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The Batman Chronicles (Reprints) #2
The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 2
The second volume in the series reprinting every Batman comics story ever published in chronological order features the Dark Knight in early stories originally appearing in DETECTIVE COMICS, BATMAN and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR. This collection features Batman�s early encounters with classic villains including the Joker, Catwoman, Clayface and many more.
Continuing the complete and chronological reprinting of every Batman comics story ever published! CHRONICLES VOL. 2 - collecting Batman stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #39-45, BATMAN #2-3, and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS #2 - features the Dark Knight facing a host of villains including the Joker, Catwoman, Clayface and many more!
Continuing the complete and chronological reprinting of every Batman comics story ever published! CHRONICLES VOL. 2 - collecting Batman stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #39-45, BATMAN #2-3, and NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS #2 - features the Dark Knight facing a host of villains including the Joker, Catwoman, Clayface and many more!
221 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2006
9 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Bill Finger
644 books105 followersWilliam "Bill" Finger was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the uncredited co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, as well as the co-architect of the series' development. In later years, Kane acknowledged Finger as "a contributing force" in the character's creation. Comics historian Ron Goulart, in Comic Book Encyclopedia, refers to Batman as the "creation of artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger", and a DC Comics press release in 2007 about colleague Jerry Robinson states that in 1939, "Kane, along with writer Bill Finger, had just created Batman for [DC predecessor] National Comics".
Film and television credits include scripting The Green Slime (1969), Track of the Moon Beast (1976), and three episodes of 77 Sunset Strip.
-Wikipedia
Film and television credits include scripting The Green Slime (1969), Track of the Moon Beast (1976), and three episodes of 77 Sunset Strip.
-Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 22, 2019
I think I like Batman more than Superman. These comics were really fun to read! Some had a murder where you really needed to pay attention to the details so you could solve the mystery by the end. Others had the Joker in them, and Cat Woman made a few sneaky appearances as well. These were a blast!
December 25, 2011
More fun stuff from Batman's early years. Reading this wasn't quite as revelatory as reading Volume 1, but it was still fun to see how little Batman has changed over the years. There are so many fans of the character that everyone has their own opinion about what makes him tick, and which parts of his mythos and back story are essential and which parts should be jettisoned, but like it or not, pretty much everything's here ... Bruce Wayne's life as a playboy, his young ward Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Robin), his friendship with Commissioner Gordon, his relationship with Catwoman, and his archnemesis the Joker.
Catwoman also makes her second appearance in this volume (she first appeared in Batman #1, reprinted in the first volume, but she was just known as "The Cat," and wore no special disguise). This volume features a reprint of Batman #3, which contains a story called "The Batman vs. the Cat-Woman," in which she sports a full-face cat mask and wears a dress and high heels. There are also more romantic stirrings, as she kisses Batman to make her escape and later dreams of what it might be like to go on moonlight drive with him. Meanwhile, Batman says "What a night! A night for romance, eh Robin?" To which Robin responds, "Romance? Bah..."
This volume also features the first appearance of the original Clayface and more appearances by the Joker. It's all good fun, with plenty of pulpy darkness to the stories, especially the first one in the volume, which is about a gang of Chinese hatchet killers.
The Batman Chronicles Volume 2 reprints the Batman stories from Detective Comics #39-#45, the entire contents of Batman #2 and Batman #3, and the section of the comic book "New York World's Fair 1940" that featured Batman and Robin. The stretch of time covered is Spring 1940 through November 1940.
Catwoman also makes her second appearance in this volume (she first appeared in Batman #1, reprinted in the first volume, but she was just known as "The Cat," and wore no special disguise). This volume features a reprint of Batman #3, which contains a story called "The Batman vs. the Cat-Woman," in which she sports a full-face cat mask and wears a dress and high heels. There are also more romantic stirrings, as she kisses Batman to make her escape and later dreams of what it might be like to go on moonlight drive with him. Meanwhile, Batman says "What a night! A night for romance, eh Robin?" To which Robin responds, "Romance? Bah..."
This volume also features the first appearance of the original Clayface and more appearances by the Joker. It's all good fun, with plenty of pulpy darkness to the stories, especially the first one in the volume, which is about a gang of Chinese hatchet killers.
The Batman Chronicles Volume 2 reprints the Batman stories from Detective Comics #39-#45, the entire contents of Batman #2 and Batman #3, and the section of the comic book "New York World's Fair 1940" that featured Batman and Robin. The stretch of time covered is Spring 1940 through November 1940.
February 4, 2013
This 2nd Volume collects Batman stories from Detective Comics #39-#45 which were relatively short 13 page stories as well as stories from Batman #2 and #3, which were larger magazines dedicated to Batman and contained 3-4 stories each and then a Batman and Robin story from New York World's Fair Magazine.
It's worth noting that these are truly Batman and Robin stories. The Boy Wonder continues to bring color, life, and fun to each adventure, saving Batman's bacon a few times with the Dark Knight returning the favor.
The stories themselves are mostly okay. The first concept for Clayface appears in Detective Comics #40. Batman and Catwoman make a couple of appearances each including one joint appearance in Batman #2 which features the Catwoman and the Joker. The other stories are a mix of pulp fiction style stories with a few mysteries thrown in complete with list of clues and suspects for young readers to solve.
A big focus of Batman in these early years was to teach kids that criminals were not worthy of admiration, which is why Robin routinely beats several older criminals at a time as he did when Batman and Robin took on a crime school set up to teach boys the ways of crime. This message was never more clear as the intent than at the end of Batman #3 when a written statement from Batman appears encouraging readers to eschew a life of crime.
The sad irony in this is that many Batman stories with their focus on cool villains may almost seem to cut counter to this old fashioned message. However, in this book, the message comes through loud and clear, and thanks to the plucky boy wonder, it comes through with style.
It's worth noting that these are truly Batman and Robin stories. The Boy Wonder continues to bring color, life, and fun to each adventure, saving Batman's bacon a few times with the Dark Knight returning the favor.
The stories themselves are mostly okay. The first concept for Clayface appears in Detective Comics #40. Batman and Catwoman make a couple of appearances each including one joint appearance in Batman #2 which features the Catwoman and the Joker. The other stories are a mix of pulp fiction style stories with a few mysteries thrown in complete with list of clues and suspects for young readers to solve.
A big focus of Batman in these early years was to teach kids that criminals were not worthy of admiration, which is why Robin routinely beats several older criminals at a time as he did when Batman and Robin took on a crime school set up to teach boys the ways of crime. This message was never more clear as the intent than at the end of Batman #3 when a written statement from Batman appears encouraging readers to eschew a life of crime.
The sad irony in this is that many Batman stories with their focus on cool villains may almost seem to cut counter to this old fashioned message. However, in this book, the message comes through loud and clear, and thanks to the plucky boy wonder, it comes through with style.
July 27, 2008
Not quite as interesting as Volume 1, but still good. I love seeing such early uses of popular cartoon catch phrases like:
(Batman throws a thug into the air) "Happy landings!"
(Batman knocks two thugs' heads together) "Two heads are better than one!"
(Batman kicks gun out of thug's hands) "Don't you know it's dangerous to play with guns?!"
This is great literature.
(Batman throws a thug into the air) "Happy landings!"
(Batman knocks two thugs' heads together) "Two heads are better than one!"
(Batman kicks gun out of thug's hands) "Don't you know it's dangerous to play with guns?!"
This is great literature.
July 3, 2011
Good stuff -- classics! Including ongoing crime-fighting, the Batman tackles the Joker, Cat-Woman and an early incarnation of Clayface.
July 17, 2022
At 220+ pages, this is quite a thick volume, consisting of 16 early Batman & Robin stories all from 1940. These were published in Batman issues #1-3, Detective Comics #40-45 and a special New York World's Fair 1940 comic. This book is a paperback, with the pages inside printed in only a few comic-book colours, on comic-book type paper, at about the right size too for extra authenticity. They needed to be really because the early artwork by Bob Kane wasn't really up to much by modern standards, and to be fair, the plotlines by Bill Finger are hardly stunning either, but they do sow the seeds of what's to come. Commissioner Gordon features briefly, the Joker & Catwoman put in early appearances looking rather unlike we might know them nowadays, Bruce Wayne is a pipe-smoking playboy idler with no Alfred yet, the Batmobile and sundry gadgets hardly feature strongly and seemingly, there's no origins back story either. There's plenty of 'biff! pow!' fisticuffs to every story and hardly any detective work, but for a longstanding reader, this is rather quaint to see all the pieces coming together. However, as a collection of stories per se, for the non-aficionado, without the historical interest, this is a pretty long-winded and humdrum read, I'm afraid. 3/5
April 28, 2021
Possibly read in 2014, but definitely read
October 1, 2024
Decent book. Apart from the Joker/Catwoman stories and the last 2-3 issues (which were all good), a lot of the start was pretty boring. But it did pick up eventually.
February 11, 2013
Volume Two was a definite step down from Volume One. There was a very prevalent change in tone in these stories to make them more kid friendly. Batman no longer kills the criminals (although a few commit suicide) and the dialogue it littered with silly one-liners, many of which are reused multiple times in consecutive stories. Many of the comics also end with PSAs urging young kids to stay away from crime. In fact, there is an entire story based on this.
Another lack of originality comes from the villains. In two stories, Batman and Robin face off with giants. One of those stories ended up being a dream Robin was having, but still, don't recycle villains over such a short period. One group of villains that was original was a group of the Ugliest Men in the World.
The last criticism is how ridiculous it is that people don't know Bruce Wayne is Batman. This is a common criticism, but Volume Two takes it to a new level. In a few of the stories, criminals knock out the Batman. You have Batman knocked out cold and you don't take off his mask? Then there is Detective McGonigle. His sole focus is to catch the Batman. Once again, he knocks him out, even puts him in handcuffs, but he doesn't take the mask off.
But the worst Detective Comics 43. In this story, Batman and Robin go on a vaction. They arrive at a city and they see crime happening. So they decide to fight it as Batman and Robin. Let's see, these two new guys show up here and the next day Batman and Robin show up. You think the new guys might be Batman and Robin? Or maybe the citizens of wherever Batman and Robin are from (Gotham City hasn't made an apperance yet) might think "Hey, Batman hasn't shown up here in a while. Oh there he is in another town. That happens to be the same town Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson went too. Oh well, must be a coincidence."
Even with these criticisms, I did like this volume. Detective Comics 40 (Beware of Clayface), Detective Comics 42 (The Case of the Prophetic Pictures), and Batman 2 (Wolf, the Crime Master) were particularly good. I'm looking forward to reading the next volumes (although this might be difficult because for whatever reason, you can't find Volume Three for under forty dollars).
Another lack of originality comes from the villains. In two stories, Batman and Robin face off with giants. One of those stories ended up being a dream Robin was having, but still, don't recycle villains over such a short period. One group of villains that was original was a group of the Ugliest Men in the World.
The last criticism is how ridiculous it is that people don't know Bruce Wayne is Batman. This is a common criticism, but Volume Two takes it to a new level. In a few of the stories, criminals knock out the Batman. You have Batman knocked out cold and you don't take off his mask? Then there is Detective McGonigle. His sole focus is to catch the Batman. Once again, he knocks him out, even puts him in handcuffs, but he doesn't take the mask off.
But the worst Detective Comics 43. In this story, Batman and Robin go on a vaction. They arrive at a city and they see crime happening. So they decide to fight it as Batman and Robin. Let's see, these two new guys show up here and the next day Batman and Robin show up. You think the new guys might be Batman and Robin? Or maybe the citizens of wherever Batman and Robin are from (Gotham City hasn't made an apperance yet) might think "Hey, Batman hasn't shown up here in a while. Oh there he is in another town. That happens to be the same town Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson went too. Oh well, must be a coincidence."
Even with these criticisms, I did like this volume. Detective Comics 40 (Beware of Clayface), Detective Comics 42 (The Case of the Prophetic Pictures), and Batman 2 (Wolf, the Crime Master) were particularly good. I'm looking forward to reading the next volumes (although this might be difficult because for whatever reason, you can't find Volume Three for under forty dollars).
March 23, 2011
Actually found I had read this volume already but I enjoyed it so much I read it again. The variety of the stories shows Kane was still working out the dynamics of their relationship. It was daring to introduce Robin into the story, he softens the Bruce Wayne story, otherwise he could have become a dangerously obsessed loner. There is a theme in here about redeeming lost boys too. Really enjoy these, it is early in the Batman-Robin relationship so you wonder "do they fight crime on school nights?" answer seems to be, Batman goes out (first changing from his smoking jacket and pipe, he was a real Ward Cleaver) and then Robin gets an intuition about danger and follows him arriving just in time to prevent the baddie from hitting Batman. Robin's use of the slingshot is repeated heroically with requisite references to David and Goliath. the villans are mostly of the one off oddball variety, it is almost a relief when Joker shows up. He is a villan with real substance, crazy, smart and indestructible. the episode where he dresses as a nebbish crime lord to send his crew out for robbery and then dresses as Joker to rob the crooks of their loot is truly devious in a needlessly complicated way.
July 14, 2013
Classical Batman comics from the early 1940s.
In Batman Chronicles 1 Bob Kane was still searching for the right tone for his stories. He started out with a very dark gloomy mood, but didn't keep that up for long.
In Batman Chronicles 2 Bob Kane has found a more kid-friendly tone. Light hearted, with more humor, more colour, and far less shadows. The villains become less fearsome and more comical. The Joker becomes a sort of clown.
A lot of people will not like that, as it does not match with the modern image of Batman. Back in the early 1940s it was a huge succes. People did like that.
In Batman Chronicles 1 Bob Kane was still searching for the right tone for his stories. He started out with a very dark gloomy mood, but didn't keep that up for long.
In Batman Chronicles 2 Bob Kane has found a more kid-friendly tone. Light hearted, with more humor, more colour, and far less shadows. The villains become less fearsome and more comical. The Joker becomes a sort of clown.
A lot of people will not like that, as it does not match with the modern image of Batman. Back in the early 1940s it was a huge succes. People did like that.
February 1, 2012
The stories are not the best, really too many jewel theives.
But the books give us a great view of 1940 America, with word plays that would be considered vulgar today and Bruce Wayne stating views not considered PC today, once nothing a dead villan saved the state the job.
So, how does one become a supervillan, friends and their bad decisions, "It's a hypo needle filled with a lot of drugs I mixed together haphazardly." Avoid this guy!
But the books give us a great view of 1940 America, with word plays that would be considered vulgar today and Bruce Wayne stating views not considered PC today, once nothing a dead villan saved the state the job.
So, how does one become a supervillan, friends and their bad decisions, "It's a hypo needle filled with a lot of drugs I mixed together haphazardly." Avoid this guy!
December 18, 2007
What was a reason to bring Robin into the scene? Maybe Batman was too weird of a character to be by himself. Then again what does it say for a man to have his adopted son face danger, etc? What's up with Bruce Wayne?
August 22, 2012
More incredible reprints of the first Batman stories ever told. Features the first appearance of Clayface, more Catwoman and Joker, and the rare 1940 Batman and Robin visit the World's Fair. Wolf, The Crime Master is one of my favorite hilariously bad early Batman stories.
December 1, 2015
The Batman of old continues to be hilarious and amusing. Stories are riddled with fun moments both in storytelling and drawing. One thing that stands out like a sore thumb is the overuse of the word suddenly. Almost as they were trying to bump up the tension with every mention of it.
July 24, 2008
Bang! Zap! Pow!
August 28, 2008
I am less enchanted. Robin is annoying and I feel like it's just a bit too racist and pushy with the agenda....
November 16, 2011
I'm a huige Batman fan and it's great to go back and read the original stories. This issue introduces Clayface but a different Clayface than the one I'm familar with.
January 1, 2013
59th book read in 2012.
Number 156 out of 291 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUYko...
Number 156 out of 291 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUYko...
November 5, 2015
Catwoman's first costume is a doozy.
July 28, 2012
Read 3/18/07
April 14, 2012
Grand, silly fun.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews