Batman #21 - Zero Year Pt. 1 Review
Rating:
Zero Year is off to a tremendous start. Not only do Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo come blasting out of the gate at full speed, but they obliterate any lingering doubts in their wake. Those who were apprehensive to another Batman origin can go ahead and put those reseverations to rest, because Zero Year is a totally unique Batman experience unlike anything thats been done before. Its paradoxically unlike Year One, but enough like what audiences have come to expect from the caped crusader to prevent them from crying sacrilege. There is so much that happens in this issue that its hard to really know where to begin. It might take a couple of readings to catch everything, but after you put this book down you will probably be eager to pick it right back up. Not only does the book contain the story about Bruce Wayne facing his first real battle after returning to Gotham, but it also has a lot of little references to various items of the Batman lore to make readers salivate. The light post on Crime Alley, the giant coin that will eventually adorn the Batcave, and the brilliant use of an old hat that belonged to Thomas Wayne as the origin of Robins iconic R symbol all add up to show that Snyder is expanding upon the Batman backstory in an incredible way. 
Bruce has returned to Gotham to wage his war on crime and prevent innocent people from suffering. He has even set up his base of operations on Crime Alley to serve as a constant reminder and motivation. However, while he was gone he was declared legally dead, and he insists to Alfred that he is going to stay that way. His motives for wanting Gotham to not know that he is alive and back in town are never really fleshed out, but expect something to change in future issues because we all know that Bruce Wayne is a prominent figure in Gotham City. Its likely that Snyder is writing Bruce to be aware of the fact that reappearing in Gotham in tremendous shape at the same time that a new vigilante is sweeping up the streets makes it pretty obvious whos behind the mask. The middle of the issue shows that he has no problem bringing a readers perception of the title into the story, and nowhere is this more apparent than when Phillip Kane explains to his nephew Bruce that The city has always had a hard time trusting the Kanes. Weve had more than our share of scandal and controversy, mirroring the sentiment of many regarding the accuracy of Batman created by Bob Kane. 
-->Snyder had said that Bruce becomes Batman pretty early on in this story, and he wasnt lying. While the majority of the story in this issue is an expansion of what we saw from Batman #0 with the Red Hood gang, and Bruces various facial masks, within the first couple of pages there is a huge panel of a fledgling Batman. The cowl is present, but no cape or gadgets. Its just Bruce on a dirt bike in military style clothing with his belt, and a lot of extra gear similar to his first outing into the night in Batman Begins.
Remember during Death of the Family when Snyder had said that he wanted to do a Riddler arc in the future? Then he mentioned how he was working on his most ambitious Batman story to date? A lot of people had assumed that the Riddler arc was being shelved until after Zero Year wraps in a year, but nope! Not only is this Snyders big and ambitious arc, not only is this the New 52 origin tale of the Dark Knight, but this is also the Riddler arc.
The reveal towards the end not only sets up an early villain (duration of conflict still to be seen), but also shows the size and scope of the story that Snyder is about to tell. The single panel of the Riddlers iconic staff as the mystery unfolds that Bruces uncle Phillip is secretly planning to betray him, to the almost-splash page of Edward Nygma in all of his brilliance/madness, shows that a LOT is going to be uncovered in this arc. Well see Nygma become the Riddler, and why, well see a conspiracy unfold that could be as grandiose as the Court of Owls and well see Bruce tackling a series of ordeals to expand the story of his training both in the main story and backup features.
So how does Zero Year stack up to Year One? While its entirely too early to tell if Snyders origin will eventually hold the same kind of importance to the mythology of Batman, what can be said is that its shaping up to be just as good. Zero Year is going to be a huge, year long, eleven issue arc, and if it can maintain the momentum of the first issue then the next year is going to be something very special.