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Batman: The Golden Age #1
Batman: The Golden Age, Vol. 1
American popular culture has produced few heroic figures as famous and enduring as that of the Batman. The dark, mysterious hero who debuted in 1939's DETECTIVE COMICS #27 as the lone "Bat-man" quickly grew into the legend of the Caped Crusader. After his landmark debut and origin story the Dark Knight was given many seminal elements including his partner in crime-fighting Robin, the Boy Wonder, and such adversaries as the Joker, Hugo Strange and Catwoman.
BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE VOLUME ONE collects all of the Dark Knight Detective's first-ever adventures from DETECTIVE COMICS #27-45, BATMAN #1-3 and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS #2.
BATMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE VOLUME ONE collects all of the Dark Knight Detective's first-ever adventures from DETECTIVE COMICS #27-45, BATMAN #1-3 and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS #2.
411 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2016
233 people are currently reading
336 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 83 reviews
January 7, 2018
Always outnumbered, but never outfought - this is the code of the Batman and Robin...
This book is worth it for the sheer entertainment value. Batman comics from the 1930s are pretty amusing. Bright and garishly colored, with hilarious dialogue - these comics are sure to get a chuckle from you.
Now, it's the thirties so I have to put a standard disclaimer on this about racism and sexism. It's not really as bad as a lot of stuff I've read, but quite a few times Batman has to face 'exotic' villains from China, Africa, India... I think that's it. You'd think the U.S. of A. is solely populated by white people if you read these comics. Sexism: Again, I've read a lot worse. But expect the usual 'beautiful female' shenanigans.
I was shocked when Batman faces a female villain for the first time and
THE CAT: "Let go of me!"
BATMAN: "Quiet or Papa spank!"
CARMEN: o.O What... the fuck... is going on... ??? I thought it was some sort of sexual thing, but then later in the book he refers to himself as "poppa" again while fighting male bad guys.
VILLAIN: tries to tackle Batman
BATMAN (catches him): "Right into Poppa's arms!"
So... IDK. Then the kid picks up on it and starts copying Batman's behaviors.
ROBIN (to villain): "Come to Poppa!"
So... I don't really know what all that was about. o.O
I was surprised by how much I liked Robin. I suppose I've been conditioned by the media and society to think of him as a laughingstock and a useless dorky buttmonkey, but he's not really that way at all in these comics. He's a danger-loving, violent kid who enjoys kicking ass. He's actually quite competent. He's also a murderer, like his 'dad' Bruce Wayne. He kills one person in this collection, and not by accident.
Batman is a murderer. He murders a total of nine people in this collection. A lot more died, some even while fighting Batman, but I wouldn't call them 'murders.' They could be construed as accidents - I mean, you're fighting people, shit happens. But nine of them are straight-up murders. And Batman is totally chill with that. In fact, he's usually really happy about it and says stuff like, "A fitting end for his kind." or along the line like 'good thing he's dead, it's better for society' etc. etc. etc. People argue over and over and over again about Batman's alleged 'no-kill rule' and blah blah blah but I'm telling you in these comics he's killing people left and right. Some more purposefully than others, but he is losing no sleep over it, I can tell you that.
One thing that cracks me up in these comics is how villains choose to murder Batman. It's always like, "I'm going to lower you into a den of snakes in a net!" or "I'm going to lock you in a cage with a giant gorilla!" or
THE DUC: "When the wheel revolves its fastest you will either be thrown against the concrete walls to be crushed... or be maddened by the never-ceasing whirling of the great wheel. Meanwhile, I shall watch from behind the glass door!"
Hugo Strange ties Batman to a wall and wants to whip him.
I'm like, "Why don't you just shoot him, like a normal person!?!!?" And "They're called bullets, ever heard of them?" When a bad guy pulls a gun on Batman, I am always relieved and happy that they are not trying crazy villainous plan #4958 but instead using their brains. It never works, but points for trying.
Batman comics from this era remind me a lot of Scooby-Doo. But Scooby-Doo with a lot more murder and suicide. They are presented as either actual mysteries (I mean... not real mysteries like Agatha Christie, we're talking about comics here, but a situation in which a few people could be the true murderer and often disguises are used) or wacky adventure stories, some involving vampires, werewolves, journeys to 'the fourth dimension,' and mind control.
One thing that was cracking me up throughout the book was the way average citizens see Batman and Robin. Some people call Batman "a Satan." Others think he's an alien. This part where Batman is flying over the city in his Batarang and everyone is panicking and saying
"The end of the world! We are attacked by Martians!"
Or when Batman jumps on a citizen's car.
"Help! The devil himself."
Or Robin.
ROXY BRENNER (being attacked by Robin): "Wha...? I'm attacked by an ELF!" LOL
Or this one:
Robin attacks a villain.
VILLAIN: "What is it - a midget!!"
Every villain seems perfectly fine with murdering Robin, a kid, which seems a little weird to me. You'd think someone would have qualms about it.
The villains don't make much sense and always have some wacky plan. Joker insists on announcing his future crimes on the radio for some reason that escapes me. One guy gets his face lasered off by a villain, and yet somehow can still see, talk, and breathe even though his face is completely smooth. It's bizarre. I can't even tell at the end of the comic if he gets his face back or not.
Batman is ENGAGED, which I found shocking, to a woman named Julie Madison. She insists on talking about what a "real man" Batman is and asking Bruce why he can't be more like Batman. I guess this is supposed to be amusing since Bats and Bruce are the same person, but really it is so cruel.
I had a lot of trouble reading these comics. The order the speech bubbles are placed in and the order of the panels on the pages makes no sense to me and seems counter-intuitive. Luckily for me, they number some panels on pages that are more confusing, but that still doesn't help me with my speech bubble problem. Often I ended up reading these things willy-nilly because it didn't make any logical sense in regards to placement, IMO.
TL;DR - Bright, garish, ridiculous, and campy. Amusing. Is it GOOD? I mean, it's not GOOD. It's good from a fan's perspective. It's good for nostalgia value. It's good in a ha-ha-ha way, but it's not gripping or deep or anything. It's silly and weird and campy. Give it a shot if you are interested in Batman. If not, skip it, there's nothing to see here.
The JOKER - What man or woman does not tremble at the sound of that dreadful name? What new terror will he bring upon them? - Where will he strike next? - Soon, only too soon, will they know! And soon the courageous Batman and plucky Robin, the Boy Wonder, will oppose this mad Harlequin of Hate as they enter upon "The Case of the Laughing Death!"
This book is worth it for the sheer entertainment value. Batman comics from the 1930s are pretty amusing. Bright and garishly colored, with hilarious dialogue - these comics are sure to get a chuckle from you.
Now, it's the thirties so I have to put a standard disclaimer on this about racism and sexism. It's not really as bad as a lot of stuff I've read, but quite a few times Batman has to face 'exotic' villains from China, Africa, India... I think that's it. You'd think the U.S. of A. is solely populated by white people if you read these comics. Sexism: Again, I've read a lot worse. But expect the usual 'beautiful female' shenanigans.
I was shocked when Batman faces a female villain for the first time and
THE CAT: "Let go of me!"
BATMAN: "Quiet or Papa spank!"
CARMEN: o.O What... the fuck... is going on... ??? I thought it was some sort of sexual thing, but then later in the book he refers to himself as "poppa" again while fighting male bad guys.
VILLAIN: tries to tackle Batman
BATMAN (catches him): "Right into Poppa's arms!"
So... IDK. Then the kid picks up on it and starts copying Batman's behaviors.
ROBIN (to villain): "Come to Poppa!"
So... I don't really know what all that was about. o.O
I was surprised by how much I liked Robin. I suppose I've been conditioned by the media and society to think of him as a laughingstock and a useless dorky buttmonkey, but he's not really that way at all in these comics. He's a danger-loving, violent kid who enjoys kicking ass. He's actually quite competent. He's also a murderer, like his 'dad' Bruce Wayne. He kills one person in this collection, and not by accident.
Batman is a murderer. He murders a total of nine people in this collection. A lot more died, some even while fighting Batman, but I wouldn't call them 'murders.' They could be construed as accidents - I mean, you're fighting people, shit happens. But nine of them are straight-up murders. And Batman is totally chill with that. In fact, he's usually really happy about it and says stuff like, "A fitting end for his kind." or along the line like 'good thing he's dead, it's better for society' etc. etc. etc. People argue over and over and over again about Batman's alleged 'no-kill rule' and blah blah blah but I'm telling you in these comics he's killing people left and right. Some more purposefully than others, but he is losing no sleep over it, I can tell you that.
One thing that cracks me up in these comics is how villains choose to murder Batman. It's always like, "I'm going to lower you into a den of snakes in a net!" or "I'm going to lock you in a cage with a giant gorilla!" or
THE DUC: "When the wheel revolves its fastest you will either be thrown against the concrete walls to be crushed... or be maddened by the never-ceasing whirling of the great wheel. Meanwhile, I shall watch from behind the glass door!"
Hugo Strange ties Batman to a wall and wants to whip him.
I'm like, "Why don't you just shoot him, like a normal person!?!!?" And "They're called bullets, ever heard of them?" When a bad guy pulls a gun on Batman, I am always relieved and happy that they are not trying crazy villainous plan #4958 but instead using their brains. It never works, but points for trying.
Batman comics from this era remind me a lot of Scooby-Doo. But Scooby-Doo with a lot more murder and suicide. They are presented as either actual mysteries (I mean... not real mysteries like Agatha Christie, we're talking about comics here, but a situation in which a few people could be the true murderer and often disguises are used) or wacky adventure stories, some involving vampires, werewolves, journeys to 'the fourth dimension,' and mind control.
One thing that was cracking me up throughout the book was the way average citizens see Batman and Robin. Some people call Batman "a Satan." Others think he's an alien. This part where Batman is flying over the city in his Batarang and everyone is panicking and saying
"The end of the world! We are attacked by Martians!"
Or when Batman jumps on a citizen's car.
"Help! The devil himself."
Or Robin.
ROXY BRENNER (being attacked by Robin): "Wha...? I'm attacked by an ELF!" LOL
Or this one:
Robin attacks a villain.
VILLAIN: "What is it - a midget!!"
Every villain seems perfectly fine with murdering Robin, a kid, which seems a little weird to me. You'd think someone would have qualms about it.
The villains don't make much sense and always have some wacky plan. Joker insists on announcing his future crimes on the radio for some reason that escapes me. One guy gets his face lasered off by a villain, and yet somehow can still see, talk, and breathe even though his face is completely smooth. It's bizarre. I can't even tell at the end of the comic if he gets his face back or not.
Batman is ENGAGED, which I found shocking, to a woman named Julie Madison. She insists on talking about what a "real man" Batman is and asking Bruce why he can't be more like Batman. I guess this is supposed to be amusing since Bats and Bruce are the same person, but really it is so cruel.
I had a lot of trouble reading these comics. The order the speech bubbles are placed in and the order of the panels on the pages makes no sense to me and seems counter-intuitive. Luckily for me, they number some panels on pages that are more confusing, but that still doesn't help me with my speech bubble problem. Often I ended up reading these things willy-nilly because it didn't make any logical sense in regards to placement, IMO.
TL;DR - Bright, garish, ridiculous, and campy. Amusing. Is it GOOD? I mean, it's not GOOD. It's good from a fan's perspective. It's good for nostalgia value. It's good in a ha-ha-ha way, but it's not gripping or deep or anything. It's silly and weird and campy. Give it a shot if you are interested in Batman. If not, skip it, there's nothing to see here.
The JOKER - What man or woman does not tremble at the sound of that dreadful name? What new terror will he bring upon them? - Where will he strike next? - Soon, only too soon, will they know! And soon the courageous Batman and plucky Robin, the Boy Wonder, will oppose this mad Harlequin of Hate as they enter upon "The Case of the Laughing Death!"
October 31, 2022
Great volume collecting the beginning of this Iconic character. He is a different Batman than you might think. He carries a gun and will kill if needed. Good Read. Recommended
December 3, 2018
The beginnings of the Batman legend are captured right here. Detective Comics #27-#45, Batman #1-#3, and The 1940 New York World's Fair Comic.
Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Robin, Catwoman, Joker, Clayface, and Hugo Strange make their debut. This is not yet Gotham, the city is not called that until Batman #4. Most of these cases take place in Manhattan, New York.
There are some bad points and some good ones.
The bad - The customs and sensibilities of 1939-1940 are not the same as today. Sexism and racism exist in these pages. Also, the art is inconsistent and the dialogue is very pulpy and over the top.
The good - There are some great plots. Even whittled down to fit in 14 or 15 pages, the stories try to give Batman a real mystery to unravel. Another good thing, Batman and Robin use a lot of pages to give anti-crime and pro-youth messages. That seems to be a good way to get parents to spend a monthly 10 cents and justify the existence of these comics in the 1940s.
I did not love this, but I did like it. I liked seeing the first appearances of some of my favorite villains. I enjoyed experiencing the choppy attempt to build a character. We know it succeeded, but it is obvious that the first couple years were trial and error, touch and go, experimenting until something grabbed the audience and held them.
I look forward to more DC Golden Age volumes for Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Arrow.
Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Robin, Catwoman, Joker, Clayface, and Hugo Strange make their debut. This is not yet Gotham, the city is not called that until Batman #4. Most of these cases take place in Manhattan, New York.
There are some bad points and some good ones.
The bad - The customs and sensibilities of 1939-1940 are not the same as today. Sexism and racism exist in these pages. Also, the art is inconsistent and the dialogue is very pulpy and over the top.
The good - There are some great plots. Even whittled down to fit in 14 or 15 pages, the stories try to give Batman a real mystery to unravel. Another good thing, Batman and Robin use a lot of pages to give anti-crime and pro-youth messages. That seems to be a good way to get parents to spend a monthly 10 cents and justify the existence of these comics in the 1940s.
I did not love this, but I did like it. I liked seeing the first appearances of some of my favorite villains. I enjoyed experiencing the choppy attempt to build a character. We know it succeeded, but it is obvious that the first couple years were trial and error, touch and go, experimenting until something grabbed the audience and held them.
I look forward to more DC Golden Age volumes for Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Arrow.
Read
May 4, 2025Not for me. I tried but nope. Dnf around 12%. I'd rather watch the reruns of the Adam West tv like I did when I was a kid. And that's saying something!
Great if you want to see how batman started out but that's about it.
Great if you want to see how batman started out but that's about it.
September 30, 2019
Interesting to go back to the very beginning of Batman! There were very few tricks, mostly the Batman is a brawler. To be sure, a very agile, athletic and theatrical brawler, but most of the villains are caught with the judicious application of fisticuffs.
The gadgets Batman does have are: glass vials on his belt; a "silken rope"; a Bat-plane (which can somehow hover in mid-air using "automatic controls"; and the "baterang" (correct spelling from the comics of that time!)
The glass vials contain either knockout gas, obscuring smoke or acid. The acid seems very problematic to me! Shatter a vial and you end up losing a limb!
There's no bat-cave, no grandfather clock, no Alfred and although the Batman has a "high-powered" car, it's not called the Batmobile, nor does it sport any Bat symbols.
Interesting to see where it all started, and to consider the many layers and accoutrements that have accrued over the years.
The gadgets Batman does have are: glass vials on his belt; a "silken rope"; a Bat-plane (which can somehow hover in mid-air using "automatic controls"; and the "baterang" (correct spelling from the comics of that time!)
The glass vials contain either knockout gas, obscuring smoke or acid. The acid seems very problematic to me! Shatter a vial and you end up losing a limb!
There's no bat-cave, no grandfather clock, no Alfred and although the Batman has a "high-powered" car, it's not called the Batmobile, nor does it sport any Bat symbols.
Interesting to see where it all started, and to consider the many layers and accoutrements that have accrued over the years.
March 27, 2024
Batman’s origins are really some of the most rudimentary comics you can read, very scooby doo-ish in fact, but knowing what they will one day become and seeing the foundation get laid is the main draw here.
Compared to what we have now, the quality of art and writing is relatively low, but the creativity and bizarre choices from this period are part of early Batman’s charm and what makes it fun. An ugly horde? A man who had his face removed? Weird vampire/werewolf mythologies being confused? Colorfully dated exclamations? It’s all here.
This volume gives you a flew glimpses of characters we now know as mainstays, but for everyone one of those you get ten who will never see the light of day. The Joker, Selina Kyle, commissioner Gordon, Robin, and a few others make appearances but remain as raw as anyone else.
I recommend any fan read Batman golden age for the goofy history lesson that it is, but seek better stories elsewhere. Onto volume two!
Compared to what we have now, the quality of art and writing is relatively low, but the creativity and bizarre choices from this period are part of early Batman’s charm and what makes it fun. An ugly horde? A man who had his face removed? Weird vampire/werewolf mythologies being confused? Colorfully dated exclamations? It’s all here.
This volume gives you a flew glimpses of characters we now know as mainstays, but for everyone one of those you get ten who will never see the light of day. The Joker, Selina Kyle, commissioner Gordon, Robin, and a few others make appearances but remain as raw as anyone else.
I recommend any fan read Batman golden age for the goofy history lesson that it is, but seek better stories elsewhere. Onto volume two!
May 21, 2020
Sweet socially consciuos Golden Age comic with Horror (hello The Fog from John Carpenter!) and Murder Mistery mashed together to create an awesome experience thanks to the Ubernerd (and femdom appreciator, I might add) Bill Finger, with clear influences to the future social leaning works of Dennis O'Neil and Adam West. Full five stars, even with the not-so-well written reintroduction of The Joker. I can't wait to read the next volume in the line!
Recommended to fans of depressive, angry and schizophrenic versions of Batman just to see that those have nothing to do with the original depiction of the character and to non-fans of said versions to clean your tongue after YEARS of useless bad taste and bile showed down our throat for nothing.
Recommended to fans of depressive, angry and schizophrenic versions of Batman just to see that those have nothing to do with the original depiction of the character and to non-fans of said versions to clean your tongue after YEARS of useless bad taste and bile showed down our throat for nothing.
September 13, 2024
A very good read of Batman & Robin's early stories. Not a lot of people like the Golden Age stories, but, as with most comics, if they are done well they are entertaining. The early art by Bob Kane was alright. I much prefered the stories with art by Jerry Robinson. What made this a good read were the stories written by Bill Finger & Gardner Fox, two legends of comics.
If you are looking for a book with the first Batman stories, this would be one to pick up.
If you are looking for a book with the first Batman stories, this would be one to pick up.
July 7, 2020
Sorprendentemente entretenido
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.
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.
May 11, 2019
Are Batman comics from 1939 and 1940 valuable by today's standards, beyond its significance as the beginning of Batman, Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, Clayface and Dr. Hugo Strange? Not very. The "it's curtains for you" melodrama of the language and endless quipping of the heroes makes for a bit of a cheesy read. Circumstances are not helped by the fact that much of Batman's sleuthing consists of following people he simply finds suspicious: people who look funny or racial stereotypes. There's much to be conveniently forgotten from the canonical Batman lore, including Batman killing people.
There are also silly/ridiculous things, like the fact that Commissioner Gordon frequently has Bruce Wayne ride along with him simply because Bruce Wayne is a bored and unimpressed millionaire. Or the fact that Batman fights beasts and giants. Or any number of mind-control methods that are downright silly. Or the bumbling recurring character, Irish police officer McGonigle. Or the endless amount of smoking that every character seems to do.
There are also silly/ridiculous things, like the fact that Commissioner Gordon frequently has Bruce Wayne ride along with him simply because Bruce Wayne is a bored and unimpressed millionaire. Or the fact that Batman fights beasts and giants. Or any number of mind-control methods that are downright silly. Or the bumbling recurring character, Irish police officer McGonigle. Or the endless amount of smoking that every character seems to do.
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April 9, 2019The ‘Bat-Man’, a mysterious and adventurous figure, fighting for righteousness and apprehending the wrong doer, in his lone battle against the evil forces of his society… His identity remains unknown.
Those are the opening words to Detective Comics 27, the first appearance of the most popular comic book character of all time: Batman. Today Batman is an enormous pop culture figure that people know not just from comics, but radio, television, movies, video games – the list goes on. He’s firmly established as a cultural icon. Still, he had to start somewhere. And it’s in these stories from 1939-1940 that the World’s Greatest Detective came to be.
I’m embarking on a read of Batman comics from the Golden Age to the Modern Age. I’ve read some of the most well know stories like The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, and The Killing Joke, but I’m basically a newbie Batman reader. After reading The Golden Age, Vol. 1, I’m excited to continue on because I had fun with these stories, even if I’m mostly reading them for historical context.
Some history: the Golden Age of Comics began in 1938 with the introduction of the first superhero, Superman, in Action Comics 1. Batman was created a year later by Bob Kane and Bill Finger (though the latter did more for the character), who respectively draw and write most of the issues in this collection. The success of Superman prompted editors to request more superheroes. Batman was one of those heroes, inspired by pulp characters like The Shadow, Dick Tracy, and Sherlock Holmes, with a dash of the super. First appearing in Detective Comics alongside other characters, Batman became so popular that he got his own title a year later.
These Golden Age comics were entertaining and illuminating. Yes, the writing and art is dated by today’s standards. It’s cheesy as hell, with plenty of exposition, redundant recounting of action, and loads of hokey banter (every sentence ends in an exclamation point! Because it’s exciting!). There is little character development. The art is inconsistent and appears slapdash. So I did my best to put these stories in context and read them for what they are: fun, pulpy crime comics. And I think it’s clear from his first issues why Batman was an immediate hit.
Kane and Finger definitely put a lot of thought and care into creating Batman and his world. The pieces are all right there in Detective 27: the detective, the cape, the cowl, the rich socialite secret identity, and the dark, mysterious quality of the Batman persona. And then, six issues later we get Batman’s origin: his parents’ murder, vow to war on crime, vigorous training, and decision to “become a bat”. All of these elements have basically been unchanged for 80 years. It’s kind of amazing to see that the character was so solidly defined from the start.
As for the stories themselves, they mostly follow the same formula: Bruce Wayne learns about some fishy crime, whether from the newspaper or wandering about, and subsequently goes to investigate as Batman. He fights the criminals, hands them over to the police (or kills them – yes, Batman kills in these early stories, though not too often), then recounts the caper in his mansion while smoking a pipe. I thought the stories in this collection got progressively better. The mysteries become more complex, and supernatural elements like vampires and werewolves are introduced. With the exception of a few two-parters, each issue here stands alone.
Batman’s supporting characters are hugely important to his mythos and a few noteworthy ones are introduced here. Chief among these, of course, is Robin. I think nowadays people dismiss Robin as lightweight when compared to Batman and don’t take him seriously – probably due to Batman ’66 and the Chuck Schumacher movies coloring their perception of the character, as well as the fact that he’s absent from the recent Batman movies. I’m no Batman expert, but when I think of Batman, I think Batman and Robin. And I was thrilled to see that in Detective Comics 38, less than a year into his history, Batman gains a sidekick in Dick Grayson. To my knowledge he has had a Robin in some form ever since. So it’s evident from these early issues that Robin is crucially important to Batman and a fantastic character in his own right.
Bruce and Dick’s relationship in these Golden Age stories is one of friendship, collaboration, and respect. In Detective 38, Bruce attends a Haly’s Circus show and sees Dick’s parents, The Flying Graysons, fall to their death during an act (it was rigged by mobster Boss Zucco). Dick is distraught and wants to go to the police with the knowledge he gained from overhearing Zucco berating Mister Haly earlier. But Batman approaches Dick and insists on hiding him. If he goes to the police, Batman says, Boss Zucco will find out and kill him. Dick says he want to join Batman in his crusade, who warns the boy that crime fighting is dangerous. Without batting an eye, Dick replies, “I’m not afraid.” And so begins Batman and Robin.
I think it’s interesting that Bruce first wants protect Dick, whose parents suffered a similar fate as his own, but after seeing Dick’s determination, Bruce realizes he can help him. He takes this broken kid and teaches him how to deal with his pain in the same way he did by fighting injustice. Initially, it seems like more of a father-son relationship; older Bruce training a young boy and leading him to war on crime. But I think these two are also close friends who bonded over having lost their parents. Dick even calls Bruce his “best friend” in a later issue. They both need each other, even if they didn’t realize it at first. And each makes the other better.
Another notable character introduced is Commissioner Gordon, not yet named James. Gordon appears in the first panel of Detective 27, as Bruce Wayne’s friend. Like Robin, he is important to Batman from the beginning. His role, however, is less prominent. He pops up in three issues or so, only to chat with Bruce and other officers. I’m assuming he’ll become more defined as the Golden Age goes on, or maybe in the Silver Age.
Two of Batman’s most important rogues debut in Batman 1: The Joker and Catwoman. Right off the bat, the Joker is homicidal and unhinged. He looks pretty menacing already – the mirthless grin, the white skin and green hair, the dapper purple suit. His appearance in this issue looks basically the same to how he looks today, another testament to the creators’ careful crafting of Batman’s world and characters. In his first issue and later issues (he makes four appearances in this collection), Joker kills victims with his “Joker venom” that leaves their faces smiling grotesquely. There is a particularly haunting image in his second story from Batman 1: after accidentally stabbing himself in a confrontation with Batman, he lets out a loud cackle and bellows, “The Joker is going to die! Ha! Ha! The laugh is on The Joker! Ha! Ha! Laugh clown, laugh!” I know he becomes goofy in the 50s and 60s, but from these early issues I can see why he was a mainstay.
Catwoman’s foundation in Batman 1 is also solid. Referred to as The Cat, she disguises herself as the friend of a man whose aunt is wearing a highly publicized emerald necklace. Anticipating a crime scene, Batman and Robin make their way onto the yacht where the crowd is located. Mobsters appear, the duo apprehends them, and eventually The Cat tries to sneak off with the necklace. Batman and Robin catch her, retrieve the necklace, and Batman takes her to the police. The Cat flirts with her captor (“Haven’t you ever seen a pretty girl before?”), and even tries to persuade him to join her life of crime. Batman refuses, she jumps over the side, and he lets her escape by stopping Robin from going after her. He wonders out loud if they’ll meet again and Robin replies with a disapproving “Hmmm…”
The Cat appears in a few more issues with similar plots. Bat and Cat are clearly attracted to each other, despite their differing values. It’s a great thread that I take it has lasted to the Modern Age (as of this writing, they are soon to be married). I’m excited to see more of their interactions going forward.
Overall, this is a good start to Batman. It’s impressive how solidly the character is defined from the get go. Obviously more elements will be added over the years, but Kane, Finger, and the other creators did a great job during Batman’s first outing. These comics are very much a product of their time. It’s a testament to Batman’s popularity today that they had something special.
Stray observations:
This particular collection is beautifully assembled. The comics are reprinted in fantastic color, and simply look great. I recommend this book if you want to try Golden Age Batman.
Bruce’s go-to way to detract that he’s Batman is tell his socialite friends that he’s “bored”. They’ll never suspect a boring rich guy is Batman! Ha ha!
Other things introduced: utility belt, batarang, batrope, batplane, Wayne Mansion (not Manor yet), “secret hangar” (later Batcave I’m assuming), batmobile (sort of, it’s just a normal car)
There are references to New York City, namely Manhattan. But no Gotham City yet.
Batman is variously described as “winged figure of vengeance”, “weird figure”, “mysterious”, “eerie”, and “menace to all crime”. The darkness is certainly emphasized from the start, even if his dialogue is buoyant and corny.
Robin definitely comes off as more fun-loving and lighthearted than Batman. He’s referred to as “laughing” or “grinning” Robin, the Boy Wonder. I understand that Robin was created as a relatable character for young readers alongside the adult Batman. I also found out that the series sold even better after Robin was introduced.
Other baddies to appear are The Monk (later Mad Monk), Doctor Death, Hugo Strange, and Clayface.
Batman is engaged to Julie Madison. I wonder how long it will last (especially considering his infatuation with The Cat) and if she’ll find out about his crime fighting adventures.
There are a few issues where inmates escape an insane asylum. The first seeds of Arkham Asylum perhaps?
The most left-field issue was “The Land Behind the Light” from Detective Comics 44. Batman and Robin fight giants to save dwarfs in the fourth dimension only for Dick to wake up and realize he was dreaming. Amazing.
Bruce’s father (Thomas) is named but his mother (Martha) is yet unnamed.
Most police officers seem to be okay with Batman, but there are some instances where they clash with him. One officer says Batman embarrasses the police by solving crimes before they do.
Batman and Robin break the fourth wall at least once.
Those are the opening words to Detective Comics 27, the first appearance of the most popular comic book character of all time: Batman. Today Batman is an enormous pop culture figure that people know not just from comics, but radio, television, movies, video games – the list goes on. He’s firmly established as a cultural icon. Still, he had to start somewhere. And it’s in these stories from 1939-1940 that the World’s Greatest Detective came to be.
I’m embarking on a read of Batman comics from the Golden Age to the Modern Age. I’ve read some of the most well know stories like The Dark Knight Returns, Year One, and The Killing Joke, but I’m basically a newbie Batman reader. After reading The Golden Age, Vol. 1, I’m excited to continue on because I had fun with these stories, even if I’m mostly reading them for historical context.
Some history: the Golden Age of Comics began in 1938 with the introduction of the first superhero, Superman, in Action Comics 1. Batman was created a year later by Bob Kane and Bill Finger (though the latter did more for the character), who respectively draw and write most of the issues in this collection. The success of Superman prompted editors to request more superheroes. Batman was one of those heroes, inspired by pulp characters like The Shadow, Dick Tracy, and Sherlock Holmes, with a dash of the super. First appearing in Detective Comics alongside other characters, Batman became so popular that he got his own title a year later.
These Golden Age comics were entertaining and illuminating. Yes, the writing and art is dated by today’s standards. It’s cheesy as hell, with plenty of exposition, redundant recounting of action, and loads of hokey banter (every sentence ends in an exclamation point! Because it’s exciting!). There is little character development. The art is inconsistent and appears slapdash. So I did my best to put these stories in context and read them for what they are: fun, pulpy crime comics. And I think it’s clear from his first issues why Batman was an immediate hit.
Kane and Finger definitely put a lot of thought and care into creating Batman and his world. The pieces are all right there in Detective 27: the detective, the cape, the cowl, the rich socialite secret identity, and the dark, mysterious quality of the Batman persona. And then, six issues later we get Batman’s origin: his parents’ murder, vow to war on crime, vigorous training, and decision to “become a bat”. All of these elements have basically been unchanged for 80 years. It’s kind of amazing to see that the character was so solidly defined from the start.
As for the stories themselves, they mostly follow the same formula: Bruce Wayne learns about some fishy crime, whether from the newspaper or wandering about, and subsequently goes to investigate as Batman. He fights the criminals, hands them over to the police (or kills them – yes, Batman kills in these early stories, though not too often), then recounts the caper in his mansion while smoking a pipe. I thought the stories in this collection got progressively better. The mysteries become more complex, and supernatural elements like vampires and werewolves are introduced. With the exception of a few two-parters, each issue here stands alone.
Batman’s supporting characters are hugely important to his mythos and a few noteworthy ones are introduced here. Chief among these, of course, is Robin. I think nowadays people dismiss Robin as lightweight when compared to Batman and don’t take him seriously – probably due to Batman ’66 and the Chuck Schumacher movies coloring their perception of the character, as well as the fact that he’s absent from the recent Batman movies. I’m no Batman expert, but when I think of Batman, I think Batman and Robin. And I was thrilled to see that in Detective Comics 38, less than a year into his history, Batman gains a sidekick in Dick Grayson. To my knowledge he has had a Robin in some form ever since. So it’s evident from these early issues that Robin is crucially important to Batman and a fantastic character in his own right.
Bruce and Dick’s relationship in these Golden Age stories is one of friendship, collaboration, and respect. In Detective 38, Bruce attends a Haly’s Circus show and sees Dick’s parents, The Flying Graysons, fall to their death during an act (it was rigged by mobster Boss Zucco). Dick is distraught and wants to go to the police with the knowledge he gained from overhearing Zucco berating Mister Haly earlier. But Batman approaches Dick and insists on hiding him. If he goes to the police, Batman says, Boss Zucco will find out and kill him. Dick says he want to join Batman in his crusade, who warns the boy that crime fighting is dangerous. Without batting an eye, Dick replies, “I’m not afraid.” And so begins Batman and Robin.
I think it’s interesting that Bruce first wants protect Dick, whose parents suffered a similar fate as his own, but after seeing Dick’s determination, Bruce realizes he can help him. He takes this broken kid and teaches him how to deal with his pain in the same way he did by fighting injustice. Initially, it seems like more of a father-son relationship; older Bruce training a young boy and leading him to war on crime. But I think these two are also close friends who bonded over having lost their parents. Dick even calls Bruce his “best friend” in a later issue. They both need each other, even if they didn’t realize it at first. And each makes the other better.
Another notable character introduced is Commissioner Gordon, not yet named James. Gordon appears in the first panel of Detective 27, as Bruce Wayne’s friend. Like Robin, he is important to Batman from the beginning. His role, however, is less prominent. He pops up in three issues or so, only to chat with Bruce and other officers. I’m assuming he’ll become more defined as the Golden Age goes on, or maybe in the Silver Age.
Two of Batman’s most important rogues debut in Batman 1: The Joker and Catwoman. Right off the bat, the Joker is homicidal and unhinged. He looks pretty menacing already – the mirthless grin, the white skin and green hair, the dapper purple suit. His appearance in this issue looks basically the same to how he looks today, another testament to the creators’ careful crafting of Batman’s world and characters. In his first issue and later issues (he makes four appearances in this collection), Joker kills victims with his “Joker venom” that leaves their faces smiling grotesquely. There is a particularly haunting image in his second story from Batman 1: after accidentally stabbing himself in a confrontation with Batman, he lets out a loud cackle and bellows, “The Joker is going to die! Ha! Ha! The laugh is on The Joker! Ha! Ha! Laugh clown, laugh!” I know he becomes goofy in the 50s and 60s, but from these early issues I can see why he was a mainstay.
Catwoman’s foundation in Batman 1 is also solid. Referred to as The Cat, she disguises herself as the friend of a man whose aunt is wearing a highly publicized emerald necklace. Anticipating a crime scene, Batman and Robin make their way onto the yacht where the crowd is located. Mobsters appear, the duo apprehends them, and eventually The Cat tries to sneak off with the necklace. Batman and Robin catch her, retrieve the necklace, and Batman takes her to the police. The Cat flirts with her captor (“Haven’t you ever seen a pretty girl before?”), and even tries to persuade him to join her life of crime. Batman refuses, she jumps over the side, and he lets her escape by stopping Robin from going after her. He wonders out loud if they’ll meet again and Robin replies with a disapproving “Hmmm…”
The Cat appears in a few more issues with similar plots. Bat and Cat are clearly attracted to each other, despite their differing values. It’s a great thread that I take it has lasted to the Modern Age (as of this writing, they are soon to be married). I’m excited to see more of their interactions going forward.
Overall, this is a good start to Batman. It’s impressive how solidly the character is defined from the get go. Obviously more elements will be added over the years, but Kane, Finger, and the other creators did a great job during Batman’s first outing. These comics are very much a product of their time. It’s a testament to Batman’s popularity today that they had something special.
Stray observations:
This particular collection is beautifully assembled. The comics are reprinted in fantastic color, and simply look great. I recommend this book if you want to try Golden Age Batman.
Bruce’s go-to way to detract that he’s Batman is tell his socialite friends that he’s “bored”. They’ll never suspect a boring rich guy is Batman! Ha ha!
Other things introduced: utility belt, batarang, batrope, batplane, Wayne Mansion (not Manor yet), “secret hangar” (later Batcave I’m assuming), batmobile (sort of, it’s just a normal car)
There are references to New York City, namely Manhattan. But no Gotham City yet.
Batman is variously described as “winged figure of vengeance”, “weird figure”, “mysterious”, “eerie”, and “menace to all crime”. The darkness is certainly emphasized from the start, even if his dialogue is buoyant and corny.
Robin definitely comes off as more fun-loving and lighthearted than Batman. He’s referred to as “laughing” or “grinning” Robin, the Boy Wonder. I understand that Robin was created as a relatable character for young readers alongside the adult Batman. I also found out that the series sold even better after Robin was introduced.
Other baddies to appear are The Monk (later Mad Monk), Doctor Death, Hugo Strange, and Clayface.
Batman is engaged to Julie Madison. I wonder how long it will last (especially considering his infatuation with The Cat) and if she’ll find out about his crime fighting adventures.
There are a few issues where inmates escape an insane asylum. The first seeds of Arkham Asylum perhaps?
The most left-field issue was “The Land Behind the Light” from Detective Comics 44. Batman and Robin fight giants to save dwarfs in the fourth dimension only for Dick to wake up and realize he was dreaming. Amazing.
Bruce’s father (Thomas) is named but his mother (Martha) is yet unnamed.
Most police officers seem to be okay with Batman, but there are some instances where they clash with him. One officer says Batman embarrasses the police by solving crimes before they do.
Batman and Robin break the fourth wall at least once.
March 1, 2020
Batman: Lone Vigilante
Seen by his own set as lazy and shallow, Bruce Wayne uses his friendship with Police Commissioner Gordon to help get leads to help him fight crime as The Batman.
Taking a lot of inspiration from the pulp crime thrillers, Bob Kane and Bill Finger very quickly assemble the legend of Batman, introducing Robin, the Joker and the Cat to round out the dual identity of gauche Bruce Wayne and wry genius Batman.
Seen by his own set as lazy and shallow, Bruce Wayne uses his friendship with Police Commissioner Gordon to help get leads to help him fight crime as The Batman.
Taking a lot of inspiration from the pulp crime thrillers, Bob Kane and Bill Finger very quickly assemble the legend of Batman, introducing Robin, the Joker and the Cat to round out the dual identity of gauche Bruce Wayne and wry genius Batman.
April 18, 2023
I'm paraphrasing here, but Neal Adams once said something like, you have Superman on one end of the spectrum and Batman on the other, and all other superheroes fall somewhere in between. And, while I believe Mr. Adams was referring to the difference between the power levels of the two characters, Superman being all powerful, and Batman having no special powers at all, it's pretty accurate in other ways as well. The Golden Age stories of Superman and Batman are similar in many aspects, but the mood, atmosphere, and attitude of Batman are completely different from his predecessor.
This look at Batman's early adventures is a fantastic insight into not only the character but the history of superheroes and comic books in general.
This look at Batman's early adventures is a fantastic insight into not only the character but the history of superheroes and comic books in general.
April 25, 2020
It's a good compendium of the first "Detective Comics" and "BATMAN" comics. It collects the original works of Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Well worth reading for a BATMAN fan, or any other person. It's a good, easy, adventurous collection featuring first appearances of Batman, Robin, The Joker and many other cult characters...
March 2, 2020
I think these comics are the best I've been reading this for a couple months along with a couple other things. Batman is my favorite super hero and always will be. These comics are alot of fun and entertaining and I hope one day I can find them all.
August 26, 2018
Cool origins of Batman and Robin
July 19, 2024
Whoever thinks that Batman doesn’t kill should read his early adventures; he kills ALL THE TIME!!!
It’s wild!
It’s wild!
August 23, 2023
silly and fun and so very outdated. it's amazing to see what parts of the character and lore have stuck for 80+ years and it's even more enjoyable to see what parts have been retconned
December 28, 2016
DC Comics has recently started releasing collected editions of the various comics of certain characters from their earliest days. This means volumes covering such areas as the Silver Age of the Flash (Barry Allan) and the Golden Age of Batman and Superman among others. The current volume being reviewed is the first volume of Batman comics from the first issue on ward in the Golden Age.
This volume starts at the first appearance of Batman in an issue of Detective Comics and goes onward through when Bats got his own title and so forth. It introduces figures that become a part of the Batman myth, such as the Joker, Hugo Strange, and Catwoman. It also shows the beginnings of the slow coming together of the mythos of the Dark Knight.
When he first started, Batman was willing to kill, carry guns, you name it. After a certain number os issues, he stopped killing, but still either purposely did things he knew would cause the deaths of bad guys, and/or just didn't care. This is a far cry from the Batman of today, who though a brooding figure, is still very much an idealist with strict rules and even a hope to reform some of the criminals he fights.
Commissioner Gordon also is different. He isn't a bad guy and is competent, if unimaginative. But he is a jerk at times. A good man at heart but not always kind. I can't wait for future volumes to show us his improvement in character.
Obviously given the period, the artwork isn't anything to write home about and Bruce can be a jerk too at times. On the other hand, there is the opposite problem where the comics can a couple of times push some PSA on the audience which feels stupid and soap boxish. Despite this, the stories are actually pretty good and sometimes compelling and the history and development of the character is fascinating to see.
Highly Recommended.
This volume starts at the first appearance of Batman in an issue of Detective Comics and goes onward through when Bats got his own title and so forth. It introduces figures that become a part of the Batman myth, such as the Joker, Hugo Strange, and Catwoman. It also shows the beginnings of the slow coming together of the mythos of the Dark Knight.
When he first started, Batman was willing to kill, carry guns, you name it. After a certain number os issues, he stopped killing, but still either purposely did things he knew would cause the deaths of bad guys, and/or just didn't care. This is a far cry from the Batman of today, who though a brooding figure, is still very much an idealist with strict rules and even a hope to reform some of the criminals he fights.
Commissioner Gordon also is different. He isn't a bad guy and is competent, if unimaginative. But he is a jerk at times. A good man at heart but not always kind. I can't wait for future volumes to show us his improvement in character.
Obviously given the period, the artwork isn't anything to write home about and Bruce can be a jerk too at times. On the other hand, there is the opposite problem where the comics can a couple of times push some PSA on the audience which feels stupid and soap boxish. Despite this, the stories are actually pretty good and sometimes compelling and the history and development of the character is fascinating to see.
Highly Recommended.
November 10, 2017
DC Comics has been re-issuing old comic book series as "Golden Age" collections and they're beautiful. This volume includes the earliest stories of Batman, with an early introduction to sidekick Robin. We also meet The Joker fairly early on.
Whether you read this collection digitally (e.g. using Comixology) or as a physical book, it's a great treat. The collection includes Detective Comics #27-45, Batman #1-3, and New York World's Fair Comics #2.
Whether you read this collection digitally (e.g. using Comixology) or as a physical book, it's a great treat. The collection includes Detective Comics #27-45, Batman #1-3, and New York World's Fair Comics #2.
June 14, 2023
This is an interesting piece of history. It's cool getting to know where Batman came from.
However, the modern reader will find these stories extremely dull, badly written and with amateurish looking art.
I think this is only worth a read for those curious about the history of Batman. If you're just looking for a good story, stay clear of this.
However, the modern reader will find these stories extremely dull, badly written and with amateurish looking art.
I think this is only worth a read for those curious about the history of Batman. If you're just looking for a good story, stay clear of this.
March 9, 2019
I really tried but couldn’t get past the bad art and awful, dated dialogue, and the ‘stories’ were so short. Gave it an extra star because of the history involved in the publication. Won’t be buying another Golden Age collection.
August 22, 2017
"Well, here goes. I hope I don't get blown up."
November 19, 2025
After reading a collection of the last pre-Crisis Batman stories, in combination with reading a bunch of old Giant Size Batmans with a scattering of late Golden Age and Silver Age Batman stories, I thought it would be fun to go all the way back to the beginning. Of course I've had a somewhat mixed experience with reading stuff from the start of the Golden Age of comics. It's clear that everybody is still figuring out the genre rules and conceits, and sometimes even just sorting out the basics of how comics should be done. This collection is no exception - there were plenty of times when it was tricky to follow the story because the panels and even the speech bubbles within the panels were laid out in a weird way. And there were definitely some rough spots, but I did find myself overall enjoying this collection.
It's interesting contrasting this volume with the volume of Golden Age Superman stories I've read. Superman started in a fairly recognizable form. I mean, of course, he couldn't even fly yet and a lot of his supporting cast wasn't present, but the basic dynamic of alien from a dying world raised on Earth, disguised as a reporter and fighting evil is there. Whereas Batman feels like he's still taking time to be formed here. Maybe some of that is because a lot of the iconic pop culture image of Batman is about all his stuff, and to a lesser extent about the Bat Family. The very first story gives us Batman and his civilian alter ego of playboy Bruce Wayne. But his car isn't bat styled at all and there's nary a sidekick in sight, nor the Batcave or Bat Signal.
And even by the end of this first volume there's a lot of stuff "missing" compared to what you'd expect from what "everyone knows" about Batman. Robin shows up about ten issues in, and he's certainly a big help. I found a lot of the early stories kinda weird and uninteresting but it feels like things start falling into shape a little more with Robin on the scene. The Batplane and Batarangs make early appearances. But I know Alfred won't show up for a year or two yet and even then he'll be kinda weird. And these stories are kinda vague about the exact setup of where Batman lives and there's not really a Batcave yet. It even takes a couple of issues to get Batman's backstory of murdered parents - and so far there's no sign of the idea of him traveling the world learning all sorts of cool stuff. He just went to college.
The stories are also interesting. A lot of them are pretty typical "Batman fights a gang of criminals" type stuff I've seen a fair bit of in my Silver Age reading. And as with that later material, it's actually more common to see random one-off completely normal gangs of criminals than it is for him to face off with iconic gimmicked weirdos. He also deals with the occasional mad scientist, with one particularly off early adventure involving him tangling with a guy armed with zeppelins and death rays. There's even one story that presages much of the later goofiness of the late 50s and early 60s where Batman and Robin are taken to a dimension of giants and tiny people, though that turns out to be a dream Robin is having.
Which is not to say there are no iconic villains here, as we get three and a half. The Joker is present from nearly the beginning, making two appearances in Batman #1 and being a consistent presence from then on. Since this is pre-Comics Code he's rather closer to his modern take in a lot of ways, being focused on crime but doing a lot of murder via Joker venom as his way of getting what he wants. And in fact he's pretty creative, doing things like making a record that emits poison gas. He's not yet focused on practical jokes and gags, but he does look like a horrible clown. Hugo Strange makes a few appearances, though he's basically just another mad scientist at this point. The first Clayface appears, which I count as one half because I'm pretty sure all the iconic Clayfaces are later versions named after this one. And surprisingly, Catwoman is here too, complete with her "will they or won't they" dynamic with Batman. He even trips up Robin to let her escape in her first appearance. She's probably the character I'm most looking forward to seeing more of as I keep reading because I've enjoyed her in her Silver and Bronze Age stories. Though I do have to note she has yet to get her iconic costume, appearing either just as a normal woman or with a ridiculous cat head mask.
So overall this was a fun look at the early days of Batman. In some ways I prefer some of the later stuff because it feels more like what I expect Batman to be, but there's something fun about getting to see such a raw unformed version of the character where they're still figuring out what does and doesn't work. Plus it's neat to see which aspects of Batman the cultural figure exist at this point. I think in terms of Golden Age stuff I have enjoyed my dalliances with Superman and Captain America more, but I've already got five more volumes of this so I figure I might as well read some more and see how it goes.
It's interesting contrasting this volume with the volume of Golden Age Superman stories I've read. Superman started in a fairly recognizable form. I mean, of course, he couldn't even fly yet and a lot of his supporting cast wasn't present, but the basic dynamic of alien from a dying world raised on Earth, disguised as a reporter and fighting evil is there. Whereas Batman feels like he's still taking time to be formed here. Maybe some of that is because a lot of the iconic pop culture image of Batman is about all his stuff, and to a lesser extent about the Bat Family. The very first story gives us Batman and his civilian alter ego of playboy Bruce Wayne. But his car isn't bat styled at all and there's nary a sidekick in sight, nor the Batcave or Bat Signal.
And even by the end of this first volume there's a lot of stuff "missing" compared to what you'd expect from what "everyone knows" about Batman. Robin shows up about ten issues in, and he's certainly a big help. I found a lot of the early stories kinda weird and uninteresting but it feels like things start falling into shape a little more with Robin on the scene. The Batplane and Batarangs make early appearances. But I know Alfred won't show up for a year or two yet and even then he'll be kinda weird. And these stories are kinda vague about the exact setup of where Batman lives and there's not really a Batcave yet. It even takes a couple of issues to get Batman's backstory of murdered parents - and so far there's no sign of the idea of him traveling the world learning all sorts of cool stuff. He just went to college.
The stories are also interesting. A lot of them are pretty typical "Batman fights a gang of criminals" type stuff I've seen a fair bit of in my Silver Age reading. And as with that later material, it's actually more common to see random one-off completely normal gangs of criminals than it is for him to face off with iconic gimmicked weirdos. He also deals with the occasional mad scientist, with one particularly off early adventure involving him tangling with a guy armed with zeppelins and death rays. There's even one story that presages much of the later goofiness of the late 50s and early 60s where Batman and Robin are taken to a dimension of giants and tiny people, though that turns out to be a dream Robin is having.
Which is not to say there are no iconic villains here, as we get three and a half. The Joker is present from nearly the beginning, making two appearances in Batman #1 and being a consistent presence from then on. Since this is pre-Comics Code he's rather closer to his modern take in a lot of ways, being focused on crime but doing a lot of murder via Joker venom as his way of getting what he wants. And in fact he's pretty creative, doing things like making a record that emits poison gas. He's not yet focused on practical jokes and gags, but he does look like a horrible clown. Hugo Strange makes a few appearances, though he's basically just another mad scientist at this point. The first Clayface appears, which I count as one half because I'm pretty sure all the iconic Clayfaces are later versions named after this one. And surprisingly, Catwoman is here too, complete with her "will they or won't they" dynamic with Batman. He even trips up Robin to let her escape in her first appearance. She's probably the character I'm most looking forward to seeing more of as I keep reading because I've enjoyed her in her Silver and Bronze Age stories. Though I do have to note she has yet to get her iconic costume, appearing either just as a normal woman or with a ridiculous cat head mask.
So overall this was a fun look at the early days of Batman. In some ways I prefer some of the later stuff because it feels more like what I expect Batman to be, but there's something fun about getting to see such a raw unformed version of the character where they're still figuring out what does and doesn't work. Plus it's neat to see which aspects of Batman the cultural figure exist at this point. I think in terms of Golden Age stuff I have enjoyed my dalliances with Superman and Captain America more, but I've already got five more volumes of this so I figure I might as well read some more and see how it goes.
April 3, 2020
I purchased the Golden Age era Batman comics sometime in 2019 and I've finally finished reading volume 1 in 2020.
I think it goes without saying that these comics are quite dated, largely because they released over 80 years ago at this point and as you might imagine much has changed since these comics were first released. That said, I still found these comics to be quite entertaining and I honestly found myself laughing out loud at many of the completely absurd situations that happen in these comics.
As an example, one of my favorite "jokes" was one of Robin's early moments when he gets knocked out and Batman replies "Don't worry your hair cushioned the blow." To which I replied to myself "Uhh, Batman... I don't think that's how hair works... you should probably get Robin to the hospital for a concussion." I found myself riffing the comics pretty frequently because the situations and villains are unintentionally hilarious.
I was also keeping track of the major things that happened this volume and Robin got knocked out and almost killed every other chapter until the final few issues, which is when he became a bit more competent in a fight. Only 3 major villains appear in this volume as well, Cat Woman, The Joker and Hugo Strange. Cat Woman appears in 3 or 4 issues, The Joker appears in 3 and Hugo Strange appears in only 1.
My favorite issue was probably the one where Bruce and Dick are on vacation and they find out the town is run by a corrupt politician who is in the hands of the mob, so he takes matters into his own hands and incites the town to riot and ultimately overthrows the mob and politician. I laughed quite a bit at that one.
In the end, I've decided to give this volume 4 out of 5 stars. I found them rather hilarious even though they weren't intended to be but they're so absurd that it's hard for me not to laugh at them. If you enjoy classic comics as much as I do then definitely pick the volumes up, if not, then I recommend giving a pass on them as they probably aren't something you'd enjoy much.
I think it goes without saying that these comics are quite dated, largely because they released over 80 years ago at this point and as you might imagine much has changed since these comics were first released. That said, I still found these comics to be quite entertaining and I honestly found myself laughing out loud at many of the completely absurd situations that happen in these comics.
As an example, one of my favorite "jokes" was one of Robin's early moments when he gets knocked out and Batman replies "Don't worry your hair cushioned the blow." To which I replied to myself "Uhh, Batman... I don't think that's how hair works... you should probably get Robin to the hospital for a concussion." I found myself riffing the comics pretty frequently because the situations and villains are unintentionally hilarious.
I was also keeping track of the major things that happened this volume and Robin got knocked out and almost killed every other chapter until the final few issues, which is when he became a bit more competent in a fight. Only 3 major villains appear in this volume as well, Cat Woman, The Joker and Hugo Strange. Cat Woman appears in 3 or 4 issues, The Joker appears in 3 and Hugo Strange appears in only 1.
My favorite issue was probably the one where Bruce and Dick are on vacation and they find out the town is run by a corrupt politician who is in the hands of the mob, so he takes matters into his own hands and incites the town to riot and ultimately overthrows the mob and politician. I laughed quite a bit at that one.
In the end, I've decided to give this volume 4 out of 5 stars. I found them rather hilarious even though they weren't intended to be but they're so absurd that it's hard for me not to laugh at them. If you enjoy classic comics as much as I do then definitely pick the volumes up, if not, then I recommend giving a pass on them as they probably aren't something you'd enjoy much.
March 10, 2025
This volume begins its reprints with Detective Comics #27, the debut of Batman. There are 18 more issues of Detective and three issues of Batman Comics (which was initially a quarterly publication).
So we get an overview of early Batman, who was sometimes (but not often) use lethal force. To give context to this, the two most prominent examples of Batman killing involve taking out a vampire in one tale and destroying criminally insane men who had been mutated into giants in another story ("It's better for them this way.") He doesn't casually mow down crooks, but he kill a few times when it seems unavoidable.
That's an issue that counterpoint the "never kills" character Batman eventually evolved into. As far as the stories themselves (mostly written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane), they are a lot of fun. Fast-paced with fun and frequent fight scenes, there is sometimes a lacking in story logic, but pacing and atmosphere pretty much always makes up for this.
Most of the stories have Batman (and, eventually, Robin) going after gangsters and murderers. There are a few stories with fantastical elements, such as a vampire; or Hugo Strange mutating those poor insane guys into killer giants; or a zeppelin making bombing runs on a major city. We also see the beginnings of what would eventually be an extensive Rogue's Gallery. The Joker appears very early on and makes several more appearances in those first few years. Catwoman pops up a few times and Hugo Strange also makes a debut. We are still waiting for Penguin, Riddler and the rest, but these issues make for a strong start.
No Alfred yet (forcing poor Robin to perform emergency surgery in one issue when Batman is shot) and Commissioner Gordon has not yet been given much of a personality. But, as I said, these stories are a lot of fun in addition to being historically important.
So we get an overview of early Batman, who was sometimes (but not often) use lethal force. To give context to this, the two most prominent examples of Batman killing involve taking out a vampire in one tale and destroying criminally insane men who had been mutated into giants in another story ("It's better for them this way.") He doesn't casually mow down crooks, but he kill a few times when it seems unavoidable.
That's an issue that counterpoint the "never kills" character Batman eventually evolved into. As far as the stories themselves (mostly written by Bill Finger and drawn by Bob Kane), they are a lot of fun. Fast-paced with fun and frequent fight scenes, there is sometimes a lacking in story logic, but pacing and atmosphere pretty much always makes up for this.
Most of the stories have Batman (and, eventually, Robin) going after gangsters and murderers. There are a few stories with fantastical elements, such as a vampire; or Hugo Strange mutating those poor insane guys into killer giants; or a zeppelin making bombing runs on a major city. We also see the beginnings of what would eventually be an extensive Rogue's Gallery. The Joker appears very early on and makes several more appearances in those first few years. Catwoman pops up a few times and Hugo Strange also makes a debut. We are still waiting for Penguin, Riddler and the rest, but these issues make for a strong start.
No Alfred yet (forcing poor Robin to perform emergency surgery in one issue when Batman is shot) and Commissioner Gordon has not yet been given much of a personality. But, as I said, these stories are a lot of fun in addition to being historically important.
March 29, 2019
Ever curious to see comics as your grandpa read them? Or how it Batman really began? Then “Batman the Golden Age” maybe for you!
This book is an omnibus collection of the earliest comics depicting everyone’s favorite dark knight, “The Batman.” For individuals, like me, who are mostly familiar with Batman through movies and the excellent 1990’s animated series and not through the comic book medium, Batman sure looks different!
Something that is immediately evident is just how much has been added to the Batman universe over the years. The stuff I just always assumed was there was not. For example, the Batmobile, Alfred and many of the famous villains Batman had in his rogue’s gallery are not depicted/mentioned in this collection. (In fact, the only villains I did recognize from this era were the Joker, Catwoman and Dr. Hugo Strange)
However, I must disclose the following…
For individuals who live in perpetual victimhood and are easily triggered may encounter upsetting content in this book. The comics in this collection were all written and originally published in the late 1930’s & 1940’s, and as such there are racist and sexist depictions scattered throughout the whole book. Instead of sending me into a hysterical fit of campaigning to have Batman thrown out of the pop culture it really served as a reminder to me how much progress both Batman and our culture have made to overcome these really ingrained prejudices. In fact, these prejudices were so ingrained that as a modern reader they come off as having been tritely and glibly written into books that were originally intended as children’s entertainment.
It’s a fascinating look at comic book and Batman history for fans-a definite recommend!
This book is an omnibus collection of the earliest comics depicting everyone’s favorite dark knight, “The Batman.” For individuals, like me, who are mostly familiar with Batman through movies and the excellent 1990’s animated series and not through the comic book medium, Batman sure looks different!
Something that is immediately evident is just how much has been added to the Batman universe over the years. The stuff I just always assumed was there was not. For example, the Batmobile, Alfred and many of the famous villains Batman had in his rogue’s gallery are not depicted/mentioned in this collection. (In fact, the only villains I did recognize from this era were the Joker, Catwoman and Dr. Hugo Strange)
However, I must disclose the following…
For individuals who live in perpetual victimhood and are easily triggered may encounter upsetting content in this book. The comics in this collection were all written and originally published in the late 1930’s & 1940’s, and as such there are racist and sexist depictions scattered throughout the whole book. Instead of sending me into a hysterical fit of campaigning to have Batman thrown out of the pop culture it really served as a reminder to me how much progress both Batman and our culture have made to overcome these really ingrained prejudices. In fact, these prejudices were so ingrained that as a modern reader they come off as having been tritely and glibly written into books that were originally intended as children’s entertainment.
It’s a fascinating look at comic book and Batman history for fans-a definite recommend!
December 30, 2024
What were early days of Batman comics were like, when it was first published in the 1940s? Here in this volume it collects the Golden Age of Batman comics from the that era! This book gather older Batman issues together in trade paperback form; specifically it collects DETECTIVE COMICS #27-45, BATMAN #1-3 and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS #2. I read them aloud to my kids and it a nightly thing they look forward to.
I appreciate it that this book has a table of content; that’s not always the case with comic books. The first appearance of Batman is in this collection which is on May 1939 in Detective Comics number 27 where Batman wars against a chemical syndicate. Many of the early issues of Batman finds him battling with exotic criminals of foreign origin. I was also surprised to find the Joker making his appearance so early in Batman comics history, where in Batman issue one in Spring 1940 he makes his first appearance with Batman and Robin visiting the New York World’s Fair.
Reading this my kids and I made the observation of how much more cheesy Batman comics were back in the day. Also the illustrations in the early issues were not as good as the graphics we have today. The way Batman fight might not be as well developed as it is now in the comics; but I thought I saw DC Comics pick up their standard and improvement early on as we see in this volume.
This book was a lot of fun to read. There was so much more explanations of what was going on in these older issues than Batman comics today. I hope sometime next year to go over volume two as well. I give this a four out of five.
I appreciate it that this book has a table of content; that’s not always the case with comic books. The first appearance of Batman is in this collection which is on May 1939 in Detective Comics number 27 where Batman wars against a chemical syndicate. Many of the early issues of Batman finds him battling with exotic criminals of foreign origin. I was also surprised to find the Joker making his appearance so early in Batman comics history, where in Batman issue one in Spring 1940 he makes his first appearance with Batman and Robin visiting the New York World’s Fair.
Reading this my kids and I made the observation of how much more cheesy Batman comics were back in the day. Also the illustrations in the early issues were not as good as the graphics we have today. The way Batman fight might not be as well developed as it is now in the comics; but I thought I saw DC Comics pick up their standard and improvement early on as we see in this volume.
This book was a lot of fun to read. There was so much more explanations of what was going on in these older issues than Batman comics today. I hope sometime next year to go over volume two as well. I give this a four out of five.
February 23, 2020
I have always been interested in the history of comics and enjoy comparing how Batman is written today to when he first appeared in the pages of Detective 27. It was fascinating to see Batman in his early adventures when he used guns and killed people. It was also a pleasure to see the first appearances of characters such as Robin, Catwoman, Joker and Hugo Strange.
That being said, don’t expect much in terms of stories here. They are very one dimensional and simple. The only stories from this volume that I actually thoroughly enjoyed are the “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate” and the Joker’s first appearance in Batman #1. I understand that writing back in the day was different, but even with that in mind, it became somewhat of a chore to get through these stories after the initial thrills of seeing the first appearances of many major characters.
I was pleasantly surprised however by the amount of content that was given to us in the volume. I remember the old DC archive editions from the 90s which were 70 dollars and gave you maybe four issues. For 30 Canadian dollars I was able to read Detective 27-45, Batman 1-3 and New York World’s Fair Comics 2. Not too shabby for $30.
Overall, I would exclusively recommend this book to any hardcore fan of Batman or the comic book medium in general. If you only slightly dabble in comics to get a good story once in a while, avoid this book and get something more modern.
That being said, don’t expect much in terms of stories here. They are very one dimensional and simple. The only stories from this volume that I actually thoroughly enjoyed are the “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate” and the Joker’s first appearance in Batman #1. I understand that writing back in the day was different, but even with that in mind, it became somewhat of a chore to get through these stories after the initial thrills of seeing the first appearances of many major characters.
I was pleasantly surprised however by the amount of content that was given to us in the volume. I remember the old DC archive editions from the 90s which were 70 dollars and gave you maybe four issues. For 30 Canadian dollars I was able to read Detective 27-45, Batman 1-3 and New York World’s Fair Comics 2. Not too shabby for $30.
Overall, I would exclusively recommend this book to any hardcore fan of Batman or the comic book medium in general. If you only slightly dabble in comics to get a good story once in a while, avoid this book and get something more modern.
January 5, 2024
The origin of Batman, and many other characters of the universe!
Of course the story telling back then was entirely different, and since the Batman did have a great success from the beginning I would say that it was more or less the standard storytelling of the time… which one might say it didn’t age well. I was expecting a totally different way to tell stories and I decided to begin reading with this in mind, without comparing to the new way. I would’ve been disappointed otherwise.
The story telling is often extra, silly and sometimes if read one after the other, maybe boring too. I have to say that however some good stories are present, and it is interesting to see the way the character evolved… Batman killed in the beginning, and in the comic books where he stopped he didn’t care if they died or not (much different to current iterations). The stories do not have much of sci-fi things and are mainly grounded to common criminals, with some exceptions.
I particularly loved the fact that there is some social justice here and there, for example the suggestion to create spaces for youths so they are not off wondering the street becoming criminals.
This is a read for people that are really into the character, really fans, and want to discover its origin. For other people I believe it might not be much of interest… it was still interesting seeing how story telling was done back 80 years ago circa. I’ll read for sure the following volumes to see also the evolution of this.
Of course the story telling back then was entirely different, and since the Batman did have a great success from the beginning I would say that it was more or less the standard storytelling of the time… which one might say it didn’t age well. I was expecting a totally different way to tell stories and I decided to begin reading with this in mind, without comparing to the new way. I would’ve been disappointed otherwise.
The story telling is often extra, silly and sometimes if read one after the other, maybe boring too. I have to say that however some good stories are present, and it is interesting to see the way the character evolved… Batman killed in the beginning, and in the comic books where he stopped he didn’t care if they died or not (much different to current iterations). The stories do not have much of sci-fi things and are mainly grounded to common criminals, with some exceptions.
I particularly loved the fact that there is some social justice here and there, for example the suggestion to create spaces for youths so they are not off wondering the street becoming criminals.
This is a read for people that are really into the character, really fans, and want to discover its origin. For other people I believe it might not be much of interest… it was still interesting seeing how story telling was done back 80 years ago circa. I’ll read for sure the following volumes to see also the evolution of this.
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