THE DARK KNIGHT #0

[ BAT BARGAINS ] 

Have you ever met the lone gun-man Joe Chill? He looks like a criminal that comes from Brazil. OK, I could be mistaken. He might be Croatian. Or quite possibly an ambassador of good will. NOT! According to Writer: Gregg Hurwitz; Artists: Mico Suayan and Juan Jose Ryp; plus Publisher: DC Comics in October 2012. Well, I think so anyway.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Could you imagine what it must feel like for a young Bruce Wayne in this issue called 'Chill in the Air'? His parents have just been murdered you see, and in haste to figure out who has committed this evil deed, he returns to the scene of the crime a day after this grizzly event transpired.

• However, I'm afraid to say that the only thing he finds is a glassy-eyed hobo who witnessed his parent's demise.
• But do you think this vagrant is willing to give Bruce some information to further his personal crusade?  Or does he do the opposite in fact; and steal Bruce's watch which was given to him by his now deceased Father?
• Yes. He steels the watch. 
• Don't worry though, after Bruce has a conversation with an old family friend, for the next few years he decides to focus his mind and his spirit in both academia and fitness, so he can return to 'crime alley' and get what he originally came for.
• Well, in a manner of speaking Bruce does. Even though drunken gun-man, Joe Chill, can't really say the same thing in retrospect.

A beginning...

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I did like reading Bruce's opening monologue, because this circular narrative just clarified what his state of mind was like prior to starting his adventure. Particularly...

'We know where it starts. The patter of pearls on asphalt. The soundtrack to my nightmare. We know where it starts... but do we know where it ends?'.

And it sounds very ominous too, doesn't it?

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

One of the best things about this tale was that it was told from Bruce's perspective at the time it was happening to him. Normally with this type of story is inserted into a flash-back sequence or something similar. Thankfully, Gregg took a note of this fact, and hit one home with a very personal and touching parable which was very pleasing to follow.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

My only gripe with this story is all to do with continuity. You see, if this yarn is the 'updated version' of Bruce's confrontation with Joe Chill, it negates his confrontation with him in 'Batman: Year Two' and Joe's son in 'Batman: Full Circle'.

Boy-oh-boy! That's a shame. Both of these were really great stories.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: Unlike the previous conclusion to the Joe Chill / Bruce Wayne face-off, I did like the fact that Joe could still be alive today, and turn up soon in the Bat-Universe. Also, another thing that has intrigued me quite a bit, was that old 'stock room attendant' Bruce spoke to prior to him turning to academia. Well, he did present another 'perspective' on the 'Rise of the Wayne Empire' which wasn't as rose colored as Bruce's.

ART: Two people did the art chores on this book and I hardly even noticed! Wow! Good on you Mico Suayan and Juan Jose Ryp. Not only do your names sound funny coming from my mouth, but you've impressed me with a uniform and earthy style that is one-half Scott Kolins and one-half stilted Jerry Ordway. Bravo. Hope to see you both soon, because I like it when artist's wares enhance and not detract.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

JOE CHILL: In this installment of casting call, I'm going to cast these characters as if they were vegetables. Honestly, I've always seen gun-man Joe as a bit of a radish myself...

CLANCY: ... where as this glass-eyed yokel has to be a cabbage. Not only in appearance, but I'm sure in smell as well.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

To Find His Parent's Murderer, A Young Bruce Wayne Is Prepared To Go To School. OHHHH NOOOOO!!!!!

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

Conceptually this story is about a young orphan who wants to find his parent's killer, right? So why not compare it to the film 'Spiderman'.

Alright, I know that I could have compared it to 'Batman Begins'. But I thought that would be too obvious, OK?

FINAL thoughts...

So far I've been fairly pleased with most of the Bat-book's in zero month. Granted, here and there, their have been a number of slight continuity glitches and general gaffs, making many a fan-boy and fan-girl pissed off like no-bodies business. Still, by in large it hasn't been that bad really. Because in a strange way this 'event' reminds me of the feeling I got when I took two exams, and only had two left before I finally finished.

Slightly nervous -- slightly relaxed -- slightly relived -- and slightly tepid.   

MARKS out of 10? 9