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* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock, at the end of the book.]]
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* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock, at the end of the first book.]]
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* BigDamnHeroes: Alfred's rescue of [[spoiler:Batman]] at the end of the volume.
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* BigDamnHeroes: Alfred's rescue of [[spoiler:Batman]] at the end of the first volume.
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* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Oswald Cobblepot]] is shot and killed by [[spoiler: Alfred]] at the end.
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* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Oswald Cobblepot]] is shot and killed by [[spoiler: Alfred]] at the end.end of the first volume.
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* RealityEnsues: The spin on Harvey Dent's tale in Volume 2: [[spoiler:he gets hit in the face with a molotov cocktail by Sal Maroni, and though he does receive his trademark TwoFaced appearance, he quickly dies of the burn wounds due to their severity]].
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* HonorBeforeReason: Bruce refuses to wear body armour, despite Alfred's constant insistence.
-->'''Batman:''' Do you know what body armour says about a guy? It says that he needs body armour.
-->'''Batman:''' Do you know what body armour says about a guy? It says that he needs body armour.
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* MortonsFork: Riddler tells Batman that he has to solve a riddle. If he doesn't, he'll blow up a train full of people, if he solves it, they live. [[spoiler: He was lying, even when Batman answers correctly, he blew up the train anyway because he never expected Batman to answer correctly]].
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** The Riddler in volume two.
Deleted line(s) 36,37 (click to see context) :
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Oswald Cobblepot]] is shot and killed by [[spoiler: Alfred]] at the end.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Same as above, [[spoiler:Oswald Cobblepot]] discovers Batman's identity right before he gets killed.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Same as above, [[spoiler:Oswald Cobblepot]] discovers Batman's identity right before he gets killed.
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* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Oswald Cobblepot]] is shot and killed by [[spoiler: Alfred]] at the end.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Same as above, [[spoiler:Oswald Cobblepot]] discovers Batman's identity right before he gets killed.
* DeathBySecretIdentity: Same as above, [[spoiler:Oswald Cobblepot]] discovers Batman's identity right before he gets killed.
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* DeathBySecretIdentity: Same as above, [[spoiler:Oswald Cobblepot]] discovers Batman's identity right before he gets killed.
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* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock]] goes crashing through this after he [[spoiler:hits a light in the aforementioned basement]].
ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as fatal bacterial infections will seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.
ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as fatal bacterial infections will seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.
to:
* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock]] goes crashing through this after he [[spoiler:hits a light in the aforementioned basement]].
ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as fatal bacterial infections will seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.basement]].
ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as fatal bacterial infections will seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.
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* ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but in reality is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as serious bacterial infections will constantly seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.
* GoodCopBadCop: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]]
* GoodCopBadCop: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]]
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ArtisticLicenseBiology: Killer Croc tells Batman he suffers from ichthyosis; which is actually a real illness that does cause scaly skin, but is nowhere near as severe as Killer Croc, and even if it were possible, it's extremely unlikely he would survive to adulthood, as fatal bacterial infections will seep into the cracks between the cracked skin.
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* CynicismCatalyst: Harvey Bullock arrives in Gotham, naive and happy, hoping to capitalize on being a detective in the most dangerous city in America. But very soon the city begins to break him as he realizes how deep the corruption and fear run, culminating in him witnessing the [[spoiler: countless rotting corpses of Birthday Boy's victims]].
-->'''Bartender:''' What can I get you, pal?
-->'''Harvey Bullock:''' Whatever's the '''strongest'''.
-->'''Bartender:''' What can I get you, pal?
-->'''Harvey Bullock:''' Whatever's the '''strongest'''.
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* MySiblingWillLiveThroughMe: [[spoiler: The effect of Harvey Dent's last words on Jessica, coupled with the trauma of his death.]]
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* DeconReconSwitch: Gotham is particularly brutal here, with every single institution corrupted. Harvey Dent is being worn down by the corruption, has to campaign in secret, and is no white knight himself. Gordon is basically a dirty cop at the start of the story, his spirit crushed. Batman here is no omni-disciplinary expert, as he's young and you cannot be perfect at fighting, driving, detective work and science. Lethal force is repeatedly encouraged by Alfred, and shown to be a more effective alternative to Bruce's methods.
** BUT Batman still acts as a symbol of hope to Gotham and can cause effective change, while Gordon has his hope restored and begins to train Batman in detective work. Slowly and steadily, Bruce resembles the older and more typical Batman more and more.
** BUT Batman still acts as a symbol of hope to Gotham and can cause effective change, while Gordon has his hope restored and begins to train Batman in detective work. Slowly and steadily, Bruce resembles the older and more typical Batman more and more.
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* AdaptationalHeroism: Killer Croc is a pretty decent guy here, if misunderstood. After being rejected and attacked by a world that judged him for his disfiguring illness, he retreated into the sewers. Chased there by hunters, he pre-emptively attacked any people he encountered. He eventually ends up saving Bruce from the Riddler, and joins Team Batman.
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* BaitAndSwitch: Harvey has gasoline poured on his face and lit, making it appear this is his origin as Two-Face. [[spoiler: But then he dies from his injuries while Jessica presses her face against his, with the trauma causing her to snap and develop a split-personality.]]
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** The girl who stitched up Batman in volume 2 is [[spoiler: Selina Kyle]].
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* SplitPersonality: Two-Face, naturally. [[spoiler: But here it's Jessica, and the new violent personality is 'Harvey'.]]
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-->"''Meow''"
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* YoungerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is younger than him.
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* YoungerAndHipper: As oppsed opposed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is younger than him.
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* AlternateContinuity: Is in its own continuity, separate from the main DC Universe. The Earth-1 in the latest DC Multiverse story, ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', isn't this Earth either. An extra in ''[[ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne Superman: Earth One Volume 2]]'' confirms that both Earth One stories take place in the same universe.
to:
* AlternateContinuity: Is in its own continuity, separate from the main DC Universe. The Earth-1 in the latest DC Multiverse story, ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', isn't this Earth either. An extra in ''[[ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne Superman: Earth One Volume 2]]'' confirms that both Earth One stories take place in the same universe.universe, which was backed up by ''Comicbook/TheMultiversity'' saying that ''all'' Earth One books take place in the same universe, but haven't connected yet.
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* IrislessEyeMaskOfMystery: Rare and notable [[AvertedTrope aversion]] for Batman, as his irises and pupils are drawn clearly in the comic.
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* AdaptationalWimp: The Earth One version of Batman more or less learned everything he knows about fighting from Alfred, having never travelled around the world mastering different forms of martial arts like his mainstream counterpart. It shows when he has trouble fighting off a group of cops, and when he gets caught off guard by the Penguin.
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* YoungerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is young than him.
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* YoungerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is young younger than him.
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* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: Oswald Cobblepot]] is shot and killed by [[spoiler: Alfred]] at the end.
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** Oswald Cobblepot may not be a good-looking man, but he's a damn sight better than the heavyset, and frequently disfigured Penguin of the mainstream comics.
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** Oswald Cobblepot may not be a good-looking man, but he's a damn sight better than the heavyset, and frequently disfigured Penguin of the mainstream comics. This makes sense, as he probably wouldn't have been elected mayor of Gotham with his canon appearance.
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* CompositeCharacter: In this version, Martha Wayne was born Martha ''Arkham'', and she's the Arkham family's last living heir, much like Dr. Jeremiah Arkham in the main series.
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* CompositeCharacter: In this version, Martha Wayne was born Martha ''Arkham'', and she's given she dies as tradition, this makes Batman himself the Arkham family's last living heir, much like Dr. Jeremiah Arkham in the main series.
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* YuongerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is young than him.
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* YuongerAndHipper: YoungerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is young than him.
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* YuongerAndHipper: As oppsed to other versions, where he's older than Bruce, this Lucius Fox is young than him.
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* AlternateContinuity: Is in its own continuity, separate from the main DC Universe. The Earth-1 in the latest DC Multiverse story, ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', isn't this Earth either. Unknown how it relates to ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne''.
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.
to:
* AlternateContinuity: Is in its own continuity, separate from the main DC Universe. The Earth-1 in the latest DC Multiverse story, ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', isn't this Earth either. Unknown how it relates to ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne''.
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.An extra in ''[[ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne Superman: Earth One Volume 2]]'' confirms that both Earth One stories take place in the same universe.
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.
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** Harvey Bullock is a handsome former TV star, instead of an overweight, unshaven wreck.
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** Harvey Bullock is a handsome former TV star, instead of an overweight, unshaven wreck. [[spoiler: Though the ending strongly hints he's going to start rapidly sliding towards his mainstream canon appearance.]]
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* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Alfred is drawn to resemble ChristopherLee and SeanConnery.
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* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Alfred is drawn to resemble ChristopherLee Creator/ChristopherLee and SeanConnery.Creator/SeanConnery.
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* AlternateContinuity: Is in its own continuity, separate from the main DC Universe. The Earth-1 in the latest DC Multiverse story, ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', isn't this Earth either. Unknown how it relates to ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne''.
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* AdaptationalVillainy: Gordon gets hit by this, though reluctantly, and he rejects it by the end. While usually depicted as a resolutely incorruptible police officer, here he has a history of taking payoffs from the mob purely out of fear for his family.
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* SequelHook: [[spoiler:Barbara Gordon is seen drawing a Batgirl costume. The Riddler is seen musing about Batman's secret identity.]]
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* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Alfred is drawn to resemble ChristopherLee and SeanConnery.
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* CorruptPolitician: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way. Bonus points for resembling a Napoleon-sized RichardNixon.
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* CorruptPolitician: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way. Bonus points for resembling a Napoleon-sized RichardNixon.UsefulNotes/RichardNixon.
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Moving to proper Namespace.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_-_earth_one_7180.jpg]]
'''''Batman: Earth One''''' is a 2012 graphic novel from DC written by Creator/GeoffJohns and illustrated by Creator/GaryFrank. The second installment of DC's [[UltimateUniverse "Earth One"]] line after ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne'', it aims to update the story of the Dark Knight for a new generation. The book has been critically acclaimed so far, although Bat-purists are likely to... well, go batty.
[[BroadStrokes You know the basics of the story]]: Young Bruce Wayne sees his parents brutally gunned down in front of his eyes, and devotes his life to fighting crime, aided by his trustworthy butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and the stalwart cop James Gordon... except Alfred isn't really a butler. And James Gordon isn't very stalwart. And Bruce isn't about "fighting crime" so much as he is about "fighting the man who killed his parents": the mayor of Gotham City, Oswald Cobblepot. About the only thing to remain the same is Gotham, which is as much a CrapsackWorld as ever.
----
!!''Batman: Earth One'' provides examples of the following tropes:
* AdaptationalAttractiveness:
** Harvey Bullock is a handsome former TV star, instead of an overweight, unshaven wreck.
** Oswald Cobblepot may not be a good-looking man, but he's a damn sight better than the heavyset, and frequently disfigured Penguin of the mainstream comics.
* AdaptationalBadass:
** Alfred's military background is played up a lot more than it is in most adaptations. In this version, he's a former mercenary who's initially brought on as the Wayne family's bodyguard, only to [[PromotionToParent receive custody of Bruce]] when Thomas Wayne is killed. Though he sarcastically refers to himself as a butler (even though he isn't), he's still very capable in a fight by the time Bruce becomes Batman.
** Oswald Cobblepot as well. He's not terribly formidable in a fight (though he holds his own against Bruce), but the fact that he's the Mayor of Gotham means that he's much more dangerous here than in most other versions.
* AdultFear: The Birthday Boy, [[spoiler:who kidnaps young girls, is implied to cut their throats and then keep their corpses rotting in Arkham Asylum's basement]].
* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock, at the end of the book.]]
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.
* BadassBeard: Alfred Pennyworth. No, really.
* BatterUp: [[spoiler:Bullock]], when he decides to go after [[spoiler:Axe]].
* BattleButler: Played with. Alfred is not a butler, but decides to call himself just that after he takes custody of Bruce. As for the battle part, [[HandicappedBadass well...]]
* BedlamHouse: Averted with the Arkham Mansion, which hasn't yet been converted into an insane asylum at the time of the story (though it's just as nightmarish as ever).
* BigBad: Mayor Oswald Cobblepot for volume one.
* BigDamnHeroes: Alfred's rescue of [[spoiler:Batman]] at the end of the volume.
* BritsWithBattleships: Former Royal Marine Alfred Pennyworth.
* ChekhovMIA: [[spoiler:The 15-year-old girl reported missing, with birthday candles placed at her open window.]] She presumably shows up later as [[spoiler:the Birthday Boy's first in-comic victim]].
* CompositeCharacter: In this version, Martha Wayne was born Martha ''Arkham'', and she's the Arkham family's last living heir, much like Dr. Jeremiah Arkham in the main series.
* CorruptPolitician: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way. Bonus points for resembling a Napoleon-sized RichardNixon.
* DemotedToExtra: Harvey Dent. He is still D.A., but his sister plays more of a role than he does. Harvey does show up in a flashback to deliver some exposition and [[spoiler:get punched in the face by an angry Bruce]].
* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock]] goes crashing through this after he [[spoiler:hits a light in the aforementioned basement]].
* GoodCopBadCop: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]]
--->[[spoiler:Harvey Bullock:]] This is Gotham City. It's bad cop, bad cop!
* HandicappedBadass: Alfred has a limp and uses a cane. [[spoiler:A fight with Bruce shows that his right leg has a prosthetic, thus the need for a cane. Thomas Wayne apparently made it for him during the war they met in]].
* HauntedHouse: How most Gothamites see the old Arkham Mansion (it's not an Asylum yet). It's been abandoned ever since Martha Arkham's mother killed her husband and herself in it, and it has a reputation for driving people insane.
* HeroicWannabe: Batman actually starts out this way, not being nearly ready enough for the job, being a failure at keeping a low profile, and equipped with malfunctioning gadgetry to boot. As the story progresses, he becomes a more capable fighter and finds a better source of equipment, slowly becoming the badass we all know and love.
* ImplacableMan: The Birthday Boy during his battle against Batman, Gordon, and Bullock. Nothing will keep him down, and his massive strength lets him overpower all three of them for most of the fight.
* InsistentTerminology: "It's ''Mayor'' Cobblepot."
* JabbaTableManners: Mayor Cobblepot.
* KnifeNut: The Birthday Boy favours a carving knife.
* MayorPain: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way, running Gotham like a mob operation.
* MythologyGag: Several.
** Mayor Cobblepot is mentioned to dress in trademark "penguin suits". He also maintains his habit of keeping birds in his office.
** Alfred at one point says [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman "tt"]]. Mayor Cobblepot later delivers a "kk".
** Much as in ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'', Lucius Fox is a demoted researcher languishing in the lower levels of Wayne Industries.
** When Bruce punches a young Harvey Dent in the face as a child, there's a close-up shot that makes half of his face look distorted and ugly from the punch's impact.
* NotSoAbandonedBuilding: The old Arkham Mansion isn't quite as abandoned as everyone thinks -- it's actually being used as a lair by The Birthday Boy.
* OldSoldier: Alfred is characterized as such, with his being a veteran a major part of who he is.
* ParasolOfPain: Mayor Cobblepot uses a [[SwordCane sword umbrella]] to surprise Batman during their final confrontation.
* PrivateMilitaryContractors: Alfred worked for one in Seoul.
* PromotionToParent: Alfred. He hadn't seen Thomas Wayne for years and just briefly reunited with him before Thomas's death - then Alfred found out that the Waynes had named him Bruce's legal guardian should anything happen to them.
* PsychoForHire: The Birthday Boy, a serial killer whom Mayor Cobblepot keeps on the payroll by supplying him with victims.
* PsychoPsychologist: Martha Arkham's mother wasn't a psychiatrist herself, but she was a prominent crusader for mental health coming from a long line of them. Then she went insane and killed herself, and her family's mansion was subsequently abandoned (becoming Gotham's resident HauntedHouse in the process).
* SerialKiller: The Birthday Boy, who kidnaps and murders young girls, and leaves candles on their pillows. He usually bakes a cake for his victim as well, and demands that they "make a wish" before he knifes them.
* ShadowArchetype: The abandoned Arkham Mansion (owned by Bruce's mother's family in this version) is a dark reflection of Wayne Manor in more ways than one. They were both owned by two of the most powerful families in Gotham, but one is a resplendent beacon of wealth and status while the other is a decrepit wreck, showing how high one family has risen and how far the other has fallen.
* SpoiledBrat: Young Bruce. Then his parents die.
* TheStinger:
-->"''Who'' is Batman? [[spoiler:What a ''riddle''.]]"
* TerrorHero: This is Bruce's objective, though his presentation still needs some work.
* WretchedHive: Gotham City is even more miserable than ever, and under the control of The Penguin to boot.
* YouKilledMyFather: Bruce's motivation in this version. He becomes Batman so he can bring down Mayor Cobblepot, who had his parents murdered so that Thomas Wayne couldn't get elected Mayor.
----
'''''Batman: Earth One''''' is a 2012 graphic novel from DC written by Creator/GeoffJohns and illustrated by Creator/GaryFrank. The second installment of DC's [[UltimateUniverse "Earth One"]] line after ''ComicBook/SupermanEarthOne'', it aims to update the story of the Dark Knight for a new generation. The book has been critically acclaimed so far, although Bat-purists are likely to... well, go batty.
[[BroadStrokes You know the basics of the story]]: Young Bruce Wayne sees his parents brutally gunned down in front of his eyes, and devotes his life to fighting crime, aided by his trustworthy butler, Alfred Pennyworth, and the stalwart cop James Gordon... except Alfred isn't really a butler. And James Gordon isn't very stalwart. And Bruce isn't about "fighting crime" so much as he is about "fighting the man who killed his parents": the mayor of Gotham City, Oswald Cobblepot. About the only thing to remain the same is Gotham, which is as much a CrapsackWorld as ever.
----
!!''Batman: Earth One'' provides examples of the following tropes:
* AdaptationalAttractiveness:
** Harvey Bullock is a handsome former TV star, instead of an overweight, unshaven wreck.
** Oswald Cobblepot may not be a good-looking man, but he's a damn sight better than the heavyset, and frequently disfigured Penguin of the mainstream comics.
* AdaptationalBadass:
** Alfred's military background is played up a lot more than it is in most adaptations. In this version, he's a former mercenary who's initially brought on as the Wayne family's bodyguard, only to [[PromotionToParent receive custody of Bruce]] when Thomas Wayne is killed. Though he sarcastically refers to himself as a butler (even though he isn't), he's still very capable in a fight by the time Bruce becomes Batman.
** Oswald Cobblepot as well. He's not terribly formidable in a fight (though he holds his own against Bruce), but the fact that he's the Mayor of Gotham means that he's much more dangerous here than in most other versions.
* AdultFear: The Birthday Boy, [[spoiler:who kidnaps young girls, is implied to cut their throats and then keep their corpses rotting in Arkham Asylum's basement]].
* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock, at the end of the book.]]
* AxeCrazy: The Birthday Boy.
* BadassBeard: Alfred Pennyworth. No, really.
* BatterUp: [[spoiler:Bullock]], when he decides to go after [[spoiler:Axe]].
* BattleButler: Played with. Alfred is not a butler, but decides to call himself just that after he takes custody of Bruce. As for the battle part, [[HandicappedBadass well...]]
* BedlamHouse: Averted with the Arkham Mansion, which hasn't yet been converted into an insane asylum at the time of the story (though it's just as nightmarish as ever).
* BigBad: Mayor Oswald Cobblepot for volume one.
* BigDamnHeroes: Alfred's rescue of [[spoiler:Batman]] at the end of the volume.
* BritsWithBattleships: Former Royal Marine Alfred Pennyworth.
* ChekhovMIA: [[spoiler:The 15-year-old girl reported missing, with birthday candles placed at her open window.]] She presumably shows up later as [[spoiler:the Birthday Boy's first in-comic victim]].
* CompositeCharacter: In this version, Martha Wayne was born Martha ''Arkham'', and she's the Arkham family's last living heir, much like Dr. Jeremiah Arkham in the main series.
* CorruptPolitician: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way. Bonus points for resembling a Napoleon-sized RichardNixon.
* DemotedToExtra: Harvey Dent. He is still D.A., but his sister plays more of a role than he does. Harvey does show up in a flashback to deliver some exposition and [[spoiler:get punched in the face by an angry Bruce]].
* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler:Harvey Bullock]] goes crashing through this after he [[spoiler:hits a light in the aforementioned basement]].
* GoodCopBadCop: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]]
--->[[spoiler:Harvey Bullock:]] This is Gotham City. It's bad cop, bad cop!
* HandicappedBadass: Alfred has a limp and uses a cane. [[spoiler:A fight with Bruce shows that his right leg has a prosthetic, thus the need for a cane. Thomas Wayne apparently made it for him during the war they met in]].
* HauntedHouse: How most Gothamites see the old Arkham Mansion (it's not an Asylum yet). It's been abandoned ever since Martha Arkham's mother killed her husband and herself in it, and it has a reputation for driving people insane.
* HeroicWannabe: Batman actually starts out this way, not being nearly ready enough for the job, being a failure at keeping a low profile, and equipped with malfunctioning gadgetry to boot. As the story progresses, he becomes a more capable fighter and finds a better source of equipment, slowly becoming the badass we all know and love.
* ImplacableMan: The Birthday Boy during his battle against Batman, Gordon, and Bullock. Nothing will keep him down, and his massive strength lets him overpower all three of them for most of the fight.
* InsistentTerminology: "It's ''Mayor'' Cobblepot."
* JabbaTableManners: Mayor Cobblepot.
* KnifeNut: The Birthday Boy favours a carving knife.
* MayorPain: Oswald Cobblepot is this all the way, running Gotham like a mob operation.
* MythologyGag: Several.
** Mayor Cobblepot is mentioned to dress in trademark "penguin suits". He also maintains his habit of keeping birds in his office.
** Alfred at one point says [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman "tt"]]. Mayor Cobblepot later delivers a "kk".
** Much as in ''Film/TheDarkKnightSaga'', Lucius Fox is a demoted researcher languishing in the lower levels of Wayne Industries.
** When Bruce punches a young Harvey Dent in the face as a child, there's a close-up shot that makes half of his face look distorted and ugly from the punch's impact.
* NotSoAbandonedBuilding: The old Arkham Mansion isn't quite as abandoned as everyone thinks -- it's actually being used as a lair by The Birthday Boy.
* OldSoldier: Alfred is characterized as such, with his being a veteran a major part of who he is.
* ParasolOfPain: Mayor Cobblepot uses a [[SwordCane sword umbrella]] to surprise Batman during their final confrontation.
* PrivateMilitaryContractors: Alfred worked for one in Seoul.
* PromotionToParent: Alfred. He hadn't seen Thomas Wayne for years and just briefly reunited with him before Thomas's death - then Alfred found out that the Waynes had named him Bruce's legal guardian should anything happen to them.
* PsychoForHire: The Birthday Boy, a serial killer whom Mayor Cobblepot keeps on the payroll by supplying him with victims.
* PsychoPsychologist: Martha Arkham's mother wasn't a psychiatrist herself, but she was a prominent crusader for mental health coming from a long line of them. Then she went insane and killed herself, and her family's mansion was subsequently abandoned (becoming Gotham's resident HauntedHouse in the process).
* SerialKiller: The Birthday Boy, who kidnaps and murders young girls, and leaves candles on their pillows. He usually bakes a cake for his victim as well, and demands that they "make a wish" before he knifes them.
* ShadowArchetype: The abandoned Arkham Mansion (owned by Bruce's mother's family in this version) is a dark reflection of Wayne Manor in more ways than one. They were both owned by two of the most powerful families in Gotham, but one is a resplendent beacon of wealth and status while the other is a decrepit wreck, showing how high one family has risen and how far the other has fallen.
* SpoiledBrat: Young Bruce. Then his parents die.
* TheStinger:
-->"''Who'' is Batman? [[spoiler:What a ''riddle''.]]"
* TerrorHero: This is Bruce's objective, though his presentation still needs some work.
* WretchedHive: Gotham City is even more miserable than ever, and under the control of The Penguin to boot.
* YouKilledMyFather: Bruce's motivation in this version. He becomes Batman so he can bring down Mayor Cobblepot, who had his parents murdered so that Thomas Wayne couldn't get elected Mayor.
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