The Batman Prequel novel is a short, yet exciting jump into the world Matt Reeves is about to deliver to us.
From the way it was written, excluding the bloody details and horror themes we were promised for the coming film, it seems that this book was produced for a younger reader audience. Nonetheless, it still holds the same atmosphere from the trailers we’ve seen over the last year and a half, and this was a good small jump into this new universe of Batman.
The story starts with a child, Bruce Wayne, getting ready to move with his parents out of their glorious mansion, and into the city. Bruce’s father has donated the mansion to become a new orphanage for Gotham (kind of ironic since his son becomes an orphan later…too soon?). A choir of orphans sing at the opening day event, and among the kids, staring at a smiling Bruce Wayne, is none other than the future Riddler, Edward Nashton.
That is one of the things that made me pick up this book. It is not just Bruce’s origin story, but Riddler’s as well. The book spends a good amount of time switching between viewpoints, sometimes in the exact same scene both characters are in, to give the reader an understanding on what life was like for both boys growing up, and even when they were in their twenties. Both boys are disturbed and quiet, however, Bruce of course has billions of dollars and Alfred looking after him, so it’s no wonder why Edward, who had no one in his life, was bullied constantly, and broke, had a harsher life and became a serial killer.
Even as they get older, each boy find different outlets for their traumas. Bruce works on an old car and different forms of martial arts around the world while traveling, while Edward is stuck in Gotham his whole life. The only thing the boy is exposed to is crime and struggles, even having to work a dangerous food delivery job where he is harassed by customers, just to afford some classes to get a better job one day.
It’s a short, yet intriguing story that really showed how the world can form either a good man, or one who becomes a monster. Bruce had it rough, but with a good home and support system to help him through his trauma, he became a good man. Edward only found an outlet to turn his anger into violent actions. Whether you have watched the movie yet or not, the book is a great background into showing why this story on screen is happening, and what drives both young men. Any Batman fan young or old should pick up this book, as no prior knowledge of other Batman stories is needed to fully enjoy it. It’s another piece of Matt Reeve’s new universe of superhero-noir.
The Batman prequel novel is available to buy physically or as an ebook from most retailers, and The Batman movie is in theaters now. Enjoy, vengeance!
-BN Muraca
get your copy now at: https://www.amazon.com/Before-Batman-Original-exciting-inspired/dp/0593310438
AND for an amazing review on why you should watch the awesome movie: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0XmoaGu_zCY&t=6s
The Book Rant 