Batman in the Seventies [Paperback]

Dennis O'Neil (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156389565X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563895654
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,121,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good showing, with some repeats, however, August 3, 2005

By 

Corum Seth Smith (Hendersonville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Batman in the Seventies (Paperback)

First of all, if you have the book "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told," then you already have two of the ten stories told here. That may deter you from buying the book because they are two of the better stories in here. Also if you have "Tales of the Demon," there is one of those stories in here. However, this is an anthology that stands on its own in terms of interest. I believe that the 70's was a crucial turning point in Batman history that marked a bit of a Renaissance.

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley- Truly one of the "Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told," Batman revisits the moment of his greatest agony as he visits his parent's place of death. Also "Death Flies the Haunted Sky" is another story from the "Greatest...Told" Anthology.

Now for what I truly disliked in the book: "Invader From Hell" and "Marriage:Impossible." I have this theory that there are no bad Batman stories out there in the comic world; these come dangerously close to disproving that theory. "Marriage Impossible" is like one of those strange horror movies of the seventies that they make fun of on Mad TV. "Invader" is not much better, pitting Batgirl and Robin against Benedict Arnold.

However, the rest of the stories in this book summarize the 70's era pretty well. The comic is recovering from the camp that dominated in the 50's and 60's, as the Detective is revived, again trying to thwart the criminal mind. For instance, Vow From the Grave- is a good episodic murder mystery, and inspired one of the episodes of the "Animated Series" years later. "Ticket to Tragedy" is kind of like Batman meets "Murder on the Orient Express." So the 1970's saw a reformation of the detective element of the genre.

Last, "Daughter of the Demon" is the introduction of one of the most interesting Batman characters yet, Ras Al Ghul. If you want a good anthology, "Tales of the Demon" highlights several Batman/Al Ghul clashes. Ghul was first in the comics in the 70's.

There is a good Joker story, and overall, the stories are good. So if you like the sound of the above stories, this book may be for you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good collection!!, February 23, 2002

By 

"kokokay" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman in the Seventies (Paperback)

The biggest problem with all such "greatest stories" collection is that everyone has an opinion on what other stories should have been included and what stories should instead be taken out. IMHO I think this is a pretty decent collection of Batman stories in the 70s. The collection includes "There is No Hope in Crime Alley", a story which explore Batman's psyche and motivations; 4 (yes 4!) Neal Adams classics: "A Vow from the Grave", "Night of the Reaper", "Marriage: Impossible" (one of the earlier Man-Bat stories), "Daughter of the Demon" (featuring The Demon Ra's Al Ghul); an Alex Toth classic "Death Flies the Haunted Sky".

Regarding short comings of this collection, I would have liked to see the story arc presented in Batman #291-294 where Bat-villains are on trial for the 'murder' of the Batman. One can also argue that it might make more sense to read the Neal Adams stories in their entire runs. Although all of the Adams' Ra's Al Ghul stories have already been compiled in the TPB Tales of the Demon, his other mini-runs would make good TPB collections too (e.g. his Man-Bat run in Detective #400,402,407; his Brave and the Bold run). However, in spite of these criticism, I think the average Bat-fan is still better-off owning a copy of "Batman in the Seventies" than not. The original comics cost a bomb and are in fact quite hard to find. Given that DC (unlike Marvel) appears to have some aversion to reprinting their 1970s material, we should be thankful that they've come up with such a compilation in the first place. Instead of buying mediocre 1990s Batman TPBs, all Bat-Fans should buy this book and experience for themselves what pre-crisis Batman is all about!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Batman in Bronze..., October 7, 2004

By 

Patrick L. Burgette (Woodridge, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman in the Seventies (Paperback)

The 70's was a great time for Batman. In this collection we get some really good Batman stories where he takes on super villains like Joker,Manbat and Ras Al Ghul. Robin is seen alot too and so is Batgirl. Look for the really beautiful villain pin-up that features Joker,Penguin,Riddler,Catwoman,Two Face,Scarecrow and Ras Al Ghul,it is stunning. There is also a pin-up of Robin and Batgirl too and one in the end of the book with Batman,Robin,Batgirl,Alfred and Commissioner Gordon in the batcave.

The highlight here for me was the Earth 2 story of Golden Age Batman (now an older man) and the death of the Earth 2 Catwoman and the orgin of Earth 2 Huntress. Earth 2 Robin also makes a cameo.

Overall the book is packed with beautiful colorful pictures of the best Batman heroes and villains. A must.