Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (DC Comics) [Paperback]

DC Comics (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: DC Universe (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930289668
• ISBN-13: 978-0930289669
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #679,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, May 29, 2004

By 

Itamar Katz (Ramat-Gan, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (DC Comics) (Paperback)

This fascinating collection of Batman stories published between 1939 and 1983 is an invaluable goldmine for anyone who is interested in Batman or in the history of comics. There are many books detailing and explaining the history of comics, but it's much more rewarding to actually see it happening, and this book gives you a rare chance to read some classic comics which are by now practically unobtainable and frighteningly valuable. The collection is fascinating both in terms of Batman's history and comics history. On the one hand, it presents some of the most important stories in the development of the character throughout the years - stories like `The Origin of Batman' from 1948, which finally revealed Batman's story in its final version as well as the identity of his parents' killer; `Dr. Hugo Strange and the Mutant Monsters', from the very first issue of Batman, the story that introduced the villain Dr. Strange; and `The First Batman', a classic and often referenced story in which a lot is revealed about Batman's father. But at the same time, you get a rare and precious opportunity to view stories and artwork by some of the finest comic book artists to walk the face of the earth, and explore the development of the medium from the 40s to the 80s. Classic artwork by the great man himself, Bob Kane, is a real treat; stories by some of the great writers like Gardner Fox and Bill Finger; through greats like Dick Sprang, Carmine Infantino, Charles Paris, and up to the great Denny O'Neil, and Neal Adams, Dick Giordano and Archie Goodwin, among others. The later stories show brilliantly how both the art and writing developed to create more original and inventive stories - like `The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne', which suggests a possible future for Batman; `To Kill A Legend', one of the classic Elseworlds tales; and `Death Strikes at Midnight and Three', in which Denny O'Neal and W. M. Rogers take the format to its ends.

Since I'm a huge Batman and DC fan, and also a creator of comics and very much interested in the artwork and format of comics, this book was amazingly valuable to me. I recommended it for anyone who is interested in this great and unappreciated medium, and for anyone who wants to learn something about the Caped Crusader.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for comics history buffs, May 29, 2005

By 

Corum Seth Smith (Hendersonville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (DC Comics) (Paperback)

This book is really good if you are interested in watching the development of the Batman since his origin in 1939. The almost "film noir" style of the 1930's/ early 40's Batman is actually really cool.
It is actually the fifties and sixties of Batman that are a little campy and cliched, and while I still like the character and the stories of that era, the Batman of the late 70's and 80's is the Batman I grew up with and loved.
This book is a good anthology of a character whose origin and inner psychology have fluctuated a great deal since his first appearance.
Worth the price if you buy a used copy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of Batman across the years, December 20, 2001

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (DC Comics) (Paperback)

Batman is a character with a long history and career. The flavor of the character has changed over the years from grim to goofy and back to grim. He is at times a detective, at times a superhero and at times a science fiction hero. This book, "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told" does an admirable job of pulling the best of each incarnation of Batman and presenting them in a single volume. Each story is a well-chosen and enjoyable read.

Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Dick Sprang, Neal Adams, Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers are Dick Giordano are all represented. Each of these creators touched Batman in a permanent way. Noticeably absent are Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One) and Alan Moore/Brian Bolland (The Killing Joke). In the introduction, it is stated that these famous Batman creators are well-represented in other reprint collections and thus were not included in this volume. It is nice to know that they were acknowledged.

Those who were introduced to Batman by the movies and the accompanying 90's rebirth may be disappointed by this volume. It does cover the Batman character as a whole, and not only one phase (Grim and Gritty). Also, the Joker has a companion volume, "The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told," so there are few Joker stories included.