Batman is scary. Much scarier than Adam West was in the TV series. Or maybe scary in a different way: West's lycra getup was pretty frightening!

This book is one of many versions of Batman's origin story. It's grounded in reality: why does Bruce Wayne decide to fight crime? How does he train for the job? Why the heck does he dress like that??

The story is tight, focusing on the man behind the bat and on his complex psychological makeup. The thing I like most about Batman is that anyone could be him, given the massive childhood trauma. And the billion-dollar empire. And the manufacturing company. And the field-medic-turned-butler... Okay, maybe not anyone, but he wasn't born on another planet or bitten by a radioactive spider. He chose to do what he does.

This is a Batman who fights crime before the OTT supervillains. He has to come to terms with the realities of the life he has chosen and the implications it has for his public persona. He has to define his relationship with the legitimate crime-fighting efforts of the Gotham City PD, and build a relationship with a young cop named Gordon. His problems are as real-life as Batman could ever be.

The artwork (this is a graphic novel) is suitably moody and noirish, with muted colours and slightly scratchy strokes. It's a great read for comic book fans, and for anyone who enjoyed Batman begins.