Batman has been protecting Gotham City in the pages of DC Comics for a whopping 85 years. To honor his incredible legacy, The Folio Society, independent publisher of illustrated hardback books, in collaboration with DC, honors the Dark Knight’s first appearance with the release of DC: Batman.
This collectible compilation includes twelve seminal comics by a host of iconic writers and artists. These creators include Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, and Kelley Jones. Former DC President, and Publisher Jennette Khan selected and introduced each story. You can check out images of the new scans from Batman #232 with art by Neal Adams, below:
Along with the 320-page one-of-a-kind deluxe book, DC: Batman also comes with a stand-alone replica copy of Batman #1. Scanned in its entirety from an original 1940 copy, the replica copy of the Batman #1 comic book, which includes the original back-up strips and vintage ads, introduces DC’s Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker, and The Cat, later known as Catwoman.
Among the seminal comics included are the following stories from Batman’s publishing history:
Golden Age
“The Bat-Man,” from Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, “Robin—the Boy Wonder,” from Detective Comics #38 (April 1940) by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, and “The Crimes of Two-Face!” from Detective Comics #66 (August 1942) by Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, and George Roussos.
Bronze Age
“Batman and Green Arrow: The Senator’s Been Shot!” from The Brave and the Bold #85 (September 1969) by Bob Haney, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano, “Daughter of the Demon” from Batman #232 (June 1971) by Dennis O’Neil, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano, and “The Dead Yet Live” from Detective Comics #471 (August 1977) by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, and Terry Austin.
Modern Age
“The Dark Knight Returns” from Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (June 1986) by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley, “Batman: Year One—Chapter One: Who I Am—How I Come to Be,” from Batman #404 (February 1987) by Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, and Richmond Lewis, Batman: The Killing Joke (July 1988) by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, and Richard Bruning, “The Last Arkham (Part One)” from Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (June 1992) by Alan Grant, Brian Stelfreeze, Norm Breyfogle, and “Knightfall Part 1: Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas,” from Batman #492 (May 1993) by Doug Moench, Kelley Jones, Bob LeRose, and Norm Breyfogle.
Former DC president Jennette Khan sums up why Batman remains such an enduring myth in her introduction to this book:
“Trauma is a through-line in the Batman mythology. It has made psychopaths of Batman’s foes and brought him to the edge of madness himself. Batman’s battle is not just against criminals and crime. He fears the day he’ll look into a mirror and see, not Bruce Wayne’s face, but The Joker’s.”
These comics have been reproduced in 10” x 7” treasury format. The anti-scratch laminated hardcover features Batman’s signature silhouette, with titles foil-embossed in yellow and midnight blue. The book itself has a pitch-black slipcase bearing the famous Bat-Signal. It’s a compendium of gothic artwork and Batarang-sharp storytelling. DC: Batman is an investigation into the adventures and pathology of one of the world’s most famous—and most troubled—superheroes.
DC: Batman will be available from for US $100/£65 on February 20, 2024, exclusively from Folio Society.