Batman in the Forties

This was the first comic book I ever bought and I must say it's very good. The stories are colored, and the volume features a very good introduction that takes you through the book story by story and makes you want to read it that much more. I was enthralled when I realized that this book had the story "Robin the Boy Wonder" which explains (in breif, comic-book way) how Batman's awesome sidekick came to be. Another story which I think is very good that is in this collection is "Bruce Wayne Looses the Guardianship of Dick Grayson". It shows perfectly just how close the work of Batman and Robin has brought them together. This book is a must for the bookshelf in your Batcave!

the book was good and fun to read. it was great reading the old stuff again but the reason i gave it 4 stars was 1. i was hoping to read more dark stories of batman when he first started before robin. 2. i dont think the stories were in the right order, one story alfred was skinny then the next alfred was heavy. 3. villians was not as evil(only clayface). other than that for the price it was a fun book.

This 192 page trade paperback collects several Batman's stories from the true golden age of the 1940's. Written mainly by Bill Finger who NEVER got the credit he deserved and died poor and art by Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Dick Sprang, George Roussos, Jack Burnley and others. It includes stories from Batman issues: #7, 15, 20, 31, 37, 47, 48, 49, Detective Comics #27, 33, 38, 49, 80, Real FAct Comics #5, Star Spangled Comics #70, and World's Finest Comics #30. 17 stories in all. You'll see the first appearance of Batman, Robin, the Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face, and other notables. One notable exclusion is the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's longt-ime butler. Those unfamiliar with comics in the 1940's may be somewhat put off by the more simplistic art of the era, but this is really the essence of Batman, a very dark character who actually once used handguns among his various weapons. But the fact is that unless you are quite wealthy the only way you'll ever see these great old stories are in collected volumes like this and I think DC deserves a lot of credit for not letting the golden age fade away.

This book contains 17 stories. I found it fun to read, and gave a lot of insight on Batman and Robin were created, and includes the first appearance of Batman. My favorite thing about Batman is the super villians, so here are the stories and which notable super villians are in them. (Penguin seems to be the only big one not in this book): "Case of the Chemical Syndicate: "Origin" "Robin the Boy Wonder" "The People vs. Batman" "The Origin of Batman" "The Joker Follows Suit" (Joker) "Penny Plunders" "1000 Secrets of the Batcave" "Alfred Armchair Detective" "Bruce Wayne Loses Guardienship of Dick Grayson" "Clocks of Doom" (Clock King) "Your Face is Your Fortune" (Catwoman) "The Scoop of the Century" (Mad Hatter) "Clayface Walks Again"(Clayface) The End of Two-Face" (Two-Face) "Half-Man Half-Monster" (Two-Face)

THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT STORIES HERE. THE ONLY REASON I GAVE IT FOUR STARS INSTEAD OF FIVE BECAUSE THE STORY "HERE COMES ALFRED" FROM BATMAN 16 WAS NOT INCLUDED. BUT STILL, A GREAT PIECE OF BAT HISTORY!