Alfred Archives - Comic Book Critic

Originally announced by DC Comics back in late 2009, Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank is finally being released in 2012! Earth One is an original hardcover graphic novel that retells the Batman legend in a contemporary setting.

Like Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis that was released in 2010, changes some details of the origin and arrival of the Caped Crusader. Some of the changes being that Alfred doesn’t seem to be the frail butler of Bruce Wayne and Batman never left Gotham City in order to train his skills.

DC has also released a few unlettered pages from Batman: Earth One drawn by Gary Frank, which we have on display below.

Jerry Robinson, the legendary comic book artist who is credited with creating Batman’s archenemy The Joker, passed away in his sleep on Wednesday night. He was 89.

Discovered by Batman creator Bob Kane in 1939, Robinson was a 17 year old journalism student at Columbia University when Kane hired him to work on his Batman book as an inker and letterer.

Bob Kane later claimed that he and writer Bill Finger came up with the idea for The Joker, however, most historians credit Jerry Robinson with the creation of the character. Robinson was also influential in the creation or Robin the Boy Wonder, Alfred the butler, and Two-Face.

Batman: Earth One by Geoff Johns & Gary Frank Finally Ships in 2012

Jerry Robinson, a comic book legend, dead at 89