One of the best Batman eras
595417
One of the best Batman eras, with writers Denny O'Neil and Frank Robbins providing one of the best versions of The Batman ever! Heroic, intelligent, driven, but compassionate, this is why we love The Batman! The art by Neal Adams, Irv Novick, Bob Brown, Dick Giordano, and Robbins looks spectacular and extra-moody in black and white!
395844
This is a fantastic collection of Joker stories drawn throughout the decades since his creation in 1940.  Purists may call it incomplete, but to me, this collection is nirvana.  Watching the character of the Joker progress both in character complexity and artistic treatment is an unbelievable experience.  From the early, flat, almost innocent comics to the current dark, mindbending artwork, it is easy to see that we live in the best of times for the comic genre.

The Joker has always been the most interesting villain ever created in comics.  He is the id to Batman's ego.  Batman's very existence and reason for being depends on the Joker's constant reincarnation.  At a very basic level, the Joker is in us all, the "devil inside" that we struggle with, that keeps coming back.

In the last 50 years, there are three portrayals of the Joker in TV and film that stand out.  These three general periods are all covered in stories in this book.

First, in the early days of color TV, the Joker appears in the campy Batman & Robin TV show.  I'm sure most comics fans would cringe at that portrayal of the Joker, but it was important nonetheless, and was the very definition of "cartoonish violence."  Early stories in this book like "Joker's Comedy of Errors" is what influenced these TV producers.  At this stage, the Joker was a silly figure, without the eventual psychopathic edge.

Jack Nicholson's Joker in the 1980s Batman movie was the next significant attempt to get the character right.  He did a passable job, again, focused more on the comedic, slapstick elements of the Joker's personality - which was the way the Joker is still portrayed in comics during that period.  The violence at this time was impersonal, silly crime type violence.

The ultimate Joker portrayal is obvious: Heath Ledger's twisted, psychopathic Joker.  He sunk so deeply into the role that it may have contributed to his early death.  Clearly, this vision of the Joker character was influenced by the current decade of comics.  In the recent decade, writers began to tire of the never-ending "crime caper" element of the Joker.  The continual cat and mouse story became old hat, so they started to delve into the psychological element of the Joker, and his relationship with Batman.  The story in this collection, "Case Study" is an extremely compelling example of this.  The writer ponders the origins of the Joker, in a chilling way.  "Hush Chapter 7: The Joke" takes the Batman/Joker battle to its ultimate level, in which the roles nearly reverse and we get to see Batman's dark side.  After years of battle with the Joker, who murders everyone Batman holds dear, we see Batman almost at his breaking point, loaded with guilt and rage.  He nearly kills the Joker.  (But of course, he doesn't.)

This collection is an education in the amazing progress artists have made over the years with the comic medium.  In the early days, pictures were flat, characters were simple and emotionless, and points of view were all simple.  Contrast that with today - the recent Joker stories in the collection break all the old boundaries.  Artists draw characters in a hyper-realistic style, the panels cannot begin to contain the action, and the points of view are beyond cinematic.  The coloring is no longer literal, but almost impressionistic with bold use of color to create emotion.  Wow, we've come a long way!

Comic purists may be able to find better Joker stories out there - but for the rest of us, this collection is a treasure of stories of the "Clown Prince of Crime."
2799562
I picked it up on a whim, and I'm glad I did as it's become one of my favorite books on Batman/Bruce Wayne. Hickman does an amazing job with his own creative telling of Bruce Waynes backstory, without compromising the integrity of the well-known and much loved series. It's dark at times, yet easy to follow---written in an unpretentious manner. If you are a fan of Batman and are just stumbling upon this title, I recommend it highly.
4180869
The movie is really cool. It has Bruce Wayne struggling with his past issues and with his present condition (aging, etc.) He always comes through as the one and only Batman; protector of greedy soulless Gotham City. The mutants herein that he must battle are a neat twist on the Dark Knight legend, as well as his new Robin. I hope the 2nd part is coming soon.
167035
I'm a tremendous Batman beyond fan. It may make me a heretic but I think it was probably the best of the Batman series. That's not to say that the other Batman's weren't very good, because I absolutely love those as well. The thing I like about Batman beyond is that it sort of crosses Batman with Spiderman. You got the kid who's not rich and has all the usual problems of trying to make things meet just like Peter Parker, but at the same time you also have the backing of Bruce Wayne so you have all the cool toys and a good explanation how you got them. The Batman suit is just great that series too.

Even with the cut version of the Batman beyond movie, it's still decent to watch. I've seen the uncut version and basically what happens is one scene ends in a death instead of a knockout. That's really the only difference I can remember. The only thing I never liked about the series that much is the women looked kind of scrawny. The other Batman series tended to have more attractive woman, just the animation style if it matters to you.

There's not really much I can say about the other Batman movie. It's just like watching a pretty good episode of the series, nothing especially special, but it's not bad in anyway.

This is a movie two pack from two great series for a very reasonable price. Go buy it and enjoy.
70087
Looking back on this entire series, the first installment will always and for good reason be the greatest, a true DC classic that transcends the medium. This last installment is good, especially compared to the second. If one is wishing to continue the series and wants to wash the sour taste put of their mouth put there by the Dark Knight Strikes again, then this is the book for you.
2846096
This book comes with the two stories and you can't really go with anymore of a classic than when Batman first meets the Joker. That particular tale feels like it came out of the old 90s animated series so the nostalgia factor was great. The second story 'Made of Wood' was a great follow up and focused on Batman and Alan Scott Green Lantern. You get a feel of how classic the old Green Lantern is, and learn to appreciate what he is capable of. Definitely check this out!
4482352
Collecting Batman Rebirth 9-15.
Issues #9-13 are the "I am Suicide" arc. There are some awesome 2-page spreads in this. Writer Tom King and artist Mikel Janin do a spectacular job of illustrating Batman's awesome moves! Some of the action is visualized in a pretty cool way. If you're a fan of the Psycho Pirate and/or The Ventriloquist, then you're in for a treat! But this is only the set-up for the EPIC "I am Bane" story line.

Issues #14-15 are a short tale exploring the complex love/hate relationship between Batman and Cat Woman. I liked it, it was kinda mushy at times, but it was a good look into their relationship and we see a softer side of Batman (which will be a harsh contrast to what we will see in "I am Bane").

PS
(If you're looking for "Night of the Monster Men", you won't find it in any of the Batman Rebirth volumes. That's most likely going to be it's own stand-alone volume since it's a cross-over event between Batman, Nightwing, and Detective Comics)
Good stuff
4921190
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.
4188550
This is a classic because of the story and the art. For the writing, Miller envisioned the DC universe at a certain future and went from there, focusing on Batman. The hero aspect aside, the progression of the story worked around a traditional literary motif: a character who was once lost finds his way back to more familiar ground. In this case, Batman has turned away from his vigilante ways. And while the story is linear and somewhat predictable, witnessing Batman's development from a retired and troubled do-gooder to a man secure in his place appeals on many levels. The incremental progression of this story gave it much of its power. He doesn't go from retired to taking on the biggest bad guy in a couple of pages. It takes the length of the graphic novel. In between, there are small obstacles that he (and the plot) have to overcome in order to proceed onto the next problem. This development flowed easily and energetically. Artistically, Miller's pencils coupled with Varley's dark inks reflect the city that Gotham has become and the characters therein. Compare the scenes where the president and Superman make appearances: they are outside of the common man, the real world, and the artwork used at these times show this: bright colors and loads of white, they are like advertisements. An interesting cross-over between the two major emotional landscapes occurs when Superman fights in different places around the world. During these scenes, the colors are as similarly dark as those used in Gotham, but when stress needed to be put on his other worldliness, and godliness, all of a sudden the colors became brighter and cleaner. The artists adeptly wrapped the reader's emotions to the color scheme and visual pacing. Amazing.
I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in comics, Batman and pulp story telling. Writers would also be well served in considering the geometry of this tale.
Thank you.
Roland Petalver
4094747
One of the greatest BATMAN stories ever gets a very well done adaptation from WB animation. Featuring a superb selection of voice talent including Peter Weller (Robocop) and Michael Emerson (LOST) as The Joker. Can't wait for Pt. 2 to see much more of Emerson's performance. If you have never had the pleasure of reading Frank Miller's DARK KNIGHT RETURNS...this is a great introduction.
2016493
A ride through time with how The Batman has changed and evolved over the decades.  There is a Batman for everyone in this book.
798003
This 192 page trade paperback collects several Batman's stories from the true golden age of the 1940's.  Written mainly by Bill Finger who NEVER got the credit he deserved and died poor and art by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, George Roussos, Jack Burnley and others.  It includes stories from Batman issues: #7, 15, 20, 31, 37, 47, 48, 49, Detective Comics #27, 33, 38, 49, 80, Real FAct Comics #5, Star Spangled Comics #70, and World's Finest Comics #30.  17 stories in all.

You'll see the first appearance of Batman, Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face, and other notables.  One notable exclusion is the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's longt-ime butler.

Those unfamiliar with comics in the 1940's may be somewhat put off by the more simplistic art of the era, but this is really the essence of Batman, a very dark character who actually once used handguns among his various weapons.  But the fact is that unless you are quite wealthy the only way you'll ever see these great old stories are in collected volumes like this and I think DC deserves a lot of credit for not letting the golden age fade away.
3889951
Earlier last year, I was contemplating getting all the seasons to Batman: The Animated Series as I had got all the seasons of The Batman and was craving more animated action. Well, I'm glad I waited as I ended up getting a better deal with Batman-The Complete Animated Series. Originally airing from 1992 to 1995, Batman: The Animated Series raised the bar on animation by giving us a world that centered on characters that we could relate to and real-life drama making Batman an even more believable character. Warner Bros. has put the entire 4-season run into a 17-disc box set. I know what you're wondering right now: Is it any good? Is it worth my hard-earned money when times are hard right now?? To answer those questions, yes and yes. Classic episodes like "Heart of Ice", "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne", "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't you Rich?", "The Demon's Quest(Pts. 1&2)", "Shadow of the Bat", "Bane", "The Terrible Trio", "A Bullet for Bullock", "The Lion and The Unicorn" & "Beware The Grey Ghost" are all included in the collection. There are plenty of extras with many featurettes, commentaries and interviews by cast and crew. There's trivia and more.

Inspired by the old Fleischer Superman cartoons and Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, it is much more adult-oriented in it's content and whatnot, it appealed to both kids and adults & is widely considered the 'best' and closest adaptation of the original Batman series published by DC Comics.

The two-time Emmy Award winning series was produced by Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and Eric Radomski. It was voiced by Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Bob Hastings, Mark Hamill, Melissa Gilbert, Marilu Henner, Adrienne Barbeau, Paul Williams, Diane Pershing, Henry Silva, Roddy McDowall, Ron Perlman(yes, of Hellboy fame), Marc Singer among others. Supporting voices included: Ed Asner, Abe Vigoda, Helen Slater, Treat Williams, and Michael York. The show itself spawned other spin-offs series such as Superman: The Animated Series, The Batman-Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, The Batman, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and the flash animated Internet only Gotham Girls.

I, personally, love this collection and am glad that Warner decided to bring it to us. There's no denying that this series has a profound effect on how storytelling and animation is done in this day and age. That's why it will always be a fan favorite amongst all.
1429622
Any Batman story that starts with the Dark Knight riding atop a passenger jet has got to be worth a look, right ? I actually got the first episode as a part of DC's Batman Day before circling back to this completed collection. The story is a lot of fun and the graphics are amazing.  There are several full page pieces of art that will just make you sit back and pause the story while you take it all in. The Rebirth arc is strong with this one. In addition to a compelling story, Batman fans who make it to the end of this graphic novel will be treated to some stunning art. The last 20 pages or so are largely alternative covers that were available during this run. I've always been a big fan of graphic novels because you don't have to wait for weeks to find out just how the story will continue. If you missed this Batman arc when it was out as a handful of single issues, you owe it to yourself to go and pick this one up. Great story for a very reasonable price here on Amazon.
316351
My favorite Batman era even though I wasn't around in the 50's. Yes, some of it is corny and silly but I'll lay down money for this any day over the modern immoral, bloody, graphic, violent comics of today. This Batman is colorful (love Dick Sprangs work) and everything is drawn big and bold.
Batman is a decent friend and father figure and he actually acts like a hero. Batman actually smiles in some of these stories. I really like the SCI-FI approach they took in the 50's.
I would recommend this for parents who are looking for Batman comics that are safer for kids. Great Stories all though I still find Batmite somewhat
annoying.
514159
BATMAN
CASTLE OF THE BAT

Elseworlds is an imprint of DC Comics that allows the writers to take characters we all know and put them in places and stories they would never really be a part of. This story in particular is set in the 1800's and is based on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". If there ever was a character in the DCU that would adapt well to that story it would be Batman. An in my opinion this book is a very well done and one of the best in the Elsewords stories.

Bruce Wayne is riding with his family when they are stopped by a robber on their way home. In the moment this happens Bruce's father and mother is killed and Bruce vows vengeance right then. Fast forward and a grown Bruce is a respected member of the scientific community. That is until Bruce begins experiments that might not go well with the college he is a member of. In fact these experiments may lead to the creation of a creature that haunts the night looking for oppressors to oppress. This may also lead to the man that killed his family.

I love the take on Frankenstein here and that Bruce is actually not Batman in this story. He is the good doctor that creates the Bat-Man after finding his fathers brain in under the college. When I first picked this up years ago I didn't know what to expect but judging from the cover and art work I knew it was serious. Sometimes it is cool for a comic to not take itself seriously and that includes Batman from time to time but this was not one of them.

Bo Hampton's art here fits perfectly with the story that is told and gives that old school kinda gothic feeling that the actual novel is known for. It is dark and full of atmosphere and adds so much to the story. As for the story, that is brought to us courtesy of Jack Harris who spins Mary's story into the DCU using Batman. This is one of those books that is close to perfect in my opinion. I am a huge horror fan and a huge comic fan so the meshing of the two here is excellent.

I am not sure if this is the best in the Elseworlds stories but it is really a good one. The way the Bruce Wayne story is told is very much like his original but in a different time. I would recommend this book to any comic, Batman, Frankenstein, or horror fan out there. Also I would recommend checking out all the other Elseworlds books; they are cool takes on all your favorites out of the regular continuality.