This sounds AWESOME!
Starting next year (2010), DC Comics will unveil BATMAN: EARTH ONE -- a graphic novel focusing on The Dark Knight's first years and earliest moments retold in a standalone, original graphic novel format, on a new earth with an all-new continuity. According to DC's THE SOURCE, "Watch from the darkest corners of Crime Alley as a young boy is struck by unbelievable tragedy that will forge the greatest crime-fighter to ever stalk the rooftops of Gotham City in BATMAN: EARTH ONE, by writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank."
Here's an early look at this new DCU's Batman/Bruce Wayne and Alfred (click HERE or on the images to enlarge):
Here's a few blurbs from writer Geoff Johns about the project from his interview with AICN:
So what is BATMAN: EARTH ONE all about?
GEOFF JOHNS (GJ): "BATMAN: EARTH ONE is more in line with the European idea of releasing chapters of an ongoing series in graphic novel form. We’re planning on doing two novels a year and set in this new universe, we’re getting unlimited creative freedom that we couldn’t have in current continuity. When Dan Didio asked if Gary and I would be interested in something like this we were onboard immediately. We’re taking on Batman, and the world around him, and rebuilding it from the ground up."
How do you make an iconic origin like Batman's fresh and different than previous takes on the story?
GJ: "Our Batman is a decidedly different Batman yet it is, of course, Bruce Wayne. I want to let the book will speak for itself, but Batman, Alfred, Detective Gordon, Arkham Manor, the twisted origin behind Gotham City, the Bat-Mobile and, of course, the world’s greatest group of villains are all a part of the world we’re creating. Some of it the characters will more closely resemble the classic interpretations while others will be wildly different. We’re introducing a lot of new characters and elements to this Batman."
For more details, visit DC's THE SOURCE and AICN. Man, I'm looking forward to this!
