5. The Innovation
Everybody knows Batman's origin, everybody knows how Bruce Wayne becomes the Dark Knight, it's a story told many times in multiple mediums. Often with little to no deviation from an established canonical framework. In fact, one might view having to write the transition from millionaire playboy to ruthless vigilante as a burden and a chore, something which would no doubt leak into the narrative. Snyder does the opposite, he takes Year One, Batman Begins, Detective Comics #33, Batman #47, in fact nearly a century's worth of narrative and turns it on its' head. Writing with such a passion and pushing the envelope of established canon almost to breaking point to create something so unique it begs you to read on. Innovation is not just something limited to the writing either. Capullo's artwork, already refreshingly unique, accentuates the idea of taking established lore and manipulating it just enough to make it engaging but also relevant. One need only look at the design of the new, or is that old, Batsuit or the conceptual and thematic execution of the Red Hood Gang to see Capullo's unique talents at work. Whereas Year One was about political corruption and social inequality, Zero Year deals with ideas of more modern and relevant ideas of moral apathy, hi tech terrorism, and the engagement in criminal activities just to break an existential boredom. Notions which perhaps lead too corruption and social economic inequality and a situation not unlike that presented in Year One but are here brought into tight focus as individual acts of transgression. This in turn makes Bruce's actions not just a simple moral reaction to flawed world, but the consummate transgression. Whereas the Red Hood Gang, or in particular their leader, and Edward Nygma seek to push boundaries and assert their dominance of the world; Bruce's initial attempts at fighting crime and his inevitable donning of the mantle utterly change the state of the game throwing everything up in the air. In fact one could argue that this incarnation of Bruce may well be playing a psychological game of chicken with everyone who crosses his path. Interestingly though, in either guise, he seems to either dazzle them as he meters out justice or unwaveringly stares them down daring them to run with rather than out or just plain stop him. Past permutations of Batman's early career have always stressed the stealthier, more subtle martial arts type aspects. opting for a gritty realism. Snyder's writing coupled with Capullo's art gives us a brave, bold, bachelor's brazen cry to a world that although it has spawned him is completely unprepared for him. Astounding events presented with a certain sleek finesse. Perhaps it's better if I explain it like this?The new Batmobile is a prime example of this idea. She looks unlike anything we've seen before, yet she evokes an amalgamation of many classic and modern aesthetics whilst remaining somewhat believable. That is until she does something I and the pursuing police still don't quite fully understand yet, but damn if I don't want to see what happens next.