Shortly before The Dark Knight Rises closed the chapter on director Christopher Nolans’ cinematic take on Batman, DC Comics released the hardcover original graphic novel Batman: Earth One (2012) written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Gary Frank.

Johns, protege to Superman: The Movie’s Richard Donner, became famous for his Green Lantern, JSA and The Flash runs before becoming DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer. The Blackest Night scribe also is the link between comics and movies across the lot at Warner Bros., consulting on everything from Green Lantern to Batman v. Superman and down to the successful Flash and Arrow programs on CW.

Gary Frank, artist for Batman: Earth One drew an uncanny Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman in 2009’s pre-Flashpoint Superman: Secret Origin. While many artists have taken on the iconic DC heroes, Frank’s style rises to the top as a modern master.

Batman: Earth One Volume 2 featuring the same creative team was released earlier this month.

Batman: Earth One Volumes 1 & 2 are out of the current DC continuities as we know it, are perhaps meant as chain bookstore (mass market) sellers but the two great hardcovers make great gifts for Batman fans of varied interest levels. Everyone from the enthusiastic FOG! crowd to your more causal The Dark Knight Trilogy or Gotham tv series fans will get lost in this version of the Caped Crusader.

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Batman has once again had his origin and motivations realigned for a modern audience. Geoff Johns (DC Comics Chief Creative Officer) and frequent partner Gary Frank deliver a new classic Batman tale that is sure to fit on your self next to classic stories from Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns and Year One or Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s twisted The Killing Joke. Yes, Batman Earth One is on that level.

As we chant and wait for Dark Knight Rises to hit the screen later this month, DC Comics has strategically timed this second Earth One hardcover graphic novel to prove that there are no limits to different creative teams delivering their take on our favorite heroes and icons.

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EARTH PRIME TIME: BATMAN EARTH ONE by clay-fernald