The Untold Legend of the Batman [Mass Market Paperback]

Len Wein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

To the fear-filled eyes of criminals everywhere, he is a man without a past--a Darknight Defender of the helpless and oppressed, a towering symbol of swift and vengeful justice, a wraith-like guardian of Gotham City's asphalt corridors. But to comic book fans throughout the world he is...Batman and he is a man with a mission. Now, for the first time in paperback, readers can discover the deepest secrets of the masked crimefighter, from his own origin to his first meeting with Robin, his partner in the war on crime. This spectacular re-telling of The Batman legend includes his initial encounters with his most menacing foes, as well as a fact filled tour through the Darknight Detective's secret headquarters, The Batcave. A veritable encyclopedia of the Cowled Crimefighter's past, The Untold Legend of the Batman will delight comic adventure fans everywhere!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812520424
• ISBN-13: 978-0812520422
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Characters > Batman
  • #35 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Series > Favorite Characters > Batman
  • #43 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Media

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This may not be what you're thinking...., May 17, 2007

By 

Sandy R. Jimenez (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Untold Legend of the Batman (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought this was a trade paperback format collection of these classic Len wein and Jim Aparo/John Byrne stories which it is, but this is about a quarter of the physical size of an actual comic book; its black and white on newsprint but worst of all, the pages are comprised of "redistributed" panels, a convention that many had assumed died in the late 70s and early eighties when many of these reprints were done for "pocket books" for little kids.

Still a great story, and one of the first attempts in the modern era to clean up Bruce Wayne's history during the years between the murder of his parents, and becoming Batman. I didn't realize they still made these poor reproductions, but I guess that explains the low, low price. Caveat Emptor.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite an interesting read, June 28, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: The Untold Legend of the Batman (Mass Market Paperback)

This nice little story of early-modern age Batman is not so much a story in its own right but more something of a clip show. The actual scripts and drawings are all original, of course, but very little of the plot is. The plot itself is mostly an excuse for a thorough retelling of the story of the Batman, his allies and his foes. It doesn't make any shocking new discoveries about the Batman's past, as do the Killing Joke or Year One; the stories told are taken directly and fully from classic silver and golden age volumes such as 'The Origin of the Batman'(Batman#47, 1948), or 'The First Batman'(Detective Comics#235, 1956).

The plot itself is lacking and simply not very interesting. The ending is quite well done, but there's simply no building up to it. Whatever plot there is is constantly interrupted by flashbacks from practicaly every character. However, what 'the Untold Legend of the Batman' attempts to do, and does quite well, is put some order into the Batman world, settle some old contradictions and set one formal history of Batman. Indeed, the early 80s were a time when super-heroes were recreated, especially Superman and Wonder-Woman, and Batman had to be fitted into the new DC universe.

So, while 'the Untold Legend of the Batman' is hardly a decent story itself, and does very little to develop the characters or the plot in any way, it's still an interesting read for all Batman fans and anybody who wants to know a thing or two about the Dark Knight, and is a fine addition to any comics collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The origins of the dark detective., August 6, 2000

By 

Guybert - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untold Legend of the Batman (Mass Market Paperback)

Growing up, I'd always enjoyed watching Adam West and Burt Ward on the television show Batman. So, one day at the school book fair many moons ago, I picked up this book. Boy was I impressed! First of all, the writing is excellent and is presented in a very mature manner. Secondly, the art is amazing. It blew me away then and still impresses me now. Watching the t.v. show, you never really learn any history about the Dark Knight. This book tells you who the first Batman and Robin were, who killed Bruce Wayne's parents and who first tought young Bruce the skills he'd need to become a detective. The origins of some of the favorites such as Alfred Pennyworth and The Joker are here too. I have always been very proud to own this book and I'm sure you would be too.