The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 5

The Batman Chronicles (Reprints) #5

by Bill Finger, Jack Schiff, Joseph Greene

The fifth volume in the series reprinting every Batman comics story ever published in chronological order features the Dark Knight in early stories that originally appeared in Detective Comics, Batman, and World's Finest Comics. This volume features newly deputized (as of the final story in volume 4) Batman and Robin's epic battles with the Joker and many other denizens of Gotham City's underworld, including their first two encounters with the Penguin!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

About the author

William "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

Reviews

[Pat the Book Goblin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun volume. I got to see the Joker appear several times and the Penguin returns too! These issues were very entertaining!

[Adam Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to Superman and other Golden Age comics, this Volume of Batman stories from late 1941 and 1942 show how Batman was already emerging as very different from its golden age counterparts. Five of the fourteen stories involve supervillains with three battles against the Joker and two against the Penguin. While these don't show the big scale absurdity of later plans, they do show promise and a hint of the schemes to come.

In addition, the book has a nice Christmas story and a true underrated golden age classic, "The Three Racketeers" which finds three criminals discussing their encounters with the Batman and has a nice surprise twist ending.

Overall, a solid collection of stories that captures the Batman's evolution in comics.

[Ellen Kunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one- wasn’t as dark as I was expecting so that was nice and very little about Batman, more about Batgirl. Also, this was an older issue, from summer of 96, issue No. 5. Also, I have no idea why Goodreads said I read this twice- I only read it once and have no idea how to fix it.

[Ufuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Classic, pulp fun.

[Jedi Master Nate Lightray · Rating 4 out of 5]

None of these were terrible. Some were actually very enjoyable. I love this era of comics.

[Vincent Pablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that great... but I still enjoyed it.

[Ruz El · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good Joker stories, and Penguin debuts. Kane finally figures out how to lay out the panels so they make sense and it's all a bit repetitive with all the gangster mysteries.