Bob Kane (1915–1998)

This reprint of Detective Comics #27 contains the very humble debut of Bob Kane's Batman--a poorly drawn six-page story--and that will be its chief attraction to the average reader. What I found more entertaining were the backup features, particularly Fred Guardineer's suave "Speed Saunders: Ace Investigator" and "The Crimson Avenger" (the only other costumed hero in the book) by Jim Chambers. There are two stories by Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster: "Spy," featuring Secret show more Service agent Bart Regan, and tough private eye "Slam Bradley." Naturally, both Regan and Bradley are dead ringers for Supes; that's the only way Shuster could draw 'em. For those of us who weren't around in 1939, these tales paint a fascinating picture of a vanished world populated by no-nonsense, square-jawed protagonists and sinister assassins from exotic lands. (Most of the artwork is quite primitive, of course, but note the finely detailed renderings in "The Crimson Avenger" and Tom Hickey's "Bruce Nelson.") show less

This is a good sampling of stories from the sixties that demonstrates the changing look and feel of the wholesome stories of square jawed crime fighter and supervillain defeater with juvenile side kick of the 1950s to the brooding Dark Knight of the 1970s and beyond. There's a shift in the supporting cast, a/k/a “the Batman Family,” as well. During the decade Bat-Girl Betty Kane in a costume color coordinated with Robin’s is replaced by Batgirl, crime fighting librarian Barbara Gordon, show more in a costume matching the Batman’s. Police Commissioner Gordon grows younger while Dick Grayson, Robin, grows up, graduates from high school and departs for college. Remaining consistent throughout though is the word play in the scripts: the puns, alliteration and jokes, some good, some bad, but always issuing from the lips of the heroes just before the “THUD!, SOK!,” and “WHACK!” of the villain stifling fist fights. show less

Probably more like 3 1/2. The art is fantastic and some of the quips are fun, but the Bat and the Boy Wonder hadn't developed much personality, though the Joker is pretty great from the get-go. I'm no comics expert, so this is all pretty new to me. Perhaps I'll eventually make my way toward the zany 60's and later some Frank Miller.

Probably more like 3 1/2. The art is fantastic and some of the quips are fun, but the Bat and the Boy Wonder hadn't developed much personality, though the Joker is pretty great from the get-go. I'm no comics expert, so this is all pretty new to me. Perhaps I'll eventually make my way toward the zany 60's and later some Frank Miller.