Year One: Batman Scarecrow

    (DC, 2005)
™ and © DC Comics, Inc.

Though not strictly a movie tie-in, DC released Year One: Batman Scarecrow to coincide with the summer 2005 release of Warner Brothers’ well-received Batman Begins movie starring Christian Bale as Batman and Irish actor Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow.

This two-issue series re-imagines the iconic villain’s first encounter with the Caped Crusader and with more origin details than were used back in 1941 when the Scarecrow first appeared in World’s Finest Comics #3.

Writer Bruce Jones’ story takes place in the modern era and relies heavily on flashbacks to Crane’s Southern gothic upbringing. Readers discover the roots of Crane’s madness, how he summons crows, and how he concocts his fear gas. Sean Murphy’s art creates a retro-vintage feeling full of dark shadows and square jaws. The young Robin provides a lighthearted counterpoint to Batman’s grim determination and the gangly Scarecrow’s fearsome menace.

— Leland Burrill
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist
#1

July, 2005
Cover Price: $5.99
2 copies available from $5.50 		Bruce JonesSean Murphy
#2

August, 2005
Cover Price: $5.99
5 copies available from $2.99 		Bruce JonesSean Murphy