Batman: Earth One

[aeka]

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!













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/

Comments

[omgwtflolbbqbye]

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.

[shadowpsykie]

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

[shadowpsykie]

ah never mind i miss saw that page

[kd_the_movie]

If they're going to really stress (and extend) Alfred's military service, I really hope they're recasting him as a more of a bodyguard/security chief role for the Waynes instead of just "British Butler" cuz this guy looks like he was the most badass Sergeant Major of all time.

[darkknightjrk]

You know, I think I can see them going in that direction--looking at how the preview pages are done, Alfred is wearing normal clothes, and he looks just as distraught and pained as Bruce. Maybe he was the Wayne bodyguard and he's in a similar pain to Bruce, because he failed to protect his employers?

[omgwtflolbbqbye]

I really liked Dini's revision to the modern continuity in Streets of Gotham which showed Alfred was Thomas's chauffeur AND bodyguard (basically Kato from Green Hornet).

Has modern Alfred ever been giving a substantial origin, I mean more than the brief glimpse and occasional summaries over the years? Its feels like one of the great untold stories of the Batman mythos.

[darkknightjrk]

"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.

[darkknightjrk]

Not to my knowledge--but it is such a missed opportunity. I mean, if Penguin can get a mini, why can't Alfred?

[darkknightjrk]

"I just couldn't buy into the idea of Clark Kent being a dark and broody character."

I don't think "broody" is the right word, but I'd definitely disagree on "dark." It's definitely a more introspective and conflicted take--this is a young man who's trying to decide what he wants to do with his life, which is even harder to decide when he's a person who can basically do anything because of his abilities.

It just doesn't sound accurate to call him that--it seems like sometimes the only way a character won't be called dark and brooding is if he's wisecracking like Deadpool.

[moetushie]

Alfred looks like an elderly Paul Newman, I am intrigued despite myself.

[omgwtflolbbqbye]

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.

[omgwtflolbbqbye]

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.

[kd_the_movie]

I agree that it was refreshing to display a more conflicted, introspective Clark.

But I fucking hated that he essentially was pressured into being Superman. And only IMO donned the costume out of obligation.

[darkknightjrk]

I don't think he was pressured or that he did it out of obligation. Martha tells Clark that she agreed with Jonathon about being Superman, but she also tells him she would be proud of him no matter what he does. And I don't see him becoming Superman out of obligation so much as him finding out it's the only way to help people in this situation.

[filthysize]

Wow, I love the look of young Alfred. I feel like I get the take just by looking at those pages. Looks like someone out of an Alan Clarke movie.

[twomasks]

Alfred looks like Sam Elliott in that character sketch. I can accept that.

[eyz]

Oh...
:/

Personally, before a story grabs my attentions, it's the characters than need to do so. (and even for movies, games...no matter how good people say something is, I need to like/find a likeable character)

So I guess I have the same opinion about Supes: Earth One. (though I might give a shot to its sequel this year..)

And I don't really like much this Alfred... blah... so...unAlfred-y...

[thatnickguy]

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.

[thatnickguy]

Overall, I wasn't crazy about Superman: Earth One. I think it had some good ideas but the execution was incredibly poor for the most part. I especially wasn't crazy about the VERY generic villain. Great art, not so great story.

This...so far, to be honest, I'm intrigued. It's still not an immediate buy for me, but it's got me interested enough to watch for it a little closer.

[runespoor]

I think it looks interesting. Anything that riffs on Bruce pre-Batman years, main continuity or not, is relevant to my interests. Except Nolan's version, which is only interesting to me as a contrast.

I like that Alfred, here, is less repressed about his reactions and emotions than he is in main continuity. That interests me.

On the other hand: Geoff Johns writing Bruce.

[espanolbot]

Tonight! Sean Connery in the role that his friend Michael Caine made more famous!

[wizardru]

On the one hand, an alternate reality Batman reboot is hardly anything new. I mean, in my life I've seen Batman redefined and restarted and alternate realitied (I'm making it a word) many, MANY times. Heck, even in other media, you've got the continuity of the rocksteady games, the Nolan movies and Brave and the Bold....and that's just in the last 5 years. So the impact of an Earth-One Batman series is pretty blunted, especially as it's written by someone who's already writing 'regular' Batman.

On the other hand, I love Gary Frank and particularly this interpretation of Alfred. This really could be a fresh new approach and I'm eager to see how it looks. While there have been many versions, I think there's always room for new takes on the characters...and this one looks like it might be willing to try some really different stuff with the setup.

[mrstatham]

In the current, Bizarro-Silver Wildstorm Age DCnU, we'd probably get an origin where Alfred is part of British Intelligence and used to run around with a codename like The Outsider, to make a slightly cute yet obnoxious nod to the past DC's current writers don't entirely get.

[mrstatham]

To me, the main problem is Johns. Johns has shown in the past that he doesn't get Batman at all and prefers to show Batman up in favour of Hal and others. I don't want to know what Johns is going to do to make Batman a character he can actually write, but I'm guessing it involves nondescript generic heroism and general blandness all round, plus the occasional fist-pumping badass line when Batman/Hal/Whothefuckever slams someone in the face.

[runespoor]

This.