Reviews

Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year: Dark City by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV

hell_slime's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

asparkofc's review

5.0

I literally forgot this was a origin story and was genuinely worried for a bit there.

I love Alfred so much. He’s so precious. Also don’t worry, he’ll get his family eventually.

murphyc1's review

5.0

4.5 *s-- As a general rule, I don't particularly like multiple rehashings of old origin stories, as they are often redundant and boring. All the Joker stuff, for instance. This, however, is a very different Batman affair. Unlike its illustrious predecessors, this Batman origin story is flashy and flamboyant, colorful and luminous. While I won't claim that Scott Snyder is the greatest plotter in the history of comics, as far as I'm concerned, the propulsive action and dynamic page layouts (courtesy of the eminently competent Greg Capullo) more than make up for any weakness that might be found in the storytelling. I had a lot of fun-- more than I expected-- reading through this New 52 "year one" Batman arc. Enthusiastically recommended!

crzyarrow's review

5.0

This was really good. I'm loving the back story for the different characters so far and the Riddler was very interesting. If you like Batman, this was a great installment for New 52.

michellewords's review

3.0

The new 52 Batman beginnings is really good. I appreciate a new interpretation of the cast.
The Riddler is my least favorite villain and I struggled a lot through this one for that reason.
There is a good story of team work at the root. In the previous volume, Batman's "family" breaks under the joker's pressure and this volume starts out with the lone survivor. He learns to trust other people, including those who seemed to harm him in the past. Okay read.

coolnameguy's review

3.0

Well that was dull. Aside from a few whips from Nigma and some amazing art, nothing interesting happens, aside from a decent setup. Poor dialog, horrible pacing, and just, little reason to care.

dantastic's review

3.0

The second half of Zero Year feels like a big budget movie. The Riddler holds Gotham hostage with no power and rules like a dictator with only Batman, James Gordon, and Lucius Fox to stop him. I'm of two minds about it, though. In and of itself, Snyder and Capullo knocked it out of the part. On the other hand, as part of an ongoing Batman series, where do you go with the Riddler from here? Committing heists seems incredibly petty once you've held the city hostage for months on end. I think that's my problem with Snyder's run so far. He sets up the villains to be a little too powerful and it's hard to put the toys back into the box once he's done with them.

tmwebb3's review

4.0

This was really good. Parts with the Riddler were excellent, but Dr. Death not so much. This was a really good storyline.

clarks_dad's review

4.0

This is more like it! In the wake of the collapse of the Red Hood Gang, Gotham is plunged into darkness as the Riddler seizes control of the city's infrastructure on the eve of the landing of a massive superstorm. With Gotham in darkness and the city's levees destroyed and pumps blown, Batman has to track down and outsmart the Riddler ahead of the storm. Our young and arrogant fledgling hero miscalculates. Big time. After a failed attempt to stop Nygma's seizure of the city, Batman is rendered unconscious. When he awakes several days later, Gotham has been transformed into something that looks straight out of The Last of Us. Capitalizing on the work of several scientists, including one Pamela Isley, the Riddler has turned Gotham primal and savage. The city is cut off form the outside world as he holds its denizens hostage, forcing them into nightly bouts of wits in a gladiator-style arena where citizens can prove their worth and stump him.

Reminiscent of the incredible [b:Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 1|137894|Batman No Man's Land, Vol. 1|Bob Gale|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377876110s/137894.jpg|132914] and with influences from Frank Miller and Snyder tells a fantastic origin tale for the Riddler. The best parts of this collection illustrate the budding partnership between Batman, Gordon, Alfred, and Lucius. The story effectively draws them all together into a believable partnership. The friendship has a rocky start. Bruce's early petulance, anger issues, and arrogance keep him isolated from the help he needs to truly tackle Nygma. He confronts these issues and deals with them in an effective and believable way and his "reaching out" is appropriately heart-warming to see.

I've never been a huge fan of Riddler stories. I like the concept of the Riddler, but he always comes across as a caricature. Snyder not only has him making sense, but also kind of frightening.

There's great artwork as always from Capullo. In the Savage City arc, there are some pretty great post-apocalyptic vistas and raggedy Batman with a bow makes for an absolutely compelling visual.

Spoiler

I think the best panels in this work are toward the very end when Bruce admits to Alfred that he sought some rather extreme psychiatric care in his teens because he found it difficult to cope with the loss of his parents. He reveals that he came damn close to subjecting himself to shock therapy to "make himself into a different person." The scene is poignant and makes you want to hug the big guy. Alfred's daydream of Bruce settling down and giving up his new crusade is reminiscent of the ending of the Dark Knight film trilogy and makes you feel sad in the way you can only imagine Pennyworth himself must feel for his "son."

Don't miss it! Dark City and Savage City are much better than Secret City.

herrkelm's review

5.0

Scott Snyder is an amazing writer and if this is the quality of writing we can expect from the Superman Batman movie, then I think we're in for a real treat