Reviews (3)

A great retelling of Batman's origin
Batman is a character I've always enjoyed, but I've only recently started getting into the Batman comics.After reading Frank Miller's exceptional "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" graphic novel, I really wanted to acquire more Batman comics that depicted the characters in a similar manner:as deep, well-thought-out characters that you really feel emotionally attached to by the end of the story.The problem was that, being new to comics, I was tossed into a sea of nearly endless Batman comics, and I didn't really know where to begin.

Well, where better to start than at the very beginning?

Batman: Year One is the story of Batman's first year in Gotham City after returning from training abroad, making it the perfect book for someone unfamiliar with Batman's origins, or just looking for a fresh take on the classic story.But the book is as much about the origins of Jim Gordon, who will later become the famed police commissioner of Gotham City, as it is about Batman's beginning.The story hinges on Gordon's attempts to clean up a police force that is corrupt to its very core, and his encounters with the Batman that finally lead up to a climactic confrontation that brings both men together in their fight against crime.

Firse of all, the packaging and presentation of the story is top-notch.The book is hard bound and comes with a very nice partial sleeve that makes it look very classy.The cover itself depicts a simple black and white drawing of Batman that is quite effective for portraying what the book is about.Each chapter of the story opens with the origin comic book cover from each issue, and they are very vivid and clean.There are many extras, from an amusing illustrated afterword by the artist, David Mazzuccelli, and many pages of preliminary and promotional artwork.In the end, I felt that some of these features could have probably been dropped in favor of a slightly lower price tag, but they are nice additions that give the book a more "deluxe edition" feel.

The artwork in the story is very good.I really like David Mazzuccelli's style.He's really not entirely different from Miller himself in that his artwork isn't terribly elaborate, but is supremely effective in telling a story.Mazzuccelli really has a strength when it comes to facial expressions.You can really see how the characters feel by the looks on their faces, particularly in the more emotional spots of the book.The backgrounds and characters are beautiful, though, and the colors are very nice and vivid.The artwork brilliantly aids in telling the dark story of Batman's birth and Gordon's struggles.

The storyline is nothing short of superb as well.I've held Frank Miller in high regard ever since reading "The Dark Knight Returns", and this book is written in a very similar style.You can tell that Miller really likes using internal monologues to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and they are very effective and give the story a depth that other comics don't have.The story progresses logically and is very readable.It's a great retelling of the familiar story of Batman's beginning infused with an almost literary style.

Miller is an expert at characterization.I was amazed at how much depth and likeability he could give even minor characters.A character that I found myself sympathizing with and surprisingly liking is Gordon's wife Barbara.With only powerful artwork and a few lines, I felt that she was portrayed very powerfully and believably, making her a great character that further enhances the personality and depth of Gordon.You can tell that Miller really likes Jim Gordon, as he is given more characterization than anyone else in the story.I really felt connected to the character by the end of the story, because he is so remarkably human, and not totally unlike myself.He makes mistakes, but he is in the end a good person, and I think this is what makes him so appealing, perhaps even more than Batman himself.This is not to say that the characterization of Batman is lacking in the story; quite the contrary, in fact. Bruce Wayne is also portrayed as a man who has his fair share of problems that he is trying to overcome in his never-ending fight to purge Gotham of corruption.The deep characterizations are what really make this book shine.

The only gripe I have with the storyline and characterizations is a subplot involving Catwoman in the story.While she is brilliantly portrayed, I ended up feeling as if her role in the story didn't have much meaning other than to set her up as a potential romantic interest of Batman in the future as well as a recognized rogue and thief.But her actions have relatively little bearing on where the story goes.The subplot is still enjoyable, and in the end it doesn't detract from the overall greatness of the storyline.

Some may be disappointed by the utter lack of classic Batman villains in the story.There is no Joker, no Two-Face, no Riddler, no Scarecrow, no one.Instead, Batman fights criminals that don't seem very different from the ones we find in real life.He is combating thugs and the corruption at the heart of the Gotham City:the politicians and police officers that are on the take and are part of the problem instead of the solution.I felt this gave the comic more credibility, but some will undoubtedly be disappointed that Batman isn't fighting one of his famous and colorful enemies.In fact, the only mention of one such villain in the entire book is in the very last panel on the very last page of the very last chapter.

The only major problem I have with the overall graphic novel is that it is short.The story itself is only around ninety pages.But they are a great ninety pages, and you won't be disappointed with them.But you will be left wishing that the story wouldn't end, making the length of the story the comic's greatest shortcoming.

This graphic novel is definitely a must-have for Batman fanatics, and I would heartily recommend it to people who are new to the world of Batman.After all, what better way is there to get into the world of the Dark Knight than by reading the story of where it all began?

Finally a fitting publication for this great story
When this miniseries first came out back in the eighties it left everyone breathless. David Mazzucchelli's art is some of the finest I've ever seen. It moves like a motion picture yet every stillis ready to be framed (nice homage to the famous Hopper painting on the side: Gorden and Sgt. Essen having a late night coffee in a cafe called ... Hopper)
Frank Miller tells a story right from the beginning of the Batman saga. Bruce Wayne and Lieutenant Gordon discover they are both fighting on the same side to clean Gotham from the human filth. The only way to survive in the mess is as a team. They become friends.
On top of the fantastic graphic novel this book includes over 40 pages of sketches, layouts and script pages. Every Batman fan should have it, what do I say, this is one for you. Buy it. You won't be disappointed, I swear.

batman is awesome
This is one of the best pieces on Batman I have ever read. It really has some awesome action and great character development of Bruce Wayne and Lt. Gordon. This is right up there with "The Dark Knight Returns" and I personally think its better. Thank you Frank Miller. You are awesome. ... Read more

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The Killing Joke, one of my favorite Batman stories ever, stirred a bit of controversy because the story involves the Joker brutally, pointlessly shooting Commissioner Gordon's daughter in the spine. This is a no-holds-barred take on a truly insane criminal mind, masterfully written by British comics writer Alan Moore. The art by Brian Bolland is so appealing that his depiction of the Joker became a standard and was imitated by many artists to follow. ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Moody and Tragic story of the Joker and Batman
A comic nearing perfection in both its graphic and story construction. The art, empasising sickly greens, oranges and reds (especially during Gordon's torture sequence) works brilliantly at evoking a sense of the deranged and desperate mind of the Joker. That this tale is only one brutal cycle in the continuing, and perhaps endless, Joker/Batman confrontation is made all-too clear by the same, full-page panel of rain falling in muddy water being shown at both the beginning and the end. The story itself is also spectacular, from Batman's initial attampt to reason with his archnemesis ("There once were two guys in a lunatic asylum...")Joker's merciless attack and humiliation of Barbara Gordon, to Joker's hideous claim that the only difference between him and the rest of the world is "one bad day." One of the most bizarre and horrifying moments in Batman history must be achieved in the two foes final confrontation...that one brief moment when the Joker turns-halfway to Batman...is he considering accepting the Dark Night's help?...to the final scene when both men laugh uncontollably in the killing rain; a single moment when the both the Batman and Joker get the same Joke: that they are together, forever, until they destroy each other. Perhaps this is the "Killing Joke" of the title?

More than just a comic - True Literature
This is the most in-depth Batman comic I have ever read, and has become my favourite Batman story of all time. The story deals with Joker escaping, paralyzing Barbara Gordon, kidnapping Commissoner Gordon, and trying to prove that any man can go crazy in a single, bad day. As Batman hunts the Joker, the reader is treated to the Joker's origin story, and sees how thin the line is that seperates Batman from the Joker.

I won't try to get into the psychological aspects of this story -suffice it to say that other reviews have covered it throughly and any attempt on my part would only make me look foolish. However, I will say that the most chilling part about this book is how, if you replace Batman and the Joker with two everyday people, the events still feel horribly real. This is not escapist reading as all comic books have been labeled, in fact, this is the book to show people who don't believe that powerful stories can be told in this medium. Both Batman and the Joker had a single bad day - so why didn't Batman go insane like the Joker did? The reader wants to know the fine line that seperates these two characters, partly so they can realize how close to crossing that line they are in their own lives. The art is truly amazing -detailed, moody, and brilliantly inked - the scenes in the Joker's funhouse scare the reader as much as they scare Gordon. The flashbacks are also impressively tied into the present, with similiar situations bookending each scene. The story begins and ends on the same note, like a vicious, never-ending cycle. Plus, you know you have something special when, after all the vicious, sadistic things the Joker has done, you still feel sorry for him.

"The Killing Joke" is a true masterpiece, and earns its place as one of the best comics of all time, and a true work of fiction.

The Worst Alan Moore Work - Even He Says So!
As you can see from nearly every other review here, this work is generally considered a classic - if not one of the all-time best Batman stories, up there with those Frank Miller ones. I disagree. And I disagree reluctantly because Alan Moore's writing is actually very clever and Brian Bolland's artwork is simply gorgeous. Why? Simple. I disagree with nearly everything about Alan Moore's "Batman". Frank Miller mentioned something like that in an interview also. Even Alan Moore has stated countless times that this is his weakest work. But fans still clamour after this book...

Five reasons I dislike this book:

[1] Batman is totally wrong. It seemed like the pet-peeve of every cynical Brit writer in the 80s and 90s to portray Batman as equally insane compared to his foes [check out Grant Morrison's "Arkham Asylum" for more of the same].

[2] The hopeless ending. Agreed, this book has the Joker at his most evil and the book ends with Batman and Joker laughing in the rain?

[3] The level of *sick* shocks in this book. From Barbara Gordon's crippling to Jim Gordon's "circus" experience. This was written at a period where shocking violence in comics is considered a prerequisite in crafting a "mature" work. Granted, I actually prefer Barbara as Oracle than the cheesy Batgirl but I absolutely detest the way Alan Moore did it in this book.

[4] The totally unnecessary "origin" of Joker. Joker is one of those characters in comics who really can do without an origin. He is a sicko, and that's all you need to know. We do not need to see him from a more compassionate perspective by having a "tragic origin".

[5] The use of "Watchmen-transitions". Alan Moore is justly famous for the use of clever transitions between panels. But in this book, we have transitions such as a poster of a fat woman freak in a circus leading to the next panel of Joker's pregnant wife. Where's the catch? This is the real problem of the whole work - clever but ultimately pointless.

Inside The Mind Of The Killer Clown Of Gotham
The Killing Joke, first published in the late 1980's is an atypical Batman story and yet, remains, one of the best ever written. Back in print since the 90's I was happy to relive the tale after losing my original copy of the book.

As regular readers and followers of the Batman mythology already know, the Joker, is the Dark Knight's most well known and popular adversary. Talented comic book scribe Alan Moore broke with tradition. He decided this story would not just be about the Joker having some demented plan and our hero has to find a way to foil those plans, rather, he chose to examine what makes the villian tick. The story has Joker shooting and crippling Barbra Gordon, then kiddnaping her father Police Commissioner James Gordon taunting him, to see if a man can truly go insane within a short period of time. While the Joker awaits the inevitable confrontation with Batman, he allows himself to reflect on his early days, and thus, the reader learns his origin. The book focuses less on typical "superhero action" and more on the psychology of these characters. Mr Moore weaves his story with such effortless ease that it never gets bogged down. It's all about the choices that a person makes and how much these two mortal foes really do mirror each other.

The artistic talents of Brian Bolland and John Higgins really shine in the book. Their rendition of The Joker is quite spectacular and among the best ever produced in a Bat story...Really. The "dynamic duo (sorry I couldn't help myself)" set a standard for the way Joker is now drawn today. Batman doesn't look too bad either. The artwork is a nice mix of subtlty and some broad strokes-matching the story perfectly.

I have read a lot of Batman stories over the years, The Killing Joke may not be what you would expect for these icons, but it is worth reading for sure. It is one of the best. The book has 48 pages

a story you will go back to, time and again
I brought this as a 1st addition when it came out and it's one of the few stories i've re-read time and time again. It's a story of two men who take different paths when their lives hit bottom but find they have a lot in common. I loved seeing the Jokers' life before he turned to crime and evil though he is, you see the events that turn him into the man he is now (with a small contribution from batman - read and find out). Reading this comic is what made is difficult from me to enjoy the first batman movie. Well, how could the joker have killed batman's parents if they are roughly the same age and batman was there when he changed? Read this great comic-novel and enjoy it much as I did, you won't be sorry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful Book!! A Tribute To The Dark Knight!!!
I just recently received this book,and I can tell you it is well worth having. True, there are definitely some covers that are missing (in my opinion all of Jim Lee's covers should have been here from the Hush series. OUTSTANDING!!!) A beautifully done book to add to your Batman collection. This book does not cover all of Batman's many comic book covers, but this was not to be expected. Instead they point out some of his most daring and bold covers. Batman has had the benefit of being drawn by some of the greatest comic book artist ever. I beleive you will find it truly amazing how each one has their own distinctive style on creating the Dark Knight. So make sure you own this one. You won't be sorry. Hey, maybe they'll make a volume 2.

It's about time, for someone like Batman
Well first, it's Batman; that might be enough reason to buy it, even for the price. (I'm a collector anyway, so what's some bucks?) Anyway, it features a number of cool and "forgotten" covers done over the 65+ years of Batman being in comics. I was even surprised some of the covers of War Games got in, really nice. There are some well-written commentaries too, by artists and editors and the like, and what cover they picked.

The cover of the book itself is great. I thought it was just a hardbound book; it turns out, the dust jacket reveals some more to it. I was in awe when I opened it, well done.

My only rant, not all of the covers I wished to be there was not there. Well, that's how it is. Tec#700 and Strange Apparitons, I think, should've been in the list. Well, all in all if you have the money and would really have something to keep for a number of years, get this. Well, if not, I hope you can browse through it when you get a chance. It would be great.

... Read more

Reviews (50)

Solid, but ultimately disappointing, Batman murder mystery
This graphic novel gathers together all 13 issues of "Batman: The Long Halloween", written and drawn, respectively, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. The story revolves around Carmine "The Roman" Falcone, the ruthless head of Gotham's fiercest gangster empire. The Roman is responsible for countless murders, hijackings, and crimes throughout Gotham, but authorities have never been able to convict him (most of the graft-ridden city is either on his payroll or bribable). Batman, along with a young Captain Gordon and headstrong District Attorney Harvey Dent, is determined to rid Gotham of Falcone's corruption, but he soon learns that a mysterious figure may have already beaten him to the punch: a serial killer, known only as "Holiday", is currently on the loose in Gotham and preying on members of Falcone's extended "family". Batman, Gordon, and Dent now face a combined problem: bringing Falcone to justice, while also ending Holiday's deadly spree.

One of "The Long Halloween"'s primary goals is to provide backstory on Gotham's crime lord past, and this is where the novel truly shines. Readers finally get to see the crime organizations that controlled much of Gotham in the early days (this dark past was hinted at in other Batman stories, but it's more fully explored here). In addition, "The Long Halloween" contains a fascinating retelling of Harvey Dent's past, which will be warmly welcomed by fans of this sometimes morally-dubious friend of Batman's. Unfortunately, readers hoping for a significant glimpse into Batman's own psyche will be sorely disappointed; Batman remains a cipher throughout most of the novel, speaking always in a terse, stacatto rhythm and providing little in the way of a glimpse into his mind's inner workings.

While "The Long Halloween" is competently written, it suffers from a lack of originality and a workman-like narrative drive. The ideas explored here (Italian gangsters and serial killers) are mildly intriguing within the larger context of Gotham, but Loeb doesn't infuse them with many new twists, so they remain tired cliches in this story. Also, in an attempt to give an "epic" feel to this saga, Loeb introduces many of Batman's most infamous foes into the mix (The Joker, The Riddler, The Scarecrow, and The Mad Hatter are just some of the villains on display here). However, the characters are introduced and then dispatched so quickly by Batman, that they don't provide any real sense of drama (in fact, at times, they almost seem to be there for comic relief, which doesn't seem quite right). I think this story would have benefitted from focusing on a much smaller handful of villains, rather than the scattershot approach it takes.

I similarly found the ending of the story and the mystery to be somewhat unsatisfying, although I acknowledge that this is a matter of individual tastes. While it's interesting to see Batman (and Gordon and Dent) involved in such a bizarre murder mystery, the story doesn't play fair with the standard "rules" of the genre--some may say this makes for a breath of fresh air in the Batman universe (and the mystery genre itself), but I think it amounts to a bit of a cheat for trusting readers. In the end, it's difficult to tell just how ambiguous Loeb intended certain elements of the mystery to be; in fact, there's a convincing argument to be made that some of the ambiguity is merely due to sloppy storytelling. Gotham and the larger Batman universe provide fertile ground for this style of mystery, but "The Long Halloween" ultimately fails to deliver on that promise.

Fantastic early-career Batman story
Long Halloween works on so many levels. I went into this book knowing how it was going to end and it still captivated me. It is both a murder mystery and a story of a fall from grace. The main plotline-the mystery of the identity of a serial killer who murders members of the Falcone and Maroni crime families every major holiday-almost takes a back seat to the tragic transformation of Harvey Dent, who starts out as Batman and Captain Gordon's partner and friend and becomes one of their greatest foes by the end of the story. This series ranks alongside the Killing Joke as an important piece of Batman continuity as well as examining Batman's relationship with his enemies. Loeb's writing is good minimalism, packing so much power into so little dialouge. Tim Sale's artwork is just beautiful. He is one of the most talented pencilers ever, and breaths new visual life to several Batman characters. The series is lenghty but it is also fast paced and can be read in a relatively short amount of time. The pacing of the artwork is near-perfect, save for the unsettling abundance of splash pages. This series also well balances Batman's foes between pyschologically and physically deformed supercriminals and regular human gansters. After reading this and the first issue of its follow-up Dark Victory, one can only wonder why team Long Halloween does not work on a regular Batman title.

My favorite Batman book, part 1
This is the book that got me back into graphic novels/comics. A lush, noir-esque story with great twists and turns as well as a new take on a classic villian that retains the basic origin while expanding it slightly.

It's set early in Batman's career, before Robin and before his role was clear in the eyes of police. The only person who believes in him and what he's doing is Jim Gordon, at this point only a lieutenant in the police force.

Fantastic art and a brilliantly written story. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have quickly become my favorite tandem in graphic novels. Brilliant work! Brilliant!

Great Two-Face Story, Terrible Batman Story!
Here's another offering from the kings of retro, Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (artist), reexamining Batman during his mythical "Year One" period. If you believe the intro to this volume, this story was meant to be a sequel to Frank Miller's classic retelling of the Dark Knight's early days in "Batman: Year One" (1986/7). As a story, this work is pretty weak in many areas; as a sequel, is simply falls short of the tight, mature storytelling of Frank Miller's original.

The story centers on the Roman family (originally introduced in "Batman: Year One"), a serial killer who offs people in creative ways during holiday seasons and the trio out to stop the crimes - Batman, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent. Tim Sale is especially suitable for a work like this - his moody, atmospheric and splash-pages art are truly a sight to behold. You feel yourself being sucked into Batman's Gotham. My primary complaint is with Jeph Loeb's writing. Like my previous review of "Superman for All Seasons", my views of the man's writing hasn't changed. I like HOW he writes - I just dislike WHAT he writes! He's a great scripter, providing witty, timely and simply apt dialogues and caption boxes that the whole thing read very smoothly even though it runs into 300+ pages. The problem is with his insipid plotting. He should have someone else plot his tales and script over them. For example, in order to maintain the novelty of "holiday-themed killings", the story is stretched across THIRTEEN months and countless murders - and finally Batman catches the killer (but we are told that he got the wrong guy). And this is the "World's Greatest Detective"? Meanwhile, Batman consults a Hannibal-Lecter-like Calendar Man who is incapacitated in prison but seemingly knows the identity of the killer (?!?). See the problem? Batman, Gordon and Harvey are supposedly super-cops and they run around like madmen without a clue to the killer and you have this locked-up guy knowing the truth behind everything? Granted, Loeb was trying to set up a "Silence of the Lambs" scene with Calendar Man but therein lies the weakness of the whole thing. It is a scene set up for its own sake and doesn't contribute anything to the STORY. We live in times wherein comic writers are a lot more influenced by TV and movies than literature. And Loeb, former screenwriter, epitomize this new breed of writers who set up cool scenes, writes clever dialogue, provides the atmosphere with the right artistic collaboration but ultimately delivers something very hollow and shallow. "The Long Halloween" is often compared to the pulp classics of Chandler and Hammett. I disagree vehemently. Loeb and Sale gave us "mood" and "cool scenes" but ultimately the story is without gusto, the characters lack the machismo and grit of true noirish anti-heroes, and though the atmosphere is there, it lacks the tight, all-encompassing claustrophobia of the great noirish works.

The only redeeming factor in this work is the retelling of Two-Face's origin. Loeb is especially great in the quiet "character" moments and here, the tragic story of Harvey Dent's transformation into Two-Face is beautifully retold. But Loeb's strength is often his most-glaring fault at the same time. For example the book begins with a full-page drawing of a grim-looking Bruce Wayne muttering, "I believe in Gotham City" - a scene I found to be laughably out-of-character for the flamboyant playboy persona of Bruce Wayne! This kinds of out-of-character scenes abound throughout the story. All in all, this story should have been better written by a more gritty writer like Greg Rucka or Ed Brubaker (both of them have written far better Batman stories than Loeb here).

My favorite Batman book, part 1
This is the book that got me back into comics! I've been a Batman fan for years but these two guys reeled me in to the comics.

This story takes place early in Batman's career. How early? No Robin, Harvey is still "Apollo" Harvey Dent, and James Gordon is still married to his wife. It's essentialy a murder mystery involving the Falcone crime family, back when there were REAL criminals running Gotham as opposed to the classic Bond-villians-on-acid criminals! Members of this family are being hit and the killer leaves macabe souveniers related to the holiday on which the murder occurs. Everyone is suspect, the conclusion is startling; everything I love in film noir murder mystery!

The art is more realistic than other Batman books. My only quip is the way catwoman was designed. They reached the design apex on the animated series. But in this book she has large eye holes, large ears, and whiskers in a attempt to make her more cat-like. Selina Kyle is WONDERFULLY done! The best drawn character is the Joker, he's my favorite anyway!

This is my favorite book because it's back to the essentials: Batman kicks the crap out of criminals, no supernatural stuff, and a great emotional comples for our hero! Bravo! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cape & Cowl
Don't you just love it when two great athletes team up?

Batman and Superman have been around for decades. Two of the main reasons people still read comics today, these two icons have appeared in -- literally -- thousands of stories ... facing threats to themselves ... challenging threats to world peace ... and making the world safe for the rest of us at the risk to their own personal safety.

However, PUBLIC ENEMIES -- under the guidance of Jeph Loeb -- takes the old and makes it new, bringing a remarkable freshness to characters who have seen some great days and, undoubtedly, have greater ones to come.

A huge meteor is hurtling across space, taunting the destruction of the planet Earth. No big deal, you say? Just send Superman into space to knock the rock off its trajectory? While it sounds like a good idea, you have to remember that the author of this work is Jeph Loeb, arguably one of the best minds working in comics today (and, for those of you in the know, he's also a consultant for the WB's hit SMALLVILLE): this meteor is a hunk from the planet Krypton ... making it Kryptonite ... and meaning that Superman is absolutely powerless against it! Its radiation threatens the survival of the entire planet, and only these two superminds and supertalents combined can find a way to save the day and put right all that has been thrown into chaos since Lex Luther was elected President of the United States.

What? Lex Luthor? President?

Clearly, PUBLIC ENEMIES is not necessarily a great 'jumping on' point for new readers. There may be some resulting confusion due to storylines hinted at that occured before this tome (Lex Luthor's election as President of the United States, Luthor's attempt to wrest control of Gotham City from billionaire Bruce Wayne, Commissioner James Gordon's retirement from the police force, etc.), but these hints serve moreso as nods to other great Batman and Superman stories for the newcomer to go and explore. Also, ENEMIES is replete -- one may argue too much so -- with guest appearances (Captain Atom, Major Force, Solomon Grundy, **drool** the lovely Power Girl, etc.) from the whole pantheon of DC villains and superheroes ... so many that that the final showdown between Luthor and Superman does feel a bit rushed to get this entire story told in what was originally six issues of the new Batman/Superman comic book, but that's a minor critique easily dismissed thanks to the strength of Loeb's work. The real magic of PUBLIC ENEMIES is that it should be considered on its own and of its own merits ... of which there are (thankfully) plenty.

Also, Ed McGuinness deserves a nod for delivering some stunning artwork to back up Loeb's epic storyline. The drawings are crisp and fluid, the coloring is dynamite and eye-popping, and the layout is exceptional.

ENEMIES is a friend worth finding.

Excellent Story, Beautiful Art
Jeph Lopeb has outdone himself on tackling arguably two of the most popular heroes in pop culture, the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight. Now, many attempts at the team-ups between the two titans have been done, some with mediocre success and some with no success. Jeph Loeb's story is a far cry from any of the older World's Finest type stories that have featured the two heroes. It is very well plotted and is executed to near perfection.

The story starts off with a large chunk of kryptonite on a collision course with Earth. Luthor uses this to his advantage and puts a $1 billion bounty of Superman's spit-curl and even hires a meta-human team boasting the inclusion of Green Lanter, Powergirl, Captain Comet etc. And add to that the JSA also sends Hawkman and Captain Marvel after them and they get into a showdown. And if that wasn't bad enough, an older Superman (the Kingdom Come version) drops into the bat cave and beats the tar out of Superman and Batman. This is done in order to ensure that no one dies from the mistakes made here and now.

There are also sub-plots that include possible information as to the identity of the murderer of Bruce Wayne's parent (yeah I know...I thought Batman knew the killer, but this was apparently all debunked in the pre- and post-crisis stuff) brought forth by Superman.

Now, the amount of stuff touched on by Loeb in these first few issues just goes to show you that the man got a million ideas in his head. Hopefully they will come to fruition in the future issues.

And finally the art....I have not been a big-fan of Ed McGuinesses' work (dating back to his earlier work on various Superman series). They always looked too cartoony, in a bad catoony way. But this time his art was perfect. It was still cartoony but it was good cartoony (make whatever you want out of that).

If you like tight story-telling with a lot of action with a lot of substance (and who wouldn't want that?) this book is for you.

Almost Perfect--I Can't wait for the next one.
Another lame team-up between the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader, you say?

Not so! Public Enemies presents an original story of, you guessed it, saving the world from, you guessed it again, Lex Luthor. As unlikely as an original story on that material may seem, Jeph Loeb delivers here, giving interesting insights into the history and development of the relationship between these two brightest stars in the DC universe, while rolling in other characters, many seldom seen in recent years.

Ed McGuinness' art is wonderful, though don't expect the edgier look of Loeb and Jim Lee's "Hush." The two-page action spreads acattered throughout are great, and don't make you feel like the story is suffering so the artist can have more room to draw.

I especially liked how Loeb showed Batman's and Superman's thoughts about their situations and each other parallel on the page. I like how the ending was left open for another confrontation down the road, but my one complaint is a rather important gap in how Batman and Superman get from fighting Hawkman and Captain Marvel in Japan to busting into the White House. Superman explains it, but I would rather have seen it, personally (although I guess that would take away some of the surprise).

Another great book from Jeph Loeb, and cheers for Ed McGuiness.
BUY THIS BOOK. It will not disappoint.

Brilliant
Jeph Loeb is the best writer to tackle Superman OR Batman in many a year, and putting them together in one series has been a magnificent success. Buoyed by wonderful artwork by Ed McGuiness, in this volume President Lex Luthor cons the Earth into believing that Superman is responsible for a planet-killer sized asteroid of pure Kryptonite that is falling towards the planet. Superman and Batman, with their few loyal allies, have to avoid the heroes trying to capture them, bring down the corrupt Luthor, and save the world from the meteor.

The key to this book is contrast. Superman is bright and hopeful. Batman is dark and cynical. Somehow, together, they WORK. And they work BEAUTIFULLY. Read this book and find out why this crimefighting duo will always be the World's Finest. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

One Of The Best Batman Adventures Ever Created
Batman: Hush Volume 2 is the sequel to Volume 1 of the mysterious and exciting Hush series which was a bestseller monthly title that was delivered for a year. Batman: Hush is written by DC COMICS legend, Jeph Loeb [The writer who wrote Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory, considered some of the best Batman tales ever written] and illustrated by Jim Lee [An artist whose artwork was so amazing that a completely new series of X-Men comics were created to showcase it]. Volume 2 showcases Chapters 6 to 12 in the Hush saga. In the first volume, the Batman nearly fell to his death but after being helped by his childhood friend, Doctor Thomas Elliot, he is restored and takes up his cape and cowl to figure out why his enemies have been overstepping their own customary boundaries. You can expect to see a cast of familiar and fascinating villians of the Batman Universe including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Ra's Al Ghul, The Riddler and a couple of more. The entire Hush storyline is captivating, and very mysterious as readers struggle to discover the identity of "the bandaged man in a trench coat" who colides with the Batman in a few exciting sequences. If you're wondering wheter to buy this book or not the answer is simple...buy it in hardcover. It is awesome and awe-inspiring and with one of the best comic book writers and artists creating it, it becomes a very exciting read to read over and over and over and over [You get it] again.

Batman Hush
Batman Hush was extremely dissapointing for me since I am a huge fan of his previous stories. Many comic book fans were dissapointed since they expected a classic. We didn't get a classic but we did get an average story. Batman Hush is a mystery and you'll probably try and figure out who's beneath the bandages unless you collected the issues a year ago.

A great part of this book is the art. Jim Lee is a great artist in my opinion and I hope that he'll work with Jeph Loeb in the near future. The only problem is that lots of the characters look the same. Harvey Dent looks like a bald version of Bruce Wayne while Lex looks like a slightly fatter version of Thomas Elliot.

Another good thing about this story is the relationship between Catwoman and Batman. Batman reveals to her that he is Batman and then things get a lot more interesting until the end.

The end is actually this story's downfall in my opinion. I believe that the story could've been much better if Jeph Loeb had been allowed to write a couple more issues so that he could explain everything a bit more.

In conclusion, I believe that fans of comic books should give this a chance since it is extremely popular and lots of people still talk about it right now. I suggest that you read The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Daredevil Yellow, and When In Rome when it comes out. TLH,DV,and DY are all much better then HUSH and I suspect that When In Rome will also be better since it deals with Catwoman. Jeph Loeb always does well when he's writing about Catwoman.

For the love of God, don't read this book!
Looking for a good Batman story? Well, keep looking, because "Hush" isn't it. No, this is by far one of the worst Batman stories I've ever read. The likely fact that it was produced purely to make money and quite obviously devoid of any actual desire on the part of DC or Loeb to create a good comic is made obvious by the fact that a 12-issue story was published in two money-making volumes rather than one.

"Hush" has more holes in its plot than a piece of swiss cheese. The main villain remains a complete enigma even after the story is over. All the other villains that show up have an extremely strong feeling of "I'm just here so Jim Lee can draw me" behind them (I mean, did we REALLY need that sudden, unexplained, and way-too-short Scarecrow cameo?) Same for the needless appearance of Superman and the countless other guest stars. Events happen with no explanation, and by the end the "story" (such as it is) has become so muddled and, quite frankly, stupid that the ending doesn't even matter. The last page could have been a two-year-old's drawing of Batman taking a poop and it wouldn't have made the story any worse.

You want the truth about "Hush"? (Or at least what seems the likeliest explanation for this abomination?) DC wanted a way to boost sales of "Batman." They decided to team up two fan-favorite stellar creators: Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. All fine and good...or so one would think. What seems most likely is that either DC or Lee chose what characters would appear in the story so that Jim Lee could draw as many people as possible. Loeb was then left to create a story that would fit the umpteen-million characters in for Lee to draw. I guess he didn't try too hard, because this is all he came up with.

So, if you like stories that don't make sense, stories where Batman doesn't act like Batman, or stories that feature so many guest stars it feels more like a gallery than a story, then this just might be for you. If you like real, character-based, plot-driven stories, pass this by. PLEASE.

Or you can just be fooled by the pretty artwork (overrated, in my opinion) like everyone else.

Killer Art by Jim Lee continues...
I used to assume that given his flair and elegant drawing style, there's no way Jim Lee could tackle the dark, grim and gritty portrayal of Batman's world. Yet Hush shatters all my doubts. This guy rocks man! I could spend hours savoring the illustration alone and not caring about the story but the story is also top notch.

Loeb Does it Again! Lee's Art is Outstanding!
Batman: Hush Vol. 1 & 2, are a nice collector's edition. It should not, however, stop someone from collecting last years monthly story. Loeb is one of the few who can create a tight story with a good plot and has a nack for using multiple characters out of the DC universe. Who is the responsible villain this time: Ivy, Two face, Joker, Riddler, or is it someone else, deep from Batman's past?

This story is a little more predicatble than "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory" but still is engaging enough to bring the reader in and hold his or her interests until the final pages, even if they figure it out. Again, Batman gets pushed to the edge in a believable way (yes, even though it is a comic, some resemblance of realism must still take place for the reader to enjoy the story).

An overall great story that all can enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Almost unbearably fantastic!
Loeb has proved himself to be one of the best Batman writers around, and Lee was already a comic book legend after his run on X-Men. Together, they have created one of the most intriquing Batman stories in recent memory, at least one that takes place in the actual continuity of the Bat-books.

Vol. 1 collects the first five issues in the 12-part "Hush" storyline. This first installment sets up much of what is to come in this storyline, introducing Bruce Wayne's boyhood friend Tommy, and the mysterious bandaged stranger unofficially dubbed Hush, who really, really has it out for Bats and can get at him (I spoil nothing for anyone by stating that my prediction is that Tommy and bandage-face will turn out to be the same person).

Lee's take on the world of Batman is simply stunning; he is producing the art of his career on this run. I love his take on Killer Croc, who finally actually looks like a monstrous human crocodile the way Lee draws him. Superman pops up, and while it's cool to see Lee draw him as well (before he takes over the artistic reins on a Superman comic after this Batman run), I'm sick of Batman and Supes getting pared up, it's been done TO DEATH! ENOUGH ALREADY, THEIR CONTRASTS AS CHARACTERS AREN'T ENOUGH TO WARRANT THESE ENDLESS TEAM UPS!!! Ahem. Anyway, I can't wait to read the end of this storyline in a few days and find out who this 'Hush' guy is...

A great story!
This book is the first in a series that teams up Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee in a new DC adventure. In this story, when Batman discovers Killer Croc involved in a kidnapping, he realizes that there is more here than meets the eye. When Catwoman enters the fray, he realizes that something very strange is going on. And, when the trail leads to Poison Ivy and Metropolis, things begin to get downright weird! Old enemies put in an appearance in this story, as do old friends, and sometimes it's hard to tell who are the friends and who are the enemies!

This is a great story! I loved the storyline, with all its twists and turns, and found the illustrations to be absolutely excellent! My son and I both loved this story, and highly recommend it. We're also breathlessly waiting until we can see the sequel!

Candy For The Comic Fan
The average comic fan struggles between trying to "look" mature and giving in to their childhood fantasies. Having said all that, the average comic fan is actually far more intelligent than most people think. I mean, the world is only now discovering things like the "Matrix" films and these are things that comic readers have taken for granted for years.

I, and many like me, have been "seduced" by the intellectually satisfying and literary rich writings of post-modern comic scribes like Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis. These masters of deconstructionist, post-modern writing always seem to come up with new ways of reinventing the entire comic genre. However, all that said, there is still that part of me that is a lot less cerebral and a lot more visceral... or more romantic. It's that part of me that gasp with bated breath when Green Lantern takes his oath or when the Batman swoops down unto the roof of the GCPD in answer to Commissioner Gordon's call. And for that, I turn to Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's "Batman : Hush".

Jeph Loeb doesn't pretend to be what he's not. He's not from the fraternity of "2000 A.D." British writers who deconstructs superheroes to show them for the fascists they really are. Jeph Loeb is a romantic - of the "Casablanca" sort. He loves superheroes and it shows in his works (check out "Superman For All Seasons" and his Marvel "color" books for further evidence). And here in "Hush", we have Loeb writing a story that I believe he himself wanted to read. All the best writers write for themselves... for their own pleasure rather than for the approval of a board of critics. In short, Loeb writes as a fellow fan to fellow fans who want to see a great Batman-Superman bout, a Batman-Catwoman romance, a Batman-Joker fight-to-the-death, etc. - you get the point! More than that, he writes for the artist. In this case, Jim Lee. Jeph Loeb is as much a fan of Lee as many of us. So he writes the scenes that he himself (and most of us) wants to see Jim bring to glorious life with his pencils. For example, who doesn't want to see Poison Ivy drawn by Jim Lee?

That brings us to the artist. Need I tell you that Jim Lee is the creator of the highest-selling comicbook of all time (X-Men #1)? Need I tell you that Jim Lee is the founder of Wildstorm? But more important than that, we respect the man for his art - which can be summed up as merely a strong sense of the human figure and tight, super-detailed backgrounds. Having grown up with his work on X-Men and Punisher, I must say that he has improved greatly here on Batman, giving us (dare I say it) the most definitive Batman since Neal Adams in the 1970s. All that is brought to glorious life by the tight inking work of frequent collaborator Scott Williams and colorist Alex Sinclair.

This first of two volumes collects the first five parts of the Hush storyline along with an introductory "origin" of Batman told from Alfred's perspective. Jeph Loeb provides the foreword himself and the book includes biographies of the creators. I gave it four stars instead of five because the paper is awfully thin. Seeing that this is a hardcover collection of the highest-selling comic of 2003, D.C. should have used a heavier paper-stock - like they did on the wonderful Green Arrow hardcovers.

All in all, I recommend this book for those who grew up with Batman and those who would like a taste of the "real" Batman apart from the awful movies.

Delicious
Jim Lee.

He's the reason I am giving this book five stars.

Over the past year this story has kept comic books readers fascinated. It has almost held the #1 spot for the 11 months that it has been on sale. And this is due to Jim Lee's spectacular art work. In this book Lee pays a true homage, to my favorite comic book character. He is the reason I bought four copies of the book at a time. And he is the reason I bought this trade.

The story on the other hand is something else. Jeph Loeb's sense of storytelling is more of a "tell" than a "show". Most of the story is driven forward by the narration in Batman's head. The premise of Hush is supposed to be someone manipulating Batman's foes to get at him. But the truth of the matter is, with the exception of Killer Croc' (who is supposed to be too stupid to stage a kidnapping) it really isn't shown.

And of course there is Batman's "romance" with Catwoman.

Words can not express how put off with this part of the story. It's purely contrived and annoying. Catwoman comes on to Batman in one of the most sexually agressive moves I have seen in a mainstream comic book. And by the next issue he is in love?

Please

In other Batman books (including Dark Victory and The Long Halloween-also written by Loeb) he would have spurned her advances. To tell you the truth it is the portrayal of Catwoman that has ruined the book for me. The portrayal of Catwoman has to be the most annoying portrayal I have ever seen of the character. For the entire arc Catwoman behaviour alternates from bimbo to vixen. When she's a bimbo she comes across as comic relief in a tv sitcom. When she's a vixen, she comes across like the Baroness in the Sound of Music. I don't know what Jeph Loeb was doing as he's portrayed her excellently twice before. Her dialogue just grates on my nerves.

Still I must praise Loeb for giving such a great profile to Huntress. Another vigilante who gets along with Batman, like oil gets along with water. He portrayed her excellently , the fighter she is and how she will still do the right thing, no matter how badly she is treated by others.

Still I would recommend this book to Batman fans and collectors. Jim Lee's art work is worth every penny.

Just a good comic book
The art of Lee is nice like all his work men strong, women hot. I can't deny that, however, his Joker is the worst I've ever seen. But the story, well... maybe it would be great in 1 or 2 issues, but not twelve!!!! I think is sucessfull because Loeb know how to write the last page of each issue to keep you waiting for the next, but in two or three years when people can get the book all together, it would be forgotten. Batman look sometimes like a cyborg, sometimes like a fool, sometimes like the bad guy, but never like the DETECTIVE that he is. If you want a really great Batman's story read anything that Frank Miller had wrote. ... Read more

Book Description

Written and illustrated by Frank Miller; cover by Miller.

The most eagerly-awaited sequel in comics begins! Three years after the events in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, Batman knows the world is nowhere near the perfect little place it pretends to be, and he sees the cracks in the system that have been neatly covered up. It's time to find where all the heroes have gone, and the Dark Knight is the right man for the job. ... Read more

Reviews (170)

we should'a known what we were in for...
Like everyone else, I was excited by the prospect of Frank Miller revisiting Batman, in the form of a sequel to the original Dark Knight book, no less. Like everyone else, I imagine, that's about as far as I thought it through. I mean, what more was there to do and/or say after the original series, which wrapped up in a tidy way? Not much at all, as this next installment proves.

The original "Dark Knight Returns" was about refashioning a character that had virtually lanquished to the point of irrelevancy in the comics world (something that artist Neal Adams began with his darker take on Bats in the "Brave and the Bold" comics in the seventies). Miller succeeded in making Batman iconic and relevant again, and did it in a manner that was enjoyable in a comic-book context. "DK2" is rarely enjoyable in a comic sense. Other reviewers here want to credit Miller with some kind of bold vision for his hasty-looking art in this book; I think it mostly looks like [garbage], and detracts from, and is distracting to, the story he's trying to tell.

And the story, well, blah. Wouldnt've this story have benifited from a narrower focus? Did it have to involve nearly every major DC superhero? Batman is largely just here in spirit; almost the entire second installment concerns Superman. I like the idea of Carrie leading the reckless group of former mutants as a Bat-modeled strike force, but Miller misses an opportunity by doing nothing with this subplot. What I did like is Miller riffing on current politics; his computer-generated G. W. Bush is a funny counterpart to the first book's nuke-mad Reagan; and Lynn Varley's coloring adds a brilliant surreal edge to the proceedings. Also, the appearance of one of the Robins was a weird, funny and unexpected moment. Yes, this is one-of-a-kind stuff from one of comicdom's most potent iconoclasts, but as it has nearly nothing to do with the original book, as it failed to deliver on the excitement that the words Miller/Batman/Dark Knight 2 carried, it was all just a sick tease.

Near Classic
Frank Miller completely overhauls the older Bruce Wayne he created in The Dark Knight Returns. Gone are the miniscule panels filled with words as well as the pages and pages of talking heads. The story, although dealing with a revolution led by superheroes, seems less epic than the first series did. Instead, Miller has decided to scale everything back except for the panels. Miller has replaced the intricacy of his original series with a rough art and storytelling style. As in the first series, there are no shortages of ideas - this time Miller's creativity spills over into the other superheroes of the DC Universe (even The Atom looks cool)while he segues heavily into Superman's reawakening into the world around him. While every new idea of his is intriguing, he doesn't follow through with them as he did in the first, and this is probably the main problem with the work. In attempting to create a rough punk rock aesthetic Miller has left an awful lot of loose ends. (The secret villian at the end just didn't seem to mesh). The question is, would you rather have an artist go out on a limb and be moderately successful, or have him regurgitate his past work? My vote is with the former. Miller had a ton of fun with this one and it translates into a good read. Surprisingly, it's probably one of the funniest comics I've read in a really long time. A near classic from an artist who doesn't fear breaking other people's expectations.

Not Enough Batman
First off, I enjoyed The Dark Knight Returns very much, but was a little let down with this one. Why? Batman was hardly in it! Superman was probably featured most. It should have been part of the Justice League since it featured every obscure superhero in depth, except Batman. Even Catgirl (formerly Robin, which was a change that annoyed me) got more page time than him. Interesting, a little hard to follow, and overall inferior to DKR. Recommended reading, but you probably won't read it twice.

A bat for a president?
This is an important work. The comic itself brings into the world of comics the strain of overyday politics. I believe that it is more important today than ever, since we can see many of the dark aspects of this future world slowly emerge in the world today, i.e. in the wake of mr. B. et. al.

Struck-Out This Time
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, is lacking in so many things. It has the build up of a good story by asking some interesting questions, such as: why is the government so corrupt?, what happened to Batman's legacy? Who is behind the public's missinformation? Who secretly controls the world? Why are the other super heros afraid to do anything? The good thing is that all of these and many other questions are answered in this book. But the answers seem to pander to a more fantasy theme of a comic book in contrast to the surreal world of a noir gotham city. There is good monologue and dialog between character (making Frank Miller's style more apparent.) But it lacks character depth and dark over-tones, it lacks the excellent monologue and good artwork. The colors are done nicely through each frame, but the drawings are terribly sloppy! You'll cringe at the drawing of Superman's face, which looks like it's melting. The character drawings are vomit inducing. The story becomes more silly as you read into it. Frank Miller also crammed too many characters into the story. It's nice that it had lots of cameo appearance of other super heros, but throw in the media characters, villians and the public people, and politicians. You'll notice that the story feels convulted and losses focus of the key character = BATMAN.
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, is a big let down.

(...) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A true "Collector's Edition"
It was a strange time for comics, that this collection could be made. Sold at the height of the 80's collectors boom, "The Complete Frank Miller Batman" is a luxury edition of the type usually reserved for "Moby Dick." Leather-bound and silver lined, the book smells of quality. High paper quality and good inks contribute to a comics experience rarely seen elsewhere. Truly, it is the luxury car of comics.

The stories inside deserve this level of presentation. "The Dark Knight Returns," available in many other collected editions, is one of the premier works of art produced by the comics medium. "Batman: Year One" is a gem of equal quality. The third piece, "Wanted: Santa Claus-Dead or Alive" is not written by Miller, and lacks the drama of the other stories. He is the artist, only. Still, it is a nice single issue Batman story, representative of that era.

Also included in this edition are introductions by comics resident genius Alan Moore, as well as Richard Burning and a little introspection by Frank Miller.

Definitely worth picking up.

A Must Have for the Comic Collection
Frank Miller revolutionized comics in America, and quite possibly the world. With sophisticated plots and asorbing artwork, the reader becomes intangled with the charaters as much as he or she would with any play, movie, or novel. This collection, has two of Miller's greatist works: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. The third story is cute and works well in the collection as a bridge between the other two stories.

"Batman: Year One" is the first story in the collection (actually the last one of the three written) and it is a story that many Batman fans had hoped the fisrt Batman movie would have been based on. It is well told, and the major players in the Batman saga are introduced: Batman, Gordon, Alfed and Selina Kyle (Catwomen). It is a well written story and as good as any in the last 20 years of any genre.

The second story in this special is "Wanted: Santa Claus-Dead or Alive." This is a quick piece and doesn't involve too much, but does show a caring and revernt Batman.

The last is Miller's magnum opus, "The Dark Knight Returns." This four chapter story is spectacular and a great piece of work: both in story telling and various artist expression. This psychological drama deals with an aging Batman, who at the age of 55, comes back to fight crime after a ten year absence. Miller insightfully deals with many subjects now addressed by our popular media. For example, the idea of a liberal soceity blaming crime on the agents of heroism instead on personal evil. Miller writes and demonstrates that victims are innocent people who try to live a virtous life, and Batman fights to protect a city dying of a cancer.

Comic collectors need this special leather bound book with commentaries by Richard Burning and Alan Moore. Frank Miller himself writes some notes which personalizes this special edition that much more. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the success of the Superman Masterpiece Edition comes another nostalgic celebration of the equally popular Batman. Since 1939, this nocturnal super hero has been the tragically orphaned Bruce Wayne by day, and the moody but fearless guardian of Gotham City by night. Our classic boxed set captures the golden age of the Caped Crusader with an exclusive action figure of the early Batman (complete with utility belt, wire-framed cape, and a Batarang); the first-ever facsimile reprint of the first Batman comic book; and a lavishly illustrated, full-color hardcover book by best-selling author Les Daniels detailing Batman's early years. This deluxe boxed set is thoroughly collectible, and a must-have for Batman fans across the world. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Batman and Robin join forces to fight the Joker and more.
This truly is a masterpiece of a masterpiece of a kind. That didn't make since what so ever but I don't get paid to make since... well acutely I don't get paid at all, I'm just some poor guy who has to much free time. If you excuse me while I mope... why God why? I'm so useless! And alone! Oh sob!!! OK I'm done. Hello I'm Joshua Dave Mathewsband and I'm here to recommend "THE MASTERPIECE EDITION OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF BATMAN"! It's kind of pricey but I got it on sale last year for 20$, but if you do find it, it is well worth the money. It comes with the first Batman comic book (it's a reprint) and three other exciting stories of the worlds most famous detective. Although I should worn you that it is not the first Batman comic you see it's the first Batman comic book. Now it's my turn to boar you some history, you see Detective Comics wanted a man named Bob Kane to make a super hero as big as "SUPERMAN" and he did. His name was "THE BAT-MAN" now "BATMAN"! And he appeared in Detective Comics magazine #27. It was only a little six-paged comic that showed the world a strange man who dresses as a giant bat and fights crime. They put one short comic of The Bat-Man in their magazine once a month. They had made a lot of comics of The Bat-Man until Batmans first comic book ever came out. To read the reprint and more of The Bat-Man as in Detective Comics magazines I sagest you buy "BATMAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 1" it has the first Batman comic and 23 other ones, including the introduction of Robin the boy wonder see my recommendation for that product to learn more. Otherwise get "THE MASTERPEIECE EDITION OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF BATMAN"! or get them both.

Honoring the Golden Age of Batman (1939-1954)
In the wake of the success of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," which revived popularity in the character of Batman and resulted in four blockbuster movies, it is difficult to remember that the original comic book characters. For many, before there was Miller's Dark Knight there was Adam West's campy television Batman. However, the "Batman Masterpiece Edition" celebrates the Golden Age of the Master Detective (1939-1954). The "Batman Masterpiece Edition" consists of an illustrated hardcover book, "The Caped Crusader's Golden Age" by Les Daniels, an accurately sized reprint of the very first "Batman" comic book (not to be confused with the character's debut in "Detective Comics" #27), and a 9-inch action figure of the 1939 Batman that is the least impressive part of this boxed collection (which is now available at a greatly reduced price from its original cost).

"Batman" #1 has a concise 2-page origin story and four Batman stories including two dealing with the Joker, all of which were drawn by creator Bob Kane, who is featured on a "Meet the Artist!" page. There are also a couple of two-page cartoon strips, "Major Bigsbe an' Botts" by Paul Gustavson and "Ginger Snap" by Ted Raye, and a "Fantastic Facts" page that is a second rate version of "Ripley's Believe It or Not." Still, it is fascinating not just to read these Batman stories but also to see what else were put in comic books then.

The book "Batman: The Golden Age" has a very interesting look because it takes panels of old comics and blows them up, as well as having reproductions that are based on lesser condition old comics rather than original art (does Billy Rice know what happened to his old "Batman" comic?). Even if you have read about how Bob Kane came up with the idea for Batman you will appreciate the depth and detail that Les Daniels provides at the beginning of this volume. Every source of inspiration ever mentioned is documented with photographs of pulp covers, movie stills, and such. There are a few complete stories, as well as dozens of other pages and panels, including various advertisements, examples unpublished cover art and the daily strip that ran for a while. Batman at the movies is also part of this informative historical survey, which also provides some nice analysis of the evolution of the Joker's character. The only complaint is that it stops with the Golden Age. The "Batman Masterpiece Edition" is for those who have been fans of the Caped Crusader for decades because of the actual comic books as opposed to being turned on by what they saw on television or at the movies.

A look into theDark Knight's history
This boxed set is great reading for comic collectors and caual readers alike. The book gives a lot of information on The Dark Knight's early years and shows us what the creators were thiking when they originally developed the character. In additon. the collector's action figure is a great display or play peice and depicts the golden age version of the character. Unlike the Superman or Wonder Woman MEs, the 9 inch Batman figure is articulated and nicely detaled.he even has a golden age batarang to fling at his "foes"... You won't regret picking this masterpiece up!

Would be worth 5 stars if it retailed for less
This is a beautiful, if unnecessarily oversized and pricey, package. It consists of a large reinforced cardboard box containing a softcover reprint of Batman #1, an abbreviated hardcover version of Les Daniels' Batman: The Complete History, and a great 9" Mego-style Batman figure, with cloth outfit and the best head sculpt I've ever seen, recalling his first appearance in Detective Comics. The box lid opens like a book, and the arrangement of the items within is very nice, giving them maximum visibility. This great display, however, causes the box to be about twice the size of what it needs to be. And because of its large size, is it really necessary for it to be priced so high? While it looks impressive, this material is honestly not worth the retail price

A must for any Bat-fan
This is truly and exceptional collection for fans of the Dark Knight. The replica original comic is wonderful to read and is beautifully nostalgic. The hardbound Daniels'"Golden Age" is the perfect companion but the standout of the group is the 8" mego-like figure based on the original Bob Kane Batman of detective comics. This is absolutely the best Batman figure ever produced and is incredibly accurate in detail right down to the purple gloves. This certainly is a must have for any true disciple of the Dark Knight ... Read more

Reviews (199)

Batman at his best
I've always been a fan of Batman, but I've never been in to comic books that much. Recently I stumbled on to Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and I was really impressed. The four book saga, now combined into a graphic novel, tells the story of an aging Batman who has been retired for 10 years. Still tortured by the death of his parents, and by the growing rampant crime in the streets of Gotham, Bruce Wayne once again unleashes the Batman on Gotham's underworld. However, Batman finds himself returning into a world where super heroes are unwanted and have all but vanished.

Miller's portrayal of an overly polictically correct world with little room for Batman, is compelling and original. The book's dark portrayal of a brooding, violent, Batman who has lost his faith in the justice system's ability to rehabilitate criminals set the stage for the modern portrayal of Batman in both comics and film. In my opinion, this is a story of Batman the way he should be portrayed, as the tortured punisher of evil not the friendly neighborhood super hero. We can leave that to Superman, and if you've ever wanted to see Superman get brought down a few pegs, this is the book for you.

The artwork is gritty, intriguing and fits in perfectly with the story. This book inspired me to check out more graphic novels, and works by Frank Miller.

a comic book work unlike any other
I've been a comic book reader for many years, and to this day I cannot recall another single work of comic book art that is quite so brilliant as Frank Miller's Dark Knight. Certainly Cerebus, Sandman, Cages and From Hell are to be lauded for their genuine genius, but Dark Knight remains my all-time favourite creation. Frank Miller has written a gripping story of tragic heroism and bitter social commentary. His Batman is truly a larger-than-life, tormented hero, brilliantly conceived with his many flaws and perverse obsessions intact. Miller plays with the comic book universe beautifully, realising a world wherein the so-called "super-hero" does exist, and exploring the ramifications of this fact. Batman's final confrontation with Superman at the end of this graphic novel is bar-none the most cunningly conceived battle in comic book history. It is achingly poignant to see the two old warriors confront one another at last: Superman with his compromised good-guy! agenda and Batman with his twisted, demoniac fixation. Batman loathes the figure that Superman has become, while Clark Kent pities the poor, lost soul who has sacrificed his very existence for that which he pursues with a vengeance. "You Bruce, with your obsession..." Miller has created in Dark Knight a vividly real and passionately affecting tale of Heroes and Madmen, riveting from start to finish.

The Best Laid Graphic Novels of Mice and Men Often Go Astray
"In MY opinion..." Ankurpanchbudhe said in his list. Well I know for a fact that this is not a graphic novel, -- Ankurpanchbudhe's opinion is stupid -- and so is Ankurpanchbudhe. I'm going to write a criticism of the review that Ankurpanchebudhe started his list with. It never pleases me more than when someone calls a reprint collection in a thick softcover comic book form all in one a graphic novel. I bet if you went to a book store and looked at the "graphic novel" section and got a price guide that you would not find any graphic novels there at all. It's kind of like what we called a oneshot back when I lived in California. Kids that thought they were comic collectors would throw around the word oneshot because it made them sound smart. I got a oneshot! You got a oneshot? I have a oneshot! They have a oneshot. He has a oneshot. She has a oneshot. We have a oneshot. Everbody has a one shot. They would say. Longshot. Deadshot. Shattershot. Bloodshot. Sunspot. Blindspot. Grimlock. Shotshot. (Wouldn't that make a great super hero? Two shots on his name? Put him in a comic book and you could make a million!) Just because it has the word "shot" in it doesn't mean it's good. Don't call something a graphic novel unless you look it up in the price guide and it says GN next to it. Buy this book for what it is and you'll be a lot happier. One of these days I'm going to finish a list that has all of the things that Ankurpanchbudhe's list has criticising each criticisim blow-by-blow. None of the things on Ankurpanchbudhe's list is a graphic novel.

Best graphic novel ever done, period.
Best character (Batman), best writing, cool drawings, and, importantly, Miller does not deviate from the legend like most other comic (and Hollywood) writers seem to have a proclivity for doing. Just watch the recently released "Troy" movie to see how little regard the average writer has in keeping the mythology intact (Hector does NOT kill Meneleus in the texts, Achilles was NOT in the Trojan horse with Odysseus in the texts). Jeph Loeb, in the critically acclaimed "A Superman for All Seasons," tells us that Lex Luthor did not grow up with Clark Kent in Smallville. Why would anyone weed that out of the legend? This is a major peeve of mine. Show some respect for the legend, for Crissakes. Ironically, Loeb now produces the "Smallville" TV series, which is entirely based on the fact that the two rivals were childhood friends before their falling out.

This is the brilliance of "The Dark Night Returns." Miller completely respects the legend, while creating something entirely new at the same time.

poisonous
I'm a pretty big fan of comics; but I got something of a late start, with Sandman about 7 years ago. So there's a lot of stuff I just haven't got around to reading. I'd heard of Frank Miller, naturally -- he's one of the "big names" that you hear about, if you make even a cursory exploration into comics -- but for one reason or another I hadn't actually read any of his stuff. Without knowing anything about his work, there was something about him that didn't appeal to me, viscerally. But I was nosing around the comics section at the library the other day, and I saw his Dark Knight Returns; and it's supposed to be this seminal work, and I thought, "Hey! Finally I'll get to read some Frank Miller!"

My conclusion? Frank Miller is a fine writer, but has absolutely *no business writing superheroes.* He comes from that self-satisfied stratum of hipster, who thinks that if you aren't injecting Politics and Current Events into your art, then it's not Real Art. And it's not even well thought out politics, either. I read as much as I could. You get used to reading leftist politics, when you enjoy things like comics and fantasy and science-fiction, so I figured I could just tune it out and focus on the story. The last straw, though, was when he trots out the old saw of portraying Reagan (this was written in the '80s) as an aw-shucks idiot who is sumultaneously a somnambulist bungler and a sinister mastermind. And maybe another time I would have been able to ignore it. But I think it was just too fresh, too soon.

So I picked up the other comic I got from the library: a volume of Kurt Busiek's Astro City. What a breath of fresh air, after reading Miller's poison! The more I read, the more I just fell in love. I mean, he has superheroes who fight for god.. and they *aren't* jokes. They aren't the bad guys! How novel is that? Busiek takes superheroes seriously. He takes good and evil seriously, while still leaving room for humor, for human frailty, for both despair and hope, for real emotion. This is what superheroes are supposed to be.

So that's my endorsement for K