Nope. Calling it now, this will be terrible. Especially compared to Year One. 11 issues?! Not only is that terribly long but its not even a good fit for trade collection. lol This has disaster written all over it, and as someone who's been really disappointed/bored with Snyder's run so far, I am not going to spend money on it.
Yeah, that's impossibly long. And while it might not be "origin" in the sense that it's retelling how Batman came to be, it's still a back in time arc. Which is a storytelling tool that should be used limitedly, not for an entire 11 issues.
At the very least though, this won't be some huge Bat-Event, and have ties to 5 or more other books. I thought making Court of Owls a Bat-Event really hindered its potential as a tight, and cohesive story. Instead of being great, it was just good. The same with Death of the Family, only even more so.
So, maybe this will allow Snyder to tighten the focus on Bats and not have to expand everything to other books. I just wish he didn't need to go back in time to do so.
I loved Court of Owls and Night of the Owls. Death of the Family was just another Joker story.
And while I am very interested in Riddler being the villain for an arc, I'll probably hold off on picking up this "Zero Year" until it's in paperback. Assuming Riddler is the villain, because if it's someone I don't care much for, then I probably won't bother.
In the meanwhile, I've got Black Mirror to kill the time.
Villain Draft 3: Fourth Place Winner
September 11, 2001; January 6, 2021; February 13, 2021
I LOVE conspiracy theorists. They are like human versions of the cymbal clapping, dancing monkeys. No one takes them all that seriously and they get bored with them after about 10 minutes.
BATMAN, INCORPORATED #12
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
1:25 Variant cover by GRANT MORRISON
1:100 B&W Variant cover by CHRIS BURNHAM
On sale JUNE 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $3.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Leviathan and the Heretic are on the ropes...could Batman be on the verge of avenging all he’s lost? This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATMAN #21
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Backup story written by SCOTT SNYDER and JAMES TYNION IV
Art by GREG CAPULLO and DANNY MIKI
Backup story art by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover by GREG CAPULLO
1:25 Variant cover by MIKEL JANIN
1:100 B&W Variant cover by GREG CAPULLO
On sale JUNE 12 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Witness The New 52 origin of The Dark Knight in BATMAN: ZERO YEAR! Twists and turns are around every corner as Bruce Wayne takes the final steps toward his destiny! And in the backup story, learn more about how different Gotham City was at this dangerous point in time.
TALON #9
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
1:25 B&W Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale JUNE 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
In the aftermath of his encounter with Strix and the Birds of Prey (continuing from this month’s BIRDS OF PREY #21), Calvin is sent on his deadliest mission yet: Retrieve one man from the deadliest island on Earth, Santa Prisca, the home of Bane!
BATMAN AND BATGIRL #21
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale JUNE 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
What deal would you make to bring someone back from the dead? And in this issue, it’s Batman vs. Batgirl!
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #21
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by ETHAN VAN SCIVER
On sale JUNE 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
The grand finale to the origin of The Mad Hatter is here as Batman’s quest for vengeance reaches its conclusion.
DETECTIVE COMICS #21
Written by JOHN LAYMAN
Art by SCOT EATON
Backup story art by ANDY CLARKE
Cover by JASON FABOK
1:25 B&W Variant cover by JASON FABOK
On sale JUNE 5 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Harper Row joins Batman on a case that leads all the way back to DETECTIVE COMICS #0, but will The Dark Knight be willing to accept her help? Illustrated by guest-artist Scot Eaton!
This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.
BATWOMAN #21
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art by FRANCISCO FRANCAVILLA
Cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
1:25 B&W Variant cover by J.H. WILLIAMS III
On sale JUNE 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for more information.
In the aftermath of the Medusa ordeal, Killer Croc is rescued by a mysterious cult...but what connection do they have with Batwoman, and why do they need to see her die?
CATWOMAN #21
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL and JORDI TARRAGONA
Cover by TERRY DODSON and RACHEL DODSON
On sale JUNE 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Following the events of the CATWOMAN ANNUAL, Catwoman and the Penguin declare war on each other—and Gotham City is set to burn in their wake!
BATWING #21
Written by JUSTIN GRAY and JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
On sale JUNE 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Caught in the jaws of Lion-Mane—who is the NEW Batwing?
BIRDS OF PREY #21
Written by CHRISTY MARX
Art and cover by ROMANO MOLENAAR and VICENTE CIFUENTES
On sale JUNE 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The Birds are forced to work with Calvin Rose in order to protect one of their own in this confrontation that continues in this month’s TALON #9!
BATGIRL #21
Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and JONATHAN GLAPION
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale JUNE 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batgirl’s chilling battle against the new Ventriloquist continues—but has Barbara gone too far? How can she carry on as Batgirl? What choices will she make, and how will her new, decidedly deadly admirer affect her decision?
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #21
Written by JAMES TYNION IV
Art by JULIUS GOPEZ
Cover by AL BARRIONUEVA
On sale JUNE 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
There is a bounty on the heads of the Outlaws, and Jason can’t remember what he did to cause it.
NIGHTWING #21
Written by KYLE HIGGINS
Art by BRETT BOOTH and NORM RAPMUND
On sale JUNE 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Desperate to find a ghost from his past, Nightwing turns to The Prankster for help, unaware that they are both targets of The Mask Killer!
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