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Rating:  -
This book serves as a comprehensive "biography" of Batman's long and wonderful existence looking out for the good folks of Gotham City. From creator Bob Kane's conception of the hero in 1939 to the campy TV series starring the venerable Adam West, up through the more recent movies (good and bad), and the very dark Dark Knight of Frank Miller, no stone is left unturned.
The book covers all phases of the character and his various transformations and includes some excellent comic book art (the book's strength), movie stills and photos of rare and unusual collectibles.
If you're a fan of comic book art or simply love the character as I do, this is an enjoyable and entertaining book.
Rating: -
Like the times, Batman has changed a great deal from his first appearance as a comic book hero. Unlike most other heroes, he has no true super powers, relying on stealth and intelligence to defeat his enemies. While there have been a few occasions when he has resorted to firearms, they have generally been relegated to the incidental and irrelevant. Furthermore, he also has been the superhero who is closest to being mentally ill. He witnessed the murder of both of his parents when very young and that was the impetus that led him to becoming the Batman. His portrayal has also yo-yoed between that of the civic- minded citizen to a dark, brooding near psychopath called the Black Knight.
This history traces through the "life" of Batman, from the first drawings, through all the years of the comic book series, the campy television show, several cartoon shows and a series of major motion pictures. He has truly worn many cowls and capes over the years. The book is also a history of the comics, from the beginning, through the lean years after comics were considered a path to degeneracy, and finally to the resurgence due to the television show and the movies. What I really missed was a chronology of some of the major events, such as a list of the television shows including the guest stars and the major characters in the movies.
While Batman is a significant character in his own right, like so many stories about heroes, it is the power of the villain that makes it interesting. The Batman series is one where the villains are exceptional, both in the comics and the movies. I have seen the Batman movie with Jack Nicholson as the Joker and nearly all the scenes that I remember involve the Joker. Who can ever forget Burgess Meredith as the Penguin, Caesar Romero as the Joker and Frank Gorshin as the Riddler in the television series?
The most schizophrenic of the superheroes, Batman has always exhibited a t least a hint of mental instability. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone who is interested in the life history of this complex character.
Rating:  -
I really think Les Daniel's books on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are invaluable. However, I think Daniels has a strange attitude about the Batman movie serials. I own both the 1943 Batman with Lewis Wilson and Douglas Croft, as well as the 1949 Batman and Robin with Robert Lowery and John Duncan, and I enjoy them both. Admittedly, my Wilson version was edited of anti-Japanese remarks, and only referred to gangsters, but of all the version of Batman I've seen I prefer Wilson's. He seemed somewhat British, and played a Batman with the self-awareness that it's silly to be dressed like a giant bat. Essentially, Wilson's Bruce Wayne/Batman really worked well as a single character. Bruce Wayne acted like a bored millionaire, because he was one, and Batman was his excitement, instead of booze and women. Wilson's Wayne was a cross between a typical big game hunter, and Count Zaroff in the Most Dangerous Game. Douglas Croft's Robin actually appeared to be a teenager, and neither of these characters seem to be able to sit still when it was time to turn into their heroic alter-egos.
Robert Lowery's Batman and John Duncan's Robin were more bland and staid. John Duncan seemed too old for Robin, but at least he wasn't dressed like a junior version of an adult, with the hat and tie that Croft's Dick Grayson sometimes wore. Duncan's main function as Batman's sidekick seemed to be to maintain the car, a believably teen-aged interest. The one big improvement was in the costume. Wilson's bat suit didn't quite fit, and was in shades of grey, although he had a nice looking metal utility belt. Lowery's Batman had a better fitting suit, a much larger bat on his chest, and the colors were grey and black, which looked much more dramatic. Unfortunately, his utility belt was more like a sash. People have written much about the lack of the Batmobile in the serials, and like most I prefer Lewis Wilson's black limousine. However, Lowery drove a 1949 convertible which was probably hot off the assembly line and although no Batmobile, had interesting doo-dads. One was with the push of a button being able to open and close the convertible top, he had another button that sounded a siren, and another that radioed whatever was said inside the car back to the Batcave. But of the two I prefer Lewis Wilson, and am somewhat mystified at Les Daniels referring to Wilson's Batman as an upper-class twit.
Rating: -
I love Les Daniel's books on Marvel and DC, but I don't think Batman: The Complete History is very good as a stand-alone Batman guide. I think it tried to cover too much of every aspect of Batman for the length of the book. There are not nearly enough examples of actual comic book panels and artwork, and a lot of pages seem wasted to me. For example, full-page shots of Batman bobblehead dolls. The three reprinted stories are nice, but wouldn't it have made more sense to use excerpts from a wider variety of Batman issues? I think so. Another thing that bothers me is that there is no artwork at all from longtime Batman penciller Norm Breyfogle. Breyfogle is the best artist to ever draw Batman, and he's barely mentioned in this book. At 206 pages, this book is far too short and could have benifitted from another 40 or 50 page cover gallery or something. Then at least we could have gotten some of Breyfogle's amazing covers from the 80s and 90s.
Three stars. It's still a great book for Batfans, but to me it's lacking.
Rating:  -
Wow! Les Daniels and Chip Kidd did an amazing job with this book. Chronicling Batman's lengthy career, this book explores the many changes Batman has gone through over the past 65 years, and does so with meticulous detail. This is truly the closest thing to a definitive guide to Batman, who in my opinion is the greatest comic book character ever created, period. Illustrations accompany the text nicely, and the writing gives you a deep appreciation for the evolution the Dark Knight has gone through. This book even has three excellent Batman stories. A MUST-SEE FOR ANY BATMAN FAN!
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