Batman: Year One is the title of a Batman comic book story arc written by Frank Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, colored by Richmond Lewis, and lettered by Todd Klein. It originally appeared in issues #404 to #407 of DC Comics' Batman comic title in 1987. It is one of the first examples of the "limited series within a series" format that is now prevalent in American comic books. The story recounts the beginning of Bruce Wayne's career as Batman and Jim Gordon's with the Gotham City Police Department. Bruce Wayne, aged 25, returns home from training abroad in martial arts, manhunting and science for nearly twelve years. In Gotham, he bides his time, waiting for the right moment to strike, all the while preparing himself. Gordon, meanwhile, has moved to Gotham from Chicago with his pregnant wife, Barbara Kean-Gordon, and pursues a career in law enforcement. The four comics in CBZ format posted here are scans from the four original comic books above-mentioned. IGN Comics ranked Batman: Year One at the top of a list of the 25 greatest Batman graphic novels, saying that:

Noteworthy is that second in IGN's list of 25 greatest Batman graphic novels mentioned above is another title by Frank Miller, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. I would say that if Batman: Year One was seminal, then The Dark Knight Returns is the reigning and de facto standard not just for Batman but for all ongoing comic book titles anywhere.