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The Brave and the Bold (1955) #182
Batman: Secrets of the Batcave
Step into the Batcave in this new collection spanning Batman's career! Featuring stories from BATMAN #12, 35, 48, 109 and 348, DETECTIVE COMICS #158, 186, 205, 233, 235, and 244, WORLD'S FINEST #30, BRAVE AND THE BOLD #182, BIZARRO COMICS #244, and SECRET ORIGINS TP, this volume features the finest stories set in the mysterious lair of the Dark Knight!
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Bill Finger
652 books106 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
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 10, 2022
2.5 stars
"This place has always intrigued me. How did you ever find it?" -- Robin, inquisitive sidekick
"Uh-oh! Looks like we're in for a session of reminiscing . . . " -- Batman, page 106
Secrets of the Batcave is a sort of teasing title that promises a little more than this collection can actually offer to a reader. The fifteen unrelated stories - and the majority are culled from 40's and 50's comic books, although there are a handful of tales from the early 80's - have staid narratives involving and/or centered on the secret headquarters of the Caped Crusader. (Want to know why said underground lair is usually depicted with a 'trophy room' that ALWAYS exhibits the giant penny or an animatronic T. Rex? Well, here ya go . . . ) Amusingly, given the diverse number of writers and artists throughout the decades said locale is never rendered exactly the same from issue to issue, and perhaps even more confusing are the several tweaks to the established origin story. Also, apart from one glorified cameo appearance by the Joker this volume is devoid of any big-name villains that one might expect, and instead the (sometimes surprisingly violent, given the original time period of publication) antagonists are often conventional crime bosses, bank robbers and con men at work in Gotham City. Somewhat enjoyable, though far from essential, Batman & Robin-related reading.
"This place has always intrigued me. How did you ever find it?" -- Robin, inquisitive sidekick
"Uh-oh! Looks like we're in for a session of reminiscing . . . " -- Batman, page 106
Secrets of the Batcave is a sort of teasing title that promises a little more than this collection can actually offer to a reader. The fifteen unrelated stories - and the majority are culled from 40's and 50's comic books, although there are a handful of tales from the early 80's - have staid narratives involving and/or centered on the secret headquarters of the Caped Crusader. (Want to know why said underground lair is usually depicted with a 'trophy room' that ALWAYS exhibits the giant penny or an animatronic T. Rex? Well, here ya go . . . ) Amusingly, given the diverse number of writers and artists throughout the decades said locale is never rendered exactly the same from issue to issue, and perhaps even more confusing are the several tweaks to the established origin story. Also, apart from one glorified cameo appearance by the Joker this volume is devoid of any big-name villains that one might expect, and instead the (sometimes surprisingly violent, given the original time period of publication) antagonists are often conventional crime bosses, bank robbers and con men at work in Gotham City. Somewhat enjoyable, though far from essential, Batman & Robin-related reading.
April 9, 2014
wasn't stoked there was a couple comics in here that were also in the greatest batman stories ever told.
but also the comic "the origin of the batcave" (detective comics #205 1954) is extremely racist towards native american culture. in this comic, batman and robin go back in time to 'frontier times' and then proceed to not only call them indians, but also do racist things like also call them red skins, act violently towards them without just cause (aka didn't use any detective skills before immediately taking the white man's side), help a man paint himself red (which batman also did) so that he could spy on the natives, etc.
I understand this comic was written in a different time where there was racism everywhere, however this graphic novel compilation was put together at a much later time when we as a people are supposed to know better than to promote this type of racism. I borrowed this book from the young adult section at my local library, do you think this is okay to teach this to new generations. all I'm saying is their pr person probably should have said something before letting this comic be added to this collection.
other than that I enjoyed reading this book. batman rules. I hope there's no hard feelings DC, I really enjoy your books.
but also the comic "the origin of the batcave" (detective comics #205 1954) is extremely racist towards native american culture. in this comic, batman and robin go back in time to 'frontier times' and then proceed to not only call them indians, but also do racist things like also call them red skins, act violently towards them without just cause (aka didn't use any detective skills before immediately taking the white man's side), help a man paint himself red (which batman also did) so that he could spy on the natives, etc.
I understand this comic was written in a different time where there was racism everywhere, however this graphic novel compilation was put together at a much later time when we as a people are supposed to know better than to promote this type of racism. I borrowed this book from the young adult section at my local library, do you think this is okay to teach this to new generations. all I'm saying is their pr person probably should have said something before letting this comic be added to this collection.
other than that I enjoyed reading this book. batman rules. I hope there's no hard feelings DC, I really enjoy your books.
July 24, 2025
Batman: Secrets of the Batcave is a collection of stories, mostly written in the 1940s and 1950s, that either take place in the Batcave, are related to the Batcave, or focus on the origin of one of the trophies housed within it. For me, I purchased this collection because it includes the origin stories of some of the Batcave’s most iconic trophies. I have no plans of collecting all the Golden Age stories, but I do want to collect the relevant ones, and this book includes the stories behind both the giant penny and the dinosaur found in the Batcave.
There is also “The 1,001 Trophies of Batman”, a story where Dr. Doom (a different Dr. Doom) uses the trophies in the Batcave against Batman, and the best part is that these trophies actually came from earlier issues. As a sucker for continuity, I really appreciated this.
Another standout is “The First Batman”, where we get a glimpse of Thomas Wayne wearing a Batman costume, a concept that Grant Morrison would later call back to and build upon in his Batman run.
“Interlude on Earth-Two” is also worth mentioning, although the way Batman ends up on Earth-Two is pretty ridiculous. The book ends on a high note with a short story by Paul Pope, complemented by the adorable art of Jay Stephens.
If you’re considering picking this up, just remember that most of these stories were written in the 1940s and 1950s, so they can be a little cheesy, and a few are clearly products of their time. Also, some characters just flat-out die. I was shocked. The early Batman stories are more brutal than you might expect.
What this book really has going for it is the art, especially if you’re a fan of 1940s and 1950s styles, and “The Man Who Falls” short story, written by Dennis O’Neil and illustrated by Dick Giordano, which is an underrated Batman origin story. I would buy this book for “The Man Who Falls” alone.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
There is also “The 1,001 Trophies of Batman”, a story where Dr. Doom (a different Dr. Doom) uses the trophies in the Batcave against Batman, and the best part is that these trophies actually came from earlier issues. As a sucker for continuity, I really appreciated this.
Another standout is “The First Batman”, where we get a glimpse of Thomas Wayne wearing a Batman costume, a concept that Grant Morrison would later call back to and build upon in his Batman run.
“Interlude on Earth-Two” is also worth mentioning, although the way Batman ends up on Earth-Two is pretty ridiculous. The book ends on a high note with a short story by Paul Pope, complemented by the adorable art of Jay Stephens.
If you’re considering picking this up, just remember that most of these stories were written in the 1940s and 1950s, so they can be a little cheesy, and a few are clearly products of their time. Also, some characters just flat-out die. I was shocked. The early Batman stories are more brutal than you might expect.
What this book really has going for it is the art, especially if you’re a fan of 1940s and 1950s styles, and “The Man Who Falls” short story, written by Dennis O’Neil and illustrated by Dick Giordano, which is an underrated Batman origin story. I would buy this book for “The Man Who Falls” alone.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
September 14, 2020
An anthology of stories about Batman’s Batcave. Mostly older stories only a couple take place after the 60’s. It’s fine but you can find the stories in better collections.
September 6, 2016
This is a compilation of stories, primarily from Batman and Detective Comics from 1942 until 2001. The stories are fun, and it is interesting to see the evolution in story-telling, artwork, and story sophistication over the years. The last story in the compilation is fun; it caused me to chuckle out loud.
Taken together, the stories in this collection explain Batman's trophies, like the giant penny and the dinosaur, and how they got to the batcave. The collection also features stories that take place in the batcave. Altogether,the stories coalesce around a common theme into an enjoyable volume.
This collection was published in 2007, but it doesn't have the darkness the became common in the Batman titles during and after Frank Miller's work in the '80s and early '90s. And while the darker Batman stories are more satisfying to adult tastes, the lighter stories in this collection are perfect for 4th and 5th graders.
Taken together, the stories in this collection explain Batman's trophies, like the giant penny and the dinosaur, and how they got to the batcave. The collection also features stories that take place in the batcave. Altogether,the stories coalesce around a common theme into an enjoyable volume.
This collection was published in 2007, but it doesn't have the darkness the became common in the Batman titles during and after Frank Miller's work in the '80s and early '90s. And while the darker Batman stories are more satisfying to adult tastes, the lighter stories in this collection are perfect for 4th and 5th graders.
February 26, 2021
A surprisingly good overview of the Batcave. I see some other reviews are heavily disparaging of old-style storytelling and potentially "triggering" language and ideas. If you *have* to see older stories through SJW lenses, there aren't many 40s-60s era comics that will look as innocent to you as they seemed at the time.
But if you can overlook that, this is a good collection, delving into the origins of some of the most iconic features of the cave (especially the dinosaur and that giant penny), and featuring several stories in which much of the action occurs IN the cave (as unlikely as that sounds, since it IS a Secret Headquarters). The oddest story has to be "The Batman Dime Museum", in which Batman and Robin temporarily abandon the cave and operate out of a storefront in downtown Gotham--all the while Commissioner Gordon is certain they're grifting impostors!
But if you can overlook that, this is a good collection, delving into the origins of some of the most iconic features of the cave (especially the dinosaur and that giant penny), and featuring several stories in which much of the action occurs IN the cave (as unlikely as that sounds, since it IS a Secret Headquarters). The oddest story has to be "The Batman Dime Museum", in which Batman and Robin temporarily abandon the cave and operate out of a storefront in downtown Gotham--all the while Commissioner Gordon is certain they're grifting impostors!
October 20, 2011
I liked it. Some of the older stuff was pretty bizarre, but it was worth it to find out the stories of the Giant Penny and the T-rex that just seem to clutter up the Batcave. It also had some detailed layouts of the Batcave over the decades, that were very close that to what drew as a kid.(In a good way of course)
February 28, 2014
Entertaining selection of (mostly) 1950s Batman stories. Some are better than others, but it is nice to find out where the penny and the dinosaur came from, although I must admit I never noticed the Red Hood costume in there before. The Earth-2 story from the early 1980s made me interested in reading more along those lines.
May 13, 2009
Batman's had some weird stuff happen in and around the Bat-Cave.
May 8, 2012
Old Batman bores me.. I read the first few stories and skimmed the rest. Interesting to see where some of the trophies came from but it's just kind of dull and repetitive...
abandoned-books
November 6, 2014I just didn't care enough to keep reading before I had to return it to the library. It was more like research into old Batman stories than an enjoyable graphic novel.
June 23, 2014
Very dull dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews