The Folio Society to publish a treasure trove of classic Bat-tales with DC: Batman

Some of the greatest Batman stories ever will be included in The Folio Society’s DC: Batman, the first in a series of new books.

I am the night

Indeed launching what’s planned to be a brand new series of books from The Folio Society, is DC: Batman. This is no ordinary character-retrospective however, as the 320 page, slipcovered edition will bring together a set of the some of the most key issues of Batman ever to see publication.

Yes, we’re talking Detective Comics #27 and The Dark Knight Returns, but also books that focus on Robin, Two-Face, and the opening shot of the famed Knightfall event. All of that and more will be bundled into this “one-of-a-kind deluxe book”, according to the company.

Even better, it comes complete with an added replica of Batman #1 and an introduction from former DC President, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief, Jennette Kahn. Plus, just take a look at this bad boy. It’s pretty terrific looking.

“Created towards the end of the Great Depression by artist Bob Kane with writer Bill Finger, Batman is an icon as familiar as James Bond or Tarzan, one who has evolved to reflect the changing attitudes of the twentieth century,” said Folio Society Head of Editorial, James Rose. “The stories selected for DC: Batman reveal how the character and his billionaire alter-ego Bruce Wayne gradually evolved from the dutiful crimefighter of the 1940s to a man possessed, as crazy as the criminals he puts away. The Caped Crusader faces a rogue’s gallery steeped in gothic horror, from the Weimar cinema-inspired The Joker to the Jekyll/Hyde figure of Two-Face and the Moriarty-like Ra’s al Ghul.”

“Trauma is a through-line in the Batman mythology,” writes Jenette Kahn in her introduction. “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.”  The first woman at the helm of the legendary comic book publisher, Jenette Kahn  helped transform comics into a sophisticated art form during her 27-year tenure from 1976 to 2002.

“The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Batman: Year One, by Miller and Dave Mazzucchelli, and the terrifying classic The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland are widely regarded as among the greatest comic books ever created,” said Folio Society Publishing Director, Tom Walker. “These stories changed the graphic medium forever with their combination of cinematic storytelling, shocking violence and literary depth and serve as centerpiece texts for DC: Batman.”

The Folio Society press release

DC: Batman is available for order now, via The Folio Society’s online shop, and is priced in at $100 USD. Scroll down to see the full list of the stories that are included.

Facsimile: Batman #1 (Spring 1940)

• Writer: Bill Finger
• Cover artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
• Artists: Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff
• Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

The Bat-Man

• Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) 
• Writer: Bill Finger
• Artist: Bob Kane
  Editor: Vincent Sullivan

Robin—the Boy Wonder

• Detective Comics #38 (April 1940)
• Writer: Bill Finger
• Artists: Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson
  Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

The Crimes of Two-Face!

• Detective Comics #66 (August 1942) 
• Writer: Bill Finger
• Artists: Jerry Robinson, George Roussos
• Letterers: Ira Schnapp
  Editor: Whitney Ellsworth

Batman and Green Arrow: The Senator’s Been Shot!

• The Brave and the Bold #85 (September 1969)
• Writer: Bob Haney
  Cover artist: Neal Adams
• Penciler: Neal Adams
• Inker: Dick Giordano
• Letterer: Ben Oda
• Editor: Murray Boltinoff

Daughter of the Demon

• Batman #232 (June 1971)
• Writer: Dennis O’Neil
• Cover artist: Neal Adams
• Penciler: Neal Adams
• Inker: Dick Giordano
• Letterer: John Costanza
• Editor: Julius Schwartz

The Dead Yet Live

• Detective Comics #471 (August 1977)
• Writer: Steve Englehart
• Cover artists: Marshall Rogers, Terry Austin, Tatjana Wood, Gaspar Saladino
• Penciler: Marshall Rogers
• Inker: Terry Austin
• Colorists: Marshall Rogers
• Letterer: John Workman
• Editors: Julius Schwartz, E. Nelson Bridwell

The Dark Knight Returns

• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (June 1986)
• Writer: Frank Miller
• Cover artists: Frank Miller, Lynn Varley
• Penciler: Frank Miller
• Inker: Klaus Janson
• Colorist: Lynn Varley
• Letterer: John Costanza
• Editors: Dick Giordano, Dennis O’Neil

Batman: Year One—Chapter One: Who I Am—How I Come to Be

• Batman #404 (February 1987)
• Writer: Frank Miller
• Artist: Dave Mazzucchelli
• Colorist: Richmond Lewis
• Letterer: Todd Klein
• Editor: Dennis O’Neil

Batman: The Killing Joke (July 1988)

• Writer: Alan Moore
• Cover artists: Brian Bolland, Richard Bruning
• Artist: Brian Bolland
• Colorist: John Higgins
• Letterer: Richard Starkings
• Editors: Dennis O’Neil, Dan Raspler

The Last Arkham (Part One)

• Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (June 1992)
• Writer: Alan Grant
• Cover artist: Brian Stelfreeze
• Penciler: Norm Breyfogle
• Inker: Norm Breyfogle
• Colorist: Adrienne Roy
• Letterer: Todd Klein
• Editors: Scott Peterson, Dennis O’Neil

Knightfall Part 1: Crossed Eyes and Dotty Teas

• Batman #492 (May 1993)
• Writer: Doug Moench
• Cover artists: Kelley Jones, Bob LeRose
• Penciler: Norm Breyfogle
• Inker: Norm Breyfogle
• Colorist Adrienne Roy
• Letterer: Richard Starkings
• Editors: Scott Peterson, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Dennis O’Neil