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The Batman Chronicles (Reprints) #1
The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 1
Presenting an exciting new way to experience the rich history of the Dark Knight in an affordable trade paperback collection of every Batman adventure, in color, in chronological order!
Batman Chronicles, Volume 1 reprints Batman stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #27-37 and BATMAN #1, featuring the earliest adventures of the Dark Knight by Batman creator Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox, Jerry Robinson and Sheldon Moldoff.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
170 people are currently reading
48054 people want to read
About the author
Bill Finger
644 books105 followersWilliam "Bill" Finger was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the uncredited co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, as well as the co-architect of the series' development. In later years, Kane acknowledged Finger as "a contributing force" in the character's creation. Comics historian Ron Goulart, in Comic Book Encyclopedia, refers to Batman as the "creation of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger", and a DC Comics press release in 2007 about colleague Jerry Robinson states that in 1939, "Kane, along with writer Bill Finger, had just created Batman for [DC predecessor] National Comics".
Film and television credits include scripting The Green Slime (1969), Track of the Moon Beast (1976), and three episodes of 77 Sunset Strip.
-Wikipedia
Film and television credits include scripting The Green Slime (1969), Track of the Moon Beast (1976), and three episodes of 77 Sunset Strip.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
December 30, 2010
These early Batman stories (most of which were originally published in Detective Comics in 1939 and 1940) are cloddishly written and primitively illustrated, but nearly everything that makes Batman a powerful and intriguing character is present. There is no Alfred the butler, and we don't see a lot of Bruce Wayne's life as a feckless playboy, but we see enough. The villains and situations are pure pulp, and the dark, sinister atmosphere is thick. Each issue of Detective Comics in which Batman originally appeared was 64 pages long, but the Batman stories themselves usually are shorter than 20 pages. (Detective Comics also featured the adventures of Slam Bradley and other mostly forgotten characters, but they're not reprinted here.)
The final reprint in this volume is the first issue of Batman (which, like Detective Comics, is still churning out approximately 12 issues a year). It's a fat, 64-page comic, and introduced the Joker and Catwoman (then simply known as "the Cat"). A lot of people complain about Robin's presence in Batman's world, but he's been a part of it from the very beginning, and is the throughline for a lot of young readers.
I enjoyed every story in this volume. Like the best pulp, they're ridiculous but fast-moving and shot through with a sense of impending doom. Yes ... even the ones featuring Robin.
The final reprint in this volume is the first issue of Batman (which, like Detective Comics, is still churning out approximately 12 issues a year). It's a fat, 64-page comic, and introduced the Joker and Catwoman (then simply known as "the Cat"). A lot of people complain about Robin's presence in Batman's world, but he's been a part of it from the very beginning, and is the throughline for a lot of young readers.
I enjoyed every story in this volume. Like the best pulp, they're ridiculous but fast-moving and shot through with a sense of impending doom. Yes ... even the ones featuring Robin.
May 21, 2014
Number of murders committed by Batman in this book: At least eight (not including two mutants.)
It was always my belief that the Comics Code was beneficial to the Batman mythos. As annoying of a cop-out as the Comics Code was to creativity in general, it shaped the Dark Knight into a more well-rounded character, specifically when it came to his Golden Rule that the Bat does not kill. This one principle keeps Bruce Wayne from sinking to the level of his enemies while giving his associate crimefighters a greater purpose of helping Batman stay sane, thus keeping blood off his hands.
In these early 1940s Batman stories, the Bat does kill. “A fitting end for his kind,” Batman utters after knocking a goon into an acid vat. Necks are snapped and lynched. Bad guys are thrown off rooftops to their deaths. Others are impaled on their own blades. Commissioner Gordon, nursing a pipe while evoking the speech pattern and appearance of a 19th century British inspector, wants Batman stopped—not because of the constant murders, but because Batman's one-man war on crime “makes the police look bad.”
This is what gives The Batman Chronicles: Volume One its strange appeal. The vigilante killing spree, played out alongside elfin-eared villains, vampires, werewolves, ethnic stereotypes, endless one-liners and a giant gorilla, makes these reprintings stand out as the most balls-out crazy and fun stories ever written this side of anything under the Vertigo label, recalling a time when creativity had no leash or boundaries. I can just picture Bob Kane and Bill Finger running circles and flailing their arms around the writing room, perhaps under the influence of some foreign substance or otherwise being driven mad by their imaginations.
If one finds the silliness, stupidity and death starting to wear thin, then they might be intrigued by the The Dark Knight's steady evolution over the ensuing months and issues. By the time the initial Detective Comics run transitions into Batman #1 (Spring 1940) there have been noticeable changes in many aspects, from Batman's costume design (watch for the lengthening cowl ears) to the storytelling framework. Much of the latter can be credited to the introduction of the Joker, the first villain within the chronology with any real impact.
Up to this point, Batman has fought (and killed) the likes of mobsters, jewel thieves, and psychopaths with names like Doctor Death. The Joker is exactly what the series needs to establish itself and stay afloat: a true son of a bitch with wit and a creepy modus operandi to match. His appearance on the scene has no subtlety. His demeanor and crimes are chilling and uncomfortable. Joker is the Satan to Batman’s Michael, an embodiment of chaos that gives Bill Finger a need to establish Batman as the polar opposite. Thus we get a climactic scene where Batman has a chance to allow Joker, another would-be notch in the blood-soaked utility belt, to fall to his death; except this time, Batman does not. It marks the genesis of the Bat’s golden rule and sets the foundation for what will only get better.
Also included in this volume is Robin (“The Boy Wonder, that young Robin Hood of today, the sensational character find of 1940!”) whom Bruce Wayne adopts and trains in the span of two pages, as well as a brief run-in with Catwoman, simply known as “The Cat.” Overall, Batman’s origins are not humble in the least. Silly and poignant, The Batman Chronicles: Volume One is essential for any Batman graphic novel collector.
It was always my belief that the Comics Code was beneficial to the Batman mythos. As annoying of a cop-out as the Comics Code was to creativity in general, it shaped the Dark Knight into a more well-rounded character, specifically when it came to his Golden Rule that the Bat does not kill. This one principle keeps Bruce Wayne from sinking to the level of his enemies while giving his associate crimefighters a greater purpose of helping Batman stay sane, thus keeping blood off his hands.
In these early 1940s Batman stories, the Bat does kill. “A fitting end for his kind,” Batman utters after knocking a goon into an acid vat. Necks are snapped and lynched. Bad guys are thrown off rooftops to their deaths. Others are impaled on their own blades. Commissioner Gordon, nursing a pipe while evoking the speech pattern and appearance of a 19th century British inspector, wants Batman stopped—not because of the constant murders, but because Batman's one-man war on crime “makes the police look bad.”
This is what gives The Batman Chronicles: Volume One its strange appeal. The vigilante killing spree, played out alongside elfin-eared villains, vampires, werewolves, ethnic stereotypes, endless one-liners and a giant gorilla, makes these reprintings stand out as the most balls-out crazy and fun stories ever written this side of anything under the Vertigo label, recalling a time when creativity had no leash or boundaries. I can just picture Bob Kane and Bill Finger running circles and flailing their arms around the writing room, perhaps under the influence of some foreign substance or otherwise being driven mad by their imaginations.
If one finds the silliness, stupidity and death starting to wear thin, then they might be intrigued by the The Dark Knight's steady evolution over the ensuing months and issues. By the time the initial Detective Comics run transitions into Batman #1 (Spring 1940) there have been noticeable changes in many aspects, from Batman's costume design (watch for the lengthening cowl ears) to the storytelling framework. Much of the latter can be credited to the introduction of the Joker, the first villain within the chronology with any real impact.
Up to this point, Batman has fought (and killed) the likes of mobsters, jewel thieves, and psychopaths with names like Doctor Death. The Joker is exactly what the series needs to establish itself and stay afloat: a true son of a bitch with wit and a creepy modus operandi to match. His appearance on the scene has no subtlety. His demeanor and crimes are chilling and uncomfortable. Joker is the Satan to Batman’s Michael, an embodiment of chaos that gives Bill Finger a need to establish Batman as the polar opposite. Thus we get a climactic scene where Batman has a chance to allow Joker, another would-be notch in the blood-soaked utility belt, to fall to his death; except this time, Batman does not. It marks the genesis of the Bat’s golden rule and sets the foundation for what will only get better.
Also included in this volume is Robin (“The Boy Wonder, that young Robin Hood of today, the sensational character find of 1940!”) whom Bruce Wayne adopts and trains in the span of two pages, as well as a brief run-in with Catwoman, simply known as “The Cat.” Overall, Batman’s origins are not humble in the least. Silly and poignant, The Batman Chronicles: Volume One is essential for any Batman graphic novel collector.
January 29, 2019
The very first issue was called “The Batman The Case of The Chemical Syndicate” with this beneath it: “The ‘BAT-MAN,’ a mysterious and adventurous figure fighting for righteousness and apprehending the wrong doer, in his lone battle against the evil forces of society...his identity remains unknown.’”
I really enjoyed these very first issues of The Batman written in 1939. I didn’t know how strange Batman looked at first before the creators polished up his appearance a bit. His body outfit didn’t really change but his mask was very funny looking with huge bat ears instead of the thin ears we’re used to seeing.
These issues were different from Superman because these issues of Batman usually had a murder and Batman had to find the bad guy who did it. It was also fun to read the first issue that had Robin the Boy Wonder and how he becomes Batman’s sidekick. I also got to see the first issue with the Joker. This volume was very fun to read in the morning while eating a bowel of cereal.
I really enjoyed these very first issues of The Batman written in 1939. I didn’t know how strange Batman looked at first before the creators polished up his appearance a bit. His body outfit didn’t really change but his mask was very funny looking with huge bat ears instead of the thin ears we’re used to seeing.
These issues were different from Superman because these issues of Batman usually had a murder and Batman had to find the bad guy who did it. It was also fun to read the first issue that had Robin the Boy Wonder and how he becomes Batman’s sidekick. I also got to see the first issue with the Joker. This volume was very fun to read in the morning while eating a bowel of cereal.
March 9, 2017
These old stories just go to prove that Batman will always be Batman. You can do just about anything to him and, so long as it's Bruce Wayne beneath the mask, he's still Batman. Basically, in my opinion, the character has aged well.
I am always surprised by the dark, grittiness of this era. I originally encountered it in the first volume of stories featuring Superman, which were quite jarring because of it. The writing fits Batman much better. There were still a few things that felt off, like half the stories being sci-fi or horror. The well written crime stories more then made up them.
Beyond Batman, these stories feature quite a number of familiar characters. Commissioner Gordon, Hugo Strange, Robin, Catwoman and Joker. Each of these characters, with the exception of Catwoman is immediately recognizable, and the sexual tension in the Catwoman stories is foreshadowed here.
Joker is amazing. Although he is sticking to the same crime scheme and murder MO in both of the stories he is featured in there is definitely some unpredictable crazy there. By the end of the book I was drawing parallels between his portrayal here and Jack Nicholson' s performance.
I am now officially a Bob Kane and Bill Finger fan.
I am always surprised by the dark, grittiness of this era. I originally encountered it in the first volume of stories featuring Superman, which were quite jarring because of it. The writing fits Batman much better. There were still a few things that felt off, like half the stories being sci-fi or horror. The well written crime stories more then made up them.
Beyond Batman, these stories feature quite a number of familiar characters. Commissioner Gordon, Hugo Strange, Robin, Catwoman and Joker. Each of these characters, with the exception of Catwoman is immediately recognizable, and the sexual tension in the Catwoman stories is foreshadowed here.
Joker is amazing. Although he is sticking to the same crime scheme and murder MO in both of the stories he is featured in there is definitely some unpredictable crazy there. By the end of the book I was drawing parallels between his portrayal here and Jack Nicholson' s performance.
I am now officially a Bob Kane and Bill Finger fan.
January 24, 2018
Lots to enjoy here: early Batman uses a gun! Earliest Batman stories are sort of magical.
Gardner Fox writes a surprising amount of the first year's stories in Detective Comics. Bob Kane very early gives way to the embellishing inks of Sheldon Moldoff and the young Jerry Robinson. And Bill Finger keeps adding new twists and new characters, including, here, Robin the Boy Wonder, Hugo Strange, the Joker, the Catwoman.
Highly recommended.
Gardner Fox writes a surprising amount of the first year's stories in Detective Comics. Bob Kane very early gives way to the embellishing inks of Sheldon Moldoff and the young Jerry Robinson. And Bill Finger keeps adding new twists and new characters, including, here, Robin the Boy Wonder, Hugo Strange, the Joker, the Catwoman.
Highly recommended.
April 9, 2020
Edición para lectores interesados en los inicios de uno de los personajes más famosos de DC Comics y de la cultura popular reciente. Este volumen introduce el legendario número 27 de Detective Comics (mayo de 1939), donde Batman hace su primera aparición en una historia titulada "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate", abarcando hasta el número 38 de dicha revista e incluyendo también Batman #1 (marzo 1940) donde es presentado el mismísimo Joker. A pesar de que las historias son bastante simples narrativamente hablando, con una estructura base que se repetía número tras número (algo que contrasta con lo que harían posteriormente otros autores con el personaje como Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Grant Morrison), es interesante ver como Batman en aquel tiempo respondía al arquetipo de los héroes pulp de la época, siendo mucho más violento y llegando a matar (directa o indirectamente) a varios villanos menores. También llaman la atención los marcados tintes xenófobos y exageradamente estereotipados con los personajes de otras nacionalidades (sobre todo de origen asiático u oriental), así como la representación sexista de las mujeres y el trato abusivo y negligente de Batman con Robin (si lo consideramos desde una perspectiva de derechos de infancia). Soy consciente de que hablamos de ficción, y en este caso ficción escrita en los años 30 y 40, sin embargo, no se puede pasar por alto la evolución que han tenido este tipo de narrativas, observándose situaciones que hoy pueden parecer ridículas, pero que en aquel tiempo no lo eran, al menos no del todo. Dejando a un lado lo anterior, acá están presentes todos los elementos característicos de Batman tal como los conocemos en la actualidad, incluyendo la historia de cómo Bruce Wayne ve morir a sus padres durante un asalto, el origen de Robin y la primera aparición de Catwoman (o Gatúbela), además del ya mencionado Joker.
June 12, 2014
'The Batman Chronicles' serves to provide fans of the Dark Knight, and of popular culture in general, with a cost-friendly alternative to its counterpart 'Archives' series (which utilises more shiny and colourful print with hard-cover binding) by attempting to distribute every Batman story in chronological order from the character's debut appearance in Detective Comics #27 onwards, using more inexpensive newsprint-style paper withinin soft-cover binding for the trade paperback market.
Volume One was published on 30th March 2005, and collects previously released golden-age Batman stories from Detective Comics #27-38 (May 1939 - April 1940) and the entirety of Batman #1, published in the Spring of 1940. What is presented within this volume is a Batman that was conceived as a gun-toting vigilante out to punish the scum of the criminal underworld. Gotham City was yet to be used as the strip's main setting, in stead having the Dark knight travel to Paris, Hungary and New York City in order to embark upon his superheroic missions. The introduction of Robin, the Boy Wonder, in Detective Comics #38 gave the young readership a character to relate to, and the 'Sensational Character Find of 1940' has endured throughout to the modern age, in many changing guises, costumes, and identities. However, regarding Batman himself, the man behind the mantle has always been the suave, millionaire playboy Master Bruce Wayne; and in this 1940's incarnation, he is rarely seen without his pipe and tweed jacket. The famous origin story remaining pretty much the same (or thereabouts) over the years is shown in simple fashion, recalling how an un-named gunman (in later issues revealed as Joe Chill) murdered his businessman father and loving mother in cold blood, whilst attempting a routine mugging.
The constant supporting character throughout seems to be Police Commissioner James Gordon, a personal friend of Bruce's and a suspicious observer of the Batman and how he is attempting to take the law into his own hands, thereby making the police look redundant at times. Regarding villains however, the Dark Knight seems to have gained quite a few note-worthy nemeses during his first initial outings. These include his first ever arch-nemesis Doctor Death, who uses deathly chemicals as his main arsenal advantage over others, and the enigmatic Mad Monk, who has the power to hypnotise his victims (including Bruce Wayne's then-fiancé Julie Madison) with supernatural abilities, belonging to a family race of vampires and werewolves. It is noteworthy to mention here that these first initial adventures for Batman were later re-worked for the modern audience, following DC Comic's re-vamp of the mid-1980's, which garnered quite positive reviews by its readership at the time. Additional villainous first appearances include that of Hugo Strange, the intellectual mad genius who attempts to turn mental asylum patients into huge 'monsters' in order to rob major city banks, and also the Cat (later known as Catwoman), who uses her feminine wiles and mastery of disguise in an attempt to steal a precious gem from a wealthy old woman. The joker also makes his debut in Batman #1 in two adventures as a delirious mad-man covered head-to-toe in clown attire, attempting to steal precious gems by killing certain wealthy socialites via his famous joker-gas and toxin; thereby setting the stage to become the Batman's most ruthless opponent in almost all of his incarnations throughout history across the DC Multiverse.
Later revisions in DC Comics lore would place this golden-age version of the Batman within the setting of Earth-Two, a parallel world where all (or most) of DC's golden age characters reside, later forming the Justice Society of America and going on to fight in World War Two against Hitler and his Nazi henchmen. This version, who initially wore home-made costumes and blue gloves whilst carrying a gun during the late 30s and early 40s, would continue to fight crime as the Batman in his red-sedan car until his retirement and subsequent wedding to the original Catwoman, bearing a daughter named Helena who would later take on the mantle of the Huntress after her mother's death. This golden age Batman, resident of Earth-Two, eventually died following one last battle after coming out of retirement, with the world believing he had contracted lung cancer from his many years of pipe-smoking.
Fortunately, his earliest adventures and experimental bat-suits, along with the first bat-gyro, bat-plane and first appearances of the famous batarang and gas-pellet filled utility belt with silken cord, can be seen via this first volume of 'The Batman Chronicles'; charting the mythology of the Batman from the very beginning. With eleven volumes currently in circulation as of November 2013, 'The Batman Chronicles: Volume One' promises to herald an important and vital exploration of the Batman mythos.
Volume One was published on 30th March 2005, and collects previously released golden-age Batman stories from Detective Comics #27-38 (May 1939 - April 1940) and the entirety of Batman #1, published in the Spring of 1940. What is presented within this volume is a Batman that was conceived as a gun-toting vigilante out to punish the scum of the criminal underworld. Gotham City was yet to be used as the strip's main setting, in stead having the Dark knight travel to Paris, Hungary and New York City in order to embark upon his superheroic missions. The introduction of Robin, the Boy Wonder, in Detective Comics #38 gave the young readership a character to relate to, and the 'Sensational Character Find of 1940' has endured throughout to the modern age, in many changing guises, costumes, and identities. However, regarding Batman himself, the man behind the mantle has always been the suave, millionaire playboy Master Bruce Wayne; and in this 1940's incarnation, he is rarely seen without his pipe and tweed jacket. The famous origin story remaining pretty much the same (or thereabouts) over the years is shown in simple fashion, recalling how an un-named gunman (in later issues revealed as Joe Chill) murdered his businessman father and loving mother in cold blood, whilst attempting a routine mugging.
The constant supporting character throughout seems to be Police Commissioner James Gordon, a personal friend of Bruce's and a suspicious observer of the Batman and how he is attempting to take the law into his own hands, thereby making the police look redundant at times. Regarding villains however, the Dark Knight seems to have gained quite a few note-worthy nemeses during his first initial outings. These include his first ever arch-nemesis Doctor Death, who uses deathly chemicals as his main arsenal advantage over others, and the enigmatic Mad Monk, who has the power to hypnotise his victims (including Bruce Wayne's then-fiancé Julie Madison) with supernatural abilities, belonging to a family race of vampires and werewolves. It is noteworthy to mention here that these first initial adventures for Batman were later re-worked for the modern audience, following DC Comic's re-vamp of the mid-1980's, which garnered quite positive reviews by its readership at the time. Additional villainous first appearances include that of Hugo Strange, the intellectual mad genius who attempts to turn mental asylum patients into huge 'monsters' in order to rob major city banks, and also the Cat (later known as Catwoman), who uses her feminine wiles and mastery of disguise in an attempt to steal a precious gem from a wealthy old woman. The joker also makes his debut in Batman #1 in two adventures as a delirious mad-man covered head-to-toe in clown attire, attempting to steal precious gems by killing certain wealthy socialites via his famous joker-gas and toxin; thereby setting the stage to become the Batman's most ruthless opponent in almost all of his incarnations throughout history across the DC Multiverse.
Later revisions in DC Comics lore would place this golden-age version of the Batman within the setting of Earth-Two, a parallel world where all (or most) of DC's golden age characters reside, later forming the Justice Society of America and going on to fight in World War Two against Hitler and his Nazi henchmen. This version, who initially wore home-made costumes and blue gloves whilst carrying a gun during the late 30s and early 40s, would continue to fight crime as the Batman in his red-sedan car until his retirement and subsequent wedding to the original Catwoman, bearing a daughter named Helena who would later take on the mantle of the Huntress after her mother's death. This golden age Batman, resident of Earth-Two, eventually died following one last battle after coming out of retirement, with the world believing he had contracted lung cancer from his many years of pipe-smoking.
Fortunately, his earliest adventures and experimental bat-suits, along with the first bat-gyro, bat-plane and first appearances of the famous batarang and gas-pellet filled utility belt with silken cord, can be seen via this first volume of 'The Batman Chronicles'; charting the mythology of the Batman from the very beginning. With eleven volumes currently in circulation as of November 2013, 'The Batman Chronicles: Volume One' promises to herald an important and vital exploration of the Batman mythos.
May 3, 2013
No reason to really go in-depth with something like this--you either like this kind of stuff or you don't. This is a trade paperback of the first 13 Batman comics, running from 1939 to 1940. It's part of DC Comics' "Batman Chronicles" series, a paperback and relatively inexpensive alternative to the hardcover "Batman Archives" and "Dark Knight" archives, which sometimes cost $40 or more.
I read these because I like to get a sense of how the early comics looked and sounded, plus I like to occasionally post the goofy Batman panel on Facebook and Twitter. If you're a casual superhero fan, it's probably not worth it. But if you're a serious Batfan, you should probably get this at some point--there's some good stuff here.
This is back when the comics was aimed towards children, (not 30-year-olds like me, as they are today), and were filled with hoodlums, giants, vampires, and crime bosses who chew cigars and say "See!" as an exclamation point. The art is colorful and vivid--I've been told the colors are actually better and clearer than what a 30's comic book reader would have seen.
It's also got some big Caped Crusader landmarks. Not only the introduction of Batman in "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," in "Detective Comics #27" -- (you can fund your kids' and grandkids' college educations if you can find yourself an original copy of that!)--but also the sidekick Robin and his backstory in "Introducing Robin, the Boy Wonder," in "Detective Comics #38." It also introduces some of the great Batman Rogue's Gallery villains, including Prof. Hugo Strange, Dr. Death, the Monk, and (drumroll).... the Joker and Catwoman.
Catwoman's a little different than we remember her...she doesn't have her famous catsuit or whip, and in fact is called "The Cat." ("The Dark Knight Rises" resurrected that name when Anne Hathaway played the character.) The character was supposedly based on the glamorous, seductive beauty of Hedy Lamarr, and here her shtick is disguises, not costumes. The comic where she appears, "The Cat" in Batman #1, has a neat surprise ending which foreshadows the 50 years of playful back-and-forth between Batman and Catwoman that was to come -- surely one of the best flirtations in pop fiction.
On the other hand, the Joker that also appears in Batman #1 is surprisingly close to the character we all know and love. And the comic itself is surprisingly captivating, even today. In two Joker stories which appear in that comic, the purple-clad, clown-faced master of anarchy boldly announces his heists and targeted murders in advance -- but his plans are so well-crafted, the police are powerless to stop them. It's more tense than you'd expect. One panel also gives a hint of the Joker's suicidal side, something that Chris Nolan also used for "The Dark Knight."
There's also casual racism and sexism, of course, something I'm so used to in old pop culture I tend to tune it out without realizing it. "Quiet or papa spank!" is, believe it or not, a line of dialogue between Batman and Catwoman.
Basically, if you haven't figured out by now whether you'd like this or not, I'm really not sure what else I can say.
I read these because I like to get a sense of how the early comics looked and sounded, plus I like to occasionally post the goofy Batman panel on Facebook and Twitter. If you're a casual superhero fan, it's probably not worth it. But if you're a serious Batfan, you should probably get this at some point--there's some good stuff here.
This is back when the comics was aimed towards children, (not 30-year-olds like me, as they are today), and were filled with hoodlums, giants, vampires, and crime bosses who chew cigars and say "See!" as an exclamation point. The art is colorful and vivid--I've been told the colors are actually better and clearer than what a 30's comic book reader would have seen.
It's also got some big Caped Crusader landmarks. Not only the introduction of Batman in "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," in "Detective Comics #27" -- (you can fund your kids' and grandkids' college educations if you can find yourself an original copy of that!)--but also the sidekick Robin and his backstory in "Introducing Robin, the Boy Wonder," in "Detective Comics #38." It also introduces some of the great Batman Rogue's Gallery villains, including Prof. Hugo Strange, Dr. Death, the Monk, and (drumroll).... the Joker and Catwoman.
Catwoman's a little different than we remember her...she doesn't have her famous catsuit or whip, and in fact is called "The Cat." ("The Dark Knight Rises" resurrected that name when Anne Hathaway played the character.) The character was supposedly based on the glamorous, seductive beauty of Hedy Lamarr, and here her shtick is disguises, not costumes. The comic where she appears, "The Cat" in Batman #1, has a neat surprise ending which foreshadows the 50 years of playful back-and-forth between Batman and Catwoman that was to come -- surely one of the best flirtations in pop fiction.
On the other hand, the Joker that also appears in Batman #1 is surprisingly close to the character we all know and love. And the comic itself is surprisingly captivating, even today. In two Joker stories which appear in that comic, the purple-clad, clown-faced master of anarchy boldly announces his heists and targeted murders in advance -- but his plans are so well-crafted, the police are powerless to stop them. It's more tense than you'd expect. One panel also gives a hint of the Joker's suicidal side, something that Chris Nolan also used for "The Dark Knight."
There's also casual racism and sexism, of course, something I'm so used to in old pop culture I tend to tune it out without realizing it. "Quiet or papa spank!" is, believe it or not, a line of dialogue between Batman and Catwoman.
Basically, if you haven't figured out by now whether you'd like this or not, I'm really not sure what else I can say.
April 12, 2017
Behold—a true piece of history! The earliest adventures of the Dark Knight are glimpsed in the pages of this collection, The Batman Chronicles, Volume One. Presented in chronological order, in vibrant color, and featuring original covers, these these classic Golden Age reprints give readers a look back at what is now a household name.
While Alfred Pennyworth had yet to make an appearance in these original adventures, readers are first introduced to such supporting characters as Robin and Commissioner Gordon, the latter being a personal friend of Bruce Wayne’s and a wary observer of the Batman and his efforts to take the law into his own hands, thus making local law enforcement look redundant. Moreover, it didn’t take long for Batman to garner a rogue’s gallery of notable arch-nemeses in his initial outings—Doctor Death, the enigmatic Monk, and Professor Hugo Strange. Batman #1 features Batman’s first run-ins with the delirious Clown Prince of Crime and the Catwoman (though at the time she was simply the Cat), who uses her feminine wiles and mastery of disguise to steal a priceless necklace from a wealthy woman while aboard a luxury yacht. Even more fascinating was witnessing the development of Batman’s arsenal from the very beginning: his experimental bat-suits, along with first appearances of the Batgyro, the Batplane, the Batarang, and his all-important utility belt packed with gas pellets and silken cord.
While varied, the stories themselves were simplistic and clearly a product of their time. Realism takes a backseat when the Caped Crusader goes toe-to-toe with giant gorillas, vampires, and death-ray-toting dirigibles. On the other hand, the Batman of this Golden Age is quite different from the character we lovingly know today; for instance, the Batman of this era kills the bad guys with little sense of remorse, unlike the contemporary Batman whose moral code prohibits him from crossing that line in his heroic vigilantism.
The Batman Chronicles, Volume 1 is a must-read for true Batman fans—cheesy narration, brimming sexism, and mild racism notwithstanding.
While Alfred Pennyworth had yet to make an appearance in these original adventures, readers are first introduced to such supporting characters as Robin and Commissioner Gordon, the latter being a personal friend of Bruce Wayne’s and a wary observer of the Batman and his efforts to take the law into his own hands, thus making local law enforcement look redundant. Moreover, it didn’t take long for Batman to garner a rogue’s gallery of notable arch-nemeses in his initial outings—Doctor Death, the enigmatic Monk, and Professor Hugo Strange. Batman #1 features Batman’s first run-ins with the delirious Clown Prince of Crime and the Catwoman (though at the time she was simply the Cat), who uses her feminine wiles and mastery of disguise to steal a priceless necklace from a wealthy woman while aboard a luxury yacht. Even more fascinating was witnessing the development of Batman’s arsenal from the very beginning: his experimental bat-suits, along with first appearances of the Batgyro, the Batplane, the Batarang, and his all-important utility belt packed with gas pellets and silken cord.
While varied, the stories themselves were simplistic and clearly a product of their time. Realism takes a backseat when the Caped Crusader goes toe-to-toe with giant gorillas, vampires, and death-ray-toting dirigibles. On the other hand, the Batman of this Golden Age is quite different from the character we lovingly know today; for instance, the Batman of this era kills the bad guys with little sense of remorse, unlike the contemporary Batman whose moral code prohibits him from crossing that line in his heroic vigilantism.
The Batman Chronicles, Volume 1 is a must-read for true Batman fans—cheesy narration, brimming sexism, and mild racism notwithstanding.
March 24, 2015
I know this is the begining of a legend, but boy is it stupid this early on. I full on laughed my ass off at some parts. It was quite fun to see some meme worthy panels, like Batman doing drugs, Robin picking his nose, ...
But wow does he kill a lot of people. I mean really kill, he shoots them, or hangs them, ... or whatever. DEAD! permanently. A LOT of people die. Did not know he was this brutal in his early years.
I also notice the overuse of the word sudden(ly).
All in all it was fun, and I still liked it.
But wow does he kill a lot of people. I mean really kill, he shoots them, or hangs them, ... or whatever. DEAD! permanently. A LOT of people die. Did not know he was this brutal in his early years.
I also notice the overuse of the word sudden(ly).
All in all it was fun, and I still liked it.
November 20, 2012
For any fan of Batman, this volume is a real treat. From the origins of the Caped Crusader & the Boy Wonder to the plots of the villians such as the Joker and Professor Strange, these stories have a delightful vintage tone and mood. Definitely recommended - if only to see Bruce's fiancée and the red "Batmobile!"
August 29, 2025
It’s fascinating to see the Dark Knight in his infancy — back when it took him half an hour to change into his costume and another half hour to zip across town in his bright red roadster. This volume introduces some of the most enduring pieces of the mythos: the Joker arrives with his grisly toxin and clever kills, Robin bounds onto the scene as a cheery counterpoint, and Catwoman slinks in for the first time, simply called “the Cat,” already sparking Bruce’s interest.
What really surprised me, though, is the death toll. The Joker leaves behind a trail of rictus-grinning corpses, and even Batman occasionally shrugs that while he hates to take a life, sometimes it’s necessary to stop the bad guys. It’s a far cry from the rigid no-kill code he’d adopt later.
Still, it’s fun to watch the rise of the Dark Knight — awkward beginnings, moral gray areas and all.
What really surprised me, though, is the death toll. The Joker leaves behind a trail of rictus-grinning corpses, and even Batman occasionally shrugs that while he hates to take a life, sometimes it’s necessary to stop the bad guys. It’s a far cry from the rigid no-kill code he’d adopt later.
Still, it’s fun to watch the rise of the Dark Knight — awkward beginnings, moral gray areas and all.
December 2, 2020
I never read comics growing up and don't really read them much now, but picked up a few on sale at a bookstore recently and started with this collection. Most everything I had known about Batman came from movies/television. It was really cool to see the very first few Batman comics and what has changed and what has been kept the same since. Reading them, it was hard not to envision being a kid in the late 1930s waiting for a new edition to come out every month.
April 17, 2019
I had a 3rd grader recommend this book to me. It is a graphic novel and is a collection of some of the first Batman comics.
April 27, 2023
Batman’s literally insane but that’s okay I still love him! <3
March 3, 2013
The Batman Chronicles Volume 1 marks the Batman's first appearances in Detective Comics in Issues 27-38 and the first big 64-page Batman Issue 1.
The character in the first eleven stories is barely recognizable as Batman with those huge ears on the costume. The original Batman is a character right out of the same pulp fiction tradition as characters like The Shadow and Doc Savage. He's a vigilante who often carries a gun. In these early issues, Bruce Wayne lives in Manhattan and has a fiancée.
The first two stories have very little of that Superhero feel to them However when Gardener Fox takes over in Detective Comics #29, the villains get more interesting. Batman battles Dr. Hugo Strange, Dr. Death, saboteurs, and even vampires. On the vampire plot, they got a little confused as Batman killed the vampires by shooting them with a silver bullet.
The amount of killings and the darkness of the early stories has been exaggerated somewhat by people who defend the dark turn of later issues of the comic book. The killings that happened were all in self-defense and bloodless portrayals. Anyone claiming they're taking Batman back to his root s by including a lot of bloody violence is full of it.
Of course, this comic also marks the first appearance of the Joker as Batman's prime villain in Batman #1. This Joke is pretty much the homicidal maniac we've all come to know. The Joker dies at the end of the issue, but of course there was no way he was going to stay dead.
The biggest change in this book as far as I'm concerned was the appearance of Robin in Detective Comics #38. Really, this changed the tone of the comic book and maybe . The original Robin, Dick Grayson, was trained by Batman after his parents were murdered at the order of a local mob boss named Boss Zucco. Robin was a real swashbuckling, wise-cracking hero that really brought fun to the comics and it did seem to make a positive change for Batman.
Robin was intended as a bit of model for youth living in tenements were crime dominated. In Batman #1, In one scene, Batman takes the guns from four criminals and Batman allows the four of them to take Robin on. Once Robin cleans the four with them, Batman speaks directly to readers, and delivers a special message. Kids were encouraged to be one of Robin's regulars by practicing Readiness, Obedience, Brotherhood, Industriousness, and Nationalism. It may have sounded cheesy today, but modern kids could do worse.
It's really hard to imagine that Batman would have endured as long as he had if Robin hadn't come along. While some of the stories are problematic and too short. The introduction of Robin, the Joker, and Catwoman make this a great read for Batfans everywhere.
The character in the first eleven stories is barely recognizable as Batman with those huge ears on the costume. The original Batman is a character right out of the same pulp fiction tradition as characters like The Shadow and Doc Savage. He's a vigilante who often carries a gun. In these early issues, Bruce Wayne lives in Manhattan and has a fiancée.
The first two stories have very little of that Superhero feel to them However when Gardener Fox takes over in Detective Comics #29, the villains get more interesting. Batman battles Dr. Hugo Strange, Dr. Death, saboteurs, and even vampires. On the vampire plot, they got a little confused as Batman killed the vampires by shooting them with a silver bullet.
The amount of killings and the darkness of the early stories has been exaggerated somewhat by people who defend the dark turn of later issues of the comic book. The killings that happened were all in self-defense and bloodless portrayals. Anyone claiming they're taking Batman back to his root s by including a lot of bloody violence is full of it.
Of course, this comic also marks the first appearance of the Joker as Batman's prime villain in Batman #1. This Joke is pretty much the homicidal maniac we've all come to know. The Joker dies at the end of the issue, but of course there was no way he was going to stay dead.
The biggest change in this book as far as I'm concerned was the appearance of Robin in Detective Comics #38. Really, this changed the tone of the comic book and maybe . The original Robin, Dick Grayson, was trained by Batman after his parents were murdered at the order of a local mob boss named Boss Zucco. Robin was a real swashbuckling, wise-cracking hero that really brought fun to the comics and it did seem to make a positive change for Batman.
Robin was intended as a bit of model for youth living in tenements were crime dominated. In Batman #1, In one scene, Batman takes the guns from four criminals and Batman allows the four of them to take Robin on. Once Robin cleans the four with them, Batman speaks directly to readers, and delivers a special message. Kids were encouraged to be one of Robin's regulars by practicing Readiness, Obedience, Brotherhood, Industriousness, and Nationalism. It may have sounded cheesy today, but modern kids could do worse.
It's really hard to imagine that Batman would have endured as long as he had if Robin hadn't come along. While some of the stories are problematic and too short. The introduction of Robin, the Joker, and Catwoman make this a great read for Batfans everywhere.
January 17, 2015
Ich kann diese Zusammenstellung der ersten Batman-Strips (Mai 1939-Frühjahr 1940) nur aus der Sicht von jemand bewerten, der noch nie in literarischer Berührung mit diesem Thema gekommen ist und nur wenige Ausschnitte aus der seltsamen 60er-Jahre-Fernsehserie kennt. Wegen der sonderbaren Kostümierung und oberflächlichen Superhelden-Handlung kam für mich eine Auseinandersetzung mit den gleichnamigen Kinofilmen bislang nie in Frage.
Aber mich interessierte der Hintergrund für die Kostümierung Bruce Waynes, den ich in diesem Heft endlich erfuhr. Außerdem wird darin die Herkunft Robins erklärt, in zwei Geschichten erscheint erstmals der Joker, Waynes Verlobte Julie tritt einmal auf, während Professor Strange mehrfach sein Unwesen treibt.
Die ersten der sechzehn Geschichten sind noch in ihrer Handlung äußerst einfach und verraten kaum schlüssige Details, wie Wayne durch wenige Informationen auf den einen oder anderen Kriminellen kommt. Die Episode mit Julie, die Cat verteufelt ähnlich sieht, ist geradezu gähnend langweilig. Aber das Weiterlesen lohnt sich, da ab der Handlung um den gesichtlosen Fremden endlich Spannung in die Geschichten kommt und sie zunehmend an Gehalt gewinnen. Natürlich ist der Ablauf stets nach Schema F, da klar ist, dass Batman als Hauptheld nicht sterben kann und er natürlich immer noch eine weitere überirdische Fähigkeit in petto hat. Nichts destotrotz freue ich mich auf ein Wiedersehen mit ihm und Robin, vor allem wenn es auf die Jagd nach den Joker geht.
Aber mich interessierte der Hintergrund für die Kostümierung Bruce Waynes, den ich in diesem Heft endlich erfuhr. Außerdem wird darin die Herkunft Robins erklärt, in zwei Geschichten erscheint erstmals der Joker, Waynes Verlobte Julie tritt einmal auf, während Professor Strange mehrfach sein Unwesen treibt.
Die ersten der sechzehn Geschichten sind noch in ihrer Handlung äußerst einfach und verraten kaum schlüssige Details, wie Wayne durch wenige Informationen auf den einen oder anderen Kriminellen kommt. Die Episode mit Julie, die Cat verteufelt ähnlich sieht, ist geradezu gähnend langweilig. Aber das Weiterlesen lohnt sich, da ab der Handlung um den gesichtlosen Fremden endlich Spannung in die Geschichten kommt und sie zunehmend an Gehalt gewinnen. Natürlich ist der Ablauf stets nach Schema F, da klar ist, dass Batman als Hauptheld nicht sterben kann und er natürlich immer noch eine weitere überirdische Fähigkeit in petto hat. Nichts destotrotz freue ich mich auf ein Wiedersehen mit ihm und Robin, vor allem wenn es auf die Jagd nach den Joker geht.
January 8, 2013
I resisted reading classic comics for many, many years. My sole reason is my absolute need to start things from the very beginning. This gave me that exact opportunity, while also giving me a glimpse into the roots of comics as a whole.
As far as Batman’s history, there was a lot of good stuff in here. Readers see the death of Batman’s parents, Professor Hugo Strange, Robin’s origins, the Joker, and even a certain Cat. The only character I wanted to see more of was Bruce Wayne’s fiancé. I can’t even remember her name, because she literally appeared in one issue. However, much of Wayne’s personal life remained in the dark. The focus of these comics is clearly Batman and his fight against crime.
The best part of reading this was comparing it to current comics. Absolutely everything has evolved, from the artwork to the way writers and illustrators convey info. One thing that drove me mad was how they did not properly mesh text with images. The narrator often told me exactly what was happening, which I could clearly see in the picture. If not, then one of the characters said it. Other than that, I found the backgrounds to be very simplistic. While I understand this was the style of the time, I felt it took away from my immersion in the story.
I think comic fans will appreciate seeing the changes I saw. However, I think newcomers might find this very boring. Of course, Batman fans will enjoy seeing his beginnings.
As far as Batman’s history, there was a lot of good stuff in here. Readers see the death of Batman’s parents, Professor Hugo Strange, Robin’s origins, the Joker, and even a certain Cat. The only character I wanted to see more of was Bruce Wayne’s fiancé. I can’t even remember her name, because she literally appeared in one issue. However, much of Wayne’s personal life remained in the dark. The focus of these comics is clearly Batman and his fight against crime.
The best part of reading this was comparing it to current comics. Absolutely everything has evolved, from the artwork to the way writers and illustrators convey info. One thing that drove me mad was how they did not properly mesh text with images. The narrator often told me exactly what was happening, which I could clearly see in the picture. If not, then one of the characters said it. Other than that, I found the backgrounds to be very simplistic. While I understand this was the style of the time, I felt it took away from my immersion in the story.
I think comic fans will appreciate seeing the changes I saw. However, I think newcomers might find this very boring. Of course, Batman fans will enjoy seeing his beginnings.
November 26, 2013
Detective Comics #27 brought Batman to the world for the first time. He's been around ever since, Batman is one of the greatest comic icons known to humanity. He has appeared in comics, movies, video games & many more popular forms of media. This collection brings together his first appearance (Which is RIDICULOUSLY expensive on its own). The Dark Knight is introduced to us as a young boy whose parents were murdered right in front of him. As if this wasn't tragic enough, we learn that he chooses to spend his nights defending the defenseless. In Batman #1, we see Dick Grayson's Robin for the first time. The Boy Wonder & The Caped Crusader battle the Joker & Catwoman for the first time, also. Speaking of those two, no one has really written Joker's character like Kane & Finger. It's hard!! He's introduced as insane, homicidal & dangeroulsly intelligent. When he tries to stab Batman, only to have him avoid the clumsy swipe, he stabs himself. He laughs & screams "The Joker's going to die!!!" over & over again. He falls down a Subway stairway. Batman notifies the police & when he gets back to retrieve the body...Joker's gone, the knife remaining.
August 28, 2008
Awesome. The earliest ones rock. Loves the '30s.
August 19, 2016
A very entertaining piece of nostalgia
October 6, 2016
Batman na na na na na na na na batman
August 19, 2023
Absurdly simple by modern standards in both narrative and art but fascinating as a look into the beginnings of one of the most long-lasting and compelling fictional characters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
From such humble acorns do mighty oak trees grow.
It's amazing to see how much of the lore most people, even those not interested in comics, would have an idea of was present in these early issues. The very first panel introduces not only Bruce Wayne but Commissioner Gordon and the idea that Wayne is playing the part of a socialite dandy to get more info on the Commissioner's work. Soon after, Robin, Hugo Strange, the Joker and Catwoman will appear. It was a particular delight to see the sparks of attraction between the Bat and the Cat from their first story together given how they're currently portrayed in modern DC comics.
The Joker too stands out for his unconventional approach to crime. Where many of the other gangsters and blackmailers Batman faces here are simply in it for the money, the Joker (while being depicted as a serial jewel thief) also goes about his crimes with a definite theatricality that has been a signature ever since.
Of course, readers of the time couldn't get enough of the Batman which is why he moved from only being one of the stories in Detective Comics to having his own dedicated title. What was it about Bruce Wayne people responded to so much? On the evidence here, it was the idea of a lone vigilante taking on all criminals because he could and because it was the right thing to do, and that he could do it so well.
While later on, his brain and his detective skills would come to be emphasised, here the focus is very much on the punching. Batman is more than once described as a "tornado" who flattens whole gangs of thugs. Bob Kane's (Long unfairly credited as Batman's sole creator when writers like Bill Finger were heavily involved) dynamic art style and clean visuals (that iconic silhouette) clearly landed with readers and while the tales are ridiculous, there was clearly some connection to a need to believe that someone could do what needed to be done.
In fairness, the writing is not great. Far too many of the stories rely on coincidence, like Bruce Wayne spotting the goon he tangled with last night and following him (I mean, come on!) or ridiculous leaps of logic (Upon hearing a dying man's last words "strange fog", Batman deduces that Dr Hugo Strange is about to unleash a fog upon Gotham which turns out to be totally right. (I mean, come on!!)
But the childish fun and the fascinating look at the Dark Knight's origins make this a source of wonder.
From such humble acorns do mighty oak trees grow.
It's amazing to see how much of the lore most people, even those not interested in comics, would have an idea of was present in these early issues. The very first panel introduces not only Bruce Wayne but Commissioner Gordon and the idea that Wayne is playing the part of a socialite dandy to get more info on the Commissioner's work. Soon after, Robin, Hugo Strange, the Joker and Catwoman will appear. It was a particular delight to see the sparks of attraction between the Bat and the Cat from their first story together given how they're currently portrayed in modern DC comics.
The Joker too stands out for his unconventional approach to crime. Where many of the other gangsters and blackmailers Batman faces here are simply in it for the money, the Joker (while being depicted as a serial jewel thief) also goes about his crimes with a definite theatricality that has been a signature ever since.
Of course, readers of the time couldn't get enough of the Batman which is why he moved from only being one of the stories in Detective Comics to having his own dedicated title. What was it about Bruce Wayne people responded to so much? On the evidence here, it was the idea of a lone vigilante taking on all criminals because he could and because it was the right thing to do, and that he could do it so well.
While later on, his brain and his detective skills would come to be emphasised, here the focus is very much on the punching. Batman is more than once described as a "tornado" who flattens whole gangs of thugs. Bob Kane's (Long unfairly credited as Batman's sole creator when writers like Bill Finger were heavily involved) dynamic art style and clean visuals (that iconic silhouette) clearly landed with readers and while the tales are ridiculous, there was clearly some connection to a need to believe that someone could do what needed to be done.
In fairness, the writing is not great. Far too many of the stories rely on coincidence, like Bruce Wayne spotting the goon he tangled with last night and following him (I mean, come on!) or ridiculous leaps of logic (Upon hearing a dying man's last words "strange fog", Batman deduces that Dr Hugo Strange is about to unleash a fog upon Gotham which turns out to be totally right. (I mean, come on!!)
But the childish fun and the fascinating look at the Dark Knight's origins make this a source of wonder.
August 10, 2021
Wow that was a slog.
For starters, who should read this?
I think people that are curious about batman's origins and aren't satisfied with a youtube video or a wikipedia article.
I enjoyed the history of reading this first volume but did not enjoy the stories at all. The stories are pretty simplistic and straight forward. There is a ton of dialogue and it is very cheesy. Sometimes it seems like they have to narrate everything going on in every panel along with having batman or the bad guys have inner monologues they talk out loud. The art reminds me of dick tracey. I know it was written in the 30s but it does not hold up to more modern comics.
SPOILERS
It was very fascinating how consistent they have been from the start with some of Batman's details. They introduce both Batman and Robin's backstory pretty early and it is more or less unchanged to what we have seen in tv/movies in the last 30 years. I was surprised at how early Robin was introduced. It was probably a way to attract younger readers or to give them a character to relate to. The joker that is introduced in this volume is not the same we know in a modern sense in terms of philosophy and character, however the look is very similar to what they used in the TV series ( or at least what I can remember). There was also a pretty early appearance of cat woman, but they simply called her "the cat." Looking at wikipedia it looks like they do not classify this person as catwoman but while I was reading I thought it was pretty clear that is who it was meant to be. It was pretty funny to me that the bat copter or bat plane made an appearance before the bat mobile. Dudes just driving a regular car at the start. It was also interesting they called the joker the harlequin of hate and that is probably where the batman cartoon guys got the harley quinn character name.
Overall, enjoyed the history lesson but I do not think I will be reading the early era of batman unless I want some more history or if I want to see how it improves or changes over time.
For starters, who should read this?
I think people that are curious about batman's origins and aren't satisfied with a youtube video or a wikipedia article.
I enjoyed the history of reading this first volume but did not enjoy the stories at all. The stories are pretty simplistic and straight forward. There is a ton of dialogue and it is very cheesy. Sometimes it seems like they have to narrate everything going on in every panel along with having batman or the bad guys have inner monologues they talk out loud. The art reminds me of dick tracey. I know it was written in the 30s but it does not hold up to more modern comics.
SPOILERS
It was very fascinating how consistent they have been from the start with some of Batman's details. They introduce both Batman and Robin's backstory pretty early and it is more or less unchanged to what we have seen in tv/movies in the last 30 years. I was surprised at how early Robin was introduced. It was probably a way to attract younger readers or to give them a character to relate to. The joker that is introduced in this volume is not the same we know in a modern sense in terms of philosophy and character, however the look is very similar to what they used in the TV series ( or at least what I can remember). There was also a pretty early appearance of cat woman, but they simply called her "the cat." Looking at wikipedia it looks like they do not classify this person as catwoman but while I was reading I thought it was pretty clear that is who it was meant to be. It was pretty funny to me that the bat copter or bat plane made an appearance before the bat mobile. Dudes just driving a regular car at the start. It was also interesting they called the joker the harlequin of hate and that is probably where the batman cartoon guys got the harley quinn character name.
Overall, enjoyed the history lesson but I do not think I will be reading the early era of batman unless I want some more history or if I want to see how it improves or changes over time.
May 22, 2021
The batman first made his appearance in detective comics issue 27 he was created by bill finger whos inspiration for the character was the shadow pulp novels and zorro so if you've ever wondered why Bruce in some iterations is watching zorro with his parents the night they were murdered now you know these comics are pretty damn good did I like all the stories no but I think finger was a good writer he basically created this character and his supporting characters like Gordon who appears in the first issue and hugo strange who most people would recognise from arkham city but the best stories honestly featured the joker created by jerry Robinson inspired of course by the silent film the man who laughs I liked how joker would just ruthlessly kill people he'd announce it on the radio today he'd probably start a hash tag but he's not the only one who kills batman does also in one panel he can be seen carrying a pistol but the moral crusaders didn't like this dark dangerous viglante so they softened him up by giving him a kid sidekick robin and in that panel the batman is smiling something that should never happen but these early comics were the inspiration for Tim Burton's films to go back to his roots as a dark viglante who kills criminals which one hand I like and on the other hand I dont I understand why batman doesn't simply kill the joker and its not for any moral reason it's because dc would be bankrupt without him but in all honesty I enjoyed reading these its like a time capsule back to 1939 yes the artwork is crude especially by today's standards but it's still interesting seeing these characters as they were conceptualised
July 15, 2021
Collecting the Batman stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #27-37 and BATMAN #1, this collection contains the earliest Batman stories from 1939 and 1940. Within these pages we're introduced to Bruce Wayne/Batman and Commisioner Gordon, Dick Grayson/Robin (who was described as a modern day Robin Hood), the recurring villains of Professor Hugo Strange, the Joker and the Cat (Catwoman). It's enjoyable, if rather dated. Apart from Hugo Strange, most of the villains are low-level or kinda out there (jewel thieves, Doctor Death, vampires, werewolves, racist henchmen). However, it is a product of its time.
In some ways it does feel very much like the 1960s TV show, though not quite as camp. It definitely feels more like the Adam West TV show than the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. Still, that said, it's still an enjoyable read. If nothing else for the historical significance of it all. The funny thing I found with the Catwoman story is that Batman seems to fall in with Catwoman by the end of that first story. Later, in the rebirth comics, Batman and Catwoman do eventually get married. Anyway, if you're a Batman fan, you owe it to yourself to check out these comics.
In some ways it does feel very much like the 1960s TV show, though not quite as camp. It definitely feels more like the Adam West TV show than the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. Still, that said, it's still an enjoyable read. If nothing else for the historical significance of it all. The funny thing I found with the Catwoman story is that Batman seems to fall in with Catwoman by the end of that first story. Later, in the rebirth comics, Batman and Catwoman do eventually get married. Anyway, if you're a Batman fan, you owe it to yourself to check out these comics.
May 29, 2017
Modern Batman comics are a favorite of mine, so I finally took the opportunity to read several from the very beginning. These comics are good as a time capsule, and the first appearance of the Joker showed the true promise of both characters.
However, many other aspects were almost laughably bad. For example, during Batman's first meeting with Catwoman, he actually says, "quiet or papa spank," to her.
There's also the super cheesy "inspirational" public service announcement: "well kids, there's your proof! Crooks are yellow without their guns! Don't go around admiring them."
My favorite was Batman saying, "much as I hate to take a human life, I'm afraid this time it's necessary," after he had killed people mercilessly in almost every preceding issue.
These are worth reading for big Batman fans because they show the character's roots. If you're a casual fan, though, you might want to skip ahead a few years.
However, many other aspects were almost laughably bad. For example, during Batman's first meeting with Catwoman, he actually says, "quiet or papa spank," to her.
There's also the super cheesy "inspirational" public service announcement: "well kids, there's your proof! Crooks are yellow without their guns! Don't go around admiring them."
My favorite was Batman saying, "much as I hate to take a human life, I'm afraid this time it's necessary," after he had killed people mercilessly in almost every preceding issue.
These are worth reading for big Batman fans because they show the character's roots. If you're a casual fan, though, you might want to skip ahead a few years.
October 20, 2022
Entertaining start to the franchise. I see Batman didn't have his "no killing" rule in the early days. Plenty of racism, and lots of Deus Ex Machinas resolved without much challenge.
Plenty of the pieces that would later define Batman, all the lore and mythos, a lot of it exists in these early stories. Batman's boomerang, the "high powered car", Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, and even (I'm surprised to say) Bruce Wayne's backstory.
This Batman is less investigator, more vigilante serial killer, but the essence of the Batman is still there. He still fights for justice, he still wants to make "New York" a better place, just he's a hero figure for children during the second world war who talks about exterminating human life - and he acts upon it.
Plenty of the pieces that would later define Batman, all the lore and mythos, a lot of it exists in these early stories. Batman's boomerang, the "high powered car", Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, and even (I'm surprised to say) Bruce Wayne's backstory.
This Batman is less investigator, more vigilante serial killer, but the essence of the Batman is still there. He still fights for justice, he still wants to make "New York" a better place, just he's a hero figure for children during the second world war who talks about exterminating human life - and he acts upon it.
December 27, 2020
For the past couple years I have been reading Batman graphic novels. I have enjoyed them a great deal. For a while now I have been wanting to the original comic where the Batman character was introduced for the first time. My Husband bought me the first five volume of The Batman Chronicles for Christmas. Best gift this Christmas season.
Reading the first volume was as if I was reliving my childhood days. Batman remains to this day my favorite superhero. The first volume include issue #27-38 from Detective Comics & Batman #1 (five issues). Now I’m curious about the first 26 issues of the Detective Comics.
Reading the first volume was as if I was reliving my childhood days. Batman remains to this day my favorite superhero. The first volume include issue #27-38 from Detective Comics & Batman #1 (five issues). Now I’m curious about the first 26 issues of the Detective Comics.
May 15, 2021
As with Superman's earliest, it's refreshing to see them "allow" their enemies to die as they fight them! Then there are the other differences that make the early stuff so interesting in comparison to what I'm used to from the 80s-aughts. Of course seeing the beginning of "The Cat" and The Joker is dear to me as well!
The only reason that I haven't gotten others in reprints like this is my aversion to boy Robin who jumped in to stay as a duel lead for so many years. If you check my Gotham crowd shelf you will see that I like Bruce essentially on his own with little help from associates or teams of heros.
The only reason that I haven't gotten others in reprints like this is my aversion to boy Robin who jumped in to stay as a duel lead for so many years. If you check my Gotham crowd shelf you will see that I like Bruce essentially on his own with little help from associates or teams of heros.
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