Batman Volume 4: Zero Year - Secret City TP (The New 52): Zero Year- Secret City (The New 52): 04 (Batman (DC Comics Paperback))

At twenty five years old, the unthinkable has happened: Gotham's prodigal son, long thought dead, has returned. Bruce Wayne tries to remind people that Gotham is a great city, but the people struggle under the terror caused by the Red Hood Gang.This flashback to the birth of the Batman is believably written, insofar as we see why Bruce Wayne decides to be the Batman. However, Snyder has flipped the switch. Here, Bruce Wayne is Gotham's avenger and the Batman is simply his tool for doing so. By reminding readers of the strength of will shown by Bruce Wayne, the Batman becomes something greater. The artwork shows Bruce Wayne as someone who can make the difference, rather than the faux fop he will become as the years go by.

Because the content inside is 5 stars easily. It's a wonderful book, highly recommended. But what I am very disappointed to find is that neither issue 0 nor Annual 2 are present, as described here (AMAZON, FIX THIS). It certainly doesn't bother me as much as many, but I'm pretty sure a product being sold with a false description is cause enough for some to seek refunds, and while this is a lovely book that isn't suffering in content, the fact that it's advertised as having a lot more content is wrong.Doesn't matter much to the story, Annual 2 as loose fitting in this story, I hated the artwork and the story didn't grab me. Also, I think issue 0 was effectively retconned by Snyder's work in these main four issues. I was curious as to where it fit into this story in his mind, but this book seems to answer this question with "not at all".Anyway, the 4 issues that remain (one of which is double sized) are 4 of the best issues in comics in a long time. This is such a good reimagining of Batman's story, clever use of ambiguity as always with Snyder's Batman, and they work on their own as a single story arc while setting up for the next part of Zero Year pretty well. I love this book to bits, and it very easily stands amongst the best Batman stories, alongside Court of Owls and Death of the Family. My favourite is Court of Owls, but I'd have to see that this story is the most successful of his work, because thus far, Zero Year has achieved the impossible; retold Batman's origin in a new and interesting way while staying faithful AND being deferent in every way. If I had predicted the best possible outcome of Snyder redoing the origin story, it wouldn't have come close to predicting this. Snyder gave us fans pages of a story none of us even knew we wanted until we saw them.

I am on a marathon bing reading of the Batman Graphic Novels series and forever loving the plot, drawings, and the dialogue.I am rereading them all again and I can never be bored of them as it is thoroughly enjoyable to read them once again. Best wishes Sean

This whole series is fantastic. Great graphics compelling story. Great that they are on prime too. Thanks very much. chris

One of the best Comic books in the New 52. Forget Suicide Squad, forget Detective Comics: this series of Batman Graphic Novels are some of the best stories - all beautifully told by Scott Snyder. He is amazing at characterisation, and his new takes on old ideas are well thought through indeed. Zero Year is actually my new favourite in the Batman New 52 series meerly because of the awesome and twisting story which Scott keeps throughout. Greg does a fantastic job at penciling in some of the best post-apocolyptic art I have ever seen: everything from the colours, to batman's change of 'suits' to fit the enviroment. As Batman battles Red-Hood, the Penguin and even the Riddler, little does he know that the Joker's origin story is beginning. Give this book a read. Pronto.

Great read not quite as good as death of the family or even the court of owls but it's still amazing. Scott synder is by far my favourite comic writer at the moment, in years to come he will be considered one of the greats if he continues like this. gegg capullo Is at the top of his game and there isn't a better artist at dc at the moment. I never used to like comics but this partnership has made me fall in love I'm hooked. If you start at volume 1 and read through to 7 you'll find it hard to find a better written current series.