Batman's Most Underrated Adventure is a Stealth Sequel to Year One
One of the most underrated Batman comic book storylines is a stealth sequel to Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One. Set during the early years of the Dark Knight’s career, Batman: Prey (1990) is basically a followup to the iconic retelling of Batman’s origin story. Miller reintroduced central characters in a new light, such as Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon in his humble beginnings as a detective. Writer Doug Moench expands Batman’s relationships with both Catwoman and Gordon, creating a sense of continuity withYear One.
Miller’s reimagining of the Batman mythos in 1987 redefined the character for both longtime fans and new readers, influencing future creators across all storytelling mediums. While Dennis O’Neil had been credited with reinventing the Caped Crusader by emphasizing his role as a detective, much like the earlier Detective Comics and Batman title by Bill Finger, Miller pressed into the grounded, real world approach. Batman had already been favored in contrast to other superheroes in the DC Universe for being particularly human, which allowedYear One to cement that take by rewriting his backstory. After Bruce Wayne returns home from traveling the world, he utilizes his martial arts training by becoming Batman, and quickly builds a friendship with a new detective he trusts, Jim Gordon. By reestablishing the Dark Knight’s roots, Miller provided a fresh foundation for other comic book writers to build upon at the time.
Related: 10 Most Underrated Batman Comic Book Story Arcs
Although it isn’t an official direct sequel to Batman: Year One, Batman: Prey focuses on many of the same elements, depicting Batman with flaws he still needs to work out. It takes place just a few years later in the timeline
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