Year One v. Zero Year: Dawn of the Bat (which was better?)

[ChaosIncarnate]

Year One, it doesn't even come close. I like Scott Snyder, but I don't like how he tries to make every Batman story this big elaborate event. I enjoyed Zero Year for what it was, but I like Year One's backstory and art more. Zero Year feels more like an elseworlds story, where Year One is like the real deal to me.

[Spencermalley935]

I'm gonna have to say Year One because I really love how low-key it is.

I actually do enjoy Zero Year quite a bit though, The latter half is a truly cinema-worthy Riddler story.

[phonogram12]

Year One is probably still one of my all-time fave Batman stories. I actually did really like Zero Year and don't even mind that it upsurped YO as the new origin story, but it could've ended after the first half, IMHO.

[Celgress]

Year One is better, imho.

[MajorHoy]

NOTE: This thread was started back in July 2016.

Which story do you guys prefer as an origin for Batman and why?

With 70 people having already voted,

* Year One = 66 votes


* Zero Year = 4 votes

Nobody had voted for "They both sucked" (so far).

[Batman Begins 2005]

Batman: Year One by far. To me, it's the best Batman story ever.

[MajorHoy]

NOTE: This thread was started back in July 2016.

--------------------

With 74 people having voted,

* Year One = 69 votes
* Zero Year = 4 votes

However,

Nobody had voted for "They both sucked" (so far).

That's now changed.

* They both sucked = 1 vote

[DrewHLMW]

suppose I'll be the odd man out here, I found Year one to be rather dull and boring and no offence to those that enjoy the art but i think its pretty poor especially comapred to Capullo.
I really dont remember much about Year One now since its been 10 years since I read it but i do remember struggling to actually finish the book.

I'll take Zero Year over Year One anyday.

[Multiverse]

I will always prefer "Batman: Year One" as an essential Batman read (though I do consider it more of a James Gordon story, which isn't a critique, more a compliment). I love the establishment of Carmine "The Roman" Falcone, Gordon's face-off with certain corrupt GCPD officials, and Batman's rocky start as a vigilante. My only issue is the origin of Catwoman.

While there are elements of "Zero Year" that I admittedly like (the Red Hood gang; Phillip Kane; and use of Golden age characters like Julie Madison and Dr. Death) I wasn't happy other other aspects of the story (Joker being a mastermind pre-Joker; Batman being already overstuffed with Gadgets; and Bruce's initial dislike towards Gordon); that and it was overlong (12 Issues, plus tie-ins, was too much).


While I'm all for a modernized Batman origin (Year One is about to be 40 years old soon), I would prefer they keep it to a 4-6 issue story.

[MajorHoy]

With 83 people having voted,

* Year One = 75 votes
* Zero Year = 7 votes
* They both sucked = 1 vote

[SixSpeedSamurai]

When people first get into Batman, Year One is at the top of the list of what is recommended reading to them. Zero Year is not on the list. I get the art in Year One is not for everyone, but it fits the gritty tones of the story perfectly.

[exile001]

This pole reminds me that I was very disappointed by the animated version of Year One, but I would still be interested in seeing a Year Zero film (preferably in two parts).

[MajorHoy]

This pole reminds me that I was very disappointed by the animated version of Year One, but I would still be interested in seeing a Year Zero film (preferably in two parts).

That should be "Zero Year", not "Year Zero".

And zero divided by two is zero, so . . .

[MajorHoy]

When I bumped up this poll at the start of this month (October 2021) the poll showed:

. . . With 70 people having already voted,

* Year One = 66 votes
* Zero Year = 4 votes

Nobody had voted for "They both sucked" (so far).

Now, 90 people have voted and we're at:

* Year One = 81 votes (+ 15 votes since October 1st)
* Zero Year = 8 votes (+ 4 votes since October 1st)
* They both sucked = 1 vote (+ 1 vote since October 1st)

[Kaitou D. Kid]

Year One gave us an updated take on Jim Gordon and is one of the best critiques of American Corporatism in comics.

Zero Year is enjoyable but just doesn't compare.