In all honesty, many of us probably expected Frank Miller’s next project for DC to be Dark Knight IV, but he shocked us all this past weekend at San Diego Comic-Con. Long story short, the industry legend announced at the DC Master Class panel that his next gig will, in fact, be Superman: Year One, and that he’ll be bringing along artist John Romita Jr.
Man of Steel aside, the “Year One” subtitle should resonate with you because it was shared by one of Miller’s definitive Batman works, which was published three decades ago. No doubt being one of the best stories featuring the Caped Crusader to ever be told, it’s since gone on to be adapted to an animated movie and has served as inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins.
In the time since, the “Year One” moniker has been applied to modern retellings of various superhero origins, including the likes of Green Arrow, Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing and Wonder Woman. Although none of those were penned by Miller himself, it’s undeniable that his influence was felt in some capacity.
And while the specifics regarding the plot are shrouded in mystery at this point, the fan favorite author had this to say about his first real crack at Big Blue (per Vulture):
“I’ve got a new Superman project that’s getting started, telling his origins … It’s telling his beginnings from when Pa Kent discovered him in the cornfield, and the little boy goes to youth, and then to manhood.”
Even though each of the following took place in varying continuities, it’s hard to forget that in the last ten years we’ve explored the Last Son of Krypton’s beginnings via Secret Origin, Earth One, Grant Morrison’s run on Action Comics and American Alien. That said, we’re really hoping Miller and Romita have something new to offer with Superman: Year One.
