Batman: The Golden Age Vol. 1 (Batman: The Golden Age, 1)

It arrived earlier than expected and the paperback quality is above average. The early golden age stories about Batman are pretty interesting to read. Even if I somehow disliked reading this, which I didn't, I'm just extremely glad to see Bill Finger is finally given credit as a writer here. As a Batman fan, there were a few things I was shocked to learn about his golden age story: 1. I definitely didn't know that he straight up kills some criminals 2. Bruce Wayne's first love interest/fiancée was some woman named Julie who only appears a few times 3. Alfred Stryker and Dr. Hugo Strange are both his first rogues before encountering the Joker 4. Alfred Pennyworth never makes an appearance or mentioned 5. Dick Grayson enters the story and becomes Robin pretty early on which would technically make him the first member of the Bat family.

The Golden Age Batman, volumes one & two should absolutely be required reading for anyone that considers themselves a true fan of the Batman. The stories collected in these two volumes may be short and simple compared to today's multi-issue story arcs but they are the blueprints for our Batman of today. These stories lay the groundwork in the first two years (1939 & 1940) of a character that has survived 80 years. In these tales you will not see the dark, brooding personality we think of today as the Dark Knight. A lighter more carefree Bruce Wayne/Batman inhabit these pages. But not a less driven one. He is still devoted to stamping out crime in all its forms. Not only can you read the original, true origin of Batman but also that of Robin the Boy Wonder, Catwoman, Clayface, the Scarecrow and others, even the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. Think the Batman will not kill in his crusade against vile criminals? Are you in for a suprise as he lays to waste many evildoers across these issues. That is just one big change to the complicated crime fighter since his career began in 1939. Every Batman fan needs these two books in their collections. After reading these you will have a better grasp of who Batman is today by understanding his true beginnings. Not just the reconditioned origin story that has been rehashed and retweaked over and over again every few years by DC Comics. I've been reading Batman comics since I could read and I'm now 59. I loved reading these two books as much or more as any Batman title I've ever consumed. Do yourself a favor. Grab both volumes one and two of The Golden Age Batman and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

There was some confusion for me whether this was the same as the DC omnibus hardcover or not: it's NOT! But that's ok; it's essentially half of the hardcover DC omnibus. It looks like it's not worth the buy if you want a physical copy; the hardback comes with twice as much content and that series has 9 volumes out whereas this only has 6. However, if you're like me and like the digital download, it's overall MUCH cheaper. I also enjoy reading the golden age superman and the silver age flash and green lantern, so there's plenty of other content to keep you busy while you wait for volume 7 of this series to come out. Plus, whoever worked on the guided view of the comic did an awesome job. I have a smaller tablet and sometimes I read on my phone. Having the whole panel fill the screen effortlessly makes this totally worth they buy IF you're doing the digital download. But if you really want a hard copy, search for the Batman Golden Age Omnibus in hardback.

This is a great book for Batman fans everywhere. I loved seeing the original Batman because it has so much character. All in all worth the five stars.

If this is your first purchase of the original "Golden Age" Batman stories, you are in for a treat. These early stories are pure "pulp," pure Crime Noir! More like the Shadow in its grit and danger than the kinder, gentler "superhero" stories that come later. You'll find the early evolution of his costume, of the Bat-Mobile, Wayne Manor and the Batcave, the addition of Robin, and the introduction of iconic villains such as The Joker. This Joker isn't silly. His laugh is haunting, his crimes terrible. The book itself is arguably the best presentation of this material ever. The reproductions are clear, the colors vibrant, and on 'regular' paper not the slick pages of the expensive Archives hardbacks. If you've bought the Batman Chronicles volumes then you have what's in this book, but this book presents it better. I have most of the Chronicles volumes and this restart is of much better quality. If there is a negative here, it's that DC keeps reprinting the same material over and over again. This content has been released as "Archives," "Omnibuses," "Chronicles," and now the simply-titled "Golden Age." Long timers such as myself are desperate for DC to move out of the early 1940s and reprint--for the first time--the late '40s and 1950s material. Same for the "Silver Age" run: DC needs to get past the 1960s and into the 1970s and early 1980s. DC ended its Showcase Presents black-and-white line just as many runs were entering the 1970s (Batman, Superman, Justice League, Green Lantern). It's disappointing that they also ended the Chronicles line to start over with this one. I'm afraid I'm going to die of old age before they get around to the stuff I haven't already read before.

I had heard about the early stories of Batman in Detective Comics being violent and not so kid-friendly, and for the era it took place it was surprising how much DC supported Bob Kane's creative direction. Of course, the tone of being dark and mysterious lightened up when sidekicks were born with Robin. Never was a fan of sidekicks. But I understand why they were added to the lone hero for the younger kid aspect. It was great to see the introduction of classic villains like The Joker, The Cat (later Cat-Woman and finally Cat Woman) and Clay Face which out of all Batman's arch-enemies The Joker had the best recurring appearances which was understandable. The craziness was definitely seeded to develop into what he is today and has been for years now. Bob Kane's art before Robin entered was edgy, sometimes a bit distorted, playful in a devilish way and distinguished in detail. The versions of the Bat Plane were cheesy and generic looking, as well as realizing it was the first novelty brand of his character before the Batmobile. He actually drove in one of those common 40-Ford cars! Very funny when ya think about it because he's a rich guy and creates a Bat Plane but his ride bares no resemblance to his character of crime fighting. The stories with Robin are okay, but you can tell Batman's personality shifts from more "Dirty Harry" of the law to "Superfriends." Still I loved it all!

The beginnings of the iconic characters Batman, Robin, Joker and more. Great edition. I was thrilled that they combined the Detective Comics stories with the Batman comic book stories and listed them chronologically. The archives' editions never made much sense to me as the Detectives Comics stories were in Batman Archives while the Batman comic book stories were in The Dark Knight Archives. You had to do some calculations as to the chronology. The essence of the book is first rate, printed on quality non-glossy paper with vibrant colors. If you had purchased those comic books on the news stands from 1939-1940 you would have had to pay a total of $2.35, which would be the equivalent to $41.50 in today's currency! So at $16.99 this is a bargain! I have been a Batman fan since I was a child in the 1960's and it's great to see these golden age stories made available for every generation to enjoy. My biggest desire for this series is that DC continue on through the 1950's and 1960's. I know very little about the Batman comics of the 1950's, but if they are close to the greatness that the Superman comics were in that decade, it would be a service to mankind (a little strong?) to make everything printed available.

This is a comic different than the ones you are used to nowadays. If you judge it by today's standards it is naive, in some moments just plain stupid, illogical. Stories are full of artificial drama, exaggerated narration will leave you rolling on the floor laughing. But it is how it was then. It is how Batman was born - and for that - it is worth reading. I am not saying that in any time Batman comics were even close to a level I call "valuable" when it comes to a comic book. They were at most fun and dynamic. One exception could be "Arkham Asylum", but it is a special one. So - when you open that one - be prepared for something different. Be warned. I still think it was money well spend. And all thanks to Kindle edition that we can read it.

Great quality and it made my brother happy for his birthday gift.

Bastante entretenido para la época en que fue publicado, más tomando en cuenta lo tedioso que fue leer acción cómics de la misma época. Detective Cómics tiene poco que envidiarle incluso a historias modernas de Batman en lo que a entretenimiento respecta. Recomendado para quienes quieren conocer más a fondo al personaje más famoso inspirado en "The Shadow", HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

It arrived earlier than expected and the paperback quality is above average. The early golden age stories about Batman are pretty interesting to read. Even if I somehow disliked reading this, which I didn't, I'm just extremely glad to see Bill Finger is finally given credit as a writer here. As a Batman fan, there were a few things I was shocked to learn about his golden age story: 1. I definitely didn't know that he straight up kills some criminals 2. Bruce Wayne's first love interest/fiancée was some woman named Julie who only appears a few times 3. Alfred Stryker and Dr. Hugo Strange are both his first rogues before encountering the Joker 4. Alfred Pennyworth never makes an appearance or mentioned 5. Dick Grayson enters the story and becomes Robin pretty early on which would technically make him the first member of the Bat family.

The Golden Age Batman, volumes one & two should absolutely be required reading for anyone that considers themselves a true fan of the Batman. The stories collected in these two volumes may be short and simple compared to today's multi-issue story arcs but they are the blueprints for our Batman of today. These stories lay the groundwork in the first two years (1939 & 1940) of a character that has survived 80 years. In these tales you will not see the dark, brooding personality we think of today as the Dark Knight. A lighter more carefree Bruce Wayne/Batman inhabit these pages. But not a less driven one. He is still devoted to stamping out crime in all its forms. Not only can you read the original, true origin of Batman but also that of Robin the Boy Wonder, Catwoman, Clayface, the Scarecrow and others, even the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. Think the Batman will not kill in his crusade against vile criminals? Are you in for a suprise as he lays to waste many evildoers across these issues. That is just one big change to the complicated crime fighter since his career began in 1939. Every Batman fan needs these two books in their collections. After reading these you will have a better grasp of who Batman is today by understanding his true beginnings. Not just the reconditioned origin story that has been rehashed and retweaked over and over again every few years by DC Comics. I've been reading Batman comics since I could read and I'm now 59. I loved reading these two books as much or more as any Batman title I've ever consumed. Do yourself a favor. Grab both volumes one and two of The Golden Age Batman and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

There was some confusion for me whether this was the same as the DC omnibus hardcover or not: it's NOT! But that's ok; it's essentially half of the hardcover DC omnibus. It looks like it's not worth the buy if you want a physical copy; the hardback comes with twice as much content and that series has 9 volumes out whereas this only has 6. However, if you're like me and like the digital download, it's overall MUCH cheaper. I also enjoy reading the golden age superman and the silver age flash and green lantern, so there's plenty of other content to keep you busy while you wait for volume 7 of this series to come out. Plus, whoever worked on the guided view of the comic did an awesome job. I have a smaller tablet and sometimes I read on my phone. Having the whole panel fill the screen effortlessly makes this totally worth they buy IF you're doing the digital download. But if you really want a hard copy, search for the Batman Golden Age Omnibus in hardback.

This is a great book for Batman fans everywhere. I loved seeing the original Batman because it has so much character. All in all worth the five stars.

If this is your first purchase of the original "Golden Age" Batman stories, you are in for a treat. These early stories are pure "pulp," pure Crime Noir! More like the Shadow in its grit and danger than the kinder, gentler "superhero" stories that come later. You'll find the early evolution of his costume, of the Bat-Mobile, Wayne Manor and the Batcave, the addition of Robin, and the introduction of iconic villains such as The Joker. This Joker isn't silly. His laugh is haunting, his crimes terrible. The book itself is arguably the best presentation of this material ever. The reproductions are clear, the colors vibrant, and on 'regular' paper not the slick pages of the expensive Archives hardbacks. If you've bought the Batman Chronicles volumes then you have what's in this book, but this book presents it better. I have most of the Chronicles volumes and this restart is of much better quality. If there is a negative here, it's that DC keeps reprinting the same material over and over again. This content has been released as "Archives," "Omnibuses," "Chronicles," and now the simply-titled "Golden Age." Long timers such as myself are desperate for DC to move out of the early 1940s and reprint--for the first time--the late '40s and 1950s material. Same for the "Silver Age" run: DC needs to get past the 1960s and into the 1970s and early 1980s. DC ended its Showcase Presents black-and-white line just as many runs were entering the 1970s (Batman, Superman, Justice League, Green Lantern). It's disappointing that they also ended the Chronicles line to start over with this one. I'm afraid I'm going to die of old age before they get around to the stuff I haven't already read before.

I had heard about the early stories of Batman in Detective Comics being violent and not so kid-friendly, and for the era it took place it was surprising how much DC supported Bob Kane's creative direction. Of course, the tone of being dark and mysterious lightened up when sidekicks were born with Robin. Never was a fan of sidekicks. But I understand why they were added to the lone hero for the younger kid aspect. It was great to see the introduction of classic villains like The Joker, The Cat (later Cat-Woman and finally Cat Woman) and Clay Face which out of all Batman's arch-enemies The Joker had the best recurring appearances which was understandable. The craziness was definitely seeded to develop into what he is today and has been for years now. Bob Kane's art before Robin entered was edgy, sometimes a bit distorted, playful in a devilish way and distinguished in detail. The versions of the Bat Plane were cheesy and generic looking, as well as realizing it was the first novelty brand of his character before the Batmobile. He actually drove in one of those common 40-Ford cars! Very funny when ya think about it because he's a rich guy and creates a Bat Plane but his ride bares no resemblance to his character of crime fighting. The stories with Robin are okay, but you can tell Batman's personality shifts from more "Dirty Harry" of the law to "Superfriends." Still I loved it all!

The beginnings of the iconic characters Batman, Robin, Joker and more. Great edition. I was thrilled that they combined the Detective Comics stories with the Batman comic book stories and listed them chronologically. The archives' editions never made much sense to me as the Detectives Comics stories were in Batman Archives while the Batman comic book stories were in The Dark Knight Archives. You had to do some calculations as to the chronology. The essence of the book is first rate, printed on quality non-glossy paper with vibrant colors. If you had purchased those comic books on the news stands from 1939-1940 you would have had to pay a total of $2.35, which would be the equivalent to $41.50 in today's currency! So at $16.99 this is a bargain! I have been a Batman fan since I was a child in the 1960's and it's great to see these golden age stories made available for every generation to enjoy. My biggest desire for this series is that DC continue on through the 1950's and 1960's. I know very little about the Batman comics of the 1950's, but if they are close to the greatness that the Superman comics were in that decade, it would be a service to mankind (a little strong?) to make everything printed available.

This is a comic different than the ones you are used to nowadays. If you judge it by today's standards it is naive, in some moments just plain stupid, illogical. Stories are full of artificial drama, exaggerated narration will leave you rolling on the floor laughing. But it is how it was then. It is how Batman was born - and for that - it is worth reading. I am not saying that in any time Batman comics were even close to a level I call "valuable" when it comes to a comic book. They were at most fun and dynamic. One exception could be "Arkham Asylum", but it is a special one. So - when you open that one - be prepared for something different. Be warned. I still think it was money well spend. And all thanks to Kindle edition that we can read it.

Great quality and it made my brother happy for his birthday gift.

Bastante entretenido para la época en que fue publicado, más tomando en cuenta lo tedioso que fue leer acción cómics de la misma época. Detective Cómics tiene poco que envidiarle incluso a historias modernas de Batman en lo que a entretenimiento respecta. Recomendado para quienes quieren conocer más a fondo al personaje más famoso inspirado en "The Shadow", HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I have been a Batman fan since I was a kid. I recently got the DC Ultimate app and began reading comics, however I didn't want to miss a payment, due to life being life, so I decided to purchase the DC Comics starting off with Batman Golden Age. This is a BEAUTIFUL book in every way. It's amazing to see Batman and Robin's first adventures and I cannot wait to continue my collection. I have already ordered Volume 2 and 3 and just awaiting their arrival. If your a DC comic fan, or comics in general, or a Batman fanatic, this is a must have!!!

This edition covers first issues of Detective Comics and Batman comics. I enjoyed reading the first few issues with the origin stories of both Batman and Robin. The Joker makes several appearances in these early issues.

While Batman went through a bit of an identity change throughout the 60's, this is the original dark knight that everyone has become more familiar with from the late 70's and on. While the art itself can be a bit awkward and at times rough, and nowhere near the best that the era had to offer, the sense of pacing and atmosphere is stellar and feels like a dirty, pulpy, dark affair with murder, gangsters, and conspiracy galore.

Wanted to introduce my kids to Batman, and thought I'd start at the beginning. They love it, and aren't at all put off by the age of the stories. Fun stuff.

Biff Baff Punch ! That's the sound the Batman's fists make all through this collection of stories. It's nostalgic fun and and interesting to experience the Batman stories from 1940. Fans of Batman comics are in for a treat with this collection straight from the 'PAGES' of comic book history. 'Quick, to the BatMobile and off we go...'

Fantastic book. I'm very happy they released this as the Batman Chronicles are a bit pricey for what you get. The quality is so much better than those as well. And this one contains what is in both 1 & 2 of the Batman Chronicles, so you don't have to buy as many with these volumes. Also note the chronicles show batman with blue gloves in his first appearance, this restored him to those great purple ones.

Unless you plan on purchasing the Omnibus series, this the best way to read the first several appearances of Batman and his interesting side characters (Gordon, Robin, Joker, Catwoman, and Hugo Strange). I had no intention of going much further into the golden age tales, so this was absolutely perfect for me. Makes me want to see the Mad Monk in a movie at some point.

A wonderful collection of the Batman comics from his inception!! Most people could never afford to buy the original books, but here you get reprints of Detective #27-45, Batman #1-3 & New York World's Fair comic #2!! If you were to try to purchase these, you'd be out thousands of dollars!! This is well worth the price!!

Nice to have the first Batman stories. The storyline is dated (which is expected) and is not as interesting to read as the old Marvel comics from the same era which had more dynamic plots and dialogues. The reason I gave it 3 stars is the mediocre quality of drawing and coloring which should have been done more thoroughly when restoring the collection.

Loved it all. These are the original stories of how it all began. If you are a comic lover then this is a great option as it would not be possible to now buy these earlier editions without paying out very large sums of money.

Very fun read lots of excitement and surprises boy wonder comes in pretty early and they team up in these older comics you see alot of villains that are in the TV show Gotham like Hugo strange

I wanted to get into the first appearances of Batman to see first hand the newer stories are inspired from. I was happily surprised.

Doesnt seem like batman

So happy to read the very origin story of the pop culture icon!! My gratitude goes to the publisher of this digital version.

awesome book of early batman comics -- my son loves this series

As a comic book fan, Batman as a favorite, it's nice to be able to read the comics just like they were in the beginning. Very cool.

The cover and just the book period were mishandled and creased. They were shoved in a box that was slightly smaller than the book and cause all the warped edges and creases.

If you love Batman, you will love this.

It's Golden Age Batman in full color on good paper at a good price. Who could ask for more?

Great go with this smaller set. the Omnibus is to big and not easy to handle when reading (too Many Page)

Very nice quality tab collection. Much easier to handle than the Omnibuses.

Great way to read the origins of the batman. Good quality, size, and weight for reading.

The Caped Crusaders Chronicle's doesn't get any better than this.

Really good colors

It was great!

Was a present. Person loved it, beautiful thing

Old school Batman. Can't beat it.

I like it.

Loved it

A great collection of golden age Batman Tales!

Its great to read the beginning of Batman. Great for any Batman fan

I found this book disrespectful to God. It had scenes of cursing God's name. I don't think it is good for children or anybody.

This collection allows you to go back in time to the earliest stories of Batman! Beginning with his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, it moves through all subsequent issues of that series up to issue #45, as well as the first 3 issues of Batman's own self-titled series. While the Dark Knight spends most of these stories fighting generic gangsters or corny supervillains that never really took off, we DO get to see his first few encounters with The Joker and Catwoman. We also get to see the debut and origin story of Robin, the Boy Wonder. I grew up reading Batman in the 80s and 90s, and have enjoyed many of his adventures in my adult years. A lot of the writing and artwork in this collection will seem very primitive by today's comic book standards, which is why I couldn't give it a perfect rating. Still, it's cool to peak into history and watch the unfolding of a true pop-culture icon! It would be a while later until we'd meet characters like the Penguin, the Riddler, Two Face, Poison Ivy, or even Alfred. Heck, even the Batmobile was just a regular car at this point. Still, this is a cool way to experience the birth of a legend, so find yourself a cozy spot on a rainy night and dive into the first 2 years of Batman!

For Batman lovers here is a chance to enjoy the beginning adventures of the heroic crime fighter and his young trustworthy sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder. You also get to enjoy the artist's style and colors used back in the day as well.

This is the best presentation the earliest Batman stories have ever gotten in an affordable paperback volume. What sets this apart from the Archives and Chronicles volumes is that finally "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," the iconic first-ever Batman story, is an exact reprint of the original story from Detective Comics 27. The Archives and Chronicles books used the traced, redrawn, and censored version made in 1969. I assume the hardcover Golden Age Omnibus also used the original version, but this is the first time a low-priced volume has included all the stories from Batman's 1939-40 beginning as they were originally published. The contents match Batman Chronicles vols. 1 and 2. The print quality here is improved, though: the paper quality is better, the gray in Batman's costume is better (it was often smudgy in Chronicles vol. 1), and a few pages of yellow skin tone have been fixed. Finally this earliest Batman material is presented right at a good price.

Yes, this is great stuff if you're interested in the beginnings of the Batman. All of this has been reprinted in nice volumes recently. This book collects

The humble beginnings of Batman took me by surprise with its incredibly dark content, especially for 1939-1940. Bill Finger was a comic book genius. He clearly knew how to make extremely dark, and compelling stories about Bruce Wayne's resolve to become one of the greatest crime-fighters of all time! Bob Kane also really hit the mark with the incredible quality of illustrations in color! 400+ pages in dazzling color! What more can a comic fan ask for?

Batman: The Golden Age, Vol. 1 (hereinafter referred to as BTGA) belongs in every comic book fan's library. It collects the Batman stores from Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) to #45 (November 1940), plus the first three issues of Batman’s solo title (Spring, Summer, and Fall 1940) and the Batman story from New York World’s Fair Comics #2 (1940). When you think about it, BTGA could just as well be called Batman: The Complete First Year Plus. You’re getting every Batman comic book story published in a comic book with a 1939 cover date - beginning, of course, with the character’s debut in Detective Comics #27 - and most of the stories published in comics with a 1940 cover date as well. That’s the first year and a half (plus one month) of the Caped Crusader. Just the fact that these are Batman’s earliest adventures makes this an important collection. But included among these stories are some significant debuts - the first appearances of Robin, the Joker, Catwoman - and even the first use of the phrase “Dark Knight.” (Sorry Batfans, Frank Miller did not invent the name. See page 401 of BTGA.) BTGA is a better buy than the previously published

This is great for us old school Batman fans! 🦇

This is the beginning of one of the greatest super heroes of all time. Starting with 1939's Detective Comics #27 the Batman was born. This volume collects Detective Comics #27-45, Batman #1-3, and New York World's Fair Comics #2. It contains all of Batmans first appearances from May 1939 through November 1940. In conclusion, this is an essential book for anyone who loves Batman and wants to see where it all began over 75 years ago! Enjoy!

What the title said.

Watered down version of the hardcover Omnibus. This paperback version is selling for $10.50 at Barns & Noble.

Fans of the Batman need to read these original Detective Comics classics. Meet the first Bruce Wayne, the original Dick Grayson, Bruce`s fiancee, the original Catwoman and of course the first appearances of the Joker.

What's to review? I'm just now starting to read Batman comics. It seems they get less corny the farther you go. I'm 34 and I read Batman comics, and proud of it!!

Batman lover must have it

I have the first three of these Golden Age Batman collections, and midway through the third I have decided to skip ahead to vol 6 where Dick Sprang becomes the chief illustrator. In this first volume, especially the first stories, the artwork is great, and reminds of Shushter's Superman material from the same period. The stories are pulpy, as many have written, which I enjoy. But when Robin comes along the stories become increasingly silly and the art takes a downward turn. The covers nearly all the time feature Batman and Robin as tiny surrounded by giants. Everyone's faces start to become drawn in a very cartoony and silly way. Color-wise, moody single colors begin to predominate, with the backgrounds being a plain red more often than not. Compared to Superman of the same period this is just inferior from my point of view. So I enjoy the early stories both in terms of the art and the stories themselves, but something happens when Robin comes along that alienates me.

Batman: The Golden Age reprints Detective Comics #27 introduces the Bat-man, Detective Comics introduces his one year early solo adventures, Detective Comics #33 introduces his seminal origin and Detective Comics #38 introduces Robin The Boy Wonder. Batman #1 introduces his seminal origin, The Joker, The Catwoman and Professor Hugo Strange. Batman created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger.

Redescobri o Batman lendo suas primeiras hqs nesse encadernado. Hqs curtas onde o Morcego agia mais como detetive ao lado do Robin. Aqui temos primeiras aparições importantes como o próprio Batman, comissário Gordon, Robin, Mulher Gato e Coringa, tudo em ordem cronológica e formato econômico. Perfeito !!

Documento histórico necessário para todo fã do morcegão !

Uma melhor relação custo/benefício do que os omnibus. Material clássico com histórias sequenciais dos primórdios do homem morcego com autoria de seus criadores. Vale a pena para colecionadores.

What a great book and all in colour for this inexpensive price. Some of these classic stories are just fantastic. Great for kids of all ages.

This is essentially Batman year one, in that it is all his appearances in that first year of creation. You often here about how Batman started out as a dark and gritty masked pulp hero in noir gangster stories and then gradually progressed into the more kid friendly, campy and ridiculous superhero stuff. It happens in this book. Batman was really only that dark in the first few stories, by the end of this trade Batman and Robin are fighting giants in dreamtime adventures. The change is rather jarring. Still, this book contains some great Batman stories.