Rating: 
Summary: Over-rated then, Over-rated now
Review: One might thing from the reviews here that Miller's vision is universally acclaimed by comics readers. It is not. From the beginning there were those who found his compulsive need to degrade everything that is noble and heroic in superhero comics as cheap shock tactics. Those critics have increased in number in the 10 years since Dark Knight Returns was published, but they stopped trying to voice their views because the fanatics always shout them down.Until recently, when Miller's criticism of 9-11 tributes "making heroes of all those crying firemen" have put his subversive need to tear down heroes into a different light. It's fairly well understood that Miller and Year One is not suggested reading for children. It is also not recommended for adults with less a nihilistic, and morally bankrupt view of their fellow men.
Rating: 
Summary: Origins of the Bat.
Review: After deconstructing Batman in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and changing the way comics are written in the process, Frank Miller tackled the history of Batman by examining Bruce Wayne's first year as Batman in BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Personally, I enjoyed this novel much more than DKR. Gotham is a gritty place, full of corruption and slime. However, it is redeemable. Lieutenant Gordan (not yet the commissioner) and the new vigillante Batman illustrate that through the work they accomplish. However, though Gordan and Bruce Wayne are heroes, B:Y1 points out that they are only humans too: Gordan has an affair with another officer during his wife's pregnancy and Wayne is almost killed in his first attempt at crime fighting. The book is full of emotion and character and much more humanity than some of Miller's other work, and it makes for great reading.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent, gritty story
Review: This graphic novel goes back in time to before Gordon was a commisoner, and before Bruce Wayne was Batman. This is a well told and cleanly illustrated story which brings a lot of new sympathy and insight to Gordon's character (at least in my opinon). Selina (Catwoman) is also present. A good overall Batman story, as told from the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: Year One is the book
Review: Batman: Year One is honestly one of the best comics I have ever read. The script was written beautifully, and the subtle yet extremely fitting art work helps bring this dark story to life. This is a story of two men, Bruce Wayne and James Gordon, comming to grips with the harsh reality of Gotham City, and working out how they can handle the city's crime. One of the best aspects of this story, is that it is not an obscure tale of some powerful beings. These two men are real, they feel pain, they feel anger, and they feel scared... and you feel it right with them. There are some very memorable scenes in this book, and visions of the Dark Knight that I go back to re-read over and over again. This book is more than worth the purchase, even for a first time reader.
Rating:
Summary: A prequel to DARK KNIGHT, gordon steals the show
Review: Another example of a great comic book that definately isn't for kids. After the success of DARK KNIGHT we saw the sequel BATMAN YEAR ONE. I remember this one flying off the shelves at the comic store when the issues came out. We see a two new arrivals in Gotham. One a police lieutenant with a bit of a past who finds corruption rampart in the force and a fellow officer who he falls for creating corruption in his marriage. We also find a rich playboy who thinks he is ready to begin his revenge on the underworld for the lives of his parents, starting with the corrupt police force. Several things in the Batman mythos are re-written. Gordon is a thirty something cop, Selina Kyle is a hooker instead of a jewel thief, it is a darker and gritter story, more in the genre of the Japaneese style of comics for adults. Considering the direction Miller took daredevil it is no big shock. It was the second step on the road to comics no longer being something for kids. It was a great story, and a fine plot. The artwork was done well, the style fit the story well, but save it for when the kids hit 15.
Rating:
Summary: the comic book equivalent of great art
Review: this, along with "the dark knight returns" and "the killing joke", is not only one of the best batman stories ever written, but is probably right up there with some of the greatest art and literature ever produced in terms of profundity and reflection on the human condition and the problem of evil. bruce wayne, a tormented and obsessed man, struggles to find a way to put 'sense' back into his life after an unimaginably traumatizing event in his childhood--the gunning down of his parents by a two-bit mugger, with young bruce as the only witness. this horrendous crime and the dark shadow of absurdity and senselessness it casts over his existence forces him to become an avenger of sorts, a vigilante who, while knowing his task to be impossible, has no basic choice but to become a one man war on crime, using his inheritance and his willpower to become batman. this is a beautiful, haunting read and no batman devotee will ever forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Better than The Dark Knight Returns
Review: I am not an avid comic book reader but I have just started to get into graphic novels. I started with The Dark Knight Returns and was disappointed - I thought it was way too hyped. I understand and appreciate it's impact on how comic books are written, but I just didn't enjoy it. However, I loved Batman: Year One. Very dark, very interesting - a great read. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Batman or enjoys superhero movies, but feel stupid reading comic books - trust me, it's not what you expect.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommend this one!
Review: For all the none comic book fans out there, if you pick up only one comic book in your lifetime, make it Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns." However, if you pick up two, make "Batman: Year One" (also by Miller) the other one. Basically, this is a retelling of the earliest days of Bruce Wayne's career as Batman, which neatly parallels then Lieutenant Jim Gordon's earliest days in the Gotham police force, before he becomes comissioner. The artwork in this book is outstanding but what really sets this apart is the storyline. Miller basically with this book and "Dark Knight Returns" completely redefined the Batman mythology, turning Batman from a sometimes campy, sometimes sci-fi-ish character into something gritty, psychological and startlingly real. In fact, Miller has been pegged by Warner Brothers to script the new Batman movies so if you want a glimpse at what may unfold in them, look no further.
Rating:
Summary: This should have been the first Batman Movie
Review: This one is the first year of Batman's career. He makes a lot of mistakes and has to make friends with the commissioner. Just to survive he has to have someone on the police department who will work with him. The scenes with a young Gordon were the best in the book. I wish that Miller had done a series about his career with the art by Mazzuccelli. It shows how he coped with the stress of running a department and not crossing the line and obeying your conscience. I wish that there was a sequel written by Miller with year 2. If memory serves it was done by another writer/artist team. I just hope the Dark Knight Strikes Back is just as good as Batman Year One and the Dark Knight.
Rating:
Summary: Great!!!!!!!!
Review: This book is a split story. One-half Bruce Wayne developing his fighting skills into the Batman, and One-half Lt. James Gordon trying to deal with corruption on the force, while trying to hunt down Batman for his vigilantism. A great, self-contained, story.
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