Batman: Dark Detective (Paperback)

by Steve Englehart (Author), Marshall Rogers (Illustrator), Terry Austin (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Englehart and Rogers' mid-1970s stint on Batman was the basis for the 1989 film Batman, the one with Jack Nicholson, and is fondly remembered by fans. They reunite for a new story, reprising what made their fan favorite so popular: an updating of primal elements of the Batman legend. They revisit the tragic murder of young Bruce Wayne's parents; field revitalized versions of Joker, Two-Face, and Scarecrow; and revive Silver St. Cloud, the most memorable of Wayne's many girlfriends. As the new story opens, Silver is engaged to a gubernatorial candidate whose campaign is derailed by a sudden dark horse: Joker, whose slogan is "Vote for me or I'll kill you." The Englehart-(Marshall) Rogers approach hasn't changed much. Writer Englehart presents a more human version of the Dark Knight than has been seen recently, and Rogers' architecturally precise illustration style has loosened up a bit. Their now old-school version is refreshing after the morbidly grim realizations of Batman during the years since their first go-round with him. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Writer Steve Englehart and artists Marshall Rogers & Terry Austin set a high standard with their acclaimed run on DETECTIVE COMICS in the late 1970s. Now that team is back with a new collection that pits the Dark Knight against the most famous and feared members of his Rogues Gallery, including The Joker and Two-Face.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; illustrated edition edition (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401208983
• ISBN-13: 978-1401208981
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #667,146 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome return for a classic team!, April 14, 2006

By	Dave "babytoxie" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

In DETECTIVE COMICS #469 - 479, the writer/artist team of Steve Englehart and Marshal Rogers (with inker Terry Austin) made a big impression with a handfull of Batman stories that were considered instant classics; indeed, those stories, collected in the trade paperback BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS, are for many readers the definitve Batman. These creators obviously understood the classic appeal of Batman, redefining his style and look for the late '70s and returning him to his roots as the dark detective of Gotham City. The problem was, the team of Englehart & Rogers arrived with guns blazing, amazed everyone, and then bolted from the scene before many folks even knew what was going on! After those superb 11 issues, Batman just didn't seem as enjoyable anymore.

Well, 25 years later, and here they come again! BATMAN: DARK DETECTIVE reunites that amazing creative team, reprinting the 6-issue miniseries which features Batman battling the Joker, Two-Face, and Scarecrow, and all while having to deal with the return of his old flame Silver St. Cloud. Silver is now the fiancee of Evan Gregory, a US senator now compaigning for governor. But even though she once left Bruce, due to her not being able to handle his dual identity, the attraction is still there, and it gets her up to her neck in the Joker's deathtraps.

It's great to see that these guys are at the top of their game, maybe even better than they were on the original stories. Englehart's writing portrays Batman as an even-tempered super sleuth, instead of the arrogant, belligerent sociopath with whom we've had to suffer for the past 20-odd years. And his Joker is not just a deadly criminal, but a true madman - he's seldom written better. Rogers' art has become even better over the years, if that's possible: his masterful use of panel layouts, perspective, and action shots really help to convey exactly what the script called for. And with Austin's stellar inking, it is pure beauty. The only problem I can see with it is that the end is a bit of an abrupt letdown. Of course, those familiar with the history of Bruce and Silver likely know it can end no other way, but more would have been better. Still, no overt complaints here - buy this book!!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Buy It For The Artwork..., January 13, 2007

By	M. Worrell (Chicago USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a huge fan of the original Rogers/Austin run, with its clean, meticulous detail and sophisticated style, I was shocked at the poor quality of the artwork in this collection. Hints of the old flair are very few and far between, and most of the book is simply unattractive. Additionally, the lettering is atrocious. Once the disappointment wears off, you've got a halfway decent story to enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You can't go home again., December 30, 2008

By	V. A. Roger (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the late 1970s, Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers (and Terri Austin) collaborated on an outstanding, and iconic, Batman story. Why they felt they needed to try and recapture the magic over two decades later is beyond me. Quite simply, they failed.

Suffice it to say that Rogers' run on "Detective Comics" stands as one of the most beautiful examples of comic book art of its time (and, I would argue, of any time). Not only are his drawings first rate, but the use of color in those issues-- for which Rogers is also responsible-- is almost without peer. This book, on the other hand, deserves to go out of print and quickly so as not to tarnish the memory of this once great artist.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of Rogers'(and to a slightly lesser extent, Englehart's) work at its finest, pick up the original stories which are currently collected under the title of "Strange Apparitions." If, on the other hand, you would like to see why it's rarely a good idea to try-- years after the fact-- to revisit a story which is rightly considered a classic, then pick up this book (see also the "Star Wars" prequels).