Digital List Price:	$14.99
Kindle Price:	$2.99 Save $12.00 (80%)
Sold by:	Amazon.com Services LLC

Sign up and save an extra 10% on this book

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Follow the authors

Batman: Year One (Batman (1940-2011)) Kindle & comiXology

by Frank Miller (Author), David Mazzucchelli (Author), David Mazzucchelli (Artist) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 9,511 ratings

Part of: Batman (1940-2011)

See all formats and editions

Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Try again.

A NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller!

A new edition of one of the most important and critically acclaimed Batman adventures ever, written by Frank Miller, author of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS!

In 1986, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli produced this groundbreaking reinterpretation of the origin of Batman--who he is and how he came to be.

Written shortly after THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Miller's dystopian fable of Batman's final days, YEAR ONE set the stage for a new vision of a legendary character.

This edition includes the complete graphic novel, a new introduction by writer Frank Miller and a new illustrated afterword by artist David Mazzucchelli. Completing this collection are over 40 pages of never-before-seen developmental material such as character and layout sketches, sample script pages, sketches and more that provide a glimpse into the making of this contemporary classic.

This volume collects BATMAN #404-407.

Part of Series

Batman (1940-2011)
Print length

127 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

Not Enabled
Publisher

DC
Publication date

November 21, 2011
Grade level

7 - 9
File size

352889 KB
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Not Enabled
See all details

Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download
Read this book on comiXology. Learn more

Report an issue with this product or seller

Available on these devices

More like Batman: Year One (Batman (1940-2011))

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1

1
Batman in the Fifties (Batman (1940-2011))
178
Kindle Edition
$16.19
2
Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?: The Deluxe Edition (2020 Edition) (Batman (1940-2011))
274
Kindle Edition
$16.19
3
Batman (1940-2011): A Death in the Family The Deluxe Edition
541
Kindle Edition
$28.46
4
Batman: A Death in the Family (Batman (1940-2011))
2,450
Kindle Edition
$14.24
5
Batman and Son (Batman (1940-2011))
148
Kindle Edition
$11.11
6
Batman: Birth of the Demon (Batman (1940-2011))
156
Kindle Edition
$16.19
7
Batman: Broken City New Edition (Batman (1940-2011))
109
Kindle Edition
$9.99
8
Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer? (Batman (1940-2011))
206
Kindle Edition
$19.99
9
Batman: Bruce Wayne - Fugitive (New Edition) (Batman (1940-2011))
137
Kindle Edition
$16.19
10
Batman: Cataclysm (New Edition) (Batman (1940-2011))
141
Kindle Edition
$16.19
11
Batman: Contagion (Batman (1940-2011))
239
Kindle Edition
$17.96
12
Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City (Batman (1940-2011))
84
Kindle Edition
$9.99
13
Batman: Eye of the Beholder (Batman (1940-2011))
62
Kindle Edition
$9.99
14
Batman: Long Shadows (Batman (1940-2011))
62
Kindle Edition
$9.99
15
Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul (Batman by Grant Morrison series Book 2)
212
Kindle Edition
$9.99
16
Batman: R.I.P. (Batman by Grant Morrison series Book 4)
885
Kindle Edition
$11.99
17
Batman: Second Chances (Batman (1940-2011))
139
Kindle Edition
$9.99
18
Batman: Tales of the Demon (Batman (1940-2011))
181
Kindle Edition
$34.99
19
Batman: The Demon Trilogy (Batman (1940-2011))
96
Kindle Edition
$49.99
20
Batman (1940-2011): Time and the Batman (Batman by Grant Morrison series Book 6)
148
Kindle Edition
$9.99
21
Batman: The TV Stories (Batman (1940-2011))
15
Kindle Edition
$9.99
22
Batman/Two-Face: Face the Face Deluxe Edition (Batman (1940-2011))
76
Kindle Edition
$19.24
23
Batman: Under the Red Hood
1,808
Kindle Edition
$3.99
24
Batman: Whatever Happened To the Caped Crusader? (Batman (1940-2011))
442
Kindle Edition
$3.99
25
Batman: Year One (Batman (1940-2011))
9,511
Kindle Edition
$2.99
26
Batman: Zero Hour (Batman (1940-2011))
78
Kindle Edition
$16.99
27
The Joker: His Greatest Jokes (Batman (1940-2011))
110
Kindle Edition
$9.99
28
Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 1 (Batman (1940-2011))
168
Kindle Edition
$16.19
29
Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 2 (Batman (1940-2011))
41
Kindle Edition
$16.19
30
Batman: The Caped Crusader Vol. 3 (Batman (1940-2011) Book 4)
113
Kindle Edition
$16.19
Batman (1940-2011)83 book series

Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Whether you grew up reading Batman comics, watched the campy television show, or eagerly await each new movie, this is the book for you. A retelling of the events that led to Bruce Wayne's becoming Batman, this book combines Frank Miller's tight film-noir writing with David Mazucchelli's solid artwork.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up–In the late 1980s, DC Comics revamped many superheroes but realized that Batman should remain true to his 1939 history. According to the introduction, the editors also decided that the public needed to know more about Batman's early life as a vigilante, and Miller and Mazzucchelli came together to produce Batman: Year One. Originally released in 1988 in four parts, the stories have been combined into one book. Opening with the arrival of Lieutenant James Gordon in Gotham's police force, the story goes on to inform readers about the level of corruption permeating the force. They also witness Bruce Wayne's first encounter with the prostitute named Selina, who will become Catwoman. Wayne speaks to his dead father, asking for guidance, and is answered with a bat on the windowsill, and Batman is born. The remaining chapters highlight Gordon's continuing difficulties with the corrupt police force, Batman's early difficulties in protecting and using his arsenal of weapons, and the first villains he chooses to pursue. At the end of the book, readers are treated to some background on Mazzucchelli's art, the production of Year One, and details on Richmond Lewis's coloring techniques. Both beginning and devoted Batman fans will enjoy this edition.–Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0064W65SO
Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC; Deluxe ed. edition (November 21, 2011)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 21, 2011
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 352889 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 127 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #34,231 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8 in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Graphic Novels
- #14 in Mystery Graphic Novels
- #33 in Media Tie-In & Adaptation Graphic Novels

Customer Reviews:
4.8 9,511 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Frank Miller
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Frank Miller is one of the seminal creative talents who sparked the current gigantic sub-industry of motion pictures featuring comic book- initiated product. A sub-industry which had become a super-industry. This most profitable aspect of this millennium’s film production, now producing an annual flow of box office profits in the Billions of dollars, was launched when Frank Miller’s graphic novel re-take on the classic comic book hero, Batman, resulted in an entertainment industry-wide reconsideration of the genre in the deeper and darker vision Miller brought to it.
Miller re-defined the presentation of comic book characters and heroic fiction with his grand-daddy of graphic novels, “The Dark Knight.” This revolutionary work
not only kicked off the series of Batman films based on his redefinition, but a craze for such material that has thrown dozens of such heroes into multiple film franchise heaven. Certainly chief among these has been Miller’s uniquely classical take on superheroic narrative, “300,” and his “Sin City” books, each of which entered motion pictures with historic successes, and each now in Miller's creative phase of achieving its highly-anticipated sequel. Miller’s co-direction of “Sin City” has made him one of the hottest
directors… as well as a guiding creative force…for the new genre. Or one might say “super genre.”
Miller's latest graphic novel, Holy Terror, is his first original graphic novel in ten years. Join The Fixer, a brand new, hard-edged hero as he battles terror in the inaugural release from Legendary Comics.
See more on the author's page
David Mazzucchelli
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
David Mazzucchelli has been making comics his whole life. Known chiefly for his collaborations - with Frank Miller on seminal Batman and Daredevil stories, and with Paul Karasik on an adaptation of Paul Auster's novel, City of Glass - he began publishing his own stories in 1991 in his anthology magazine, Rubber Blanket. Since then his short comics have been published in books and magazines around the world. Asterios Polyp is his first graphic novel.
Photo by Luigi Novi [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

9,511 global ratings

2 star

0%

1 star

1%

Zero tolerance for fake reviews

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amazon Customer

Awesome Batman Begins Story

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024

Verified Purchase

I dismissed the animated movie for years because I am not into the Batman origins story besides the Batman Begins. However as an adult looking back at Batman early stories like Season 1 of Batman the animated series or Batman: The Mask of The Phantasm, they are among the best Batman stories. I finally gave Batman: Year One a viewing and I was thoroughly impressed and intrigued.It's now one of my favorite movies. DC going woke with their movies and disregarding the fans' wants, caused me to retrogress to the past, which ended with me reading the origin stories of many DC movies.

I love that the movie is exactly like the comic book. It's a mature story that parallels between the origins of Batman and the origins of Gordon's career in Gotham. Gordon was truly badass in the beginning of his career. Great origin story of two flawed individuals trying to clean up a corrupt Gotham and becoming unofficial partners advancing one career's projectory and the other's legend. One of the Best Batman stories ever told. Now, I'm onto The Dark Knight Returns which is an alternative universe story of Batman in his golden years in 1980s style America with the woke politics debate of today. Go figure.

Helpful

McSwaggins

It's Batman Year One. Nuff said.

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024

Verified Purchase

Everyone and their mother has said how good this book is. And for good reason. It's pretty much an introductory story for anyone interested in learning about the Dark Knight and Commisioner Gordon.

Other people have done a MUCH better job giving reasons why you should buy this book than I could ever hope to achieve. The low price of this book is just a bonus aside from the good word of mouth it's received.

I've babbled long enough. Just pick it up already. Even if you don't like it, you're only losing, like, ten bucks plus shipping.

Helpful

Count Orlok '22

Beneath the Shadows of Gotham City Are Legends Born...

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2011

Verified Purchase

During the 1980s there was a real attempt in the comic book industry to cater to the interests, maturity, and cynicism of adults rather than to the naivete, innocence, and adventurous spirit of children. Many classic comic book superheroes were resurrected into the world of the '80s and given very grim contemporary story lines to make them more realistic and compelling. Perhaps one of the most compelling of these story lines is that written by Frank Miller. In the late '70s and into the early '80s, Miller had made a real name for himself while working at both Marvel and DC, and his revitalization of the Daredevil and Punisher characters for Marvel Comics had proven to be a major success with fans and critics. But perhaps Miller's greatest achievement in comics came when he created two very different and very dark depictions of Batman for DC Comics.

In the now legendary "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" , Miller turned Batman into a Dirty Harry-like vigilante, whose brutal methods were only matched by the brutality of the crumbling futuristic Gotham that he lived in. The book was somewhat controversial as it changed or rather embellished certain characteristics of the Batman and pushed the envelope as to the amount of violence and killing that could occur within mainstream superhero comics. Personally, I have not read this particular Batman tale since I don't care for some of Miller's overly authoritarian depictions of heroism, but I will admit that the man is a great talent, as both a writer and an artist, and that his macho-noir vision was groundbreaking in the comic book medium.

For me, Frank Miller's shining moment of creative genius came when he revisited Batman's past and how it was that he came to be the Dark Knight of Gotham City that we all know and love. As mentioned earlier, DC Comics wanted to update their characters by retelling their origin stories with a new level of depth and complexity in order to attract more intelligent and sophisticated readers. To do this, they often challenged the idealized version of the superhero which had been so prevalent in the past by placing them in corrupt societies where their methods of enforcing order became increasingly harsh and their morality began to wane. When writer/editor Denny O'Neil (who had, along with editor Julius Schwartz and artists Dick Giordano and Neal Adams, reinvented many of DC Comics' great characters during the late '60s and '70s) asked some of the writers and artists at DC who would be interested in tackling Batman in a realistic and psychologically grounded story that would explore the character's past, it became clear that the job would have to go to a collaborative team that knew how to deal with the character.
Enter Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli.

In "Batman: Year One", which was originally published as a four-issue miniseries in 1987 before being collected into a bestselling graphic novel, Frank Miller told readers a tale of how Bruce Wayne became Batman in a way that was ultimately definitive. In terms of character origins, the story emphasized the psychology of the protagonists, Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon, and showed them as truly heroic albeit sometimes flawed figures. Miller took what had come before in comics and elaborated on it and in doing so established a new version of the Batman mythos which has been an inspiration and influence to almost every writer who has set out to tell a Batman story since.

David Mazzucchelli had been a talented artist with a very unique visual sense. Hand-picked by Miller, Mazzucchelli created a stunning depiction of Gotham replete with gothic settings, film noir atmosphere, and stark contrasts between light and shadows, monochrome and color. Mazzucchelli modeled his version of Bruce Wayne on young Gregory Peck and Jim Gordon is reminiscent of many of the iconic hard-boiled police and detective characters found in illustrated pulp magazines of the '30s and '40s. The cityscape of Gotham is a strangely believable combination of modern New York with a distinctly retro-noir look to it.

What sets "Year One" apart from other Batman stories is the way that it so efficiently juxtaposes Bruce Wayne's journey into becoming Batman with Jim Gordon's rise in the Gotham City Police Department as one of the few honest cops amidst all the corruption. I really love the fact that as much time is spent with Bruce Wayne/Batman as is spent learning about Gordon, who had up until this point never really been given the focus that he deserved as a character. The story itself is also unique since it doesn't rely on Batman's colorful enemies to flesh it out or engage readers. Selina Kyle, also known as the femme fatale Catwoman, is given an introduction as prostitute who turns to cat burglary and the last page of the comic introduces the Joker as a new threat to the citizens of Gotham, but all in all, there are no supervillains. This more down to earth approach allows for Miller to display Wayne's evolution as Batman and to show him learning how to apply his keen intelligence, martial arts training, and detective skills to costumed crime-fighting. Without the presence of theatrical megalomaniac villains, the focus returns to corrupt politicians and police officers, to street-level crime and poverty, which really shows the social crusader aspects of the Batman and Gordon characters brilliantly. My only complaint as far as the writing goes is that the Alfred character is so under-utilized and is left merely to make dry humorous comments and that Selina Kyle's appearances are so few. However, these are very minor qualms with what is truly a masterpiece of superhero fiction!

All in all, "Batman: Year One" is perhaps the best Batman graphic novel ever written in that it so carefully adheres to the moody detective roots of the character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, while injecting the world of Gotham City with a vitality that was both refreshingly modern and yet timeless. Of all Frank Miller's work, this manages to stand out in my memory as his most intelligently scripted, most dynamically drawn, and most memorably heroic.

26 people found this helpful

Helpful

Comic book worm.

A great start for a great hero.

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2010

Verified Purchase

Batman:Year One is a story, which, as the title suggests details the first year of action for Batman and the inspiration for many of his methods, and, also, his mentallity, but it doesn't just foccus on a single character; a noticable part of the book is centered on James Gordon, the police comissioner we all know and love, and how he came to be where he is, and how his alliance with Batman was forged.

Of both characters I found myself rooting the most for the comissioner, who Frank Miller managed to make into a compelling, interesting, multilayered and, most importantly, flaved and humane character, and his segments in the comic, atleast I personally, found to be the most interesting(to say the thruth, this comic actually made Gordon my favourite character of the Batman mythos, yes, that's right, I prefer him to Batman).

Not to say that the Batman sections in the novel were bad or uninteresting, but his story is one most Batman fans(excluding some of the more specific details upon which this comic expands) by now pretty much know by heart, so it was James Gordons part of the story, that, atleast for me, had the most impact and had the most interesting setpieces, which I refuse to spoil here. What I can say is that, you'll witness some truly memorable moments, the transformation and evolution of both protagonists before your eyes and some new information regarding both characters, that will shed them in a much different light.

The story itself is structured over the time spane of a single year and shows how Batman was inspired to create his costume, how Catwoman(who also is an important part of the story) choose to lead a life of vigilantism and first met(perhaps not strictly in perosn)Batman, and just quite how deep did the corruption run in Gotham city. Frank Millers writing is as good as always, ussualy portrait in the inner monologs of many characters, that create a new and interesting angle into the characters mentallity. The story is riddled with many intense set-pieces, that, worry not, I will not spoil in this review, as much of their impact relies on surprise(also worth of mentione is the dark and brooding atmosphere which envelops much of the story and greatly helps the immersion).

I will say, however, that it is refreshing to see Batman actually be in mortal danger for once in a story and not just steam-roll his way through the opposition, relying on the "prepared for anything" gimmic, that he has been relying on so much in many modern comics(I know "being prepared" is part of Batmans character, but it destroys much of a tension a story can have, if you know that Batman just happened to be prepared for the exact type of trap The Riddler had for him, six years ago).

My only criticism of the story comes from the fact that, do to the stories structure which spans an entire year, it can often be the case, when entire months are given just one or two pannels of exposition , and the story often insists on jumping from character to character a bit too often, which can make the story feel a bit disjointed. For these flaws I deduct the comic a star.

Sppeaking of the art, I have heard many people calling it too simplistic, uninteresting or just plain simply bad, but I beg to differ with these oppinions - yes the art isn't overtly detailed, and the coloring may seem very simplistic and perhaps even primitive, but I think it does the story a favour, in the sense that it portrays a more simple time in Gothams history were there weren't no supervillains and hardly any superheroes or vigilantes. The colloring also helps enchance the depresing mood of the city, that suits the story well.
I also didn't particullary mind the simplicty of the art, to say the truth I even prefered it to many modern, overly detailed comic art, which may seem great individualy, but as a part of a coherent whole, they often can ruin the pacing of the story.

That wasn't the case in Batman:Year one, the art had a great pacing(despite the loose nature of the story) and was always portrayed from a great angle, and, most importantly it always had a great impact and punch to it, be it scenes of action or drama, the art seemed always able to portray the required emotion and power of them.

As far as the purchase recommandation goes, the question stands: should you buy this comic? In short - yes!
It doesn't matter if your a long time Batman fan or new to the whole mythos, or, perhaps, the whole comics genre; Batman:Year One is as good of a place to start as any. In fact Batman:Year One is one my highest recommandations as a starting point for comics(alongside Watchmen, The Joker and Kick-Ass), for people who are new to the genre:it contains great art, inteligent story, humane characters and great writing(and that is discounting all the bonus materials, such as scetches and parts of the script), and I believe almost anyone could find something worth of interest inside this great story!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Omar

Great product

Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

Came in great condition. Thank you!

André L.

Produto excelente, porém Amazon deixou a desejar

Reviewed in Brazil on August 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

A HQ é excelente, nada a reclamar disso, porém, a entrega decepcionou. Veio solto em uma caixa muito mal embalada, sem nada para proteger meu produto, nem mesmo um plástico em volta, e veio também com uma marca de amassado no meio. Espero que a Amazon melhore nas próximas entregas.

5 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Connan

Un clásico fundamental en la mitología de Batman

Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

Si entiendes el inglés y no quieres gastar mucho en una edición más “premium”, está es una perfecta opción.
Buena, bonita y barata son las mejores palabras para describir esta edición.
La obra en sí es fascinante, claro que todos pueden decir lo fabulosa que es pero es algo que debes de descubrir por tu cuenta al leer la historia.

Translate review to English