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Die Hard: Year One #1
Die Hard: Year One, Vol 1
Every great action hero got their start somewhere, and with DIE HARD: YEAR ONE fans get the chance to see John McClane’s first year on the force as a rookie cop in New York City.
American's greatest action hero translated into the sequential art form for the first time! Every great action hero got started somewhere: Batman Began. Bond had his Casino Royale. And for John McClane, more than a decade before the first DIE HARD movie, he's just another rookie cop, an East Coast guy working on earning his badge in New York City during 1976's Bicentennial celebration. Too bad for John McClane, nothing's ever that easy. Join legendary industry creator Howard Chaykin on a thrill ride that's rung up over $1 billion in box office worldwide and become the gold standard for classic action! Yippee Ki Yay!
American's greatest action hero translated into the sequential art form for the first time! Every great action hero got started somewhere: Batman Began. Bond had his Casino Royale. And for John McClane, more than a decade before the first DIE HARD movie, he's just another rookie cop, an East Coast guy working on earning his badge in New York City during 1976's Bicentennial celebration. Too bad for John McClane, nothing's ever that easy. Join legendary industry creator Howard Chaykin on a thrill ride that's rung up over $1 billion in box office worldwide and become the gold standard for classic action! Yippee Ki Yay!
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
99 people want to read
About the author
Howard Chaykin
1,074 books112 followersHoward Victor Chaykin is an American comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett and Al Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 5, 2020
"There're so many of them, and - and you . . . " -- Rosie Haskell, scared homicide witness
"I'm a duly sworn officer of the NYPD . . . and I've got a job to do." -- John McClane, policeman
Set on America's Bicentennial (the country's 200th birthday on the summer day of July 4, 1976, to those who are non-U.S. readers), the graphic novel Year One follows an eventful day in the life of twenty-something John McClane, then a uniformed patrol officer working during his probationary first year 'on the job' in New York City. If you are familiar with the Die Hard film series - especially the initial two entries - it will come as no great surprise that McClane finds himself in the middle of a deadly scenario where organized criminal activity is afoot. This will ultimately force our resilient working-class action hero to think fast, act tough, and (of course) save the ****ing day with a smirk.
Barring a chase of a pickpocket through the streets early on most of the action scenes (unlike in the films) are saved for the final chapter. The story build-up seems a tad laborious at first, but eventually starts evening out and making sense in the latter half of the book. The illustrations of McClane are also hit or miss - sometimes he resembles a younger version of actor Bruce Willis (with a full head of glorious Me Decade hair!), and sometimes not so much - but it was easy to imagine the dialogue and first-person narration for McClane in Willis' unmistakable East Coast-bred tough guy voice.
"I'm a duly sworn officer of the NYPD . . . and I've got a job to do." -- John McClane, policeman
Set on America's Bicentennial (the country's 200th birthday on the summer day of July 4, 1976, to those who are non-U.S. readers), the graphic novel Year One follows an eventful day in the life of twenty-something John McClane, then a uniformed patrol officer working during his probationary first year 'on the job' in New York City. If you are familiar with the Die Hard film series - especially the initial two entries - it will come as no great surprise that McClane finds himself in the middle of a deadly scenario where organized criminal activity is afoot. This will ultimately force our resilient working-class action hero to think fast, act tough, and (of course) save the ****ing day with a smirk.
Barring a chase of a pickpocket through the streets early on most of the action scenes (unlike in the films) are saved for the final chapter. The story build-up seems a tad laborious at first, but eventually starts evening out and making sense in the latter half of the book. The illustrations of McClane are also hit or miss - sometimes he resembles a younger version of actor Bruce Willis (with a full head of glorious Me Decade hair!), and sometimes not so much - but it was easy to imagine the dialogue and first-person narration for McClane in Willis' unmistakable East Coast-bred tough guy voice.
March 16, 2016
As a Die Hard fan from long ago (still consider this my all time favorite movie) I knew I had to read this story.
Not as gritty as the Die Hard movies, this story still does an excellent job of setting up John McClane as a character. You can sense how he will someday become the hero of Die Hard and take on Hans Gruber.
Not as gritty as the Die Hard movies, this story still does an excellent job of setting up John McClane as a character. You can sense how he will someday become the hero of Die Hard and take on Hans Gruber.
December 13, 2014
As a huge fan of (most) of the Die Hard films, my interest was piqued at the release of an origin story of John McClane. However, it's really only an adventure of John having just graduated from the Police Academy. Sure, it's 'year one' in the career of cop McClane but John was in the marines, in Vietnam. I'd much rather read a story about THAT. Anyway, this story shows that McClane had a habit of being a one-man army even back in the '70s, where it is him on a boat versus a group of bad guys. Yawn. The art is passable but McClane looks very little like Bruce Willis and his character isn't particularly well written either.
I would say it was a wasted opportunity but it was a rather pointless endeavour in the first place.
I would say it was a wasted opportunity but it was a rather pointless endeavour in the first place.
February 25, 2016
While an interesting concept to visit the early days of the life of John McClane on the NYPD. The story is still the same bad people doing bad things. In the end the "regular" guy saves the day. Entertaining but the movie was better.
June 27, 2021
Meh, couldn't finish it. Some propaganda within also.
September 16, 2020
More of a normal urban cop tale, no knowledge of the film is needed to enjoy the story. (but really, who has NO knowledge of Die Hard?)
July 1, 2010
My reaction to a graphic novel about John McClane and entitled Die Hard -- "I must read that now!" Alas it is a great idea (about how John McClane became the cowboy who defeats Hans Gruber) but it fell so short. The plot was difficult to follow and took the second comic book in the series to really start making sense to the reader. Also there were way too many characters.
I still love the first movie (and the novel upon which it was based) but I will be a bit more circumspect about other Die Hard titles.
I still love the first movie (and the novel upon which it was based) but I will be a bit more circumspect about other Die Hard titles.
January 2, 2016
So in this series we get to see John McClane back when he was a beat cop in the 1970s, well before the events of the Die Hard movies.
This volume focused on a plot to rob a billionaire's yacht by an environmentalist, who gets the aid of some crooked cops. Honestly, think "Die Hard" on a boat, and you have this story. I thought it was derivative. Not bad, but not that good either. The art is decent but nothing special either.
Overall a decent read, but nothing you probably haven't read before.
This volume focused on a plot to rob a billionaire's yacht by an environmentalist, who gets the aid of some crooked cops. Honestly, think "Die Hard" on a boat, and you have this story. I thought it was derivative. Not bad, but not that good either. The art is decent but nothing special either.
Overall a decent read, but nothing you probably haven't read before.
June 10, 2010
Since the art is merely functional (imagine if John Paul Leon had done more than a couple variant covers?!!), & the plot is pretty standard 70s NYC beat cop fare, this doesn't quite live up to the over the top action implied by the Die Hard brand.
July 24, 2015
What a disappointment. It sounds like a great idea - and it still could be if it was rebooted, written and drawn by other people. But this SUCKS. I read to the end because it wasn't so long and because I wanted to see where the trainwreck went but it's 30 minutes of my life I wouldn't mind having back.
First problem: the story & vibe. Die Hard is a great action film; this is a lame attempt at a gritty cop drama trying to capture the NY vibe of the 70s where the cops are all bad (except for McClane) and women are treated like shit. Put it this way: my eldest kid has seen Die Hard and I prefer he not read this book.
Second problem: the art. To my eyes it seems that most of the humans were drawn using reference pictures. The panels almost all have a stiff and staid quality to them, with no sense of life. Perhaps it's the inking, which seems very heavy handed.
The expressions on people's faces are often hard to decipher because they don't look natural. It's like they caught the weird in-between expressions people have when caught off guard by a camera and used them for almost every shot. It's actually kind of creepy.
This is my first time reading Chaykin, who I've heard good things about. Unfortunately, I'm not that interested in reading any of his other work after this.
First problem: the story & vibe. Die Hard is a great action film; this is a lame attempt at a gritty cop drama trying to capture the NY vibe of the 70s where the cops are all bad (except for McClane) and women are treated like shit. Put it this way: my eldest kid has seen Die Hard and I prefer he not read this book.
Second problem: the art. To my eyes it seems that most of the humans were drawn using reference pictures. The panels almost all have a stiff and staid quality to them, with no sense of life. Perhaps it's the inking, which seems very heavy handed.
The expressions on people's faces are often hard to decipher because they don't look natural. It's like they caught the weird in-between expressions people have when caught off guard by a camera and used them for almost every shot. It's actually kind of creepy.
This is my first time reading Chaykin, who I've heard good things about. Unfortunately, I'm not that interested in reading any of his other work after this.
January 22, 2013
This was surprisingly good!
Not good as in "I'm gonna shout it out from the rooftop" kinda good, besides, it is freezing out there, but good as in deserving of 4 stars and a positive review kinda good.
I'm a good fan of Howard Chaykin, I like his art and I like his drawing... thing is, when he splits the two, the result isn't always that great.
Die Hard: Year 1, vol. 1 proves to be an exception.
The story's pretty darned good, even if it did feel kinda rushed at places, and is classic Chaykin story-telling method, and the art by Stephen Thompson is really good. With good attention to detail and coloring... heck, I hadn't seen zipatone used in art for years, gave me a bit of a chuckle, really.
Bonus, the entire story is told within the confines of the hardcover, meaning I don't have to buy the second book... but I'll be buying it anyways.
Not good as in "I'm gonna shout it out from the rooftop" kinda good, besides, it is freezing out there, but good as in deserving of 4 stars and a positive review kinda good.
I'm a good fan of Howard Chaykin, I like his art and I like his drawing... thing is, when he splits the two, the result isn't always that great.
Die Hard: Year 1, vol. 1 proves to be an exception.
The story's pretty darned good, even if it did feel kinda rushed at places, and is classic Chaykin story-telling method, and the art by Stephen Thompson is really good. With good attention to detail and coloring... heck, I hadn't seen zipatone used in art for years, gave me a bit of a chuckle, really.
Bonus, the entire story is told within the confines of the hardcover, meaning I don't have to buy the second book... but I'll be buying it anyways.
June 10, 2016
An important part of a graphic novel is showing the story. This book is weighed down by lots of unnecessary narrative that ruined the showing aspect for me. There are two narrators, the writer's third person and John McClane's retelling. There aren't many pages without the narrator interrupting.
But, you might say, isn't there that cute part where he's called "McClain" instead of "McClane?"
Yes, there's that. How creative! It was the highlight of the dialogue.
The plot wasn't much to write home about either.
I'm going to pretend this didn't happen.
But, you might say, isn't there that cute part where he's called "McClain" instead of "McClane?"
Yes, there's that. How creative! It was the highlight of the dialogue.
The plot wasn't much to write home about either.
I'm going to pretend this didn't happen.
November 23, 2011
I picked up two books today: Nothing Lasts Forever and Die Hard Year One. The novel is the basis for the first Die Hard movie, the comic is a prequel to the movie that was written recently. Nothing amazing in the comic, aside from suggesting that John McClane had been in several situations in his rookie years that prepared him for his movie exploits. Fans of the movie will have a passing interest, but there isn't anything that makes this standout aside from that.
December 1, 2012
So many players in one story made it difficult to follow and enjoy the story. A less complex threat would have allowed McClane to shine better.
July 4, 2016
Pretty good. The story is a little convaluted but it works well enough. The artwork is excellent, and the tone is spot on for a Die Hard story.
May 4, 2019
Judging by reviews, I am probably in minority for giving this maximum stars. Moreover, it's certainly not a masterpiece in comic storytelling. But how could I not resist? John McClane and Howard Chaykin. Really, how? The first three movies are big part of my kid years, the first and the third being my favorite of all time films.
As the title suggests, this eight part mini-series occurs during John McClane rookie's years as NY cop. I'd say somewhat at least ten years younger than when we met him in 1988 film. Hence, the story itself has 70s urban gritty vibe.
A rich guy plans to rob a yacht, with the help of some bad cops and guess who has to go against them? I know, sounds derivative and Chaykin is well known for his innovating storytelling techniques. And the whole idea to set the story mainly on a yacht, wasn't exactly bright, but somehow it works. Action, when happens is skillfully staged. The only problem I had is that McClane character acts a bit out of the Willis' hefty persona from the movies and isn't particularly likeable. And comic book McClane visually bears little, faintly, resemblance to the celebrated Hollywood movie counterpart. Apart from that, art was decent, area seedy New York looks solid.
I am in for the second volume. Yippe Ki Yay!
As the title suggests, this eight part mini-series occurs during John McClane rookie's years as NY cop. I'd say somewhat at least ten years younger than when we met him in 1988 film. Hence, the story itself has 70s urban gritty vibe.
A rich guy plans to rob a yacht, with the help of some bad cops and guess who has to go against them? I know, sounds derivative and Chaykin is well known for his innovating storytelling techniques. And the whole idea to set the story mainly on a yacht, wasn't exactly bright, but somehow it works. Action, when happens is skillfully staged. The only problem I had is that McClane character acts a bit out of the Willis' hefty persona from the movies and isn't particularly likeable. And comic book McClane visually bears little, faintly, resemblance to the celebrated Hollywood movie counterpart. Apart from that, art was decent, area seedy New York looks solid.
I am in for the second volume. Yippe Ki Yay!
May 9, 2022
If you enjoyed one or more of John McClane movies, you're in for a treat with this graphic novel.
I really dug the well-known sense of (dark) humor of the main character, and his ocasional self-deprecating comments.
The book contains two full stories from John's youth as a young NYPD "recruit" and his steps up the ladder.
The plot is dense enough to keep one interested, and there are action scenes aplenty to keep one entertained and on the edge of the seat. Plenty of plot twists and surprises too.
(The only downside of this volume is McClane's "role" as a "narrator" that becomes a bit annoying at times.)
Anyways, although I'm not a huge fan of the movie franchise, I really enjoyed this book.
I really dug the well-known sense of (dark) humor of the main character, and his ocasional self-deprecating comments.
The book contains two full stories from John's youth as a young NYPD "recruit" and his steps up the ladder.
The plot is dense enough to keep one interested, and there are action scenes aplenty to keep one entertained and on the edge of the seat. Plenty of plot twists and surprises too.
(The only downside of this volume is McClane's "role" as a "narrator" that becomes a bit annoying at times.)
Anyways, although I'm not a huge fan of the movie franchise, I really enjoyed this book.
December 26, 2020
It wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t some amazing thing either. It’s a cool concept to visit John McClane pre-Nakatomi Tower hostage crisis, but at the same time I was a little irked by the story being of such a grand scale crisis of a different hostage crisis because it takes away some from the idea in the first Die Hard that John McClane was a regular, but dedicated, NYPD officer able to take on a group of prepared and conniving bad guys and instead makes it just a reoccurring occurrence for him. In my mind it’s just a story of a random NYPD officer and not a prequel to Die Hard/John McClane
May 10, 2017
This is a prequel to the Die Hard movies, it's year one of John McClane service as a NYPD officer, had a decent storyline, the graphic's were good and it's how he became a Detective. Definitely will keep reading any of the future releases in this series.
The coolest thing about Ollie's, is the book section, my local one has pretty decent selection, have found several books and just wish their cashiers were a little faster.
The coolest thing about Ollie's, is the book section, my local one has pretty decent selection, have found several books and just wish their cashiers were a little faster.
February 9, 2018
Both this and volume two collect the cover art for all of the individual comic books plus some concept art pages and they are all more interesting and hold more potential than anything in the actual stories. That's a shame.
January 3, 2021
Quick read that takes you to a young John Mclaine years before Nakatomi as a rookie NYC cop. Typical terrorist good guy/bad guy stuff occurs surrounding a parade & Mclaine saves the day. Not a bad read but forgettable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
There are a lot of problems with this story, from its cliched cop plot and mediocre climax to its casual sexism. But my biggest problem is the fact that it refers to a black police officer as "colored." There is absolutely no excuse for this.
June 8, 2019
Meh.
I want more pew pew pew.
I want more pew pew pew.
January 1, 2022
Didn't hate it, but nothing particularly noteworthy about it either.
March 17, 2022
Dark gritty and nothing like the movie.
July 4, 2025
John McLain to the rescue as a rookie beat cop in NYC. Entertaining but Predictable & had an anticlimactic ending.
May 12, 2010
Reason for Reading: More Die Hard? A young John McClane? C'mon? How could I resist?
The time is 1976 and John McClane is a rookie cop starting out. He's been partnered with a Training Officer of the seasoned, fat and complaining variety so needless to say they do not get along but McClane quickly learns to keep his mouth shut and make backhanded remarks out of the side of his mouth. On the street a series of incidents all lead to McClane taking on a small terrorist group and cops gone bad.
I loved this! The story was a bit jerky and could have flowed smoother. Hoping to see it come together a better as the series progresses. But it is a thrill to read a good old fashioned cops vs the bad guys story in graphic format. The seventies setting allows for some fun with clothing and colours at times. John McClane is a young version of the movie character not Bruce Willis, though some Bruce Willis does creep in and I'm glad it has been presented that way. Willis' brand of humour which shows up in every part he plays is a big part of the screen version of John McClane's character, in the graphic representation, the humour is there but it's not overkill. John McClane has a resemblance to Bruce Willis and in most shots it is only faint, except every now and then there will be certain angle which is the spitting image of Willis. To me this says the author & illustrator are acknowledging the already formed Willis version of John McClane but they do not intend to be limited by it. Obviously John McClane started out somewhere and grew into the character we are familiar with in the movies. This graphic series is going to show us what happened along the way.
As usual with Boom! Studios they publish a mean hardcover book. I love the cover picture on this! The jacket has a nice matte finish (I so prefer this over glossy ones) and there is an attached sliver ribbon bookmark. Removing the jacket will show the front board has been stamped in silver with an NYPD shield and the pages inside are thick, quality. A very enjoyable read which I look forward to continuing reading.
The time is 1976 and John McClane is a rookie cop starting out. He's been partnered with a Training Officer of the seasoned, fat and complaining variety so needless to say they do not get along but McClane quickly learns to keep his mouth shut and make backhanded remarks out of the side of his mouth. On the street a series of incidents all lead to McClane taking on a small terrorist group and cops gone bad.
I loved this! The story was a bit jerky and could have flowed smoother. Hoping to see it come together a better as the series progresses. But it is a thrill to read a good old fashioned cops vs the bad guys story in graphic format. The seventies setting allows for some fun with clothing and colours at times. John McClane is a young version of the movie character not Bruce Willis, though some Bruce Willis does creep in and I'm glad it has been presented that way. Willis' brand of humour which shows up in every part he plays is a big part of the screen version of John McClane's character, in the graphic representation, the humour is there but it's not overkill. John McClane has a resemblance to Bruce Willis and in most shots it is only faint, except every now and then there will be certain angle which is the spitting image of Willis. To me this says the author & illustrator are acknowledging the already formed Willis version of John McClane but they do not intend to be limited by it. Obviously John McClane started out somewhere and grew into the character we are familiar with in the movies. This graphic series is going to show us what happened along the way.
As usual with Boom! Studios they publish a mean hardcover book. I love the cover picture on this! The jacket has a nice matte finish (I so prefer this over glossy ones) and there is an attached sliver ribbon bookmark. Removing the jacket will show the front board has been stamped in silver with an NYPD shield and the pages inside are thick, quality. A very enjoyable read which I look forward to continuing reading.
September 25, 2016
The kind of improbability comics are perfect for: if it were a film, a prequel to Die Hard set twelve years before the original film would either involve recasting the lead or some serious CGI to make Bruce Wills a younger John McClane.
With comics, it's just another day at the office.
Writer Howard Chaykin serves up a tight, fast-paced script that matches the tone of the films -- don't expect any great revelations about McClane's character, here a rookie cop still saddled with a training officer, who gets accidentally caught up in a terrorist plot in New York during the Bicentennial celebration on July 4th, 1976. Artist Stephen Thompson does a great likeness of Willis, making the project feel authentic, and brings a strong Frank Miller inked by Klaus Janson vibe: I kept expecting to see Matt Murdock or Frank Castle wander into frame.
Sometimes there is a disconnect with stories like this, as overeager creators try too hard to put their vision or spin on an iconic character, but Chaykin is wise enough to write the comic as a summer blockbuster that isn't meant to be anything deeper than a brief spot of entertainment.
With comics, it's just another day at the office.
Writer Howard Chaykin serves up a tight, fast-paced script that matches the tone of the films -- don't expect any great revelations about McClane's character, here a rookie cop still saddled with a training officer, who gets accidentally caught up in a terrorist plot in New York during the Bicentennial celebration on July 4th, 1976. Artist Stephen Thompson does a great likeness of Willis, making the project feel authentic, and brings a strong Frank Miller inked by Klaus Janson vibe: I kept expecting to see Matt Murdock or Frank Castle wander into frame.
Sometimes there is a disconnect with stories like this, as overeager creators try too hard to put their vision or spin on an iconic character, but Chaykin is wise enough to write the comic as a summer blockbuster that isn't meant to be anything deeper than a brief spot of entertainment.
September 24, 2011
This is the beginning of John McClane’s career. This story takes you through his time as a rookie on the Police force working under one of the harder trainers who just doesn’t seem to care whether he’s by the book or not as long as McClane only refers to him as Officer Bingham. Bingham is a real jerk and he’s quite the lazy police officer.
McClane keeps seeing this young girl throughout town and feels like he should say something to her when he sees her shop lift a dress. It turns out the young women is scared to death especially of the Police as she’s just seen two cops gun down a man execution style. To top it all off they are after her now and New York is busy as all heck due to the Bicentennial celebration.
McClane keeps seeing this young girl throughout town and feels like he should say something to her when he sees her shop lift a dress. It turns out the young women is scared to death especially of the Police as she’s just seen two cops gun down a man execution style. To top it all off they are after her now and New York is busy as all heck due to the Bicentennial celebration.
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