This book is really good if you are interested in watching the development of the Batman since his origin in 1939. The almost "film noir" style of the 1930's/ early 40's Batman is actually really cool.
It is actually the fifties and sixties of Batman that are a little campy and cliched, and while I still like the character and the stories of that era, the Batman of the late 70's and 80's is the Batman I grew up with and loved.
This book is a good anthology of a character whose origin and inner psychology have fluctuated a great deal since his first appearance.
Worth the price if you buy a used copy.

This fascinating collection of Batman stories published between 1939 and 1983 is an invaluable goldmine for anyone who is interested in Batman or in the history of comics. There are many books detailing and explaining the history of comics, but it's much more rewarding to actually see it happening, and this book gives you a rare chance to read some classic comics which are by now practically unobtainable and frighteningly valuable. The collection is fascinating both in terms of Batman's history and comics history. On the one hand, it presents some of the most important stories in the development of the character throughout the years - stories like `The Origin of Batman' from 1948, which finally revealed Batman's story in its final version as well as the identity of his parents' killer; `Dr. Hugo Strange and the Mutant Monsters', from the very first issue of Batman, the story that introduced the villain Dr. Strange; and `The First Batman', a classic and often referenced story in which a lot is revealed about Batman's father. But at the same time, you get a rare and precious opportunity to view stories and artwork by some of the finest comic book artists to walk the face of the earth, and explore the development of the medium from the 40s to the 80s. Classic artwork by the great man himself, Bob Kane, is a real treat; stories by some of the great writers like Gardner Fox and Bill Finger; through greats like Dick Sprang, Carmine Infantino, Charles Paris, and up to the great Denny O'Neil, and Neal Adams, Dick Giordano and Archie Goodwin, among others. The later stories show brilliantly how both the art and writing developed to create more original and inventive stories - like `The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne', which suggests a possible future for Batman; `To Kill A Legend', one of the classic Elseworlds tales; and `Death Strikes at Midnight and Three', in which Denny O'Neal and W. M. Rogers take the format to its ends.

Since I'm a huge Batman and DC fan, and also a creator of comics and very much interested in the artwork and format of comics, this book was amazingly valuable to me. I recommended it for anyone who is interested in this great and unappreciated medium, and for anyone who wants to learn something about the Caped Crusader.

I'm more into the older Batman stuff, so this book mostly worked for me. I admit some of the old Batman stories could be a bit dumb, but we're talking about a guy dressed in a bat costume fighting crime. The newer stories may reflect the dark atmosphere that a good Batman story should have, but they take themselves too seriously. The darker, horror-inspired 1939-40 ones in this anthology, about the vampires and the giants are great entertainment even if the artwork is bad. There is a lot of good artwork in this book though. Of course, in the late '50s and early '60s, during the aftermath of lunatic Frederic Wertham's inquisition against comic books, Batman got too cheesy for his own good. But most of that era is left out of this book, with the exception of "The First Batman." That story is too short and hasty to be effective and Sheldon Moldoff was probably the weakest Batman artist ever, but at least it was better than most of the stories from that time. The one about the guys in gorilla suits is surprisingly not bad either. Batman slowly picked up again in the mid sixties, and by the seventies the best Batman stories were being produced. Most of the Batman stuff after that doesn't really interest me (though I like some of the "otherworlds" stories). I'm more into old comics. Maybe that's why I enjoyed this collection. Some needless filler here, but mostly effective comic book stories.

One of the first, bigger books of comics called "The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told" didn't impress me. For instance, the art, coloring, shading, graphics for the whole comic collection wasn't at all awe-inspiring, although suitable for the date it was produced, but pencilers did good. I thought that Bob Kane should have taken more time to scrutinize some of the Batman stories that were produced through the 1970s-1980s. Comic books like regular BATMAN stories from the 40s & 50s bored me. But we do learn some of the events that took place in Batman's era.

Some of the later stories like "To Kill A Legend" and "The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne" are exciting with a more dark knight feel for the comics.

People who love to read books on Batman like "Cataclysm" or just regular Gotham Knights comics, be aware: there is a dramatic change in the plot, graphics, and the dark knight type appeal. It's a more introductory comic book set on the Batman that may not appeal to modern-day Batman fans.

I was just reading this last night and became very interested. I read all night long, admiring the fine work. One of my favorites was the one with Powerman. That was a good ending to a great story. I am in the middle of the one where the Scarecrow takes over Batman. Wow, can you say that is a good story or what. Batman truly was the greatest superhero of all time, and he still is. He has kept the magic alive after all of this time. If you are looking at this item, buy it, for it is a very good price, and a very good book.