Batman Archives, Volume 1

I think my first realization of comic book continuity came from reading Batman: From the 30s to the 70s from the Roselle Public Library. I loved that book, reading it a number of times until it vanished from the shelves. In all my years of buying and collecting comics, I never managed to snag a copy of that book. Now, however, I have the next best thing. The Batman Archives reprints all of the Batman stories from Detective Comics, starting from his first appearance. In perusing this book, I read a number of tales I had fondly remembered from my youth. The stories are simplistic, and the dynamic duo spends time fighting gangsters rather than costumed villains, but it's still a great read. The best part about it is that since it's on my show more shelf, I don't have to worry about losing it to a dishonest library patron.
--J. show less

I have always found Batman a more compelling figure than Superman. After all, he relies only on the skills he has developed through long years of practice and dedication. He is a "normal" man, driven by the vision of his parents' murders when he was a boy. And in these archives, as through much of his history, the artwork and writing is superior to that of "Superman" comics, although still pretty dated.

Reasons to buy this...

1. The artwork is glorious.
2. The stories are quite simplistic, from a less sophisticated time, perhaps.
3. The sheer nostalgia in almost every frame.

This book is fabulous, as is most of the rest of the DC Archives series. Such invention is worth preserving and this series does that very well.

This beautiful hardcover includes the Batman stories and covers from Detective Comics #27-50. Under the dust cover is a blue leatherish cover with a silver Bat logo imprinted into it. Required reading for batfans.