scans_daily: Batman: Earth One

Diane Darcy (

aeka) wrote in

scans_daily,
@ 2012-01-05 06:54 pm UTC

Entry tags:

char: alfred pennyworth, char: batman/bruce wayne, creator: gary frank, creator: geoff johns, title: batman: earth one

Batman: Earth One

DC released pages from the upcoming Batman: Earth One graphic novel which comes out this year, and aside from Alfred looking like a Ra's Al Ghul type guy, this actually looks pretty good. I may actually have to get this one! It's also good to know that DC is planning on using their multiverse for out of continuity stories (which at the moment, look like they might be better stories than most of the current New 52 line).

On that note, I tried reading Superman: Earth One (which has a sequel coming out this year as well I believe) a while back, but I just couldn't buy into the idea of Clark Kent being a dark and broody character. Sorry DC but the whole 'being Bruce Wayne' thing only works best on Bruce Wayne. In my opinion, Clark Kent is a better character when he is the polar opposite of Bruce in that--despite being an alien--he's actually much more in touch with humanity, is more optimistic, and identifies 'Clark Kent' as his real self rather than Superman. We'll see what they do with the sequel, then maybe I'll give it another shot.

Anyways, enough babble on my end, on with the preview pages!

Reload Image

Gotta say, Bruce is looking pretty good in these pages. Not sure about muscular tattoo-sporting, pipe-smoking Alfred though.

For more info: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/01/05/batman-earth-one-preview-geoff-johns-gary-frank/

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omgwtflolbbqbye
2012-01-06 01:01 am UTC (link)

We all know Alfred is a secret/undercover-badass in other continuities, so having him look overtly badass feels less nuanced, but the revelation that this version of Bruce "never left Gotham" before becoming Batman makes me think that this Alfred will be portrayed as his principle mentor/trainer/sensei.

I wonder if we'll even get a Jim Gordon cause he pretty much looks like he's filling in that role in the third page.

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	no subject shadowpsykie 2012-01-06 01:40 am UTC (link)
	one of the pages also shows bruce and Jim together... it makes me think Jim knows who he is and is training him in the "detective" aspect of the job (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent) (Thread) (Hide 2 comments) (Show 2 comments)

	no subject shadowpsykie 2012-01-06 01:42 am UTC (link)
	ah never mind i miss saw that page (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

	no subject thatnickguy 2012-01-06 10:02 am UTC (link)
	Really? So in that case, Jim would know from the start who Batman is? And is partly responsible for his creation? I'm...oddly okay with that change. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

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darkknightjrk
2012-01-06 02:09 am UTC (link)

"so having him look overtly badass feels less nuanced"

You know, when I first saw that design for Alfred, I was struck by how different and interesting that is, making him actually look more like someone who was in, say, the RAF. But I can see your point that it's even cooler when he looks like a stereotypical butler, and yet if you go past the thin mustache and the tux he's still a dangerous spy.

I think it's something that might sting a little bit if it was tried in the regular continuity, but in this different world, or maybe in other interpretations or outside media? I think it works.

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omgwtflolbbqbye
2012-01-06 02:23 am UTC (link)

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally digging Earth-One Alfred's design, it's actually the thing that made me genuinely interested in this project since it was announced way back when.

But I generally prefer the subversiveness of the refined Alfred since it allows for more kinds of gags and surprises (cue for someone to post the classic Batman Adventures story where Alfred gets kidnapped).

On the other hand though this Alfred does exude a type of 'badassness' that can make him stand out even more from traditional Alfred. Traditional Alfred gives the impression of an ex-James Bond kind of spy who retired and is already well-versed in the sneakier stealthy aspects of the Batman operation . This Alfred looks like a straight-up brute who probably left the military after an injury during a crazy heroic mission and is already well-versed in the brute force operations that that is also part of the Batman operation.

I also wonder if he might share some similarities with Michael Caine's Alfred in the Nolan-verse, who is more casual and doesn't have the traditional Alfred's posh mannerism and speech.

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	no subject omgwtflolbbqbye 2012-01-06 02:25 am UTC (link)
	Hmm.... now that I'm concentrating on the cane he has, I wonder if the injury that he suffered is actually from Thomas and Martha's murder, trying to defend them but failing. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

	no subject leoboiko 2012-01-06 04:08 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, I could buy an Alfred who is now a refined old gentleman but who has a history as a baddas British boxer or something; but this one is less interesting due to being too overt. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent) (Thread) (Hide 1 comment) (Show 1 comment)

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omgwtflolbbqbye
2012-01-06 08:44 pm UTC (link)

It would be great if Alfred used to be a Bronson-type deranged asbo who was taken in by some stern English aristocrats and remolded into a proper gentleman's gentleman through song and dance ala "My Fair Lady".

And maybe he'd have a torrid romance with a fellow caretaker who had a penchant for singing and floating around on an umbrella, but he'd leave England after she runs off with some chimneysweeper with horrible enunciation problems.

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