Booknote: Batman: Earth One, Volume 2

Geoff Johns, et.al., Batman: Earth One, Volume 2. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, 2015. ISBN: 9781401241858. 

Genre: comics and graphic novels
Subgenre: Superheroes
Format: e-book galley
Source: Edelweiss 

I am really enjoying this series where we see Batman stepping out and learning how to become a hero and detective. The author really does a good job of humanizing a hero that is often seen as flawless (though certainly not white knight squeaky clean as Superman is often portrayed). It is the experience of struggling to learn and do the right thing portrayed in the character of Batman that is a strength of this volume and the series overall. And struggle he does as Batman is torn between two influences: his hardcore bodyguard Alfred and the more idealistic detective James Gordon. These two men, father figures even, are shaping how Batman will turn out. It is an interesting dynamic.

Let us not forget the story, which is good and riveting. After the events in volume 1, Batman faces new rivals. A guy calling himself The Riddler is killing groups of people in an apparently random way if they fail to solve his riddles. Plus the city sewers are haunted by some monster. What is neat in the series, and this volume is no exception, is the character portrayal. We see familiar villains, but with new twists and turns. A big reason to keep reading this is just to see what the author does because everything you thought you knew will be turned.

Add to all this some very good art, and you got a solid comic. Fans of Batman should be reading this, and if you read the first volume, you need to pick this up. I am highly recommending it. It is a good selection for libraries with graphic novel and comics collections. I can tell you it is a series I will order for our library.

5 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges: