Cover: David Mazzucchelli

Absolute Batman: Year One #1

Jan 2017 · DC · [none]

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About this Collection

This deluxe hardcover collects the seminal 1987 origin story Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, presented in the oversized Absolute format. The tale redefines Bruce Wayne's first year as Batman, focusing on his gritty, realistic war on crime in Gotham City alongside Lieutenant James Gordon, who faces his own moral battles against a corrupt police force. Key characters include Alfred Pennyworth, Selina Kyle, and Commissioner Loeb, with the story laying the foundation for modern Batman lore.

In "Chapter One: Who I Am How I Came to Be," a young Bruce Wayne and a determined Jim Gordon arrive in Gotham, each driven by a personal mission that will soon intersect. Bruce tests his training in a brutal street fight that leaves him wounded, only to find unexpected clarity when a bat bursts through his window. Frank Miller’s gripping narrative, rendered with iconic precision by David Mazzucchelli and colored by Richmond Lewis, captures the raw beginnings of two figures destined to shape the city’s dark legacy—cover by David Mazzucchelli.

Contains 4 stories

Chapter One: Who I Am How I Came to Be

22 pp · Superhero

Lieutenant Arnold Flass (introduction)Stan the Pimp (introduction)Jackie (introduction)Morgan (introduction)Skunk (introduction)Tom (introduction)

In "Chapter One: Who I Am How I Came to Be" from *Absolute Batman: Year One #1*, Bruce Wayne arrives in Gotham seeking purpose, only to face a brutal street fight that leaves him wounded and questioning his path. Meanwhile, Jim Gordon steps into a corrupt GCPD, learning the hard way that change doesn’t come easy in a city that resists it. When a bat suddenly cuts through his window, Bruce finds a moment of clarity that could define everything to come.

Chapter Two: War Is Declared

22 pp · Superhero

Detective Arnold Flass

In "Chapter Two: War Is Declared" from Absolute Batman: Year One #1, Bruce Wayne steps into the shadows as Batman, determined to cleanse Gotham of its corruption. As he targets the city’s most powerful officials, the police are ordered to stop him—turning the streets into a battleground between vigilante and authority.

Chapter Three: Black Dawn

22 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Lieutenant James GordonDetective Sarah EssenCatwoman [Selina Kyle] (1st in Modern Age costume)HollyCommissioner Gill LoebBarbara Gordon (James' pregnant wife)

In "Chapter Three: Black Dawn" from Absolute Batman: Year One #1, Batman finds himself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the Gotham City Police, who are determined to bring him in. With the city's forces closing in, he must rely on every skill and instinct he's honed to slip through their net—before the night turns even darker.

Chapter Four: Friend in Need

24 pp · Superhero

Batman [Bruce Wayne]Alfred PennyworthCatwoman [Selina Kyle]Lieutenant James GordonDetective Sarah EssenHollyThe Roman (villain)Harvey Dent (assistant district attorney)Jefferson SkeeversDetective FlassCommissioner Gill LoebBarbara Gordon (James' pregnant wife)