Like, the first 2 volumes are about the crime bosses like Penguin and the Riddler. And then the third act is about Harvey Dent. Sounds familiar, right??? I do really like this version of Harvey Dent, the twist that goes with it is super unique! Honestly, I could see it getting adapted in The Batman Part Two just to separate it from The Dark Knight. Also the characterization of Bruce Wayne is a lot like The Batman. In the way that he’s mostly being Batman all the time and not Bruce very often.
Now, my issues with the story. I think Catwoman’s suit design is terrible. Also she isn’t really important to the story at all. Like, she exists as a setup for example nothing. I also think it could’ve used some more hopeful moments. The book reads as a dark and gritty crime thriller, but doesn’t have those moments of hope until the very end. Also I feel like Jim Gordon is too serious, I would’ve liked to see a more emotional side of him with his daughter. And overall I think more characters could’ve been more fleshed out, but they did what they could within 3 volumes.
4/5 this review is way too long but whatever
Absolutely mind blowing ending. To start, the writing and art is peak IMO. I think it’s kind of a slow burn story until the end, that’s when things really pick up. The ending is very well thought out, but I didn’t get all of it at first and had to search it up later. I missed a few visual clues that never got explained, which the reader was meant to discover, but I’m kinda retarded so obv I didn’t catch it. That being said, putting the pieces together at the end is super satisfying.
I think it’s really funny how similar this book is to The Batman. Like, the first 2 volumes are about the crime bosses like Penguin and the Riddler. And then the third act is about Harvey Dent. Sounds familiar, right??? I do really like this version of Harvey Dent, the twist that goes with it is super unique! Honestly, I could see it getting adapted in The Batman Part Two just to separate it from The Dark Knight. Also the characterization of Bruce Wayne is a lot like The Batman. In the way that he’s mostly being Batman all the time and not Bruce very often.
Now, my issues with the story. I think Catwoman’s suit design is terrible. Also she isn’t really important to the story at all. Like, she exists as a setup for example nothing. I also think it could’ve used some more hopeful moments. The book reads as a dark and gritty crime thriller, but doesn’t have those moments of hope until the very end. Also I feel like Jim Gordon is too serious, I would’ve liked to see a more emotional side of him with his daughter. And overall I think more characters could’ve been more fleshed out, but they did what they could within 3 volumes.
4/5 this review is way too long but whatever
August 18, 2024
Throughout the story, you can see a more human Bruce, thus a more realistic Batman. Unlike other Batman narratives, Earth 1 can show you an environment that looks more like our world, and not like a fantastic one. It makes you feel hope, courage, and determination. I guess all of us carry a Batman like this one into ourselves.
February 13, 2023
This was awesome. Such a cool reimagining of the Batman mythos with a ton of twists and surprises throughout.
A little rushed toward the end and sort of seemed like Johns was throwing spaghetti at the wall. But regardless this was a fantastic bat-read.
A little rushed toward the end and sort of seemed like Johns was throwing spaghetti at the wall. But regardless this was a fantastic bat-read.
August 19, 2025
Loved the reimagining of Batman's origin, the twist on the known characters (familiar yet with new traits and different background stories), and the fact that the three volumes work as separate stories, with their own villains, but build up on each other shaping the main character into its ultimate superhero status.
All that paired with excellent storytelling and amazing illustrations.
All that paired with excellent storytelling and amazing illustrations.
September 10, 2026
It was perfectly fine until Vol. 3 went off the rails. This definitely isn’t Johns best work but it is worth checking out.
July 13, 2025
Best batman book i’ve read yet
September 14, 2026
Super duper dope bros. Best comic I have read to this point. The first two issues were superior but overall it was awesome man.
March 19, 2025
Estuvo bien (la mayoría del tiempo)
Un cómic salido, con historias interesantes, sin miedo a romper y desafiar algunas reglas, pero que, llegando a su final, se descontrola ligeramente y afecta al resto de la historia. Si en algún momento el autor quiere regresar este universo, definitivamente estaré ahí para verlo.
Conclusión: Entretenido
Un cómic salido, con historias interesantes, sin miedo a romper y desafiar algunas reglas, pero que, llegando a su final, se descontrola ligeramente y afecta al resto de la historia. Si en algún momento el autor quiere regresar este universo, definitivamente estaré ahí para verlo.
Conclusión: Entretenido
December 29, 2022
Usually not a fan of “gritty,” “real-world” Batman stories, so I’ve been wary of reading this one for a while, but the structure of the art and writing blew me away. The art was extremely cinematic and the story did not have a narrator, but was completely dialogue-driven which was a surprise and really elevated the book.
Gary Frank’s art is simply incredible.
~Spoilers (no specifics)~
The only reason I give this book 4 stars is because the ending was extremely poor. I know that open-endings are a consequence of the comic book medium, but while the entirety of the third volume was more wild, flashier, and absurd than it’s predecessors, the end was the opportunity to rein it back in and end it with the convincing emotional punch that made the book so great.
Sadly, I think that this opportunity was completely wasted in favor of a boring “allies- origin” splash page and a preview scene for a fourth book that may or may not happen.
Totally irrelevant to the actual book, but I hope whoever designed the paperback cover is ashamed of how busy they made it. Drains all the elegance out of the art.
Gary Frank’s art is simply incredible.
~Spoilers (no specifics)~
The only reason I give this book 4 stars is because the ending was extremely poor. I know that open-endings are a consequence of the comic book medium, but while the entirety of the third volume was more wild, flashier, and absurd than it’s predecessors, the end was the opportunity to rein it back in and end it with the convincing emotional punch that made the book so great.
Sadly, I think that this opportunity was completely wasted in favor of a boring “allies- origin” splash page and a preview scene for a fourth book that may or may not happen.
Totally irrelevant to the actual book, but I hope whoever designed the paperback cover is ashamed of how busy they made it. Drains all the elegance out of the art.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
As with most iterations of this world, I applaud Batman's resilience as I would be folding for Catwoman way too fast
March 28, 2023
Отличная elseworlds мини-серия о первых годах Бэтмена. Вроде бы знакомый Готэм, навязшая в зубах ориджин стори, привычные друзья и галерея врагов, но все это с легким твистом и под чуть-чуть другим углом зрения, отчего смотрится свежо. Вроде третьестепенной сюжетной линии Харви Буллока, который появляется молодцеватым красавчиком и неподкупным детективом, и которого Готэм пережевывает и выплевывает, оставляя спивающуюся развалину.
И сам молодой Бэтмен тоже приятное разнообразие для привыкших к всесильному полубогу, какой в ранах последней декады. Не проходивший никаких супер-пупер-тренировок, ругается с Альфредом, горячится, затаптывает улики на месте преступления, попадает в ловушки и отгребает от преступников, периодически чуть не погибая.
ЗЫ. Порадовали россыпи мелких пасхалок, вроде шуток над исчезающим за спиной Гордона Бэтсом или привычки брендировать все летучей мышью.
И сам молодой Бэтмен тоже приятное разнообразие для привыкших к всесильному полубогу, какой в ранах последней декады. Не проходивший никаких супер-пупер-тренировок, ругается с Альфредом, горячится, затаптывает улики на месте преступления, попадает в ловушки и отгребает от преступников, периодически чуть не погибая.
ЗЫ. Порадовали россыпи мелких пасхалок, вроде шуток над исчезающим за спиной Гордона Бэтсом или привычки брендировать все летучей мышью.
January 30, 2026
Batman: Earth One is a wild ride and one of the most satisfying self-contained takes on the Dark Knight I’ve read. Geoff Johns crafts a Gotham that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, giving us a Batman who is still very much under construction—bruised, vulnerable, and figuring out how to become the symbol we all know.
What really works here is the balance between recognizable origin elements and bold reinvention. Nothing feels change-for-the-sake-of-change; instead, the story stays fresh by constantly surprising you while still respecting the core of the character. Watching Bruce grow into the role rather than immediately dominate it makes his journey far more compelling.
And no Batman story is complete without a strong rogues’ gallery. While everyone will (rightfully) praise the reimagined Alfred, the real standout for me was Killer Croc. An ostracized recluse with a big heart, this version is grounded, intimidating, and unexpectedly memorable. It’s easily one of my favorite interpretations of the character, and I wish more Batman stories took this approach.
I was genuinely devastated when I reached the end because I was enjoying this universe so much. Batman: Earth One proves you don’t need decades of continuity to tell a great Batman story—just a fresh perspective, strong character work, and the willingness to let the Bat earn his wings.
What really works here is the balance between recognizable origin elements and bold reinvention. Nothing feels change-for-the-sake-of-change; instead, the story stays fresh by constantly surprising you while still respecting the core of the character. Watching Bruce grow into the role rather than immediately dominate it makes his journey far more compelling.
And no Batman story is complete without a strong rogues’ gallery. While everyone will (rightfully) praise the reimagined Alfred, the real standout for me was Killer Croc. An ostracized recluse with a big heart, this version is grounded, intimidating, and unexpectedly memorable. It’s easily one of my favorite interpretations of the character, and I wish more Batman stories took this approach.
I was genuinely devastated when I reached the end because I was enjoying this universe so much. Batman: Earth One proves you don’t need decades of continuity to tell a great Batman story—just a fresh perspective, strong character work, and the willingness to let the Bat earn his wings.
February 21, 2025
Brilliant artwork from Gary Frank as usual, so visually the book is immaculate.
Storywise, though, while a fun diversion, I did not find it different or unique enougth to stand out from the myriad of Batman origins interpretations we've had for decades. It treads very much familiar ground, aside form the occasional different take on some characters.
Overall doesn't offer anything new to the seasoned reader aside form a pleaseant diversion that would be instantly forgottable, if not for the gorgeous artwork by Gary Frank and colorist Brad Anderson.
6.5/10
Storywise, though, while a fun diversion, I did not find it different or unique enougth to stand out from the myriad of Batman origins interpretations we've had for decades. It treads very much familiar ground, aside form the occasional different take on some characters.
Overall doesn't offer anything new to the seasoned reader aside form a pleaseant diversion that would be instantly forgottable, if not for the gorgeous artwork by Gary Frank and colorist Brad Anderson.
6.5/10
November 2, 2022
I didn't know what to expect from this but I came out pleasantly surprised. A great Batman origin story with some great new and old villains. I love Batman's portrayal, he's a normal human being! I know that's the case in every other Batman comic but I felt as if I could properly connect to him.
August 23, 2022
364 pages of origin story and into the main Batman opponents makes
very good reading! And the artwork is great
very good reading! And the artwork is great
August 22, 2026
,,Betmen: Zemlja” jedan Džefa Džonsa je jedan od najboljih primera kako se dobro poznata priča o nastanku Betmena može ispričati iznova, a da pritom deluje sveže, moderno i uzbudljivo. Iako svi znamo osnovne elemente priče o Brusu Vejnu i njegovom preobražaju u Mračnog viteza, Džons uspeva da ih prerasporedi, promeni i prilagodi sopstvenoj viziji, bez gubljenja onoga što Betmena čini legendarnim osvetnikom.
Najveći kvalitet ovog stripa upravo je takav pristup poznatoj mitologiji. Pred nama nije nepogrešivi i gotovo nadljudski Betmen, već Brus Vejn koji tek uči šta znači nositi masku. Pravi greške, nije uvek dorastao situaciji i još uvek pokušava da pronađe svoje mesto i smisao svoje misije. Zbog toga njegovi prvi koraci kao Betmena deluju mnogo ljudskije i uverljivije.
Džons je posebno uspešan u reinterpretaciji poznatih likova. Čitava plejada junaka i zlikovaca iz Betmenovog univerzuma ostaje dovoljno verna svojim klasičnim korenima da ih odmah prepoznajemo, ali gotovo svaki od njih dobija neki novi detalj, drugačiju motivaciju ili ulogu u priči. Naročito dobro funkcioniše odnos Brusa i Alfreda, koji je ovde predstavljen na nešto drugačiji način nego što smo navikli. Upravo ta ravnoteža između poznatog i novog predstavlja jednu od najvećih snaga Zemlje jedan.
Ni scenario ne pokušava samo da prepriča još jednu verziju Betmenovog porekla. Džons gradi sopstveni Gotam, sopstvene odnose među likovima i misteriju koja ovoj priči daje identitet nezavisan od drugih interpretacija. Sve je dovoljno drugačije da zainteresuje čak i čitaoca koji je Betmenovo poreklo video bezbroj puta, ali nikada toliko udaljeno od originala da izgubi vezu sa klasičnom mitologijom lika.
Crtež je podjednako uspešan. Moderan je, čist i suptilan, bez potrebe za vizuelnim preterivanjem. Posebno dobro funkcionišu izrazi lica i atmosfera Gotama, dok akcione scene ostaju pregledne i dinamične. Vizuelni stil savršeno prati Džonsovu nameru da napravi savremenu i nešto realističniju verziju Betmenovog sveta.
Najvažnije od svega, Betmen: Zemlja jedan funkcioniše kao potpuno zaokružena priča. Ima jasan početak, razvoj likova, misteriju i zadovoljavajući završetak, a istovremeno ostavlja dovoljno prostora za dalji razvoj ovog univerzuma. Nema osećaja da čitamo samo uvod u nešto veće – ovo je priča koja može sasvim dobro da stoji sama za sebe.
U moru različitih reinterpretacija nastanka Mračnog viteza, Džons je uspeo da pronađe sopstveni glas. Zemlja jedan poštuje tradiciju Betmena, ali nije njome sputana. Poznate likove i motive uzima kao osnovu za nešto novo, moderno i autorski prepoznatljivo.
Odličan restart Betmenove priče i praktično savršeno zaokružena priča o njegovim počecima. Velika preporuka kako dugogodišnjim ljubiteljima Mračnog viteza, tako i čitaocima koji tek žele da zakorače u njegov svet.
Najveći kvalitet ovog stripa upravo je takav pristup poznatoj mitologiji. Pred nama nije nepogrešivi i gotovo nadljudski Betmen, već Brus Vejn koji tek uči šta znači nositi masku. Pravi greške, nije uvek dorastao situaciji i još uvek pokušava da pronađe svoje mesto i smisao svoje misije. Zbog toga njegovi prvi koraci kao Betmena deluju mnogo ljudskije i uverljivije.
Džons je posebno uspešan u reinterpretaciji poznatih likova. Čitava plejada junaka i zlikovaca iz Betmenovog univerzuma ostaje dovoljno verna svojim klasičnim korenima da ih odmah prepoznajemo, ali gotovo svaki od njih dobija neki novi detalj, drugačiju motivaciju ili ulogu u priči. Naročito dobro funkcioniše odnos Brusa i Alfreda, koji je ovde predstavljen na nešto drugačiji način nego što smo navikli. Upravo ta ravnoteža između poznatog i novog predstavlja jednu od najvećih snaga Zemlje jedan.
Ni scenario ne pokušava samo da prepriča još jednu verziju Betmenovog porekla. Džons gradi sopstveni Gotam, sopstvene odnose među likovima i misteriju koja ovoj priči daje identitet nezavisan od drugih interpretacija. Sve je dovoljno drugačije da zainteresuje čak i čitaoca koji je Betmenovo poreklo video bezbroj puta, ali nikada toliko udaljeno od originala da izgubi vezu sa klasičnom mitologijom lika.
Crtež je podjednako uspešan. Moderan je, čist i suptilan, bez potrebe za vizuelnim preterivanjem. Posebno dobro funkcionišu izrazi lica i atmosfera Gotama, dok akcione scene ostaju pregledne i dinamične. Vizuelni stil savršeno prati Džonsovu nameru da napravi savremenu i nešto realističniju verziju Betmenovog sveta.
Najvažnije od svega, Betmen: Zemlja jedan funkcioniše kao potpuno zaokružena priča. Ima jasan početak, razvoj likova, misteriju i zadovoljavajući završetak, a istovremeno ostavlja dovoljno prostora za dalji razvoj ovog univerzuma. Nema osećaja da čitamo samo uvod u nešto veće – ovo je priča koja može sasvim dobro da stoji sama za sebe.
U moru različitih reinterpretacija nastanka Mračnog viteza, Džons je uspeo da pronađe sopstveni glas. Zemlja jedan poštuje tradiciju Betmena, ali nije njome sputana. Poznate likove i motive uzima kao osnovu za nešto novo, moderno i autorski prepoznatljivo.
Odličan restart Betmenove priče i praktično savršeno zaokružena priča o njegovim počecima. Velika preporuka kako dugogodišnjim ljubiteljima Mračnog viteza, tako i čitaocima koji tek žele da zakorače u njegov svet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews