Batman: Year One

Frank Miller's arc of Batman away from the Dark Knight universe. There are much similarities to the Dark Knight series. But it takes a more cohesive and layered approach to the different universes that the Batman exists on.
Touted as one of the most influential issues to come out of the DC comic franchise and setting Frank Miller up as one of the best comic writers in the world, Year One brings in new ink into darkness and a new low in the crime and grittiness that has come to be a part of the world of Batman.
The art deserves special mention, personally because David Mazzucchelli's art brings something completely new to this world. The lines of the images and text (Todd Klien) follow the emotional arc of the storyline itself. The lines are organic, as if following thoughts being formed as it happens as opposed to something calculated to chill. This intensifies the experience along with colouring which seem to float in the background like mists. No one can be mistaken that the Lines are what's most important to the film. After all the entire premise of Batman has always been about crossing lines or lines that one cannot cross, or what happens when you do cross ones you shouldn't.
Another point of interest for me when going into Year One as well as The Killing Joke( Alan Moore)- was that these books are what have been referenced from when Christopher Nolan came out with the newest slew of The Dark Knight movies. Looking at it from that point of view, reading this comic is like reading the storyboarding and the script from the film. And its also interesting to study the dynamics between film and graphic novels (successful interpretations in this case)- and none is more clearer than here. There is still an ongoing give and take taking place with the imminent release of  3rd (4rth) installment of the The Dark Knight film franchise.