Holy source material for The Batman, Batman! Today we're looking at Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's four-issue masterpiece. Batman: Year One exploits all of the advantages of the comic book medium to tell a tense, efficient, ambiguous, and unfailingly human story about the origins of Batman and Jim Gordon - without using any of the classic villains. Instead, the action is propelled by institutional corruption and a thousand gorgeous echoes across storylines. Topics include: structural proficiency and the visual passage of time, Miller's talent for inner monologues and their similarities to Shakespearean verse, characterization through both action and reluctance, and the subtle work of deconstructing "heroes" while still crafting an aspirational story.

Feedback & Theories: [email protected]

Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod