Batman: Year One

The 1987 graphic novel was written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli. It was originally serialized in issues #404 through #407 of the main Batman comic book series. Their collaboration is widely credited with permanently redefining the gritty, noir-inspired aesthetic of the Batman mythos.

Unlike many superhero stories, the plot focuses much more on street-level crime and corruption rather than colorful supervillains. The primary antagonist is Gotham City's corrupt police force, though Carmine Falcone is featured heavily as a mob boss. Catwoman (Selina Kyle) is introduced early in her career, and a brief cameo is made by the Joker at the end.

The 1987 comic heavily inspired Christopher Nolan's film 'Batman Begins,' particularly the depiction of Carmine Falcone and the corruption within the Gotham police department. Nolan directly adapted scenes, such as Batman using a sonic device to summon bats for a distraction. The realistic, grounded tone of Miller's story served as the blueprint for the Dark Knight trilogy.

While originally published in 1987, the story takes place in the early days of Batman's career, explicitly set in the year 1981. Miller explicitly sets it twelve years before the events of his previous dystopian tale, 'The Dark Knight Returns.' The narrative covers the parallel origin stories of Bruce Wayne and Lieutenant Jim Gordon.