Story: Of Mice And Men (10 pages)
Writer(s): Alan Grant
Pencils: Scott McDaniel
Inks: Ray McCarthy
Characters:
Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Thomas Wayne (Bruce's father), Martha Wayne (Bruce's mother)
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Harry, Konik (a bully at Bruce's school)
Synopsis:
Alfred has only been working as the Waynes' butler for a few weeks, but he's decided to resign, because he feels like he is there under false pretense, only because he made a promise to his father on his deathbed. Instead he wants to do something he really wants, even though he's not sure yet what that is going to be. Bruce returns home with a black eye, but won't say how he got it. His father sends him to his room without supper. From the window of his room Bruce watches stronger animals kill weaker ones (some fight between bugs, a hunting owl, finally a bat and a moth). Then Alfred sneaks in to bring him some food anyway, and also gives him a pulp magazine featuring Zorro. He also tells Bruce about the Zorro movie. Bruce asks Alfred if the big things will always beat the little things, and Alfred advises him to use his mind, and that people unlike animals can decide between right and wrong. At school Bruce steps in again when another kid is bullied, but this time he lures the bully into a trap he prepared, so that a bucket of molasses falls on him, and the bully is humiliated. At home Bruce tells Alfred about it, and also asks Alfred to stay, and Alfred changes his mind. When Martha Wayne discovers the Zorro magazine (something they forbade Bruce to have, thinking it "corrupts the growing mind") Alfred takes the blame.
Important Continuity Events:
- Alfred decides to stay with the Waynes as their butler, because of his relationship to Bruce who asks him to stay. [p. 10]
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
- At school Bruce protected other kids from bullies. [p. 7]
Alfred Pennyworth Character Details:
- Alfred made a promise to his father on his deathbed to continue the family tradition as a butler. [p. 1]
- At one time he wanted to become an actor, the stage was his "first love" [p. 1]
- Alfred likes to read Zorro adventures. [p. 4]
Trivia:
- Bruce had a robot toy that could be wound up and said "Lost in space!" [p. 5]
Story: Batman: Year One, Chapter 1: Who Am I, How I Come To Be (22 pages)
(next part in Batman #405)
Writer(s): Frank Miller
Pencils: David Mazzucchelli
Inks: David Mazzucchelli
Characters:
Bruce Wayne (not as Batman yet), Lieutenant James Gordon, Selina Kyle (not as Catwoman yet), Arnold Flass, Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb
Minor Characters / Guest Appearances:
Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne (Bruce Wayne's parents, in flashback),Wilson, Stahnsen, Renny (detectives in the GCPD); Stan (a pimp), Holly, Stevie, Jackie, Tom
Synopsis:
Important Continuity Events:
Continuity References:
Bruce Wayne Character Details:
Selina Kyle Character Details:
James Gordon Character Details:
Romances:
Trivia:
[Note: This entry is based on the TPB edition of the issue.]
[Note: This entry is still incomplete, more information will be added eventually.]