Batman: Year One

graphic novel

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July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Batman: Year One is a 1987 graphic novel by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli that retells the origin story of Batman. It details Bruce Wayne's early days as a crime fighter in Gotham City and his first year operating as Batman. The story also focuses on the early career of Lieutenant James Gordon as he joins the Gotham City Police Department and attempts to clean up the city's corruption.12

The graphic novel is noted for its gritty realism and its influence on subsequent Batman stories, including Christopher Nolan's film Batman Begins. It explores themes of corruption, morality, and the psychological toll of vigilantism.2

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Frank Miller
…it was later collected as Batman: Year One. Other projects during that period included Elektra: Assassin (1986; with artist Bill Sienkiewicz), the mind-bending tale of a resurrected ninja; Give Me Liberty (1990; with artist Dave Gibbons), the tale of a young woman’s heroism in a dystopian world; and Hard Boiled…
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…it was later collected as Batman: Year One. Other projects during that period included Elektra: Assassin (1986; with artist Bill Sienkiewicz), the mind-bending tale of a resurrected ninja; Give Me Liberty (1990; with artist Dave Gibbons), the tale of a young woman’s heroism in a dystopian world; and Hard Boiled…
Read More