Product Description

Perhaps the two most critically successful and best-selling comics creators ever to tackle the Dark Knight - Frank Miller ("Batman: The Dark Knight Returns") and Jim Lee ("Batman: Hush") - join forces for the first time!These are the early days of Gotham's greatest hero as you've never seen them before! Relive the terrible tragedy that led to Bruce Wayne taking on the mantle of the Bat...the recruiting of Robin, the Boy Wonder...and much, much more!Frank Miller's uncompromising dialogue and hard-as-nails plotting, wedded to Jim Lee's sublimely explosive action scenes and masterly linework, make for a combination that no comics - or Batman - fan dare miss!It utilises the creators previous successes to leverage sales. It includes reviews in mainstream press, comic, sci-fi, fantasy, men's, music and games magazines, for example: "The Guardian", "Comics International", and, "Loaded".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188190 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

About the Author
Frank Miller has won numerous awards and critical acclaim for his work, which include Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, 300 and Ronin. His Sin City series was made into a highly successful movie in 2005. He is currently writing All-Star Batman and Robin and the forthcoming Batman: Holy Terror. Jim Lee co-founded Image Comics following his multi-million-selling X-Men work for Marvel. He has pencilled countless comics - all of them best-sellers.

Customer Reviews

To each their own
I was mildly surprised by all the positive reviews when I happened to glance across this page. It actually gave me cause to go back for a second read and I did end up awarding an extra star.

I think my problem lay in approaching this book expecting it to fall into what one other reviewer has described as the 'DC cannon.'

The 'canon' Batman is a dark and brooding character whose intensity and genius are matched only by a strong sense of right and wrong. He is on a crusade, a tragic mission to try and ensure no-one else suffers the way he did as a child. This helps explain the compassion and manner in which he deals with Dick Grayson after the youth suffers a similar fate. He's even close friends with Superman because, despite both approaching their mission from completely different motivations, they share the same dream and goals.

These are the characters I admire and the reason I find myself returning to these books; a sort of reset button for the moral compass.

Frank Miller's batman is a different character entirely. Unhinged to the point where his own excitement and thrills seem more important than the crusade. I particularly found the whole batmobile sequence quite disturbing - for a man trying to clean up Gotham, this Bats seems quite happy to add to the mayhem and general carnage so long as it fits in with his own short-term goals (no lives hang in the balance here). The addition of details such as his disshevelled, unshaven appearance also show that this is a man who doesn't pay attention to the details and really doesn't fit the title 'worlds greatest detective' either, let alone a man with the focus to excel in all his pursuits. It seems Miller tends to lean towards a Nietzschean philosophy where strength and vigour is more of a moral good than compassion. Perhaps this Batman is his ubermensch?

If you enjoyed the Batman from The Dark Knight Returns and could stand to have him turned up a notch then this is for you. It's fantastic art with a fair plot and a great deal of action. However if, like me, you draw something different from comics then it might be worth a rethink. Hush, Dark Victory and Long Halloween (even a few of the 'Superman-Batman' books) are much better reads and less (to my mind) morally redundant.

I've tried to be fair, this book isn't to my taste, hopefully this review will give you an insight as to whether it's to your's.

Worst Batman story ever!
I must disagree with previous reviews.
This is the most derivative Batman story I have had the displeasure of reading.
Frank Miller is one of my favourite story tellers. His work in Sin City, Martha Washington, The Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil are peerless.
However this story appears to be a lazy reproduction of the hardboiled stories that inhabit the Sin City universe and Batman's character is mangled to fit the anti- heroes of that genre.

Jim Lee's art work is gorgeous as ever - but nobody needs to see Vicki Vale parading around in her underwear for no discernable reason (let alone propelling the narrative forward) - it's not hot it is sad!!

This type of story gives comics a bad name.
If you want a decent story - try Batman: Hush, The Long Halloween, Dark Victory or The Dark Knight Returns ( which is far more personal story from Frank Miller).

Miller Raises The Bar Again
All Star Batman and Robin is a superb new release, featuring Frank Miller and Jim Lee producing an excellent Year One Robin story with a top drawer supporting cast (as the name suggests).

Although this is a 'volume one', and the story dosn't conclude at the end, I thought this was a brilliant graphic novel. The artwork is phenomenal and Jim Lee has produced the goods yet again. I particularly enjoyed the work on the Batcave.

The best thing about this story for me is the dark, gritty portrayal of Batman. This is the Dark Knight at his darkest, as only Miller seems to be able to do at this level. This is how I want my Batman to be - ruthless, angry and slightly insane.

I really like the fact that Miller has dispensed with all the continuity issues and gone back to the story of Dick Grayson, but given it a makeover that may be able to wipe away the tarnish that the 60s TV show has left on the adventures of Batman and Robin.

This effort goes straight in to my Top 10 Batman graphic novels list. Combine Frank Miller's storytelling and Jim Lee's artwork and you have a dream team that cannot be beaten in a Batman comic, so this was always going to be good. I can't wait for Volume 2.