Steve Long 
Steve takes a detour to Gotham City to check out DC’s BATMAN: THE KNIGHT by Chip Zdarsky
Ready to take a journey with Bruce Wayne on his way to becoming the Dark Knight? Well, do I have a book for you!
Okay, I have to confess that I love a good origin story in my comic books. And of course, I like Batman comics. One of my favorite Batman books has always been Batman: Year One by Frank Miller. However, a newcomer (sort of) has risen to the occasion and could very well be my new favorite origin story. That story is Batman: The Knight by Chip Zdarsky.
RISE OF THE DARK KNIGHT
While Batman: Year One gives us a story about (as the title suggests) Batman’s first year in the cape and the cowl, The Knight gives us a very different approach. This story is about how Bruce Wayne started as a young child who witnessed his parents being murdered right before his eyes and became the Dark Knight. It gives us some insight into his grammar school days and moves on to his travels around the world; seeking out the best of the best to train him into what he will eventually become.
This book adds to the already rich history of a character that we all know and love. It takes us on the path to Bruce making himself the best he can possibly be and gives us further insight into the code that he refuses to abandon. In this story we see Bruce train, make some new friends and of course, make some new enemies. In this chronicle of Batman’s early life, we see a lot of globetrotting. The story starts, obviously, in Gotham but then takes Bruce to Paris, to North Korea, to Russia, to Canada, to New York, and then eventually to the Middle East. It is here where he first meets and learns from his long-time rival Ra’s al Ghul.
DARK ORIGINS
Writer Zdarksy has done a remarkable job answering the question, how did Batman become Batman? It is not at all a rehash of previous attempts to tell his origins. We get an origin story that is fresh but familiar. One of the things that I like about Zdarsky’s writing, in general, is that he gives the characters a grounded and well-developed feeling. He had an amazing run of Daredevil from 2019 to 2021 and began his run of the main Batman title in July 2022, of which he has been doing a great job of also.
Illustrated beautifully by Carmine Di Giandomenico, the artwork in the book is unique, dynamic, and stunning. The tone of his work matches the story perfectly. Batman: The Knight is the origin story that we never knew we needed.
VERDICT
Whether you are a long-time fan of Batman, or a casual fan interested in learning about his background, I cannot recommend this book enough. Have you read it? If so, what do you think? Leave a comment!
BATMAN: THE KNIGHT is published by DC Comics and is available to buy now. Subscribe to our newsletter at the top of our homepage to stay up-to-date with all the latest DC news and reviews from Future of the Force.
Steve is a fan of Star Wars, punk rock, comic books, and cats. In addition to writing for Future of the Force, he also sings for punk band Get Fired and hosts the podcast Rebel Rock Radio!
